Reducing Life by 75%

Having a goal does help

I have a goal with this move to reduce my possessions by 75%. If this sounds like a lofty goal, it is. However, I don’t think it is unattainable.

I've just taken my fourth load to the thrift store in five weeks. I have already warned them that I will be back twice next week. Good grief. I keep finding things I don’t need anymore!

One good thing about moving is that I closed my eBay store. I have been meaning to do this for a while, but now is the perfect time. I will still sell things on there, but only at my discretion and with a very limited inventory. I couldn't justify paying $21.95 every month when I didn’t have those sales in some months. The book market has ebbs and flows, too, and I would need a massive amount of inventory to make that work. The margins on most books are narrow, especially when you add the selling fee and the shipping costs. Contemporary books sell better with free shipping. I will be sticking to the vintage market from now on and doing what feels right for me.

With the closing of the eBay store, I have donated over a thousand books to the local thrift store. To be fair, I bought a lot of the books from them. They sell books for ten cents each or twenty books for one dollar. A crazy good deal if you ask me! I have not donated all those books at one time, but lately it’s been two hundred or more every trip.

Never mind that I have my own massive amount of books. I have been keeping track of my inventory while packing using the Libib app and have over four hundred books in my collection. I have been pruning that collection too.

The goal is to be moved out by the 20th. However, some things may not be able to be picked up by the local veteran’s organization until the 23rd. The house closes on the 25th.

My other goal is to reduce my possessions as much as possible and to give away what I can. I have tried selling some things with only limited luck and I am thinking that is because I have received so much for free. It’s my turn to repay that by blessing other people.

Tomorrow (Friday) is trash day. I plan to fill that dumpster. It’s almost halfway full right now. Tonight I plan to go through the freezers, refrigerator, and food storage. I will discard anything that is too far gone to save. You know, like that roast from 2018 that got buried at the bottom of the chest freezer? I have fed a lot to the chickens, but they will be going to a new home by the end of next week. They have been an excellent trash service over the years.

The weird thing is that I feel bewildered and relieved right now. I can’t believe how much I have kept over the years. I have always been good about purging items and donating or selling them. However, when you have four kids, you keep many things just in case. Also, when you have four kids, you are too busy to notice all the things creeping into your home.

Living in the same place for twenty-seven years is a blessing. It also gave me a sense of comfort. That comfort was shaken a couple of times, but it was quickly restored. I got too comfortable, though. At one time, I had decided to purchase the farm and had gotten the ball rolling on it before I realized that seven acres is too much for one person. The farm needed work that I could not afford while paying a mortgage. I’m pretty practical. I knew this was not going to be a good financial or physical move for me. I kept things and didn’t bother looking too close because I wasn’t going to move. That changed!

At that point, I started purging my possessions. Not enough, apparently. I’m also a recovering procrastinator who still likes the pressure of an end date to get things done. I may have decided on the 75% goal a little late, but I am going to achieve it.

I’m not a minimalist by any definition, but I know I could live with less. This is the perfect time to find out.

Thanks for reading,
Erica

(At some time, I will stop writing about moving. However, this is what has taken up all my free time. All. of. it.)