If you were really, really broke

[704703hey]

Would you try to hang onto your possessions or muddle through and hope for the best?

I'm in a difficult position at present and am unsure what to do.

Where did you find this out? Just because some sellers list books for hundreds, doesn’t mean they actually sell for that.

If I was struggling for money and could make £1000 on one book though, yes I would sell it.

I guess - the full situation is that I'm caring for a dying relative so I can't work full time. They would give me the money if I asked them to but I feel reluctant to do so as it feels mercenary so I am thinking about selling possessions to cover the shortfall, it isn't very much, £1k would tide me through.

It has really made me think about an inventory of what I own and how important it is to me.

I have sold gold jewellery for scrap and do frequent eBay sales. I sell anything I can. I don’t have anything of value because of it but that’s not a problem. It’s actually quite liberating. It’s just stuff so long as it’s not an heirloom or something.

In your situation I would be upfront with my relative and tell them. When I am dying I won't have any reason to hold onto money. If a family member was so kind as to take care of me I would be pleased to give them some money and upset if they were suffering financial hardship and didn't tell me.

I'd sell.

I would be really sad if someone caring for me was thinking of selling their stuff.

Tell your relative.

Could you pawn something? I sometimes do that and then get it back within 6 months.

I wouldn't sell anything sentimental or something that I'd have to replace very soon for 3 times the price. But anything else, as long as it's to cover a temporary shortfall, I'd get rid of.

A lot of my prized possessions are collectables or cost a lot.
There is no way I could get them back or buy again once gone.

So are you unable to work because of your caring responsibilities? I think your relative would want you to tell them.

Personally I have very little pull to many material belongings except a few which have more sentimental than intrinsic value.
I'd have no problem selling a few things to stay afloat in hard times although generally most people expect a "second hand bargain".
I think I'd find a small side line to make a little extra money.

OP when I think about selling my possessions I think if I had whatever said item is worth in pounds would I use it to buy said item or my bills? If you're in trouble I would apply this to my possesions. Obvs if it had irreplaceable sentimental value like a wedding ring, a gift from a deceased parent, I needed it to earn money or it just made my day to day existense easier like a tv or washing machine then it would take a last resort decision but anything else would be fair game.

However saying that OP if you are giving up work to care for an elderly relative and they were independantly wealthy enough to help you out I don't think it is ethically wrong to tell them your situation. X