To sell or not to sell

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mizznicole

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So…we’re in the worst financial shape of our lives, for several reasons.

What I’m wondering is what you would do in order to pay your mortgage and buy food:
  1. sell your wedding dress on ebay
or
  1. sell depreciated blue chip stock
Both would get nearly the same amount. The first is an emotional issue. The dress is heirloom quality. The stock is would be difficult too, because it would be a permanent loss.

Okay, discuss! Thank you.
 
Don’t sell your wedding dress!

Sell the stock. You could buy stock again in the future, your wedding dress is not replaceable.
 
sell the dress
if the memory is precious, take a picture of the dress and put it in your album or better yet on the wall where you can see it.

don’t sell the stock, it has the potential to regain some value, the dress will only depreciate.

stuff does not equal memories, emotions, sentiment, only the event they remind you of does that, so spend that emotion investing in your strong marriage and family, not in giving house room to an object.

if the dress really has that value, are you storing it in museum quality conditions (properly cleaned, stored in acid free breathable fabric storage, including careful folding (never hanging) in acid free tissue in the appropriate box, temperature and humidity controls etc)? if not, it is losing value rapidly. you could also consider donating it if can establish its value for a tax write off.

note you have two opposing answers based on opposing logic, which tells you there is only one person who can make the best decision for you
 
I’ve been thinking about selling my wedding dress just because it is taking up so much room in my closet.

It is just a dress. I’m never going to wear it again…and let’s be honest, chances are if I ever have a daughter she’ll want her own. Wouldn’t it be great to sell my dress for a good cause [Dresses for Breasts] or to some girl who couldn’t afford a dress otherwise?

I don’t feel any sort of emotional connection the dress. All of my emotions are tied to the man I married and the memories we created that day. I am admittedly a memory hoarder of books, notes, cards, etc, but a wedding dress just seems like something different. Plus, my memory box takes up about 15 inches of shelf space. My dress takes up almost 1/2 of one of the bars in my closet.

I’ve got the memories of that day forever…I wake up almost every morning looking at the man I married. What could be better than that?
 
mizznicole said:
So…we’re in the worst financial shape of our lives, for several reasons.

What I’m wondering is what you would do in order to pay your mortgage and buy food:
  1. sell your wedding dress on ebay
or
  1. sell depreciated blue chip stock
Both would get nearly the same amount. The first is an emotional issue. The dress is heirloom quality. The stock is would be difficult too, because it would be a permanent loss.

Okay, discuss! Thank you.
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This has to be the silliest thing that I have ever heard!
 
puzzleannie said:
sell the dress
if the memory is precious, take a picture of the dress and put it in your album or better yet on the wall where you can see it.

don’t sell the stock, it has the potential to regain some value, the dress will only depreciate.

stuff does not equal memories, emotions, sentiment, only the event they remind you of does that, so spend that emotion investing in your strong marriage and family, not in giving house room to an object.

if the dress really has that value, are you storing it in museum quality conditions (properly cleaned, stored in acid free breathable fabric storage, including careful folding (never hanging) in acid free tissue in the appropriate box, temperature and humidity controls etc)? if not, it is losing value rapidly. you could also consider donating it if can establish its value for a tax write off.

note you have two opposing answers based on opposing logic, which tells you there is only one person who can make the best decision for you
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Practical advice. I would sell the dress and hold on to the stock. Stocks will go back up eventually the value of the dress will not. A dress is just a material concern and if it were me I’d rather have the money to help my family then a dress I’ll never wear again hanging in the closet. 👍
 
Do not sell your stocks. That is not what financial advisor’s are suggesting at this point. They will go up as they always have after a downturn.
The bottom of the market is never the best time to sell your stocks.

As for the dress, it’s just stuff. Heirloom quality is nice - but the reality of it is that very few people end up wearing the dress their moms or grandmas wore. If you are blessed with a daughter, wouldn’t you want her to pick her own?

Most brides want to pick out their own style. It’s also part of the whole bridal experience. You enjoyed it right?

Just a thought I guess.
 
There was a great article about the value of things in our local metro paper about all of the financial loss is not money but the value that people have agreed that something is worth, whether it be stocks or a house. All on paper … what is paper! You have your wedding garment and it is a great symbol of your promised fidelity, your Christ-like gift of your life to your husband.
 
I would sell the dress and keep the stock. A marriage is more than a dress, I would hope. Take a picture of it and let it go (this said from someone that has a terrible time doing getting rid of things, but I just let go of a ton of baby clothes I never thought I would be able to do!). Having a house and food is more important!
 
**Sorry, no advice…

but a question:

what kinds of organizations can wedding dresses be donated to? I still have mine but haven’t had it preserved or anything (a total shame as it was a gorgeous, expensive dress!). I doubt I could get much money for it but to donate it would be a good idea I think:)**
 
Funny, I just came to the opposite conclusion! I looked on ebay and dresses are not selling well. I’m definitely not letting it go for cheap.

I guess I’m attached to the dress because family traditions and heirlooms are really important to me. I have stuff handed down from a few generations ago. And because my dress isn’t trendy (it is a vintage style) I think it will hold the test of time.

I really wanted to wear an old family dress. My mom’s was too 70’s, and my great-great-grandma’s needed too much repair work. My dress is professionally cleaned, sealed, and wrapped.

Puzzleannie’s right. They are opposite options. I need to keep praying about it.
 
I know this isn’t the answer to your question, although my thought is, is doing either going to get you completely out of your financial problems? Or is it just going to help you through this month?
If it is just going to help you through this month and you will be in the same predicament next month, I would advise you to do neither. Go to your local food pantry or Church for assistance with food. Go apply for food stamps. Find a GOOD and credible financial councilor to work with you to get through this financial crisis you are having. A good financial councilor will be able to negotiate with your creditors and even your mortgage company.

My guess is if you are in the worst financial shape of your lives, selling either of the two will just be a little bandaide for a large wound.
 
Feanaro_s_Wife said:
**Sorry, no advice…

but a question:

what kinds of organizations can wedding dresses be donated to? I still have mine but haven’t had it preserved or anything (a total shame as it was a gorgeous, expensive dress!). I doubt I could get much money for it but to donate it would be a good idea I think:)**
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I know there is an organization that takes used wedding dresses/formals and makes burial clothing for babies. I cannot find the exact link – someone here had mentioned it – but doing a Google search I found a couple of different organizations. Something like that could be such a blessing to a suffering family.
 
JustAnotherTHou makes a good point. Instead of selling the dress or the stock, you need to take a good hard look at why you are needing to sell either. Are you in debt? If you are, I can relate. I was in debt and I know how hard and scary it can be. Here are some of the things I did to get out of debt 1-I stopped using credit cards, 2- I saved an emergency fund of $1000(I paid the minimums on my CCs until this money was in the bank then I attacked the CCs) . 3-took a second job to supplement my income, 4-i sold things around the house I didn’t need like a bike, a heater, etc. 5-I started taking lunches to work instead of eating out 6- I ate beans and rice and rice and beans (from Dave Ramsey), 7-I got rid of my car payment and got a cheap car that i paid $2600 for (the insurance was cheapter too) 8-I budget every penny every month, i know what i can spend on gas, groceries, etc. But while i was doing this i gave up a lot. I quit going out to eat unless it was someone’s birthday. I only traveled for business when my company was footing the bills. I have fans and ran those instead of an air conditioner. etc. It was hard work but I didn’t get into trouble over night and I knew I wouldn’t get out of trouble over night either.

Dave Ramsey has a good plan for helping folks get out of debt.

Also, on the ClarkHoward forum (clark howard is a consumer advocate with a talk show who helps folks get out of debt and not get cheated on stuff). Anyway, there are folks on that forum in the “Dump your Debt: Don’t borrow it, pay it down” that are very helpful. clarkhoward.com/p/boards/ch/postlist.pl?Cat=&Board=debt&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5

And here is a list of easy ways to save money. It doesn’t sound like much but it really does add up over time. clarkhoward.com/p/boards/ch/postlist.pl?Cat=&Board=debt&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5

I understand your need for money now, believe me I do. But you need to look six months and a year down the road and figure out what the real problem is.

Also, I personally think selling that stock is a very poor decision for two reasons. 1-the economy is in the dumps right now and you are going to take a huge loss on what you put into it and 2-the stock has now where to go but up so they will be worth a lot more soon. I am betting they will at least double in the next 8 - 12 months.

I am no financial expert but I know how to get how of debt and stay that way.
 
Feanaro_s_Wife said:
Sorry, no advice…

but a question:

what kinds of organizations can wedding dresses be donated to? I still have mine but haven’t had it preserved or anything (a total shame as it was a gorgeous, expensive dress!). I doubt I could get much money for it but to donate it would be a good idea I think:)
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There are religious orders where the women take final vows in a wedding dress. They accept donated dresses.

Another idea is to donate it to your Parish. Some young lady might not be able to afford a wedding dress.

Missions groups is another idea.
 
mizznicole said:
So was breaking a jar of nard and anointing our Lord’s feet.
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I don’t get the connection? I don’t think the your wedding gown is comparable to a jar of ointment. I don’t think stocks are comparable to a jar of ointment either. I could suggest that you are very disappointed in your marriage, your husband particularly, but, I didn’t. That might be something to think about.
 
ohioszo = :whacky: I **have no idea where the uncharitible and unrelated marital issues came from but they weren’t helpful or logical.🤷 **
**I agree you should look at more than this month and do all you can to avoid this being a recuring pattern. However, it’s also possible she has/is and still needs to get through this month. Sometimes you just can’t wait for the cash to come later. BTDT.😦 **
**It depends on how strong your attachment to the dress is. For me, I’m as attached to my wedding dress as to my dc’s baptismal gowns. Would I starve or be evicted to keep them? Nope. But it might be a near thing to that before I’d get rid of them. 😉 Seriously the only physical item I have above those is my wedding ring. And you’d have to literally cut it off my dead hand to get that off me. **
**For that matter, my dh would spaz if I even suggested selling any of those things. I’d literally have to lie to him and do it behind his back b/c no way no how would he be okay with it. He’d sell the stock before letting his wife sell those things. In fact, he’d sell almost everything in the house before those things. **
Now if you are okay with selling the dress, then sell the dress and hope the stock helps you out at a later, hopefully more profitable date.
**Personally I’d sell the TV(s) instead! Goodness knows those have no value.😃 Seriously, electronics are easier and quicker to sell and most of the time you can do without them. Maybe have a garage sale if it’s not already too cold for that in your area? **
What do you need the money for and to you absolutely need the money ASAP?
 
Feanaro_s_Wife said:
Sorry, no advice…

but a question:

what kinds of organizations can wedding dresses be donated to? I still have mine but haven’t had it preserved or anything (a total shame as it was a gorgeous, expensive dress!). I doubt I could get much money for it but to donate it would be a good idea I think:)
Click to expand...
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=206807&highlight=wedding+dress+gown Check this link… you might like this… I think that’s what I’m going to do after losing 2 of my own babies.
 
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