Emily's Blog - Life by Design

I <3 Craigslist

Most of you know we moved almost a year ago and in that process have continued to purge and simplify. I say ‘continue’ because it is extremely important to me to not be people with a bunch of stuff. And since the phrase “a bunch” is relative, I will define it as particularly a bunch of stuff that we don’t use or need or that gets in the way of our purpose. This is one of the reasons why I like smaller houses.

One of the unexpected gifts that God has given me in this season, is the TIME to purge. And not just the purging of stuff but in all aspects of life. I’m so grateful. My next project, which I probably should be doing right now, is going through several boxes of childhood memorabilia and transferring what makes the cut into rubbermaid boxes. Oh what fun! Anyone want to join me?

But this post is really not about purging but about CRAIGSLIST! I love it. It’s completely free, so easy to use, and in the past two weeks, we’ve made over $300 selling stuff we don’t need, use or want! And we will probably at least double that. I know you can sell stuff on Ebay or garage sales or consignment sales and those each have their uses and pluses, BUT, I still prefer Craigslist. I honestly think you have to look at the items you are selling and pick the right place to sell them.

CRAIGSLIST is located in many major cities in the US so be sure to check it out to see if there is one close to you. Also, there is a freebies section a place for jobs, and even the opportunity to place an ad for something like lawn care bids. It’s instantaneous, has no login requirements, no shipping hassles, no commissions, and no feedback! It is also local which means it is good for both buyers and sellers. The only hang ups that I see with it is the safety issues but with some simple common sense, you should be good to go. Here are my craigslist guidelines: don’t respond to suspicious emails, don’t use your main email address (it is hidden on the post but visible on your responses), don’t meet someone at your house alone (a busy Walgreen’s parking lot works great), only accept cash.

So, quit procrastinating and PURGE! Anything that doesn’t sell can be donated to your favorite charity as well. And you can use your new found money to give, pay off debt, invest in your future, or bless your family and friends!

May 2, 2008   4 Comments