Reselling Motivation Archives – The Recycleista ~ Adventures in Thrift

An Invitation to My Readers

I’ll be honest with you. There have been countless times in the last few months (of not blogging) that I’ve told myself to just come here and put a “sign” up on the blog saying “Temporarily Closed. Come back in the Fall”.

But something held me back. I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I’m not sure why. It certainly would have been more polite than just ignoring y’all for months on end.

MtRainier (obligatory blog photo cuz just text is boring -it’s Mt Rainier, btw)

Let me just (briefly) give you a rundown of what’s been standing in the way of me and this blog. Not exactly excuses, but maybe giving you an understanding of what my brain has been full of.

1. Let’s just start with normal life that all of us deal with. Kids. Homework help. Cooking. Cleaning. Laundry. Budgeting. Everyday life. You get it.

2. Volunteer work. This is a major part of my week and makes me happy. It gives me purpose and so I gladly sacrifice other activities to be a part of it. It takes up about the same time as a part time job.

3. Online selling. I’m still selling online on Ebay and Etsy. Still have 3 shops on Etsy but I’ve downgraded my Ebay shop to just a Basic level one. Since I’ve ramped up my volunteer work, I have done less selling and less sourcing but it’s still a major part of my week.

4. Health. First off, our family finally found a dentist we like and we’ve been catching up on things we’ve put off too long. I had a tooth pulled and will be dealing with an implant soon. All these appointments take time and affect my stress levels.
Second, I’ve had some health issues come up. Some of them female related and some related to just things being out of whack. I’ve basically come to the conclusion that the cure for them is changing my diet and adding exercise.
Definitely easier said than done. Cutting sugar and carbs requires thought, planning and time. Cooking and food prep is definitely NOT my forte and so it stresses me more than the average bear. It’s been a roller coaster ride with this…hoping to get better at sticking with it.
But also comforting, in a way, to know that some of the things I’ve been battling…lethargy, depression, anxiety, etc…are symptoms of my health issues and so there’s hope of getting better!

5. Impending changes. Okay, so on top of ALL that, we’ve decided we are ready for a move to a new area (about 3 hours away) and in conjuction with that, are looking into buying our first home. We are just at the beginning of this process so there’s still a long way to go.
Another change is that next fall we are going to start homeschool both of our boys.
Okay. Enough. I’m exhausting myself just reading this. lol

What This Means and What Is This Invitation of Which You Speak?

What this means is that I’m taking a look at my online businesses and where I want to go with them. Do I want to pack up and move my inventory? What exactly do I want to source and sell? How do I work smarter and not harder with so many demands on my time? How can I maximize income since we will soon have more expenses?

A lot to think about. So like I said, I thought to just put the blog on hiatus and come back when the dust settles and let you know how it all turns out.

But I think that’s a mistake. I think I need to bring you, my readers, on the journey with me. Maybe you’re in a similar spot or maybe you have some insight or advice to help me.

So that’s my invitation: Don’t give up on me!

I am always brimming with ideas for blog posts and of course I have the Selling Vintage A to Z series to continue with. I am going to attempt getting more organized and actually scheduling time for working on the blog…even if I feel like I should be listing instead.

As I was taking notes on this post this morning, I got a message through my blog from a reader…before this was even published….that just blew me away at its timing. It made me feel like I’m on the right track. In a day or so, I’ll share that with you.

Listing Challenge 2017 ~ That’s A Wrap!

Where has the month gone? I know I haven’t kept up with my updates on the Listing Challenge (same as last year) but there are a couple good reasons. (This post may have affiliate links.)

Listing Challenge Wrap up! First, I don’t think you REALLY want to read all about every minute of my thrifting life and what I’m listing, etc..etc. If I thought you did, I’d just start a Recycleista Facebook group…hmm….
Anyway, I started off thinking I’d update you weekly but that quickly becomes ho-hum reading…and brings me to my second reason:

I’m too busy! Which is the point of the challenge, right? I’ve been listing and sorting and attacking death piles like nobody’s business.
I don’t even have time to complile stats for you because I need to get listing today. I have a rare complete day home with no children for several hours.

When I left you last, I was planning on trying to get things lotted up. And I did! Had some success with it as well. My first lot I tackled was a flatware lot. Flatware?! Yes…I cannot sell all that I buy. It’s true. And some is not worth selling on its own, but is perfectly fine for use.
Some thrift stores sell flatware bagged up and I don’t want everything in the bag. So I made up a big lot of about 250 pieces and listed it for $74.99 with free shipping.

I made it pretty clear that this lot was for camps or churches or other groups that needed solid, usable flatware but it wasn’t necessarily for resale purposes. It all fit in a Medium Flat Rate Box and it sold within a week or 2. Yay!!

Hubby had a few slow-ish days at work and got back into the listing game. Good thing too or else this Thomas the Train stuff would never have gotten listed. Not my thing. He sold a few lots already too, like this one below. This was all train stuff that my boys have outgrown but we thrifted about 98% of it originally.
Thomas-Tank-Engine-Trackmaster-59-pc-Lot-Track-Percy-Mail-Sodor-Ice-amp-Caboose

So the making lots thing worked well and I’ll be doing more of them as I can fit them in. I think I need to do it with some jewelry and sewing patterns next.
The next part of my challenge that I’m proud of is that I attacked a category of items that I ALWAYS put off- clothing. I had about a laundry basket full of odds and ends of clothing. Worth listing but just hadn’t made the time. Clothing is NOT my favorite. Although VINTAGE clothing is mildly more interesting to me. I like seeing other people sell it. I didn’t have a place set up to take photos and that was my first hurdle. Hubby finally rigged it up for me and I attacked it all in 2 days.
The one piece that I was excited about and didn’t really mind listing (because jackets are easy) was this vintage 1967 Big E Levi’s trucker jacket. Vintage denim is SO hot right now. I have found a jacket with the Big E label before and prices were not that high for jackets. They have definitely gone up.
This sold overnight for $169.99 free shipping. Hubby (again, the Big E whisperer) found this right before our road trip and we just now got to listing it.
In case you’re wondering about the whole “Big E” thing, on the red tab of Levi’s is the word “Levi’s”, right? Well before 1971 the tab looked like this “LEVIS”. The made the “e” lower case in 1971. The size of the letters didn’t really change…the “VIS” is probably technically lower case too they just don’t look any different. So a tab with a “Big E”, if authentic, is a pre-1971 piece of denim.
Remember my Big E jeans score? Yeah, that was Hubby too. I need to take him thrifting more often. Well, no, maybe not. That’s one reason we have the backlog we do, lol.
And yes, I thrifted. I admit it. I didn’t really slow down all that much. That’ll have to be saved for another challenge.

How did you do? Did you get some older items listed this month? Did you slow down on sourcing? Make any lots? Feel free to comment below!

Listing Challenge 2017 ~ Week Two ~ Turn That Stash into Cash!

listing-challengeweek2

Well, the first week is done. How did you do? Did you turn some stash into cash? Or at least get some of it out there where it can be purchased…instead of sitting on a shelf or in a bin? (This post may contain affiliate links)

I’m pretty happy with how the week went. I felt like the challenge made me push myself a bit more and gave me a bit more of a focus.

Maybe you saw on Facebook, one of the groupings I started with is pictured here:

If you remember, the challenge I was focused on last week, was to grab 2 stash items for every 1 “newer” item I was intending to list. The stack of books in the back is called Value Tales and I’ve sold them before on Ebay so that’s where this stack went. I picked them up a couple weeks back at the thrift store.
The other 2 “stash” items up front are Dymo Label Makers. Old school fun!!
The Dymo Slimline is fairly rare but I’ve actually found and sold one before so it was a quick tweak and relist. The Dymo 1570…I’ve sold a few of those without the case and extras so that was an easy list as well.

So why were they on the stash?? Well honestly it was because I wanted to add extra rolls of tape and we couldn’t find the bag o’tape we’ve collected. Hubby knew it was around but I just had to wait until he unearthed it. So into the stash they went. Well he found the tape a few weeks ago so I knew my time had come.
And guess what? After being listed a couple days…they both SOLD! To two different people on two different continents…but within 3o minutes of each other. Isn’t online selling fun??
The Slimline sold for $46 and the Dymo 1570 chrome model sold for $54.

STASH INTO CASH, BABY!!

So that did help motivate me a bit more. I pushed a bit harder, worked later into the evenings and decided what to pull out and work on ahead of time. With my increasingly busy schedule and reduced time for working, this was essential.
One grouping was these craft kits.

((sorry for the wonky photo…I’m way too tired to fix it right now..lol))

Some I had just thrifted recently but the others were in my bin of craft stuff. Some listed, some unlisted, some used to be listed but who knows what happened. I got about half of it listed in various venues but I’m still working on it. I’m a slow lister. 🙂

Another motivating factor is that Hubby re-opened his Etsy shop! Having someone else listing some of the backlog just takes so much of the load off. Plus, he can do the pesky stuff I was really putting off. Honestly, some of it were things HE thrifted so I’m glad he’ll take care of them. 😉

Check out his shop here: Metal and Tweed.

Well, I can’t put it off any longer. I’m sure you’re dying to know how I did with the second half of my goal. The *gulp* NO THRIFTING part.

I failed. But I failed stupendously. Because I scored this Bakelite bangle stack…just hanging there at Value Village with the other plastic bangles. I have it in my Mod Cat Treasures jewelry shop. You can see it here.
I’ll just say, remember I had to return a pair of jeans? So that’s really why I set out. And…and…Hubby was home listing…and thrifting is therapy…and…and…I didn’t buy much…and…and…dang it. I have no self control.

Oh well. There’s always next week.

Speaking of.

Here are my challenges for this upcoming week. Nov 8-14. Wed to Tues.
If you care to join in, I’ll be trying to continue to pull from my stash while whittling away at the newer acquisitions.

My main challenge will be to LOT THINGS UP. Sometimes this is just the fastest way to move things. Selling things individually does make more money, but it’s slower. I think I will look at my different niches and see if I can make a lot for each one.
I have started a flatware lot. Stainless flatware. I have a box that I throw flatware in as I sort it out at the time of purchase. Mostly stuff that it still in great shape but is just a lesser known brand, unmarked, or not worth my time to list separately. These lots sell to camps, church groups, etc…I’m trying to make the lot of fairly good quality but clearly not really a resale lot. I have needed to do this lot for a long time…it’s overflowing…so this is the week!
But I think I’ll lot up some sewing patterns and maybe some jewelry. Sometimes it just feels good to move some inventory OUT.

Can you think of anything you can lot up this week? Let us know how your Listing Challenge is going!!

Listing Challenge 2017 ~ Turn That Stash Into Cash!

listing-challenge

There is just something about November.

I’ve been feeling a bit overwhelmed. I have great things to list. But I keep buying more. I still have a backlog behind all the great RECENT stuff I found. I need to stop adding to the pile until I get more listed and sold. Which means LESS thrift store shopping. No, honestly, it should mean NO thrift store shopping. Ugh. So sad.

I started thinking about a challenge. A no (or less) thrift challenge. A listing challenge. With definite goals and projects. I went back in my blog to the last Listing Challenge I did…it was a year ago in November!! That blog post could be THIS blog post. Oh how things haven’t changed.

See? There is just something about November.

So, are you with me? Are you ready to turn that stash into cash? Remember, it can’t sell if it’s not listed.
So let’s dig into those boxes and bins and Rubbermaid totes. Find the bottom of that “death pile” and pull out a winner.

So here are my particular goals for this first week.

~ Shop my stash. Much like last year, I’ll be focusing on getting older items listed as well as the newer-ish stuff I’ve brought in. So for every one newer item…I will pull out TWO old “stash” items and get them listed too. I remember sometimes when you dig deep, you get surprised at what you find. It’s like thrifting all over again! I will thrift in my own bins which will help me with my second goal:

~ No thrifting this week. Gulp. Okay, I’m not sure how I’ll handle the fact that I have to return an item to a thrift store that I bought last week. I’ll double check how long I have and see if I can put it off ’til next week.

These are my two goals for this week. Feel free to use them as well, or find your own challenges that fit your situation. But try to push yourself a bit.

Let’s run this first week’s challenge from today, Wed Nov 1 until next Tuesday, Nov 7.

Comment below if you are up for the challenge!! You can also follow the action on my page on Facebook where I will share updates, photos and possibly a video or two!