Okay, money doesn't buy happiness. And accumulating stuff shouldn't make us whole.
But there are some possessions that have value greater than the pricetag. And yet, in a recession, when the times get tough ... you sometimes have no choice but to part with these sentimental items.
Take the case of Jonathan Stimes. More than 20 years ago his father gave him several gold coins. They were a gift of labor, Stimes said, for work that father and son did on a family farm in Illinois.
But Stimes, of Burnsville, has lost his sales job and needs to keep the house paid for. So he decided to part with those gold coins. He tells the story from here.
"My stoic Norwegian Dad would have just shrugged and said, 'well, this is what we put it away for.' But when I handed (the coins) over in exchange for the check, I became rather emotional and had to leave the shop quickly. There are tears in my eyes as I write this now because I still miss him and I know deep down he would have rather that money gone for something more special than a mere two house payments."
Stimes wrote this in response to a question Minnesota Public Radio news posed: Have you considered selling something to boost your income.
What we heard was illuminating -- not only because of the reasons that people sell items, but because of what these items meant to them.
Some have peddled (or contemplate peddling) beer can collections, amphibious ATV's or fluke scopemeters (I had to look that one up). Some sold items to increase cash flow, to get out of debt problems or to stockpile money for the rocky road ahead.
Others, like Chris Carlson of Mound said that initially he sold stuff to pay the bills. But now the business owner says he's peddling possessions as a lifestyle choice.
"I continue to sell my good unwanted items as an alternative to the land fill. Its amazing with the exposure you can get with online listing services there is always someone out there that wants whatever it is. I typicaly list for 1 cent or 99 cents to ensure it gets bought. I now do it for the environment I even keep the packaging peanuts from work that would normaly be discarded and box them up and sell them"
So is anything possessing you to part with your possessions? Are you needing to suppliment your income? Is it a lifestyle choice? Are you parting with something that means a whole lot to you?
Tell Minnesota Public Radio and maybe your answer will help make some news.
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Comments: 15
Before this recession is over, I predict that the same feeling my parents had will be how survivors feel. It's a shame that the stock, insurance, auto and banking industries are directly responsible for whats happening now - but I also predict that our generation will be a little more cautious in the future.
The recent Billionaire break-down of who lost that title just goes to show you that with all of that, their loss is recognized as well as those who go to bed hungry..That is something..Maybe our Lord will intervene by invading their hearts, and as our soldeirs have had to step up to do what is right, they will once again work for the citizens of this country who built their empires willlingly, for the good of all. Nice article Michael.. God Bless, Ellen B
I have a gold bracelet that I consider selling when I can't pay the bills that month. It is special because of who and when it was given to me. So far I've been able to make it through borrowing from family, but I sometimes feel guilty keeping the only thing I have of value while leaning on others.
I did sell a lot of my china collection on ebay. My daughters don't want it and I got very good prices. Other things have come to me from my grandparents and I would only sell them if we get desperate.
I agree that my grandparents would be the first to say sell the stuff to pay the bills. They were practical people and had to sell my grandmother's engagement ring to pay doctor bills.
Now I still have the other half of my silver coin collection, which recently had 1 more silver quarter, and 6 more silver dimes added to it, within these last few months, and another silver dime just today. WOO-HOO!!! Plus, I have not had to touch my gold coins at all. HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY!
Because I made the change '06, there are a number of things I am easily able to hold onto, at this point
Thanks for the post.
Maybe that's another shift in the mindset of the American consumer. Maybe. I don't know.... what do you think?
Wanting something is not enough. You must hunger for it. Your motivation must be absolutely compelling in order to overcome the obstacles that will invariably come your way.
In the end, it is the person you become, not the things you have achieved, that is the most important.