Buzz
Is it really worth all the dusting and shifting if you don't need to move those items around?
Dag Sundberg/Photographer's Choice/Getty ImagesFor many, spring brings feelings of renewal and the tradition of spring cleaning. But if you’re tired of constantly rearranging and cleaning things you don't even like, it might be time to declutter. We all have that pile of stuff — or junk — that we can't bear to throw away but aren’t sure how to deal with either.
There are many reasons I hold on to things. Sometimes it’s because the item was a gift, and I can't bear to offend anyone. What if Aunt Alice visits and asks to see that awful blouse or wonders where I put that ugly vase? (Name changed to protect the innocent.) I convinced myself that a "limited edition" Christmas ornament was valuable for over a decade without ever checking to see if it actually was (spoiler: it's not). Letting go of something you spent money on sometimes feels like admitting a mistake, so instead, you just hold on and the piles continue to grow.
Deciding what to keep and what to part with can be stressful enough (I’m assuming you've already separated your belongings into ‘keep’ and ‘let go’ piles). But once that’s done, you're faced with the daunting task of figuring out how to get rid of it. In the past, options were limited: toss it, donate it to a thrift store, or hold a garage sale. Fortunately, we now have many more alternatives. I don’t want my things, but I also don’t want them ending up in a landfill.
Thrift stores like Goodwill make it easy – just bag up or box your items and drop them off. Garage sales still work, but they require a fair amount of stuff to make the time and effort worthwhile.
Thanks to the Internet, there are now more ways than ever to part with your belongings. Do you sell them on Craigslist or eBay? Offer them on Freecycle? Donate to a specific charity? Recycle them? How do you know which option is best? And there you are again, staring at that pile of ‘go’ stuff, slowly inching its way back into the ‘keep’ category thanks to inertia.
Here’s a strategy to tackle that clutter around your home and regain control of your space.
To Sell or Not to Sell?
You might feel like you're being cheated, especially if the item you're trying to part with was a gift, and the idea of making some cash sounds tempting. However, take a step back and realistically assess your belongings. Sure, there's a current surge in nostalgia for vintage toys, but if yours is in poor condition, it probably won’t sell for much. You could try selling a well-crafted piece of furniture in need of some work, but a cheap, falling-apart one probably won’t bring in any money. If you suspect that you own something rare or antique, it’s a good idea to get it appraised before you set the price too high or too low. There are plenty of ways to sell, but let's focus on the two most popular methods.
eBay is a widely used and user-friendly platform for selling. If you’re unsure about the value of an item, you can check completed listings to see how much similar items are going for. There are plenty of buyers out there, and you can get paid quickly. However, selling on eBay has its downsides. Experienced sellers have a significant edge, as they know how to navigate the site and build trust with buyers. Plus, eBay charges listing fees and takes a percentage of your sales. You’ll need to decide on payment methods and whether you’re open to international shipping, which could involve a trip to the post office. eBay is often preferred for small items like clothes and toys, though shipping can add up fast.
Craigslist is another popular option for selling, but it operates very differently from eBay. It’s more like the classified ads you’d find in a newspaper (yes, people still use those). Pricing can be tricky, so it’s a good idea to leave room for negotiation. It's free to use, and it's geared toward local buyers, meaning they’ll likely want to come to your house to pick up the item. It's a great choice for larger items, like that unused treadmill sitting in your bedroom. However, Craigslist isn’t as easy to search as eBay, and because it’s free and doesn’t require registration, you’re on your own. This makes it easier for you to get scammed. But if someone is willing to pay and pick up your unwanted items, it might just be worth it.
If you're short on time or motivation, or you simply feel that your items aren’t worth the hassle, there are still options to make them disappear from your life. Some of these options might even leave you feeling good about yourself.
Consignment stores typically sell gently used clothing, often brand-name and in style, or sometimes other items like antiques. The benefit is that someone else takes care of the selling process. The downside is that the store will take a cut, and it might take a while to get paid. The longer your item sits, the more it gets discounted, just like at a regular retail store. You’ll usually need an appointment, and a store employee will go through your items to decide what they want to sell and at what price. Consignment is generally only worthwhile for higher-end items.
Beyond Thrifting
If you’re really out of options, just set that unwanted stuff on the curb and watch it vanish into the world!
Zoonar/ThinkstockYou've decided your stuff isn’t worth selling, but throwing it away still doesn’t feel right. If you can fit it into your car and drive it over to your nearest thrift store (some even offer pickups), that’s an option. You’ll be rid of it, but you won’t really know what happens next.
Will someone else find it useful, or will it end up gathering dust near old VCRs and slow cookers? There's something oddly poetic about it, but maybe you’re curious about what really happens to your items. Many thrift stores donate their earnings to charity and provide jobs for those in need, but you can also explore niche charities that could use your things.
Drowning in books? Consider donating them to your local library or schools – they might even sell them to fundraise. Habitat for Humanity often accepts surplus building materials like leftover paint or extra tiles. Business attire in good condition can be passed on to charities that help underprivileged individuals seeking employment, and those old bridesmaid dresses (depending on their age, of course) could be a perfect fit for a teenager in need of a prom dress. Also, you can usually recycle old electronics.
In short, if you search online, you’ll likely find a creative way to get rid of your stuff. Just keep in mind that some options may involve the cost of gas or shipping. My personal favorite: My local animal shelter happily accepts old towels and blankets to line cages.
In some ways, Freecycle is more convenient than thrift stores since you don’t even have to leave your home. I’ve had people come and pick up items I was sure I’d be stuck hauling to the landfill. You just join a local chapter (typically an email list or an online group) and follow their guidelines for offering items. You have the freedom to choose who takes your items, and while it requires someone to come to your house, all you need to do is send an email, and your stuff is gone.
If none of these methods work for you, there’s always one more option some people swear by: putting your items out on the curb. Of course, this depends on what you’re getting rid of and whether your neighborhood has any restrictions, but you might be surprised at what disappears before the trash truck arrives.
My final piece of advice: be decisive and quick, without any regrets. If it’s something sentimental that needs to go, take a picture of it. It doesn’t take long for even the best intentions to slip away when decluttering, and after all, it’s just stuff.
