The Great Garage Sale

How to Turn the Clutter from Your Marriage Into Cash

If you're like most people, you probably managed to acquire a lot of surplus household items, gadgets, knick-knacks, and just plain junk over the course of your marriage. Chances are, it started in the basement or the attic: a gradual accumulation of material possessions that you never use, but somehow, you can't quite bear to get rid of either. Then the clutter spread to your closets, bookshelves, countertops, that space under the stairs, trunks, and boxes.(Rubbermaid has a whole line of products designed specifically to hold your personal clutter!)

Your notes from that interesting psychology class in college; the baby's highchair (the "baby" is a 10-year-old boy, now); that old football; three of the six vases you received as wedding presents; the fondue set you never used -- all these and more are taking up valuable physical and psychic space in your home. The breakdown of your relationship has caused you to begin a new chapter in your life, so why not use this opportunity to really start fresh by getting rid of all that clutter?

A successful garage sale fits the bill perfectly. After you and your ex have divvied up the "good stuff," what you're left with is potential garage sale material. Even something you think is little better than junk has a good chance of selling at a well-managed garage sale.

There can be terrific benefits to organizing a sale: you'll get rid of unwanted possessions instead of packing and lugging them with you if/when you move; you'll put some extra cash in your pocket; and you'll have the pleasure of knowing you're a good citizen of the planet, because your old stuff will be recycled to new owners rather than ending up in a landfill.

Like this? Want more?
Sign up for Love & Sex
FILED UNDER:
How does this make you feel?
Comments Hide
What do you think?
Chime in now!
    Advertisement
    Connect with Us
    Follow Our Pins

    Yummy recipes, DIY projects, home decor, fashion and more curated by iVillage staffers.

    Follow Our Tweets

    The very dirty truth about fashion internships... DUN DUN @srslytheshow http://t.co/wfewf

    On Instagram

    Behind-the-scenes pics from iVillage.

    Advertisement