I'm in the process of cleaning out my garage and I think I might have underestimated how much junk I had just taking up space.

If you need to get rid of junk but don't know where start, take a look at these nine steps.

1.  Don't try to do it all at once.  This is a great tip for keeping you from becoming overwhelmed or giving up before you start.  Set a timeline for yourself and divide the job up into smaller goals.

2.  Don't put ANYTHING into a "maybe" pile.  Everything should be placed into a "yes" or "no" category.  This is how you got the junk in the first place, by assuming you'd need things later on.

3.  Have a garage sale.  Advertise well, and offer volume discounts.  Also put out a "free" box with stuff you can give away.  People will be more likely to shop if they think they can get something else for free. I really love this idea!!

4.  Post your bigger items online.  For furniture and appliances, the best thing is to list them on Facebook, Craigslist or eBay.  You'll get more exposure and usually a better selling price.

5.  Use websites like Facebook or Freecycle.org to give things away.  Freecycle is a website where you post stuff you don't want.  Usually there's someone out there who'll want your junk and will take it and fix it up.  Even if they can't fix it,  that's fine because now it's theirs to worry about and no longer your junk.

6.  Donate it to charities and local organizations.  A lot of charities will schedule a pickup with you.  Or you can contact places like schools, assisted living facilities, and community centers to see what kinds of things they can use.

7.  Sell items through consignment stores or flea markets.  This is great for things like antiques and special items that you don't want to put out at a garage sale.  Or you could go to a pawn shop or antique dealer, if you have anything that's actually worth good money.

8.  Put it out on the curb.  If you can't sell it and you don't want it, try leaving it outside and place a sign on it saying 'FREE'.  People will take just about anything.  If they see it sitting there, they'll think they saw it first, and they'll grab it because they don't want to miss out on a good deal.

9.  Throw it away.  After the first eight steps, whatever is left goes straight to the trash.  Take it to the dump if you have to, or call a junk removal service.

Source: Consumerist

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