To sell everything?

[ThatsUnusual]

My friend (close friend for years, lovely person) has told me I'm weird. And too frugal/tight, because I sell anything and everything I don't use. She says it comes across as grabby and tight, after I told her I'd sold 10 bags of (unwanted) topsoil from our garden for £5. I'm now questioning it.

It's not just the money - I just hate wasting anything. I hate the idea of more and more crap going to landfill. Even though it sounds ridiculous, I get more interest if I sell something for even £1 rather than saying 'free to collector.'

Stuff like unused bottles of expensive shampoo (after 1 use and DH decides he doesn't like it), celebrity cookery books I don't use anymore or were unwanted gifts, a bookcase that was too big for the room, a job lot of unneeded cutlery, a house plant, a small vanity mirror, etc.

She said I should just chuck it away or charity shop but soil, really? whatever I don't use/want. But I prefer to sell it for 10p or whatever and someone gets a bargain and use out of it! AIBU?

Each to their own. If it's in decent condition then why not? I see things on the FB Market occasionally that are only fit for the bin and I do think "Jeez, put it in the bin!" But if you are selling decent things for a bargain price then I can't see a problem. I certainly wouldn't think it made you grabby or tight. It's your belongings, you can do as you like with them!

I tend to just put things on for free with soonest to collect being the one who can have it. I put 2 x car seats on last week for free. One car seat was collected promptly that morning and the other was due to be collected later by someone else. However, my close friend messaged and said she had seen the post and could she please have it. I opted to help out my friend. When I advised the other lady that the item was no longer available she went into a massive rant. My response was "I can choose to give MY belongings away for FREE to whomever I choose..."

Nothing wrong with it, but I'd probably give opened bottles to a shelter rather thans sell it

Actually it’s a well known thing that selling something for a small amount of moment as opposed to giving it away for free makes the buyer more invested and less likely to flake- I read about it a few years ago! So I actually see your logic. And anything to avoid stuff going to landfill or a trip to the tip!

That said, if I can give something away for a good cause I will do- we have a local women’s shelter that picks up from your house so all baby items, my old clothes, unopened toiletries go there.

I do agree with you . It's your stuff and sell it if you like. I have tried to sell some stuff recently, books mostly. Some have sold and some have not. I will just donate what I cannot sell.
We sold a buggy/prom/car seat combo recently for £15 and the money was badly needed. It is nice to make money from your old stuff.

I hadn't thought of donating unused toiletries to a shelter - what a great idea, I'll do that in the future.

Thank you for the replies, I was worried I was committing some social cardinal sin

About a year ago I sold a bag of kids clothes for about £10. I was really happy with that as the money was badly needed at the time.

I sell all sorts of things on facebook marketplace.
It's also the first place I look if I need to buy anything.
I'm picking up a barely used lawnmower for £30 this afternoon.

I think it’s tight.
Someone I know was given an expensive bottle of perfume for Xmas from work- she hated it but it is her sisters fav scent, she sold it to her- I think that’s disgusting

I sell things to my sister if she wants them

She’s a grabby git and was awful to me as a kid. Constantly stealing my stuff and refusing to give it back. This is my petty way of recouping costs

We don’t get on very well at all

I wouldn't sell anything that was a gift or handed down from someone else. hand-me-downs should be passed on if still in good enough condition.