As I prepare for a "moving" sale to dispose of items I've accumulated over 30 years, I want to make sure I don't mistakingly sell something I may need to barter with in the future. I realize you can't eat antiques and collectibles, but can anyone forsee a time in the post Y2K world when these things may be valuable? It's amazing how liberating it is to come to the realization of the worthlessness of these items in terms of survival, but at the same time understand the income potential. For so many years I've been accumulating objects as a means to provide some additional financial security for my family's future. But as they say, "THE FUTURE IS NOW". Mary

-- Mary (SWEEP@prodigy.net), February 08, 1999

Answers

Personally, I don't think Y2K will result in much more than a severe market crash. Having said that...

If you don't have to use the antiques for fire-wood, they may do better at holding their value than some other things. You would have to wait for something resembling a recovery to sell, though. Probably their only use in barter would be if you traded with "the man/woman who had everything", and they just wanted to "speculate" in antiques. Us regular folk would be looking for gasoline, sugar, booze, etc.

-- Anonymous99 (Anonymous99@anonymous.com), February 08, 1999.

Mary,

Don't fret over unloading some of your treasures. I collected antiques for 25 years, and started selling them off over the past 18 months. Out of sight, out of mind. You won't miss a thing, although I would never sell any family heirlooms....YET. Not having so much STUFF around feels good. It's a cleaner feeling. Good luck.

-- Dave (dave22@concentric.net), February 08, 1999.

First, don't love anything that can't love you back.

Next, if you have any one thing that does not help you survive and you lack any one thing that does help you survive, then you need to get moving on some changes.

What do you need to survive?

Start with this mental image: You're standing naked in a field and you have NOTHING.. What to you need most. OK. What next. OK. Then what. Keep at this process (make lists). When you feel you are equiped to take care of yourself without *any* outside help you have started to achive self sufficencey.

You haven't achieved it yet cause there are a lot of things you missed the first time through, and also because you haven't practiced and become proficient at using all that stuff.

-- Greybear

- Got bens?

-- Greybear (greybear@home.com), February 08, 1999.

How valuable and how easy was it to sell antiques in 1932-33? I personally have no idea, but an answer to that would probably shed some light on Mary's question.

-- Kevin (mixesmusic@worldnet.att.net), February 08, 1999.

look your antiques over carefully. Some of them may be functional items that you could use. Are there old kitchen utensils? Any kind of grinding mills, hand tools for woodworking, garden tools, etc.? If the antique had no function when it was new, it still has no function.

-- Taz Richardson (Tassie@aol.com), February 08, 1999.

Make sure that the "antiques" don't have a function you want to have (butter churn lamp, pull the cords off; rosette irons; kitchen equipment; farm implements; etc.).

Chuck

-- Chuck, night driver (rienzoo@en.com), February 08, 1999.

I am disposing of the entire contents of our collectibles/antique/second hand store now. The last thing people buy in a recession or a depression is antiques and collectibles as they are the least necessary. I am investing in food and brass (lead tipped).

-- sue (deco100@aol.com), February 08, 1999.

I was ready to pitch a Cherry wood windup Jukebox, complete with 78s...Harry James, Benny Goodman, Cab Calloway, etc.

However, this may come in handy if there's no power, and all the batteries are recharging. :-)

-- Tim (pixmo@pixelquest.com), February 08, 1999.

Now,just how the heck do you propose that I convince my kid to get rid of her Beanie Baby collection??

- Got Jelly Bellys?

-- Jelly Bean (jelly@belly.com), February 08, 1999.

One antique I plan to keep and use is my grandmother's Singer Sewing machine. Treadle powered, and working just great, it will repair those tears and sew up new things just fine when the lights go out.

BigFurDog <- Keeping other usefull antiques - like my Dad's Model 71 Winchester (lever action, but sent many an elk and deer to the freezer!)

-- BigFurDog (BigFurDog@snazzle.com), February 08, 1999.

Hi Mary

Antiques are obviously a thing of the past and we all love to live in the past. The reason, outside of quantity, why antiques are valuable is because people like to have things that remind them of their childhood. There is a lot of psychology involved why people are drawn to antiques. The younger generation appreciates the uniquness and the value of older things. It is a status quo and potential investment that most people are drawn to today. I am 50 years old and once in a while I see an item that reminds me of my childhood and I tresure that moment. Antique Dealer know this psychology element and that is what seels their product.

To anwser your question rather to sell or not is an individual choice. The main question is how bad will outcome be of Y2K computer problem in the years to come. If you really don't care about your worldly goods and am focusing on basic survival then sell. Sell now however while people are still buying and have the money to do so.

Just my thought for what it is worth. Whatever you do I wish you the best of luck in the months ahead.

-- Duane (Duane24062@aol.com), February 08, 1999.

Get rid of decorative glass wear, knick knacks and rhinestone jewelry. They have value now but not ITSHTF. I wouldn't trade a bag of rice for a Fenton decorative bowl. I got rid of all my stuff a year ago at the flea market. My mother is 75 and we are selling her house! The lady doesn't get rid of ANYTHING!!!!! I'm fretting about how in the hell am I going to move 60 years of accumlated STUFF! She's addicted to buying record albums and has a collection you would not believe! WOE IS ME!

-- bardou (bardou@baloney.com), February 08, 1999.

I would recommend selling anything you can that is not needed. This might include electronic entertainment devices. I've been selling my CD's and old books. If nothing happens then it won't matter since I expect a new recording format anyway. As for books, I really should not be building a library if I don't own a house. I can buy them back at pennies on the dollar during an economic downturn which I believe is certain even if Y2K is not as bad as expected.

-- Joe O (ozarkjoe@yahoo.com), February 08, 1999.