How To Be Ruthless And Get Ready For A Yard Sale

There's no way around it. It's beyond time to clear the clutter, clean out your stuff and get a sale set up. The idea of having some extra cash sounds great, and the thought of reclaiming your house makes you smile. But actually making decisions and decluttering send you into a mild panic.

If you recognize yourself in this description, I'm right there with you. We're in that process right now, and it can truly be overwhelming at times. Can I just curl up in the corner and wait until the house cleans itself? Because that would be great.

Yeah, but not practical. Or useful. Honestly.

Instead, here are some simple ways to make decision-making a little easier as you sort.

* Figure out when the last time you used it was, and if it's been more than a year or two ... let it go!

* If the poor condition of an item would stop you from buying it, no one else will buy it either.

* Don't keep it just because you spent a lot of money on it, especially if you're not using it.

* If you can't explain exactly why you want to keep it, put it in the sale box.

* No excuses - fight through the temptation to stop sorting and cleaning just because it's difficult.

* It's ok to set some things aside while you think about them, but don't let that pile get very big.

* When you have multiples of an object you love, keep the ones that make your heart race and sell the ones that are older or less special.

* Tackle one space at a time instead of having a grand plan for your whole property.

* If you have vintage or antique items that are hip and trendy again, now's the time to part with them and let a new collector enjoy them.

* Pick a place, preferably out of sight, where you can stack your full, packed boxes so you're not living surrounded by cardboard until your sale.

* If you're really, truly overwhelmed, this is the time to enlist some help. No one else wants you to live in an overwhelming environment either.

What are your secret strategies for being ruthless and sorting for a yard sale?

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