Day 2:

Big stuff

Good Morning! Welcome To Day 2.

Today is about big. Grand. Large. The pieces of furniture that you no longer need. The old refrigerator in the garage that’s just taking up space. The kitchen chair that’s broken and you haven’t fixed (and probably won’t).

If you aren’t sure about something, get out your plans. Does that end table fit in your home plan? Does that painting help you feel the way you felt after you zapped the room to a cleaner, calmer, clearer state? Will that beat-up bookcase help you get closer to your goal plan? Nope? Then get those things gone.

Here are a few ways to get rid of big stuff that still has value:


The easiest of the options, especially if you have a large enough car or truck (or a friend with a truck). Just load up the un-needed things and drive them to your local Boys and Girls Club drop-off center, or the Salvation Army, or local thrift store that takes donations. Done and done.

If you don’t have access to a truck, some charities will pick items up for you. There is also a growing number of Uber-type services that will help you transport large items. is one.


You know somebody that might love to have that couch. Shoot them a text and find out. Giving your things to people who you think might need them is a direct, and helpful way to lessen the amount of stuff you have.


You might want to sell some of your large items. While it takes a bit longer, selling is a way to get rid of stuff and end up with a bit of money to help you pay down debt or save for a trip. So yes, you may not get totally done with Day 2 on day 2. All that matters is making progress.

While there are probably lots of ways to do it, here are the 2 most common ways of selling your stuff:

  • Yard sale
  • Craigslist

Both have their advantages and disadvantages. Yard sales are nice because you can get a lot gone at once. Whatever is left over at the end of the weekend, take it to the donation center. Craigslist is more time consuming but you’ll generally get a better price.

Tips For Yard Sales

  • Let people know about it. Put up signs around the neighborhood. Put a listing on Craigslist announcing the sale. In some cities, people look at the newspaper to find yard sales in their area. If you see other listings in the classified of your local paper, go ahead and list it there. If you don’t see any other ads, chances are your city isn’t one of those where people turn to the classifieds for yard sales.
  • Try to organize and display your stuff so it looks appealing. Take a step back and look at your sale from the street. Ask yourself if it’s the kind of sale you’d stop for. If your potential customers think you put a bit of effort into the setup for your sale, they’ll be more likely to stop and browse.
  • Make sure you have change. It’s a good idea to head to the bank or even some grocery stores for a few bundles of $5s and $1s and a roll or two of quarters.  
  • Put price stickers on stuff, or signs letting people know the cost. Most people make decisions to buy stuff based on price. Save them (and you) time by making the price obvious.  
  • Keep the prices low. Remember, the goal is to get rid of stuff.

Tips For Craigslist

  • Take a good quality picture of your item. Put your item in front of a plain background (a wall, a fence). Not just in the room where the furniture lives. People want to envision themselves with a the item. Less extraneous stuff in the image helps them do that.  
  • Describe your item. Include dimensions, color, materials, the name brand, if applicable.
  • Be honest. Let people know how old the item is, how often you’ve used it. Tell them about any flaws or defects. They’ll see the defect when they come to buy it. Save everyone the disappointment and let them know ahead of time so they know if it’s something they can deal with or not.
  • If you remember, list the price you paid for the item (and how long ago) in your post.
  • The more effort you put into your post, the more responses you’ll get.
  • Keep the price low. You’ll get a much faster response. The faster you sell it, the faster it’s gone from your life and you can move on…

Broken, Damaged, Useless Stuff

AKA, trash. It’s hard for us to throw things away sometimes. We worry about the waste. That’s understandable. Just know that when you decide to go minimalist, you’ll be accumulating less stuff from here on out. You’ll actually be producing far less waste than an average person. This initial purge is worth it. If something isn’t good enough to sell or donate, throw it away knowing that you’re making room for a more intentional and less wasteful existence.