Go Figure!

There used to be a Consignment Shop in the Short North called “Go Figure”.  So, first I need to admit something to you.  OK?  OK.  If you think I have lots of clothes now, you have NO IDEA what I used to have.  I could have clothed 4 women of many different sizes.  It was shameful.  Several years ago I took a look at my closet and said…well, I think I just made an exasperated noise and started sorting the clothes.  They were in bins, under the bed, piled high in the closet, on the floor, in the basement.  I didn’t even know how many I had!  I Googled “consignment shops in Columbus, OH” and found Go Figure.  They specialized in sizes 10 and up.  I happened to have sizes 10 and up!  I went in and met with the owner.  Although I personally found her things overpriced, she knew how to run that place!  This wasn’t a thrift shop.  Things were marked and then after a month on the shelf the price was cut in half.  If things weren’t sold she gave them back to you.  You didn’t just drop things off.  You waited to see if they sold and for how much and collected part of the money.  (Disclaimer:  I realize that this is how consignment works and most of you already know that.  But I had never consigned before Go Figure so, humor me on this!)  I filled out some paperwork and dropped off 5 of my beloved dresses.  So beloved that I forgot I even had them.  (eyeroll)  But I must admit, somehow it was still painful to part with them.  In the back of my mind I always thought I would eventually get to wearing them.  Le Sigh.  On my pick-up date I went to the store.  All of the dresses had sold and the owner gave me a $66 check!  OK, forget about the nostalgia over the dresses!  There was cash in my hand and that’s all I cared about!  Peace out, dresses!  Woo-hoo!  I started more aggressively cleaning out my closet and bringing things into Go Figure.  To be honest, folks, it became like a part time income.  Every month for probably 5 months I picked up checks for nearly $175.  I didn’t miss the clothes.  In fact I felt happy that they went to good homes and that I made some cash in the process.  Eventually, Go Figure closed.  The owner paid a steep overhead in The Short North and couldn’t afford to hire other employees so she was worn out.  I think she really just wanted an adventure and had a good time during the years her store was open.  Every night when I’m getting ready for bed, I look at the bin of clothes I have that don’t fit me.  I wonder if I should take them to another consignment shop and get some money instead of just letting them sit there waiting for me to fit into them.  Am I motivating myself or wasting space in my already tiny bedroom?  I’m in this new habit of not wanting any excess but I’m also trying to encourage myself by using the clothes in the bin as a reward for weight loss.  Since I can’t buy any new clothes this year it feels scary to consider giving any away, you know?  But like my brilliant friend Jen always says…”By the time you fit into those clothes you’ll want new ones anyway.”  Yeah, things don’t stay in style forever!  What are your thoughts? 

Stay Houndy!

Em