A Better Way to Get Rid of Your Unwanted Kid's Items!

For years now, just about every summer, I have a yard sale. As most of you with children know, from the time you are expecting the arrival of your bundle of joy, you start to acquire a lot of stuff! You know, starting with that baby shower haul of gifts...bassinets, swings, diaper bags, toys, clothes, the good old diaper genie and so on! And does it stop there? OMG, no, far from it! They need new clothes and new toys practically constantly. If you don't occasionally get rid of stuff your child(ren) has outgrown, before you know it your house is packed full and you are drowning in kids stuff!


Look familiar? Baby shower explosion!

Me; super huge and preggo with my son
So, probably the most common thing parents do then, is have a yard sale. This requires a lot of work! If you've ever had one, you know! You have to gather everything you're selling, price the items, set up tables, racks, or whatever you are using to display your items. Then you might choose to advertise your sale in the local newspaper (which is pretty costly) and/or make a bunch of signs and hassle with putting them up around your neighborhood. And you have to pray the weather is good! Then of course you have to deal with the parked cars up and down your road, people coming and going, and constantly haggling you on prices..."will you take $1 for this instead of the $2 it's marked?" ...yes, sure, why not, I just want this crap gone! Right?!? This will go on for the typical 1-3 days you hold your sale for. Ugh, that stressed me out just talking about all that! I like going to yard sales, but I don't like having my own lol. Well, guess what...we have other options!


Have you ever checked into store that will buy your items from you? One such store is called Once Upon a Child. This is all you do...gather your items in some boxes. Bring them to the store and give them some time to go through it. Depending on how busy the store is and how many employees they have, it can take as little as 15 minutes! Max time is maybe a hour. You can browse the store while you wait, or come back a little later. The employees will assess your items, and depending on the stores need and the condition of your items, they will either take your items or return them back to you. They will separate the items that they want to buy from you from the ones they're going to pass on. They will then tell you what amount they will offer you for your items. I just recently brought in a couple boxes of clothes, shoes and toys and received $68. They took about 90% of what I brought. The last time I brought a load there, I received $93 for my items! I love this because it saves me from having to have those dreaded back breaking yard sales!




my haul of items..I made $68 from these unwanted items! not bad!

So then, what can you do with what is left over...those items they didn't buy from you? Well, if you still want to avoid having a yard sale, you can donate those items! You can check your local agencies to see where you can donate your items so that people who really need them will get them. Of course there are places like Salvation Army and Goodwill. However, although discounted prices, these places still sell the items. Which is totally fine. But just a reminder, if you want to help those with nothing (maybe someone whose home burnt down, or an abused woman who left everything for the safety of herself and her children) there are agencies in your community that will give your items to families in need, for free. Just throwing that out there! :)
 
 
 
What do you guys do with your unwanted baby/children items? Have you ever sold your items to a store, like Once Upon a Child? or a consignment store? Do you have yard sales? Donate items? Give to family members?

Comments

  1. I have a love/hate relationship with them! I love that it's easier than a rummage sale and you get your money upfront on the things they will buy. I do not like how super picky they are about what they will take and sell. I understand they want to sell unstained, unfaded, nice things. I appreciate that as a customer. However, they also won't take anything that is over 2 years old. Sometimes I have very nice clothes that are in great shape but if they are older than 2 years they won't take them.It can be very frustrating!

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    1. Yes, I definitely agree with you on that! It is one major negative about the process.

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  2. Great idea! I have a bunch of stuff just sitting in the closet that I need to get rid of.

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  3. I think I would rather have a yard sale before I haul everything there for them to tell me they either have too many of what I have or it is too old. Yard sale people understand that things have been used, obviously gently because it is baby stuff.

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  4. I just give everything away. I've had a couple of yard sales, and it was so much work for so little return. And personally I just don't feel right about selling my used things when there are so many people who could benefit from the donations.

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  5. I love consignment--- I usually break even because I find so many toys there- half are barely used!! I would love for you to come link uo a few posts at http://www.akreativewhim.com/100-happy-days-link-party-1/

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  6. I have been sorting through all mine and trying to sell the really nice pieces on ebay, donating some and saving the rest with the hopes of having a yard sale (where everything is $1) or consigning if I can find a place nearby.

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    1. Yeah I've had people try to talk me into selling on ebay but somehow I just can't get into that. I'd rather have a yard sale then mess with ebay lol. I like your idea of having a yard sale where everything is $1...take that one annoying task of pricing off the table, I like that!

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  7. Yes! I need to do this. I actually have a lot of my own clothes right now because I've lost some weight, and my closet is just overflowing. Plus, I could use a little cash.

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    1. There is a similar place for adult clothing too, Plato's Closet. Maybe you have one in your area.

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  8. I LOVE selling to second-hand shops like this. The only bummer is when you have to stay in the store while you go through everything. It can get boring or make you spend more money!
    xo, Caitlin
    And Possibly Dinosaurs

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    1. So true! Last time I dropped off my items, took my son to his doctor appointment, then came back and they had it all done. Then I was in and out quickly :)

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  9. I wish we lived by one of these, I've heard good things.

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