We Sold Our Son's Old Furniture

We recently bought our son new bedroom furniture.  He had outgrown the nursery stuff and even though it was the convertible furniture that grows with the child, it really wasn't going to do the trick.  We didn't know what we were doing when we bought that stuff for our oldest child so we didn't fully think it through.  Let me take that back - we did think it through and it worked great for his needs when he was little and we lived in a totally different house.

But this house?  That furniture was not going to grow with him in this particular house that we live in now.

So we used money that I thought we had to hold onto for a debt repayment (seems like it's better to let the military take it out of your check rather than sending them a check - we've been told by several people that they misplace it for a while all too often), and bought Patrick new furniture. It's gorgeous, well-made, and really and truly will be with him for the rest of his life. I mean - he can take it to college and do whatever he wants to with his furniture and his money after that. We won't be buying anymore though.

I had hoped to get $500 - $800 for the three piece set (crib/toddler bed/full size, dresser, and armoire) that was in super condition.

We listed it on Craigslist for $800, hoping that would leave us room to bargain down to the minimum of $500 if needed. When we got a few bites for each individual piece, we were about to split up the set and sell it piece by piece although we guessed we'd fare better with the set. 

Then I posted a link to the Craigslist ad to our community Facebook page. You know what?  Some people who had moved in just one street over a little over 2 months ago wanted to look at it. 

They came over that evening, purchased it the next day, and Chip helped them load it into their house on the third day.  For $650.  Hooray!

We got rid of it for the upper end of what we wanted for it and they have a beautiful new bedroom suite for their little one.

That $650?  We used it for our YMCA membership.  Chip has been wanting one for several years now.  The military (E6 and below) gets a discount and he will get to use the gym during the day, as they have childcare while you work out.  And since the kids take swim lessons there and do recreational sports throughout the year, we'll save money on those activities by paying member prices rather than non-member prices.

I think we'll get our money's worth in the end.

And now I have no excuse not to go to the gym.

Ugghhhhh.