So lately I have been listening to Dave Ramsey’s radio show about financial matters and I have really taken to this idea of not living with debt. Imagine this, I retire thinking that I’ve got this pension, my wife has a decent job, and I’ll just sort of hang out. Reality strikes. Within two months of retiring, Carolyn is downsized on Labor Day Weekend 2012 and all those nice insurance benefits she is receiving get thrown out the door and life happens. Carolyn reenters the workforce and to make a long story shorter, I eventually become employed in the HR department at the Mazatzal Casino where I can purchase family insurance for about $500 a month which is way less then the $1000 we were paying so I’m $500 to the good each month just on insurance.

Now while all that goes on, our daughter, Caitlin, is getting married this coming June, Jordyn is attending ASU, going to a New York wedding in the Fall, have to attend a Class Reunion in Ohio in August, and the costs continue to climb, and yet I’m on a kick to stay financially healthy without debt, so it makes for interesting choices. Who’s complaining? I’m not, I’m peeking up through the clouds seeing the sunshine and doing all kinds of creative things to generate cash flow. Buy and sell cars, officiate spring football, and now I have discovered eBay. My brother Thomas has been cleaning out the clutter through eBay and has told me how he has reduced the number of storage boxes he has and has inspired me.

Then I hear Dave Ramsey http://www.daveramsey.com/home/ talk about getting cash through eBay and holding yard sales, and downsizing automobiles,  doing whatever it takes. Well out goes two cars, I renegotiate cell phone service, change my auto and home insurance, eat out less, drop the dish, you know cut the costs and sell things. It’s eBay to the rescue.

I have this new found obsession with eBay. Within two and a half weeks, I unload 29 items that were sitting in buckets in the garage of things that nobody would buy at a yard sale in Payson. You know like bobbleheads of baseball players who have long exchanged teams and maybe disappeared from baseball. Guys like Brandon Webb, Conor Jackson, Chad Tracy (who’s he?) and then of course, Randy Johnson, Willie McCovey, Steve Nash, Alice Cooper, Monk, even Sheriff Joe Arpaio. For crying out loud, I’m even selling my favorite band, Third Day, bobbleheads. (I did have two sets and I am keeping my autographed set)

So I’ve rummaged and scavenged packing materials, I’ve wrote compelling descriptions, maybe not so much, but I’ve spent hours packing them up and dropping them off watching my PayPal account grow by leaps and bounds (ok by about $200) but stuff is leaving the house. The reality is I’m having fun. The shocking part is eBay and PayPal take some serious cash from my sales. But I’m feeling the accomplishment as of today, 29 items out of here. I must be averaging at least $2.00 an hour on my time.

So in this process I have created an OCD monster–me. I am obsessed. What can I sell today? A 2000 Furby? Yup. How about made in the USA Wrangler jeans?  Got those too. Then add the fact that I suffer from Adult ADD and Carolyn is like “Tim, it’s not like we have this big house (1300 sq. ft.) where we can have stuff everywhere.” I’m like “I’m only using the kitchen table, the kitchen counter, the garage, the storage shed, and the computer room. What’s your problem?” “I’m selling stuff”. “Don’t worry, I’ll clean it up later!” But just maybe I am creating and recreating a monster size mess. Oh well, it is a virtual yard sale that occurs in the house in just about every room.

I have eliminated three Costco plastic storage containers in about three weeks and added 200 dollars to the funds. At this rate I should be rolling in the money by next year or will I find another obsession to occupy my time? In the meantime, if you want to see my stash and add to my cash, you can always check out my profile http://www.ebay.com/usr/kingofvice 21 years in the same house equates to treasures long forgotten. So if I ever want to get out of here, I just can’t have the clutter. I’ve got to have the money.