Done with "stuff"

[mass_burner]

It's been building for awhile, but I'm officially done with stuff. If I don't use it regularly, its got to go! Who's with me!

Unfortunately, I only have real power in the basement, but that will have to do. No more saving stuff for future projects, no more spare parts, that never get used. Selling it all off. No exceptions. From now on, only JIT, immediate use, nothing unnecessary comes in.

Going lean and mean.Thoughts?

 

[woodgeek]

Do it!

One thing I love about my local hardware store 5mins away is a liberal return policy. Anything I have left over after a project I just take back.

 

[Bobbin]

Sigh... perhaps one day I'll be able to do that, too. And you know that as soon as you do it you'll actually need one of the spare parts you purged.

 

[DougA]

I don't consider anything 'non useful' until it is covered in rust with a thick layer of dust and moss growing on it. Even then, if I throw it out, I will regret it a week later when I find that it would have been exactly what I needed.
The beauty of that policy is that 30 years later, the 'stuff' is now considered as either retro and the millenniums want it or it's an antique and valuable. You just need to hang in there another decade.

In the last few weeks, I've put ads up for a lot of my stuff and I'm getting way more than it's worth.

 

[johneh]

I've found the day its gone is the day I will need it
Last fall started to catalogue GM auto parts from late 60 and 70
That I have stored over the years who new there was such a market
for new old stock !!

 

[Highbeam]

My problem is leftover lumber. Like 7' 2x4s, can't return them. Large but not full, sheets of plywood and sheetrock.

 

[DougA]

My problem is leftover lumber. Like 7' 2x4s, can't return them. Large but not full, sheets of plywood and sheetrock.

Time to build another wood shed.

 

[Bobbin]

Highbeam, you made me lol. It's all too familiar. I am notorious for holding onto 1/2 yd. pcs. of fabric (much of which was expensive and its return rejected by customers), but practically? how many toss pillows does the world really need? I routinely cull the herd and place it kerbside on a sunny weekend... it's gone in a couple of hours. Passin' on the joy and wonder of fabric!

 

[semipro]

Reminds me of George Carlin on "stuff".

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[firefighterjake]

I love it up here in Maine . . . as Bobbin' said . . . place something halfway decent along the road/street with a "Free" sign and even when you live on a rarely driven road like I do, 9 times out of 10 it will be gone in a day. Got rid of an older, functioning dishwasher (and they even took the cardboard "Free" sign as well).

 

[Bobbin]

George Carlin... a national treasure. No wonder the helpmeet and I have no problem laughing all measure of inappropriate material!

 

[Doug MacIVER]

the sounds like an episode from "American Pickers". How many times do you hear a seller say," found it free on the side of the road"

 

[Knots]

It's a fine line between saving stuff that you'll never use and running so lean that you always have to go to the store 5 times during every project.

Ever try to help your buddy fix something and you need a washer to complete the job and he doesn't even have any on hand?

 

[mass_burner]

My problem is leftover lumber. Like 7' 2x4s, can't return them. Large but not full, sheets of plywood and sheetrock.

I had 2 wood carts, getting rid of one and consolidating onto the other. Will deal with that smaller cart later

 

[mass_burner]

I've found the day its gone is the day I will need it
Last fall started to catalogue GM auto parts from late 60 and 70
That I have stored over the years who new there was such a market
for new old stock !!

I have a '69 Buick that I drive, I have one large bin of spare parts, buying no more until I need them.

 

[mass_burner]

It's a fine line between saving stuff that you'll never use and running so lean that you always have to go to the store 5 times during every project.

Ever try to help your buddy fix something and you need a washer to complete the job and he doesn't even have any on hand?

True, but inherent, i hope, in my premise is space. I have several bins with nails, screws, washers etc separated. Also, use is the driving factor.

 

[DougA]

I just sold the scaffolding I bought a year ago to install the new stove pipe and stone wall on my 16' ceiling. Paid $240 on sale but the new cost has gone to over $500. not on sale. Sold for $340.
Cost of stuff from China is going through the roof with the sinking Cdn dollar. I'm happy to get a few months use then sell it for a profit of a hundred.

 

[Buzz Saw]

I don't purge, just organize better. I am blessed with many out building to store "junk " till it's time to you it.

 

[Knots]

I have a '69 Buick that I drive, I have one large bin of spare parts, buying no more until I need them.

Post it up! Here's one of the reasons I have parts on hand:

 

[velvetfoot]

Going lean and mean.Thoughts?

I did that for a little while. Now the pellet boiler and its six tons of pellets have made a dent in my effort.

 

[mass_burner]

I did that for a little while. Now the pellet boiler and its six tons of pellets have made a dent in my effort.

But those are useful.

 

[velvetfoot]

Well, with oil locally at 1.79....

 

[semipro]

And pellets going up in price....

 

[velvetfoot]

Well, if it wouldn't be a pellet boiler, it'd be a wood boiler, and instead of the pellets in the basement, I'd have a stack of wood, oh, and a thousand gallon tank!

 

[sportbikerider78]

I try to stay as minimal as possible. But my "stuff" is pretty organized. Akro bins are your friend.

I can't seem to every throw out any bolts, nuts or screws. I even have a hard time doing it at work.