Donating and being set free [Archive]

TxZen

8-25-14, 5:39pm

I have a huge pile, enough for a nice yard sale but not excited about that work. So while of FB today I noticed our local no kill animal shelter needs items donated for their annual garage sale. Perfect!!! I don't want to sit outside for 4 hours to make a small amount of money when it can go to something I truly love. So tomorrow I am loading up my Jeep and off it goes. YEAH!!! I am so excited and I will be free, in an instant. Can't wait!!!

kimberlyf0

8-25-14, 5:54pm

Congrats! That would be my kind of solution too; I have held one yard sale in the past 25 years and while it was successful, I don't want to repeat the experience.

iris lilies

8-25-14, 9:05pm

It's great when you've got a place to donate culled stuff. I hate garage sales and won't bother with them, but a few years ago we made $800 at our booth selling "stuff" from our house at the antique/collectibles sale our neighborhood holds during the spring house tour. At that time there was no great place to donate the items. Now, our Park Conservancy has a booth and sells donated items, and now I would just donate (and do!) to that booth.

mschrisgo2

8-25-14, 9:22pm

I'm with you, I'd much rather just donate than try to yard sale. One of our local animal shelters actually runs a thrift store year round, so most of my donations go there.

pony mom

8-26-14, 12:01am

What a great idea! Good for you. Many of my things to get rid of are animal-themed. I should look for something similar in my area.

I wish we had what they call "Car boot sales" in England, where you park in a lot and sell stuff from your car; sort of like a flea market. I've so many nice things but live in a condo so having a private sale is impossible. The last time I rented a table at a rummage sale, I barely covered the cost of the table rental.

Aroha

8-26-14, 2:11am

You will love unloading the Jeep, that is the best feeling after a round of decluttering. Your shelter gets a donation and you get your space back.

I always donate to the local hospice shop, it's very close and accepts all manner of donations. I like that it keeps items in circulation rather than heading straight to the landfill, so I also buy things there.

Dhiana

8-26-14, 3:32am

Float On

8-26-14, 6:58am

Very good!

Marion

8-27-14, 6:23pm

Today, the charity shop nearest to my place re-opened : I walked there three times, each time loaded like a donkey (I don't have a car, so have to walk there). I looked like a bag lady but I did get rid of most of my stuff. Will have to make an extra trip tomorrow and then I'll be done. It does feel great, I agree.

rosarugosa

8-27-14, 7:32pm

Bonus exercise points for you, Marion!

awakenedsoul

8-27-14, 8:29pm

GreenMama,
That's great! I either donate to the Salvation Army, (which is a half mile away,) or to VVA. (They will pick things up at your house.) I agree...it feels good to give things to those in need. I just put some storage tins for dog food, etc...out at the curb. They should be gone by tomorrow. If not, I'll take them on the bike trailer to the Sally Army...

Aroha

8-27-14, 8:43pm

Gardenarian

8-27-14, 11:33pm

I donated the leftovers from our yard sale today - an entire van full! And I do feel free, and lighter.

larknm

8-31-14, 6:38pm

I love the animal shelter donation--those animals need every scrap of kindness they can get and this is one.

Teacher Terry

8-31-14, 7:53pm

Our local HS is no kill & has 2 big garage sales a year to raise $. I always scour the house to bring them good things to sell. I always start out thinking I won't have much but usually end up with a full car. This year I am helping my friend with her garage sale so she will let me take what is left to them for their sale.

Marion

9-3-14, 4:26pm

Marion, I love this. Fantastic effort :)
Thanks for the encouragement :)
I am still finding things to donate, they know me well now at the charity shop (half of their stock used to be mine: it's weird to see your stuff in a shop and even weirder to see people in the neighborhoud with what used to be my handbag/skirt/... You name it! Fantastic!).

Float On

9-3-14, 4:53pm

Marion...I've actually been guilty of buying something I'd previously donated.

sweetana3

9-3-14, 7:51pm

The security guard at the library service center where donations are made knows my husband by name.

oldhat

9-4-14, 10:08am

I have always donated rather than trying to sell things, mostly out of laziness, I'm afraid. As I enter the final phase of shedding possessions prior to hitting the road next year, I thought I'd try craigslist. I had a backpack bought years ago that was pretty nice, but the wrong kind for my expected needs. I put up an ad on craigslist but got just one response, who wanted to know more. I described the backpack in detail but he never got back to me.

I think I'll go back to donating.

larknm

9-5-14, 5:29pm

I love donating, which I mostly do by setting things on the street. I figure I've had a chance to have them, now it's good if someone else can.

TxZen

9-9-14, 1:25pm

OMG Y'all!!! It took a truck loaded down within an inch of it's life to donate everything. I am shocked but happy and the girl at the shelter was more than happy to unload it all with 2 men. YEAH!! I feel free. Last night, I went on a crazy decluttering frenzy for 2 hours. My husband finally gave up and just left me alone. ;)

Teacher Terry

9-9-14, 4:26pm

That is so wonderful! Now that I have spent years decluttering I look around every month or so -I never want it to get bad again. My DH is another matter so our garage and shed are disaster zones. He won't let me touch them:|(.