Doing a Little with a Little

This summer, I've been consigning people's belongings from my church to raise money for a building project. After fifty some odd years, we're expanding. We have to raise a few million dollars over the next few years to do the project. Some people in the church cashed out their retirement accounts and sold property. I, however, am $50,000 in the hole in student loan debt, and feel ill just thinking about buying a new mattress, or fixing my car. Money makes me crazy.

So I put my thinking cap on. I love my church. My church is my extended family. I want to be a part of its present and its future; I want to put something significant of my own into this project. So I offered, to the entire congregation, my online selling know-how to sell all the stuff they don't mind parting with but will never have the time to deal with. And it's worked out so far. I have taken lot of pictures and dealt with a lot of interested buyers. I have dealt with online scammers (another tale entirely) and invited strangers over to try on wetsuits in my bathroom.

I really wanted to sell this couch. It's so pretty, right? I have a buyer who really wants it, but they live over three hours away. The missing link in my plan is the delivery aspect. I could sell furniture more quickly if I could deliver it. But there has to be a delivery fee, and gas is crazy right now, so I'm stuck to sell all the big stuff within city limits, or lure people to my distant city with the promise of awesome couches.