Ever wonder if your cast-offs are worth something?
I got an interesting question today, and because it’s one that comes up often, I thought I would share it (with permission of course) – along with my response. See if you can relate:
Hi Hellen,
I was wondering if old magazines have any real financial value. I often use my old Popular Mechanics magazines as a reference for fixing items around the house. Should I just dump them after 25 plus years (300 magazines) as most of the information contained in the magazine is now on the internet? Would be sad to toss them and find out that they have some real monetary value.
Thanks,
Brian
Have you ever agonized over a decision like this? Maybe for you it’s old Oprah magazines or National Geographic. Perhaps it’s not magazines but other items you feel may have some monetary value.
I’ve heard the stories….someone gets rid of something, it turns up at a garage sale, and the new owner finds out it’s worth thousands. Reality check: these stories are few and far between. Most of our stuff is worth far more in our imaginations than it is in reality.
See if my response to Brian can help you with the decision as well:
Hi Brian,
It sounds like fear of the unknown (“what if I find out later that they have some real monetary value”) is preventing you from taking an action you know, deep down, you need to take. You may want to do a quick check on eBay to ease the fear, but I would be surprised if anyone wants them and is willing to pay for them. Bite the bullet, and after the discomfort of the initial ‘mourning period’, you’ll welcome the freedom this loss has given you.
Warmest Regards,
Hellen
My guess is that Brian was 99% ready to get rid of these magazines, and just wanted permission. What do you think? Please share your comments below.
Unless they’re a first issue or of some historical content, I’m pretty sure they’re not of any monetary value. Just bundle them up and donate them to a senior center, nursing home, hospital,etc. If they’re that old and in good condition, I’m sure some of the older folks out there will enjoy them.
Hi Hellen,
I re-call asking you about my “O” Magazines which were filling up the house. You asked me “what is it about them that you like?” I said the cover!
You said then tear the cover off and keep them and move the magazine on to a friend…TA DA! I have a stack of Oprahs Pictures that take very little room and happy friends who are willing to read the mag without the face!
Thanks, Hellen — I stacked up a bunch of magazines today that I’d been saving for reference, after deciding that I hadn’t referred to them at all since putting them in the nice neat magazine holders on the shelf. You must have been inspiring me from a distance! I hope that the children’s rehab hospital will take the kids’ mags.
I’m already good at passing along other magazines, but some I’d held on to. I’m now freeing them to bring joy to someone else.
I took your advice and looked them up on Ebay, and vintage popular mechanics magazines (depending on the year) are worth quite a bit! (Some for $9 each, another 11 for $40). However, it still follows the idea of decluttering – why leave them in your garage when you can quickly and easily see how much they are worth and sell if they are valuable?
That’s surprising – but great to hear! Are they actually selling? When are you putting yours up for sale? I’m curious to see how you do with the sales. Please keep us posted!
It can be hard to get rid of magazines. Where I live (apartment building) we have a table to put old books and magazines, and I always put mine there. I used to keep magazines for years, thinking that I’d read them. I don’t have time to read the current magazines let alone the old ones, so I am happy to share the magazines with others. I just keep the last 6 months of a particular magazine, unless there is an article I really want to read. The bottom line is, anything can be found on the internet now, even magazines, so I don’t need them cluttering up my place.
I think the reason I’m good about this is because I have a friend whose mother had newspapers stacked to the ceiling all over her house. She thought that one day she’d read the papers. It was incredible to walk through tunnels of newspapers. Finally she was able to get rid of the papers. Seeing a visual like that will make you change.
Saw your info in “Home digest” Great article about your car keys.
Read the comment about the magazines. I have lots, so have decided to get rid of them this week. Feel so much better.