Recycling? or hoarding!

[Sir Kenyth]

I was reading a post on another board about collecting junk for future projects. He finally built a shed out of scrap lumber that had been sitting in his yard forever when his wife started giving it away. Plenty of people piped in that they too, hoard junk in the hopes of finding uses for them. They bemoaned the fact that whenever you throw something away, you'll need it a year later. I too, admitted to collecting items like computer parts.

I have the perfect solution! Ebay and garage/yard sales! I know it's frustrating to get rid of something and need it a year later, so you have to buy it. The problem is that you can't hoard everything because then you are wasting useful space and providing an eyesore. When your junk storage hits max, it's time to liquidate! When you're no longer in a hobby that takes up space, it's time to give someone else the opportunity to experience the joy! You lose some money by liquidating, but you gain a lot of space and neatness, and lose a lot of headache too! Put the money in savings and use it for future needs. You'd be surprised how quickly things like lumber will go if you put a small ad in the paper. Scrap lumber can also be chopped up and bundled for campground firewood. Campgrounds sell an armfull of pine scraps for $2-$5! In my last garage sale, I built PC's from the old scrap parts and sold them cheap. I also sold off a bunch of junk sitting in storage boxes. I'll be further liquidating stuff this summer/winter. As soon as junk piles up, I sell off. If I could only convince my wife of the same. Her collection of childhood/teenage mementos is nothing short of phenominal!

[Stormymystic]

hey, I always find uses for the junk I hoard

[Stratos]

I agree, Sir K, they should have sold it. If they then needed any of the items they've sold, they can use the money they got from selling all that other junk they DON'T need to buy it.

And sometimes you'll be amazed what some people are willing to pay for other peoples junk.

Edit: Giving it away to charity is also a possibility if there's any organization nearby that accept it.

[ 06-10-2004, 06:21 PM: Message edited by: Stratos ]

[Sir Kenyth]

Oh, I know Stratos! That's what got me started. Unfornately, now I have a compulsion to gather scrap parts to put to use, fix, and/or sell! Do you know how many PC's are thrown away that can be put to use? They can be made into routers/firewalls using Linux. If nothing else, the power supplies can be made into 12V, high amperage power supplies for radio hobbyists. The possibilities are endless, as well as the pile of junk.

[Aelia Jusa]

Childhood mementos are a bit different to just keeping old bits of wood on the off chance you'll knock up a coffee table in a fit of homehandyman-itis . You don't keep that stuff because you'll ever need it again but because it's special because of the memories. You wouldn't sell it and then 6 months later, 'oh I really need that ticket to my school formal'... I'll have to go buy another one'

But yeah, I agree in the main. My aunt used to keep every margarine container she ever had. I dunno if there'd be a market for those though!

[Animal]

One man's junk is another man's treasure. I've got more old parts for vintage and classic sport and muscle cars in my shop than you can shake a stick out.

Most people would find it junk. Of course, the stuff that they keep, I consider to mostly junk. Personally I have no use for childhood mementos, with the exception of my daughter's, but that's for her to decide what to do with.

So is it hording or is it recycling? Depends on who you ask.