Less Stuff - ThredUp Review

As of today I have sent 5 clean out bags to thredUp. Over all I have been pleased with my experience. I will say if you're looking for quick cash then thredUp may not be for you. It does take some time for them to go through your items and determined what the payout will be. There is one caveat I didn't know until after I sent off my first clean out bag.

For items under $60 you get a pay out. For items over $60 they are considered consignment items and you get paid when and if the items sells. I did not notice this when I first looked at thredUP.  I saw this when I looked at the post "How I Made Over $3000 Selling my Clothes and Accessories Online". When I saw that I was like say what now!?! Had I saw that beforehand I'm not sure if I would have sent my items. But then again I knew that I probably wouldn't get much for what I sent. I just wanted the items out of my closet. So I was a little annoyed by this fact but they are doing most of the work that I don't want to do (ie selling items on eBay or similar site). Also funds are not available as soon as a item sells. You can use the money as a credit to shop with them immediately. If you want the pay out, you have to wait 14 days.

Most of the complaints I saw from various reviews is that people felt that thredUp didn't get them "enough" for their upfront payment items. Especially for items that they perceived as "high end" or "really nice" items. I just shook my head at them. Of course you will receive more for your items if they are new and still have the tags on them. However in general used clothing is not worthy a lot. There is a payment estimator on their site that gives you a general rage of what you'll receive. The condition of the item plays a factor. Also you can do your own research. I think on the Salvation Army website I saw an estimator for clothing donations and what to write it off for tax purposes. The amounts were not much. Generally when I have donated clothes I never wrote them off because it was too much of hassle to price everything and I knew it wouldn't be a lot of money. You can also donate your items to thredUP but they don't provide tax receipts. For me thredUp has been helpful in getting rid of handbags and getting a little something for them.

So do your research and consider your options before sending items to thredUp or any other similar site.

TTFN - ta ta for now!

Less Stuff - 2016 Update

My last update was over a year ago. So I decided to check in.

Books - I recently donated six tote bags (various sizes) to my library. The bin was about a fourth of the way full. Once I was done it was more than halfway full! Whoops! LOL! I should have snapped a pic. This purge was my "let's get real" purge. I may do another small purge before the year is out. I'm making an effort to read some of the print books I haven't read. I've gotten so used to reading on ereaders and my phone that I don't like reading print books anymore *sigh*. Some books are so awkward to hold especially since I read on my bed,

Clothes - I think it was a few months ago I donated two huge trash bags of clothes. I also tossed items that needed to go. I plan on doing another once over in my closet before the weather gets cold. Now I'm to the point where I have items I do like but a lot of similar items. For instance I have quite a few maxi dresses. I like all the ones I have and the fit fine. But there are some I reach for more than others. So do I get rid of the ones that I do like and wear but not as much? Then I'm kind of at a transition work wise. Where I work now, I can pretty much wear whatever I want. I've been looking here and there for a new job. So I don't want to purge a lot of say my more business causal clothes, if I end up somewhere that I have to "dress up" more than I do now. Then I have some items that I wear for certain activities that I need to keep on hand even though I don't wear them often like suits and some dresses. For suits, I have always wanted a three piece grey suit for the longest time but have never gotten one. So I may look for one. If I find one I like then I may get rid of the other suits I have with maybe the exception of one green one I have. I may do the same for some dressier dresses I have. I may keep two or three and get rid of the rest.

Handbags - *gasp* I know right lol! I've always pulled some to give to family and friends. I was watching one of my favorite YouTubers Jennifer Wan and she mentioned that she was going to sell some stuff to thredUP. I was said bwah?? So I went over to their site and they accept clothing items and accessories from various brands. I've mentioned before that I don't have the patience to try and sell stuff through eBay or Craigslist. So I checked the brands they accept and Dooney & Bourke is on the list. They also send you a packing envelope to mail your items. So I have some bags and accessory pieces pulled aside to send to them. Less expensive bags I'm planning to sent to Change Purse. They accept purses and their efforts help raise awareness and help victims of human trafficking which I think is a totally awesome concept.

Nail polish - I had post a video on Instagram Stories of some of my nail polishes and had gotten a couple of comments from a couple people that I know that really irritated me. I deleted the video. They go away after 24 hours but I didn't want to be bothered by other's comments. One said I should be embarrassed. I know she was "joking" but I didn't find it funny. Anywho. I don't know what to do with nail polish I'm ready to let go of. Most places will not accept used nail polishes. I've given more than enough away to family and friends. So I'm drawing a blank. I know I could just toss them. I may check and see if it's ok with my hairdresser if I bring some to my next appointment and just leave them in her shop and ladies can take what they want and she can trash what no one takes. *shrugs*.

Makeup - this is forever ongoing *sigh*. I think I was watching one Jennifer Wan's vlogs and she was mentioned how she was seriously going through her makeup collection and blog selling items that did not absolutely love. Now she's a totally makeup /shopping girl so I know her actions were not on decluttering or downsizing her stash. So I got inspired to go through mine. I got rid of a TON of lippies. Then while Google searching on what to do with used makeup, I came across the site Glambot. I remember Jennifer mentioning that she sent some makeup to them and from what I remember her experience with them was good. I did search on some reviews for Glambot. The "bad" ones I ran across were from people mad about the amount they got. They felt it should have been more. One review I ran across was sensible and was like look keep an open mind. They are providing you with a service and you're not going to get "full price" for an item. Which makes sense and I'm fine with that. I just want stuff gone and if I can get a little something for it then cool. They provide you with a shipping label which I like. Whatever they give you for the makeup first comes as a credit to use with them to shop and I believe after 14 days you can get the cash. If you're not satisfied with their offer then you can get your stuff back.

So I'm still chugging along. I'm happy with the progress that I have made but still have a ways to go. Hopefully I've given you some ideas on what to do with items that you're ready to part with. I'll follow up on my experiences with thredUP and Glambot.

Onward and upward!

Nail Polish Declutter!

Next up is nail polish!

Why is nail polish so easy to buy? You see a pretty shade and in your cart it goes! Some of my "rage purchases" have been nail polish. Especially since CVS and Walgreens are within walking distance from my job and Ulta is about 10 minutes up the street driving.

This is only a portion my current nail polish stash. As you can see this basket is really full. Everything used to fit nice and neatly. Now chaos! There is more nail polish to the right. I have no idea on how to take a pic of everything! So the plan is to go through them and toss old polishes that thinner won't save and I guess give away shades/brands that I'm not feeling or was never really feeling to begin with.

I follow up in upcoming Shop My Stash posts as I toss or give polishes away.

Declutter alllllll the things! Alllllllllll the things!!!!!!

Eyeliner Declutter!

Helllloooooooo! *waves*

At the beginning of the month, I mentioned that I used up Urban Decay's Perversion and Demolition eyeliners in my Shop My Stash post. These are my FAVORITE pencil eyeliners. But of course I have others, so I said let's see what I have in my eyeliner stash as replacements. I pulled out two Mally eyeliners in Midnight and Espresso and yeaaaa...I've had these for a while now and they probably should be tossed. They're ok BUT I'm getting what I get from Urban Decay (staying power and definition).

So I am going to repurchase Perversion and Demolition. I'm also going to go through my pencil liners and get rid of other black and brown liners that I have that are mainly old or I just don't like anymore. I don't need ALL of these when I have two ultimate favorites for everyday. I do have some from Tarte that I will probably keep and I'll probably make a list of color ones that I have from other brands that I actually want from Urban Decay. The picture above is from when I did my makeup collections posts. It looks a little different now but it's still probably the same amount of pencil liners (on the left). I don't have that many cream shadows anymore. Woohoo!

I think this is the beginning stages of my somewhat "final" declutter of my makeup stash. It time to let go of things I've been hanging on to for whatever reason.

Stay tuned...

Less Stuff - June Update

Soooooo ummmmmm.....

I was looking through my draft posts and I saw this post saved but there was nothing typed *blink blink*. I completely forgot about it LOL! In January I talked about what my thought process was for decluttering and looking into minimalism.

And well yea lol! On the clothes front, I've done well. I have gotten rid of a lot of items and have been very particular with the recent items I have purchased. If you look at my clothes it may not look like a lot but I don't switch out my closet for the various seasons. So everything is hanging up. I'm planning to do the "final" purge over the Fourth of July weekend since I'm taking some additional days off.  So that's one thing that will be done. Phew.

On the beauty front *head palm*, I did SO good during my no buy. Once I go off my no buy, I lost my flipping mind. I've been buying stuff left and right. On the one end I have been retrying some past favorites especially in terms of skin care. I'm trying to pare down what I use and simplify my routine. The same goes for my hair care routine.  I picked up some items here and there. I did find some new favorites but my hair revolted on quite a few items lol! So I've gone back to using some past Wen favorites. Maybe once I get my routine down, I'll do a post to hold myself accountable to it. I'm still toying around with the idea of doing the BIG come to Jesus purge of my makeup. Which I know will be super hard. Or really cut back on buying and just use what I have and replenish what I need which wouldn't be much but face products like primer, foundation, brow products, etc. *sigh* Why didn't I stay a tomboy?

And lastly books. I haven't done much with my final book purge and my reading mojo has run away. I haven't read any of the non-fiction books I said that I was going to read for the year. I still have time but still. So in addition to going through my clothes over the Fourth, I plan to start the process of what I hope to be my final book purge. I think it's going to take more the one weekend to really really go through them.

So as you can see I've slacked *sigh*. I have to do better. This mess is a weight holding me back in other areas and I'm tired of looking at stuff. And the beat goes on...

Let's see what I can make happen by December.

Onward and upward!

Book Lovin - The Time Has Come

Some earlier pics from when I started purging my print books.

I think I'm ready to do my FINAL purge of print books. I was talking to friend earlier this week and she talked about making the transition from print to ebook for some of her books. So you know it got me the thinking again about my book mess.  I went on Amazon to see if I could return 2 print books from a series that I'm reading, but I'm past the return period *sigh*.  I've talked about my "dilemma"/issues with print books vs ebooks back in July 2013. I'm revisiting it again since I'm still in my declutter/lightweight minimalism phase.

This whole thing is taking up a good chunk of my mental space. So I think over Memorial Day weekend I'm going to tackle what I'm hoping to be my final print book purge. Then I'll see what's what from series and authors that I've slacked on and go from there. I probably will make some good old fashion lists in a notebook I have.

My friend also mentioned that she misses the reader that she used to be and I was like YESSSSSS!!!! Ugh! There were months that I would read like 10-15 books like it was nothing. Reading was fun and not a chore like it is now. It was also a release, form of relaxation, an escape from the day to day grind, so on and so forth. So I just gotta be serious and have a come to Jesus meeting with the print books that I haven't read. Deep down I know that I will probably never get into them. Then I'll tackle the ones I've read once and have no desire to read them again. Shoot they're taking up space for the GOOD stuff. That's prime real estate...ha!

This whole thing makes me want to bang my head against the wall repeatedly! :D But it must be done!

*ends ramble* :D

TTFN - Ta ta for now!

Less Stuff...

So you've heard me talk about purging various products be it books, makeup, clothes, etc. I ran across a meme on Instagram saying something to the effect that if your clutter is cluttering your mind then you need to let things go. So that's what I have been doing for the past year and half.

Have a slipped up? Sure I have. I lost my mind recently at Bath & Body Works during the Semi Annual sale lol. But I've said to myself alright chick, you don't need anymore bath and body stuff. You're going to use what you have. I was like ok. I've also done good recently by not taking advantage of other deals and promos. I've also started unsubscribing from various email lists and cleaning out my inbox. I'm still doing good with keeping my receipts and returning stuff that I'm lukewarm about.

One blog that I stumbled upon is "Becoming Minimalist". His posts and the ones he shares are thought provoking, give good tips and is non-judgmental. I've stumbled upon some folks on Instagram using the hashtag #declutter.

I don't know if I can go FULL on minimalist. I like what I like and I'm not going to apologize for that. But I can make an effort to curtail my spending, the "need" to have some much stuff and use what I have. It's a journey I've been on for a while and it is just that a journey. It's a journey that's different for everyone and it's not going to happen overnight.  It's time to see if I can take it to the next level in 2015. This is gonna be interesting. I may be successful or I may fall flat on my face. I just want to find a happy balance at this point in my life and not be consumed by things.

This was a ramble post that popped in my head. If it doesn't make much sense then my bad :)

I may report back in June and then again in December with my efforts.

Stay tuned...