Stop Hoarding: Books and Magazines

Believe it or not, my 1,100 square foot Camden apartment has 8 bookshelves in it. Add in the magazine subscriptions and we have a serious hoarding problem on our hands. We learned about how to stop hoarding beauty and hair products, now is the time to get rid of the books and magazines.

bookcase

Image by Me.

1. Get Crafty.
I hoard the magazines mainly for the photos of celebrities, fashion, and quotes. Art journaling is a great way to display the photos, but also get rid of the bulk of a publication. Using a combination of mixed media art materials, magazine clippings, and a notebook, you can create an art journal easily.

pile of magazines

Image by Me.

2. Sell them.
There are used book stores all over the U.S. that buy unwanted, gently worn books. In Gaithersburg, there is a store called Wonder Book & Video. Depending on the volume and genre of book, they will offer a small amount per book. Additionally, eBay is a great option to sell books. Keep in mind that eBay will take a percentage of your sale, and there may be a listing fee. If you own a rare or collectable edition, there is the potential to make top dollar.

3. Donate them.
If a book has wear and tear on the pages or spine, sometimes they are unsellable. In this case, local libraries, Goodwill, and other thrift stores will accept them as a donation. There are also drop boxes in shopping centers that will take used books and donate them for you. If you donate, you have the potential for a tax write off.

4. Recycle.
Sometimes there is no time in our busy schedules to drop off items to donate or to sell items. In this case, drop off your books and magazines in the blue recycling bins at your Camden community. This is a great way to help the environment!

Eliminating the extra books and magazines will not only free up more space in your apartment, but it will minimize the amount of dusting to be done. Next up we will focus on how to stop hoarding clothing.