If you plan on buying new formal dinnerware and aren’t sure what to do with your current set, take a look at the ideas below:
-Hold a garage/yard sale.
This is a great way to get rid of any other stuff you don’t use anymore as well. Just be sure to advertise the sale, or you’ll be sitting outside with a bunch of junk all day for no reason. Pay attention to the presentation — make a point to display everything you’re selling in an appealing manner.
-Sell it online.
E-commerce — another great way to make some money off your old belongings. With sites like eBay, Craigslist and Etsy, it’s easy to find a new home for your stuff and add to your rainy day fund at the same time. Make sure you take nice photos of everything, as well as close-ups of your formal dinnerware, especially if it has a pattern, or scratches and nicks. Also take a close-up of what brand it is — some brands, like Arthur Court or Spode might fetch higher bids than others.
-Hold a swap party.
This one’s the most fun, especially if you’re not looking to make a profit. However, this one also requires the most effort. If you’re up for it, get in touch with a local consignment shop or donation center and see if they’re willing to let you hold the swap there in exchange for a small fee and/or donation of what’s left over. If not, you can do it at your home, or wait for a nice day and have it outside in your backyard. If you know someone who has access to a large space, ask him or her if it’s okay to do it there. Once you know where it’s going to be, make a Facebook event or send out an e-vite to your friends, asking them to bring any of their old, unwanted belongings — clothes, dishes, furniture — that are still in good condition to a designated place. Once everyone’s there, start swapping!
-Re-gift it.
I know, I know, this sounds cheap, but as long as everything’s still in great condition and you still have the original boxes, there’s no reason someone else can’t enjoy your formal dinnerware. Maybe someone’s had their eye on it and you didn’t even realize it — make a Facebook post or tweet asking if anyone could use a new set of dishes. You could also give it to a nephew or niece setting out on his or her own for the first time, to help ease some of their costs.
-Donate it.
If you want to put in as little effort as possible, this is the option for you. Take your formal dinnerware to a local thrift store during their designated donation hours and drop it off. Gather up anything else you don’t want and take it along as well, to alleviate clutter in your home.
