It is Spring time here in Northern Minnesota, although you may not be able to tell by the weather. With Spring comes Spring cleaning, as we let in the fresh air, go through the clothes and rid ourselves of the outgrown, outdated, unused and duplicates.
What to do with your stuff:
- Have a garage sale. Sometimes a fun social event trading your stuff for pennies. I love going to them but will not be hosting one myself. Been there and not doing that again!
- Throw it - Not such a good idea in our current waste conscious way of thinking. But it is fast and final!
- Donate - also fast and final and way more people and environmentally friendly (provided it is not broken, stained, torn, etc) Those items of clothing may make for good cleaning rags - cut them up and wash after using.
- Swap with friends - a party with a cause. What is old for you may be new for them. Clothes, games, DVDs , CD's, purses, belts, & tools. What doesn't find a new home can be packed up and donated.
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Kathleen, Good ideas, all of them. The thrift store is tired of seeing me and I finally got to the point to just get RID of it. Once you get started, you can really get on a roll with lightening up!
My wife and her friends have a sale once a year...don't make much, and don't put a lot of time into it, thenit goes to one of the local chairities, whatever doesn't sell
Carole - When my Mom died, I brought huge bags to the Salvation Army on a regular basis & I do believe they got tired of seeing me. Funny - coz they were the ones making the money on it LOL
William - Some people do very well on garage sales, but not me. Sounds like your wife has a little fun with her friends and unloads some excess.
Kathleen ~ I usually donate everything. I did a yard sale once but because of where my street is situated inside a development, I had very few people stop by, even though I put signs out on the main road. It's funny you posted this because a fairly new neighbor across the street had one this past Saturday and she also wound up with one or two people who stopped.
I've had great success with yard sales. I also donate, but I offer to family first. Most people like to get free stuff from a relative who no longer can use it.
I do a lot of donating. It just makes me feel so good when I can give someone something that they could not afford. There is so much work involved when you have yard sale.
Kathleen,
My Dad used to say "If in doubt, throw it out."
Mike in Tucson
Kathleen - What a great exercise to go through - at least once a year. I've been working on de-cluttering for about 6 months. I did participate in a garage sale a few weeks ago (didn't enjoy it), threw away A LOT of stuff, and filled many bags for donations. I feel so much better once the stuff is gone - and I still have a long way to go.
Kathy Passarette (Creative Home Expressions
My same experience -I do go to a neighborhood garage sale that is held every other weekend and find some great staging props. (An older couple that resells)
Sharon - I love to give things away and I like getting things - used is fine.
Barbara- We gather up good blankets, winter coats , mittens etc and load up a trailer in the late fall. Then everything goes to the inner city and is handed out on the streets thru the winter along with a warm drink and sandwiches.
Mike - My Dad always said "Keep that, you never know when you might need it!" We usually never did need it!!!
Lynn - We have a long way to go as well - it does add up. What a blessing - to have more than you need and what fun to share.
Hi Kathleen! You sure do have a lot of good ideas posted! I love to get rid of suff. I have a stack of things right now to take to Goodwill. I have no problem moving old stuff on.
Lizette I have no problem as long as I can find them a home - I HATE THROWING AWAY STUFF THAT IS STILL GOOD, STYLISH AND IN GREAT CONDITION.