It’s Never Too Late to Sell (And I’m Not Talking About Your House)

We’re constantly bombarded with messages about when the best time is to sell: stocks, homes, crypto. But what about all the other stuff?

You know… that camera gear collecting dust, the extra monitor from your old remote setup, or the jacket you haven’t worn since 2021.

This post isn’t about the housing market. It’s about clearing space for yourself, for someone else, and for what’s next.

The Hidden Cost of Keeping Things "Just in Case"

Just because something fits neatly on a shelf or in a box doesn’t mean it belongs there forever.

If you’ve ever read about Parkinson’s Law, you’ll get this: “work expands to fill the time available.” I’d argue clutter expands to fill the space available, too. And if you’re not intentional, your home becomes storage, not sanctuary.

I try to do a personal audit once a month. I look around and ask:

• Have I touched this in the last 3–6 months?
• Is it seasonal or truly useful?
• Would I buy this again today?

Most of the time, the answer leads me to list, donate, or toss it, and I f***ing love finding the next thing I'm going to get ride of.

There’s Value in Letting Go (Literally)

In just the last few months, I’ve sold over $500 worth of items I barely remember owning.

From old tech to unused home goods, secondhand selling platforms like:

• eBay
• OfferUp
• Facebook Marketplace
• Mercari
• Back Market

…have made it incredibly easy to turn clutter into cash.

And if it’s not worth selling? Donating feels just as good. Sometimes better. Here are great places to donate to:

• Your friends or family (only if they want it, don't burden them, just put a post out on social media, and you'd be surprised how quickly people will respond)
• Goodwill
• Local church
• Most states/cities have electronics recycling depots where you can drop off items no questions asked. Just make sure you wipe hard drives if you can.

The Secondhand Economy Is a Quiet Superpower

Giving something a second life isn’t just good for your space, it’s good for the world.

Whether it’s a soccer ball, an old laptop, or a winter coat, someone else can probably use it more than you can right now. That $50 laptop might not mean much to you anymore, but it might mean opportunity to someone else.

This mindset came into focus during my time in South Africa, and even earlier visiting Native American reservations in South Dakota. Sometimes the simplest object, something you were ready to toss, can become someone else’s most prized possession.

Stuff Will Cost You, Even If You Don’t Use It

Every item you hold onto comes with future friction.

• Mental friction: You’re storing decisions, not things.
• Physical friction: You might end up moving it (and paying for a bigger truck).
• Financial friction: Value decays. That $100 item might be worth $30 next season.

A good example? I had some snow gear lying around. Do I ski often in Houston? Nope. But still, I held on...just in case. Truth is, if I ever really needed it again, I could grab it secondhand, likely cheaper and newer.

Buy Secondhand, Too. It’s Smarter Than You Think.

I’m not just letting go, I’m buying smarter too.

Some of my best finds?

• A pair of Sonos speakers from OfferUp.
• Our living room couch, which came with a free Peloton bike because the seller just wanted it gone and we happened to have space on our trailer.
• Gently used kitchen appliances, home decor, and AV gear I’ve flipped for the same price or more.

Pro tip: Don’t be afraid of platforms like Goodwill, Facebook Marketplace, or OfferUp. You’re not buying junk, you’re investing in reuse.

Hygge is Real! And It’s Not About Stuffing Your Space

Cassidy and I have been on a serious hygge kick lately. It’s wild how much peace and joy comes from the small things, the intentional ones.

Every item in our home has a purpose. A feeling. A reason.

There’s a tree branch in our living room right now that Cassidy clipped from outside and arranged in a vase for my birthday. It’s simple, thoughtful, and beautiful. It’s ours. And it’s more meaningful than half the store-bought stuff we’ve cycled through over the years.

Mindful Decluttering = Mental Clarity

You don’t have to go full minimalist, but here’s what I’ve learned:

• Clarity comes from subtracting.
• The more stuff I release, the more intentional I become with what I add.
• Releasing items builds confidence in my ability to adapt, not hoard “just in case.”

A Packing Trick That Works at Home, Too

One of my favorite mindset hacks comes from how I pack for travel:
Lay everything out… then take 20–30% of it away.

Most of the time, I end up with everything I actually need. I travel lighter, avoid overweight baggage fees, and if I do end up needing something, it gives me a chance to solve creatively or pick something up locally.

One of my favorite shirts? I bought it at the Heathrow airport on an international work trip when I realized I needed something nicer for a meeting. It’s still in my closet years later, and it has a story.

That same principle applies at home. Just because you can store something doesn’t mean you should. Creating space gives you room to adapt, improvise, and enjoy your environment more.

Now's the Best Time (Yes, Really)

Not just because resale value drops.

But because the space you free up today is the opportunity you make for tomorrow.

Less stuff means:

• More room to think
• More financial breathing space
• More energy for what actually matters

Your Turn

Here’s my challenge to you:

➡️ Find one item in your home that you haven’t used in the last 6 months and let it go.
Sell it. Donate it. Gift it. Trash it.

And then tell me about it. Seriously, I want to hear what you parted with, and how it made you feel. Or if you recently sold or donated something and it felt amazing, share that too.

This isn’t just about cleaning up. It’s about creating space for the things that bring you joy, peace, and meaning.

P.S. Don’t sleep on renting high-quality tools when you buy secondhand.

When we brought home our massive living room sectional (secondhand, of course), we rented a furniture steamer from Home Depot for a few bucks and cleaned the whole thing in a couple hours. Worth every penny.

Because of that, we got a higher-quality, dog-friendly fabric, kept it fresh, and still have the option to resell it later at nearly what we paid. (We’ve been through six couches in five years, and every swap feels like a refresh, not a loss.)

✉️ Want more mindset shifts and automation musings like this?

• Follow me on LinkedIn
• Drop me an email, DM, or comment with your decluttering win
• Forward to your friend or loved ones who you think could use a little declutter in their life ;)