WWYD about train stuff?

**my4littlebuffaloes** · 11-14-2006, 02:16 PM

Basically I am stressed to the max these days. #1 reason is not enough money in the budget #2 reason is not enough time in the day #3 reason is too much stuff.

so I am really wanting to simplify my life. Because I have too much stuff, mostly kids things that get handed down, and not enough money, I figure I should sell some of it and try to make some money.

A big thorn in my side, is the Thomas the Tank train stuff, that we have probably spent a couple of thousand on over the years, it is all wooden, clickety clack track and pieces, almost all retired at this point. I love the trains, the kids have all loved the trains at one time or another, but right now and for probably the past 2 years, no one has really ever played much with them. The train table we have my dad made by hand for us, I don't want to get rid of it. Also they use the table all the time for other things. I kept thinking that claire would get into the trains at some point. Now, if I go up there and set up a track layout, they will all flock to the table and play with it for about 10 minutes and they by the end of the day it is taken over by knights and dinosaurs.

So i just counted and I have over 200 pieces of thomas stuff. What should I do with it? I hate to get rid of it all. yet we could really use the money and I am pretty sure it would sell really well on Ebay. I am contemplating dividing it in half and storing half in a box in the basement for the grandkids. is this crazy? I mean I am hoping that I have another 15 years before that happens and hopefully more like 20 (my oldest is 8). Is saving this stuff a ridiculous idea? should I sell it all? should I just keep it all and store it, so that at least it is out of my way and it is one less thing to clean up or trip over? WWYD?

also any other ideas to simplify my life and lower our outgoing expenses? Thanks!

jennifer

**lottaLove** · 11-14-2006, 02:30 PM

Hindsight is always 20/20, but I wish that my mom had kept some of the toys that I particularly cherished, like my extensive collection of Barbie dolls, to be passed on to my children.

What I would do, is I would go through the collection, keep the most loved pieces, the ones that my children had enjoyed the most, and I would keep these ones for them to pass on to their children. The rest I would sell. This is just me, and I am only saying this because I have the 20/20 hindsight that I wish my mother had when she sold all of my dolls oh so many years ago. I guess we live and learn!

**Sara Noel** · 11-14-2006, 02:35 PM

I wouldn't sell any of it, but that's just me.

**Missy** · 11-14-2006, 02:58 PM

i am a packrat, i'd hold onto it.

**caledoniaquine** · 11-14-2006, 03:03 PM

I would probably store it, you never know in a few years it might be worth more money

**Valerie in WA** · 11-14-2006, 03:18 PM

I'd sell it. You need money and nobody really uses it. But keep the table, because of it's sentimental value and because it gets used.

I sometimes struggle with things that I've spent a lot of money on, but later realize that we don't use or have outgrown. I think I should get rid of it, but a part of me says "But I spent good money on that!" However, that's no reason to keep tripping over it. It's better for me if I recognize that I made a mistake, learn the lesson, and move on.

I would suggest you set it up on last time and have your camera ready. Take some pictures of the kids playing with it. But be quick; you only have 10 minutes.

If I had it all to do over again, I would've bought my kids fewer toys.

**Neeley** · 11-14-2006, 03:24 PM

I agree with lottalove. If I kept everything my kids loved and played with over the years I would have to have three storage rooms to keep it all. When they were little I did keep almost everything. But as the years have gone by I have began to get rid of a good bit of it - all of the Barney, Bananas and Pajamas, Disney etc... For me it all just becomes clutter after a while and I cannot justify keeping it around. But that is just the way I feel - not saying anyone else feels that way. I did keep a few cherished things for them - but only like two large rubbermaid boxes full.

**ironmaiden** · 11-14-2006, 03:54 PM

Once the kids hit kindergarten they are done playing with Thomas on a regular basis. My son will have us drag up the tub of the stuff once every 3 months. He's in 1st grade turning 7. He'll set them up and play with them for an hour or so and leave it there until I pack it all up and put it back down the cellar.

I did toss my DD's jack-in-the-box and she keeps asking me to go find it. I sadly, make up an excuse as to why it is too much work to find it in the cellar.

So, if the kids admit that they are too big for Thomas and wont get upset if they disappear for good, I'd sell them. Take some pictures, take a video.
It would be stuff in the attic for many, many years. And let's face it half the fun for the kids was getting this stuff piecemeal, not getting a giant tub of the stuff all at once. So, if you do want to save a shoebox worth of trains to dole out to the grandkids, go ahead.

**Lyn5** · 11-14-2006, 04:14 PM

I really know how your feeling...I could have written most of your post. Last year I was going to sell DS's Thomas collection at a garage sale...I had it at my mom's with her stuff and about a week before the sale he asked for his trains...he was so upset. Since then I have kept them and only my nephew plays with it when he comes over. I can't part with it yet...so I am holding onto them for a little while more....I may just keep them "for the grandkids" too.

**ewokgirl** · 11-14-2006, 04:58 PM

Here's what I would probably do: Keep a few pieces that hold the greatest meaning or memory. Sell the rest. There's really no point in keeping a bunch of stuff for the potential "someday." If your kids won't freak out and insist on keeping all of it, have them help you decide which few pieces to keep.

Unfortunately, we can't keep everything that has ever held importance in our lives. You may as well free up some space by making your pieces available to other families so that they can enjoy them for a while.

**Telephus44** · 11-14-2006, 05:27 PM

I agree with the people that say to keep the pieces that mean the most to you. I find this interesting because I played with a train set that was my fathers, and he's still saving it for my DS when he gets old enough.

My mother gave me a few things when I moved out that were toys or books I loved as a child - and while I've kept some of them, I've also "decluttered" quite a few of them. I've come to realize that you can only have so much stuff, even if it is from your childhood. I'm trying to keep this perspective now that I have a kid.

**ktboop1** · 11-15-2006, 10:43 AM

I have a nephew who is still very much into Thomas. I agree with above posters that you should keep the table your dad made, and maybe have each child pick a few "favorite" pieces and sell the rest.

If you do sell any, I suggest selling on Ebay instead of a yardsale. I have been looking at items on Ebay for my nephew, and these items are very collectible and are going for pretty good money (IMO).

I have one extra large tote from rubber maid that I keep some of the kids old toys in. Things I think a grandchild would want to play with one day, or things the kids really were attached to or are collectible. Once the tote is full, if I want to add more, I have to pull out something else, because I'm not buying any more totes.

**Katybird** · 11-15-2006, 12:06 PM

I would sell it also. You could use the money and the kids are not playing with in it much anymore so you could declutter and make money at the same time, win-win situation

.

**schellie69** · 11-15-2006, 01:41 PM

I understand I had a bunch of thomas the train vidoes, when my boys were to big for them I loaned them to my sister-in-law for her son, when he was to old she gave them back and I loaned them to my friend now that her son is to old, they will be going to my brothers son, I would keep the ones the kids really liked put them away, and either sell the rest or loan them to another family memeber to use, this way the joy is shared, and the toys don't go to waste in storage, just make sure that it is understood that they are being loaned to the child and when they are done with them they come back to you, just some ideas from me...

**peanut** · 11-15-2006, 05:08 PM

I think it depends very much on the quality of the toy. Most toys are not quality items and those get tossed or sold around here. I've kept very good quality items that have open-ended play value (can be used for anything). Things like blocks, Lincoln logs, marbleworks, a small Tonka tractor and trailer. The rest I get rid of.

I agree with the idea of loaning it to another family to use. This is very smart. Just be sure you can live with the idea if it never comes back or comes back broke. I passed on many toys and books to my younger sister's children.