The Vintage Purge Begins

I’ve been downsizing my Etsy store for months now, but ever so slowly. This week I’m picking up the pace and besides a couple of things given to family and friends, I’ve boxed up 35 items to go to charity.

Here are just a few of the things I’m donating. Nothing of great value or import.

Some of you may be wondering why I don’t put items on clearance (40% – 60% off) to shift them quickly and still get a little money back. For me, it’s generally not worth the time and effort and it’s not the brand image I want to portray–one of a bargain basement store.

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I can tell you that it’s getting easier to let stuff go. Mostly! Sometimes I think “Surely, I can still sell this.” And then I get honest with myself and remember that for some of these items I’ve tried for years to sell them. And not one or two years, but five or seven–like this very cool vintage wood puzzle for ages 2 to 5. After years of trying to sell it, it’s now being appreciated by a toddler whose mom belongs in my Buy Nothing group and that makes me happy.

And I can share that this purge feels strangely good. A relief. Like a weight is slowly lifting. I currently have 673 items in my Etsy store and I’m working towards bringing it down to 500 in a month or two. And we’ll see from there.

As a side benefit I’m also getting rid of more personal bits and bobs. You know those things tucked in the back of cupboards that you forgot you had. So it’s all good.

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If you’re over 50 (younger women are welcome too!), you might enjoy reading my latest blog venture, Today’s Women of Age. With a wide array of topics, most posts are “short reads,” some with a bit of humor, some more serious.

My very first post was the invisibility of older women. Would love to know if you’ve experienced that too.

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All the best,

Karen