Last Updated on April 13, 2017 by Marie Bautista
While blaming the Chinese Ghost Month for my endless gastos and thinking about how to save money, spend wisely and spot bargains, I was inspired to go through the clutter in my room and closet and sell all my junk. More than making a few extra bucks, it was the thought of making room for bigger and better things that excited me. Five days, countless cramps, three migraines and one huge backache later, I had a humongous Toss pile and a relatively small Keep pile.
What I learned
I learned sorting junk wasn’t just a physical activity. Deciding what you value can be pretty taxing – emotionally and physically. In the end, the things I tossed away were the things I spent far too much money on – enough shoes to shod an army (if armies wore heels and girly flats), and enough makeup for a family and five kikay daughters. The things I chose to keep, however, were things I didn’t buy in a mall: The note my boyfriend (now my husband) wrote at the back of my book, scribbled praise from my English high school teacher, photos of me with that pineapple hair hanging out at a hydro-electric plant, two old Mod magazines with articles I wrote.
Looking at my Toss and Keep piles, I realized how strange it is that we sometimes feel we never have enough, when in truth we are showered daily with the most wonderful of blessings – true bargains as I call them.
My True Bargains
My daily list of true bargains would include the priceless joy of lying down in bed with my son Adrian laughing while making poop and fart jokes, the way stale movie popcorn tastes better when shared with The Vince, the times I clown around with my teen girls and feel like a teenager all over again, and the invaluable knowledge that whatever mood I’m in, it will definitely get better once I see my family.
What would your list of true bargains look like? I would love to see! Whatever’s on it, I’m sure you’ll agree that the best things in life don’t come with a price tag, and not everything that counts can be counted. Once you learn the true value of things, a small paycheck or a small closet will never keep you from leading a rich and fulfilling life.
I too am decluttering the house. What I will keep would be the love notes that hb wrote to me when we were dating and photos of everyone. 🙂
Someone from the past sent me an email and I never thought that this person could still make me cry (by just recalling the past). I have been struggling with my feelings for him but he pops into my life every now and then. He wants us to be friends but I can't because the pain is still there… hay… your post hit me bullseye!
btw, i like the look of your blog. simple and elegant. 🙂
I love this post! It makes me think of my own priorities. For example, is working hard the whole day the real bargain or is it ending work an hour early to be able to read books with Yuri? No contest!
there are many priceless things we used to neglect. These are the one we must put in our bargains.
Priceless quote! Hey, your new layout looks nice sis. I want to revamp mine as well! 🙂
Seeing my little girl get excited every time I arrived home after work is one of my true bargains.
We may struggling financially, most of the time, because it's only my husband who provide for us. I'm still thankful to God that He always make me feel happy and complete around my family.
I did my purging early this year and those that I kept were the ones that money can't buy or least money was shelled out … those are the ones that hold the best memories.
Being a stay at home mom makes me happy because I have more time with my son. It is true that we learn how to be contented and satisfied.
I too have been decluttering a lot and also spending more time with the family nowadays this 2015.
Same tayo sis. My true bargain and priceless moment is when the three of us are lying on our bed making kwentos and laughing and cuddling and tickling each other. Truly precious moment.
i felt so much emotions upon reading ur post.
http://chubs10182014.blogspot.com/
My family and the time I get to spend with them will always be my one of my true bargains.
I agree with the quote from Albert Einstein. The memories you share with the people who matter most in your life are the best things to cherish. You can never put a price tag on those simple but special moments.
I wish I could do this too, but I am quite attached with my things that I find it hard to throw/give them away, much less sell them. But it's only a matter of time before I would eventually give in to the necessity. I just need to prepare my heart because I know it's going to be painful!
My true bargain? The time I spent with my daughter and son. The time I spent with them, sharing laughs and playing around. Priceless indeed!
Oh, I have a lot of true bargains: a friend's trust, photographs, letters and memories. Plus, hugs and kisses from family, friends and pets.
Decluttering seems to be a hard task because while I'm thinking of letting go of some stuffs, I just can't help but still keep a majority of them.
I have yet to purge my house of stuff I need to let go. It's already February wah! *panic*
You're right sis. Sometimes I think we just like the feeling of acquiring things noh?!
Agreed! the best things in life don’t come with a price tag. 🙂
This is such a great post! My true bargains is my family, hubby and kids. My family back home is always have space in my heart. I know its not my obligation to feed them or anything but I always find happiness that I know that I can help them in anyway. I feel great to see them smile over skype such a small things that makes me happy.
http://www.sweetcuisinera.com
I'm more into savings this year and well see how it goes. I'm such a bargain seeker and it feel good knowing that you only pay less than regular price. Aside from bargain seeker my TRUE bargain in life is my family especially my kids. They make me laugh with very simple things..:)
http://www.wish4less.com
I agree much to you Sis. I would rather keep things which I consider priceless. I always tell my friends before and even up to now that whenever I travel, I do not collect bags, shoes or clothes but memories. 🙂
I prioritize my actions with much emphasis on the most important ones. Great article indeed and thanks for sharing
The best things in life are free. I also learned that when I tossed a lot of things when we moved houses.
I am looking for my true bargains, and realized that spending more time with my husband and my kids are my true bargain without the price tag. 🙂
aside from ukay finds :), my real bargains are memories I created with people so close to me.
I love decluttering. It is one of my favorite thing to do because I can remove unnecessary stuff in our home.
Material bargains you can find everywhere but real bargains can be find inside our home having our family in a simple living is the best
I also need to purge more things. They feel like burdens, actually. But I admit I have a very hard time deciding what I value. Where do you sell your stuff?
Haha, I always blame the Ghost Month for my endless expenses! Selling the things you don't use anymore is a great idea. I need to clean my clutter and sell the items I don't use anymore.
We only value things only when its new but in the end we must buy things that we need and not what we want. Basically just to reduce cost. I guess I need to clutter too.
I love that quote from Einstein, those most important things in life are priceless.
Just like you, my true bargains are the time I spent with my family. The time I spent with my daughter and son, playing with them, sharing almost endless laughter.
The quote is indeed true. There a lot of things in the world that we do not count yet it matter big time. That is why we should count our blessings no matter how small it is.
I agree with you, sometimes those that we really value turn out to be those we didn't even spend money on — now about that photos of you with that pineapple hair.. are you going to let us see that? heehee.. Just kidding.
So true! Always count your blessing mo matter how small it is. Thanks for sharing Sis
http://www.sweetcuisinera.com
I love to purge and I notice that stuff I toss are those"recent" things I owned. Yes, those I treasure the most are simple items that hold a lot of good memories.