I work for Goodwill, please donate good stuff not garbadge. We,are oveload with donations, please don't donate everything at once. You can call local goodwill and find out if we take donations or not. You can always give unwanted goods to your friends or family or people in need.
@@rockstarofredondo I agree. I took a working laser printer to Goodwill years ago. The person I gave it to dropped it into a huge box, and I heard it breaking as it hit the bottom. I don't donate to Goodwill anymore.
I donate to Goodwill... ONLY clean clothing, in excellent condition. I would never use Goodwill as a dumpster, but many people do. I think that's disgusting and shows incredible laziness and inconsideration on the part of those who do it.
I'm figuring this out now, in my late 40s after a big (and bit unexpected) move from a house I accumulated in for 18 years. It's been hard at times during this paring down process, but in the meantime I severely cut back on shopping/consuming to slow or completely halt any re-accumulation. At the very least, this buys me time as I work on some of the harder areas for me to minimize. It's a difficult process but very rewarding and I'm committed to my goals!
Thanks to an early life on the road (16 - 32ish yrs old), I've kept the amount of junk I own waaaaay down. Now I live on a 35' sailboat. Don't have the space, and can't afford to add weight to the boat. It was an easy move.
You said it! But it is never too late to figure this out and to diminish if not stop this overconsumption. Let's all pull together and support each other as we change our lives. I'm buying stuff that is second hand, more and more, if and when I actually need it.
The thing is, selling all your unwanted items takes a lot of effort- listing, photographing, packing and shipping. That effort is a friction point for many people and the payoff (money you will make) is very little. The effort-to-payoff ratio is not a good use of time. If people have too many friction points, they will just avoid doing the task. They will end up keeping the pile of items, procrastinating about "someday I will sell that stuff" but they never get around to it so the stuff stays in their house.
Most donations aren't being sold, either. According to Huffington Post, 80% of donations end up in the landfill. Ditto with recycling. People who think it's easy to recycle are the problem; they're recycling stuff that can't be recycled. For example, most textiles can't be recycled. If it isn't pure cotton, pure wool, or cotton/poly blend, they can't use it. Even 1% spandex disqualifies it. If you don't have time to sell it, do everybody a favor, cut out the middleman and your fantasy of being good to the earth, and put it in the garbage where it'll end up anyway.
I agree, if you have a huge amount of things to declutter then trying to sell or work out what to do with it can cause you to give up completely. Often it's better to just get rid of it (in the best way you can manage) then be very mindful of anything else new you fetch into your life afterwards.
Not really. It takes me less than a minute to post, and eventually the item sells if u keep it posted indefinitely. I've sold stuff I posted 5 yrs ago, I post daily, and eventually everything gets sold. Someone in US eventually finds my post. It's lije garage sale for the entire US to see
@@edennis8578 I thrift shop myself so I have a pretty good idea of what they can sell and what is not sellable. I don't donate things that are worn out, stained or torn. I donate good usable things and throw out the garbage stuff (or use it for rags, or upcycle it since I also sew and DIY).
When I had to clean out the house of a deceased friend who was a “ collector” I held a 20 dollar/ all you can carry sale. Doors opened at 9 and by 3 p.m. everything was gone and I had a pocketful of cash
I went to donate some nice stuff to my local Goodwill. As I drove up the worker was smashing up some really nice chairs. I asked him why he was doing that and he said “we don’t have room for them right now”. WOW. They should have just GIVEN them away then. Needless to say I DID NOT leave my donations ever again. I give the stuff I don’t want to sell away for free on Craigslist.
I took some very nice antique dishes and trinkets to goodwill once. And when I asked for the tub back that I used to carry items, the man dumped everything out while looking straight I to my eyes with so much contempt. It was heartbreaking to hear all the items crash, and I will NEVER EVER donate to them again. Besides it's not a charity foundation.
Where I live every thrift store is crawling with ebay sellers. When store workers bring out new donations they immediately swoop down on it and pick over it like vultures. They buy up all the good deals, jack up the price and resell it. So when low income customers go looking for good used stuff, all they find is the junk left behind.
Goodwill gets tons of donations a day here in Seattle and yet their prices are ridiculous! I see countless items that the dollar tree sells for a dollar and Goodwill marks them at $5 or more. Maybe they wouldn’t have to get storage units if their prices were more reasonable. I don’t know what has changed with them over the years, they used to have great deals but now things are close to retail pricing.
There's a bit of irony here. They have to price products higher to pay for storage, but in doing so they're driving their main shoppers away so they're not moving product (which means more storage needed), and they have higher cost (storage space, workers to .maintain & run it).
Most charity shops are doing this now. I imagine the staff don't realise, but I try to look at it generously - they're raising money for a good cause. If I happen to buy something at an inflated priced, at least I'm making an additional donation to someone in need.
I can’t say enough about my local Buy Nothing group. In the group, we gift big ticket items and small items to neighbors, and even the gift of our time. It’s a great way to give away the things we don’t need to individuals in the neighborhood who will use it. And it’s a great place to ask for things we need and want. I have found the Buy Nothing project to be a really intentional way to pass along the things I no longer need. 😊 it’s so awesome to meet the person who will give the item it’s next home!
When l see those huge declutterings on CZcams, l always think that 9 times out of 10 they are just making room to buy more stuff. Decluttering for good is much more difficult and takes a real change of mind set
Excellent point, and not only that, it really is helpful to move to a smaller house after that, not only do you not have the room then, to buy more stuff, but I gotta say when we sold everything we had, out of necessity, not decluttering (we just needed the money) we just felt our already small home was too...empty. It really helped once we moved into a really small house to feel like it’s not so bare, and you have less room for collecting stuff. Larger homes should, in my opinion, be for larger families. For the average 2-4 persons household, a very small home kept in a relatively minimal lifestyle is more than enough.
That is why this video is so good. It isn't a decluttering video per se, but one that tells you change your life by trying to sell each item, or rehoming it.
Maybe some do that but after you declutter you have put so much work into it and it takes a while so you have really changed some habits in that time. It feels so good to live in a space that is clutter free, I would never go back to living the other way.
Great video, I only donate really good items, some worth $100 or more... I have seen them accept my donation, and while I’m still in the store see them bought and the person walking out the door. Some people feel bad decluttering expensive items, I never do, I would rather see this item being loved and enjoyed, then sitting in a closet in my home. I have been minimal for four years. I have changed since I became minimal, I also never sold anything, but my donations for 2019 totaled 5K I donated a collection worth thousands, because I don’t collect items anymore or collect, and the money went to feeding and caring for the dogs and cats that were in process of being rescued. Did my heart good.
Donation centers like Goodwill would do well to have regular sales and to price things reasonably so that they could move those products. If things were even less than what they are charging which is a typical price tag of $5.99 on everything, they would move the items out of the store and make room for the new ones and not need gigantic warehouses. Instead they see anything that might be somewhat of a brand and try to label it as Boutique and no one buys it because any Savvy Shopper can find those items for less than even the Goodwill prices.
@@Comments_From_All_Channels Goodwills here in Nashville charge 4.99 for a used top, can buy a brand new one at Walmart or Target for $5.99.$7.99 for pants, etc. You can buy a new top for $5.99 at Walmart. We only buy at Goodwill when it's on sale as those are more reasonable prices for used clothing. I agree with Clementine's suggestion, this would move a lot more merchandise and bring more money to Goodwill and the people they help in the end.
Here's a funny one. I saw a cute little kimono in the Goodwill, brand new with tags. The original price from the bargain store it came from was $4.50 and the Goodwill had it priced for 6.99, LOL I showed the clerk there and we had a good laugh over it but they didn't change the price tag either
@@Comments_From_All_Channels The Goodwills here give a coupon as well when I donate which is nice but I'd rather they have lower prices on clothing that is clearly used, faded, sometimes torn and with broken zippers or buttons missing.
Great video . I was a former hoarder . I asked friends and family and coworkers if they would like things that I thought that might interest them Then I went to homeless ppl and gave them stuff directly. If you are scared go with a friend or 2. Trust me they are so kind and sweet and appreciative. ( I have been coordinating homeless events for almost 20 years ) Shelters and most charities are so picky so that’s why I give it directly. Then whatever I had left I donated . Selling would have never helped me . I decluttered for a week and now it’s been over 3 years I live an almost clutter free life . I am not a minimalist.... I just am realistic and don’t ever want to be overwhelmed with all that clutter . So I am mindful. Labels seem confusing and suffocating . I love my fresh start
We dont have thrift or charity shops in México, I donate clothes and homeware stuff to an all girls home (kind of an orphanage, but they dont get adopted they live there util they are adults) in a low income area, they take what they need for the girls and the rest they sell in their own store.
@@Comments_From_All_Channels I know the translation im mexican, but they are not popular here like in the US or Europe if someone sells used stuff its more like out of their house or in a mercado on the week ends, but nothing is in good condition. We have some antique shops but they dont usually sell clothes.
Thanks so much for sharing, I found it very interesting. I always say if you brought something into your home, it's your responsibility to declutter it in a responsible way. And the fact that that takes time and effort will help you to consume less, because you're mindful of the fact that you might have to put effort into decluttering it later.
Totaly true, im trying to sell some never worn ítems and im having not that much luck so its taking some time and I dont want to do that again in the future
It took me 2 years selling unwanted stuff. It certainly was a lot of effort. Nowadays, I think twice before I buy something. I’m more responsible now, I look more stylish, and my house looks better with less. Be responsible - SELL YOUR STUFF.
I have a solution. Goodwill needs to sell things cheaper. More merchandise would be moved. Sales would be higher. But the executives are too greedy to see that.
I won't even donate to good will, I prefer church thrift shops or mom and pop thrift shops when donating. Good will is not good will for anybody but their executives
Growing up, my mom had some hoarding habits and we always had a bunch of stuff. For her, every item had emotional value, even if it was trash. Whenever she does donate, it's usually not in great condition nor is it valuable. But in her mind, she thinks it's worth donating because she values many items that are in terrible condition. It's a bit difficult to argue otherwise with her
Maybe they will tell her it's garbage when she tries to donate. Thrift stores throw out garbage that can't be sold they aren't stupid. If they were they wouldn't be open.
My mother has NEVER given away or sold a single item. One summer, she made us make yard sale.tags for a bunch of clothes and some other stuff. No yard sale ever happened. Once my parents started living in separate houses, my dad started getting rid of her hoarding junk. After he died, she immediately accused me of stealing. As if I'd want any of her junk! If she had really wanted ANY of it so badly, she could've come and gotten it while he was at work, on literally any weekday
I live close to a shop where you can donate stuff that the "customers" then get for free (you don't have to be low income to "shop" there, everyone is welcome). Whenever I have stuff that I want to donate I always ask them beforehand if they think that they could need it - if they got room for it and if they think that people might want that. I just donate things they say yes to. Sometimes a conversation is all it needs ☺️
This is a big problem for donation centers. I worked in one. With all the decluttering and minimalism happening right now, donation centers are overwhelmed with stuff. There is no way it can all be processed for selling. It's way too much. Some can be transported to another location but that is very costly for a nonprofit to do. A lot of it goes in the dumpster. People have to be mindful of what they are giving too. If it doesn't work, don't donate it. If it has a hole in it, please don't donate it. If it has a chip, don't donate it. Put it out on the curb a day or two before trash pick up, maybe somebody will take it. Giving and donating is great IF there is a need for the items we are donating. Right now, there is an overabundance of stuff. Look into unlikely places like calling soup kitchens, unwed mother centers, senior citizen centers and churches...places that do not normally ask for items. Otherwise, curb it, free-cycle it, or just trash it. Thanks for this video. Not many people are willing to address this. Unless you are in it on a day to day, people cannot realize how big of a problem this has become.
I agree in part. The idea of buying a ton of fast fashion then donating it at the end of each season thinking you're doing a good deed it is a huge problem. Buying more mindfully in the first place is what we should all be looking with every purchase we make. The other side of it is if you want to declutter your life, have a lifetime of stuff hoarded (like I do) then it's impractical to try and sell every last thing and it can stop you wanting to declutter it at all. The whole process is very overwhelming to someone that has accumulated many years worth of possessions and sometimes donation and recycling (even landfill if there's no choice) is the only practical option to get through it. Personally, with the volume of things I need to go through, knowing what to do with it has really stalled my progress because I now have bags of things that I don't want to just throw out but aren't really worth selling or spending the time trying to (especially clothing) and are still stuck cluttering my home. There are only so many items you can repurpose and it can end up causing you to hold onto things 'just in case' or 'I'll find a better use for it' trapping you in the cycle. The whole frustration and overwhelm of the decluttering process does make you question everything new that comes into your life and I totally agree that if we are at the point of decluttering at a lower volume then we should be trying to sell or give away things to get more use out of them, but if you're starting out with potentially 1000s of items to get rid of, selling just wouldn't be feasible.
Nenemaria, I have to say that we stuck to the selling of our stuff until we got through it all. It took us about...4 years in total, with the last 2 of the 4 being the most productive, but we literally considered this our job during these years because we needed the money badly, and the only thing we could do to make extra money was sell stuff. All it took was about an hour every day of taking new photos and updating online ads, and answering a customer inquiry. We literally saw it as our part time job. $5 dollars here and $10 dollars there, and a few donations, made us about $5000 over 4 years. Sure it was a project but we literally considered it a daily ritual like having lunch and taking a shower during these years, we did it every evening until we sold it all. It just because a routine of the family, the money we earned on the side was the goal, and it actually does add up. It makes a side job, but it helps to have help. We had 4 of us doing it actively, and it was really really worth it for us. We got a very clean home, but to us it was not about decluttering to have a minimal lifestyle, at that time. It was being in the 08’ recession and needing to make extra out of what we already had and found out that we didn’t use. Whatever didn’t sell after x amount of time got donated, but we weren’t sending massive boxes to donations because we sold most. Even at $1.50 a shirt, it went to people who really couldn’t pay more, and really wanted it. We ended up giving those people free things in addition too. The key is finding someone who genuinely wants your items and will use them, and ads online do accomplish that better than thrift stores do, because people look for specific things, and then find them.
Good points. I was raised well but poor, so I think I hang on to stuff "just in case". The Depression was hard for my parents. Saving , repairing, repurpose, painting, cleaning was our family way. Still is for me but I still have lots of shoes, clothing and purses that I am paring down. I buy well made second hand items. God bless you.
@@user-rm4yd2cl2k Well done for sticking to it and making some extra cash on the side too! If it's possible for people to do the same as you then I would definitely encourage it. Unfortunately even that hour a day isn't something everyone can manage, I'm currently very sick and had to put my own business on hiatus (which is actually online selling so I know how much time it takes to photo, measure, write descriptions, answer emails etc - it was my full time job!) so donating is really my only option at the moment, plus for me it's time sensitive as I might have to move again shortly which is going to be very hard without all the extra stuff. I do wish I could do what you did, I think it's also a good lesson in making people more mindful about what comes into their homes in the first place by having it take so long to find a new home when it's no longer wanted. Thankfully I don't purchase much at all, it's the stuff that I've accumulated over the years that's the issue!
@@virgierutledge3004 Yes, the 'just in case' has really been an issue for me. I really like to repurpose and reuse as much as I can as it's the way I've been brought up too, but it's caused an accumulation of many things over the years that it's just too much and I need to clear some space to breathe. I don't actually purchase much at all, I buy second hand when I can too and 95% of my furniture etc is gifted or second hand. It's just the letting go of anything I find hard when it could come in handy or might be needed in the future. I think the scarcity mindset, coming from a place of not having the money to replace something, makes me hold on to things too. I'm not in a bad financial position now but have been in the past and I really think that it does make it difficult to let things go. Plus the guilt of getting rid of something that could be used/repaired etc even if I don't really need it. Definitely something I need to work on!
We often buy stuff that we don’t really need to, because we are conditioned by our culture to do so. It’s called capitalism. We buy with a consumer mindset because our education system focuses on this more than learning to buy and use what we need. Our culture does not teach people to be strong, healthy, and wise. It teaches us to grab whatever we can, because it’s on sale and will soon be gone. It teaches us to eat what tastes good, not what has good nutrition. There’s always a sense of stress created for us. Learning how to do things the right way is kinda a hit-and-miss venture, because no one teaches us. It’s pretty much always a “figure it out for yourself” situation. So when someone figures it out and shares what they’ve learned, it can be really helpful. Goods can sometimes be too expensive. Someone may be just starting out, or starting over. Thrift stores can be a true blessing for someone who has a limited amount of funds, and needs some things, and it can also really help someone who has too much, to declutter. It’s not a perfect solution. But it’s one that works for countless people. And, until the system is really overhauled and fixed, it may be the best we can do.
In my city - Berlin - donation centers will mostly only take things, that they need and that are in good condition. Everything else should be thrown away. I only sell stuff that is worth something (at least 20$) and I make sure to only sell it in person (no sending packages all over the country). This ensures less ressources used for logistics. My goal with minimalism is to gain more time for my family. Selling stuff can be a huge pain in the ass and often takes up a lot of time. My wife and I got rid of about 2000 things. There is no way selling all this stuff would have been a good idea.
When I visited Berlin lately I saw that many houses had boxes on their front porch walls etc. where the people living there put clothes, household stuff and books into, when they didn't want it anymore. Any passerby could take these for free if he wanted to. I thought that was a good idea!
I just list things on Ebay Kleinanzeigen in Germany in the For Free section and have people come pick up the items they want. It doesn't cost anything to list it there and I don't need to go through the hassle of shipping. We also have a local Sozialkaufhaus that gets my excess kitchen stuff and good clothing.
When decluttering stuff, I first ask my friends if they want some, then share the rest in a local facebook group. No charity and no money involved. Clothes that are not in great condition get cut up and become cleaning rags.
@@starylize Most mechanical workshops buy their rags by the bagful from the charity organisations. They are produced from the old clothing that they can't sell. At home, I cut up hubby's well worn shirts and any other cotton clothing that isn't good enough to sell or donate for his workshop and that saves him having to buy them. I also get to save all the buttons and zips to reuse.
I don’t usually comment on things, but this is a super interesting conversation. I have a local thrift store which I give my donations to, and I ask them regularly what they need. Instead of recycling jars and packaging materials, I take them in there because they need them for selling. I think because I have a great relationship with the volunteers there, I feel a connection with them and therefore only think about what would add value for them as opposed to just “dumping” my unwanted goods. They purchase equipment for our local hospital with the funding, so they often update me on where the money is going, which only inspires me to do more. Love your message and agree with a lot of what you’re saying, but I would encourage people to get to know those who work in their local thrift store as I think the connection adds value to what you’re doing. One would never want to dump unsellable goods on the doorstep of people one respects.
Pls give to Salvation Army. They provide housing and help recovering alcoholics who are in need for basics of everything. Also, there are woman shelters ...woman who fled their husbands with absolutely nothing on their back but their children. I've see it and it's heartbreaking but rewarding when you can help those fractured families.
Ursela, I put a bunch of mostly new things in boxes, called salvation army, they came and left half the stuff there! It wasn't Junky or damaged. I won't do that again.
Salvation Army is a religious group. A conservative religious group. They don't just help people, they actively and financially support conservative causes. Most people don't know that.
Agree. I realized there are shelters that people have nothing but the clothes on their backs. They don’t want your cruddy, stained clothes, they need something that can give them humanity. I donate my too small, wishful thinking, sometimes with tags still on, but ALWAYS recent styles, clean, and newer to women’s shelters. And any children’s clothes also, I’m a grandma now, but I take my daughters kids barely used clothes too.
These giant grift operations like goodwill would not be renting the storage warehouses you mention unless they believed they could make free money off those donated items. The problem is not the donating itself, it’s that most people donate to the wrong organizations. Consider driving your donations to lesser-served rural communities’ charity shops that don’t have access to nearly as many stores as the urban areas.
That's a really good idea! The "goodwill/thrift" stores in rural areas rely mostly on people having to empty their elderly parents homes after moving them into a nursing home, assisted living or worse, a death of a parent.. Unfortunately much of the useful stuff in older peoples homes can be ruined, especially if they smoked... I'm sorry but nobody wants to take the time to clean dishes, or Tupperware caked in nicotine imo & who wants to buy clothes that smell like stale cigarette smoke.... But people in rural areas suffer from natural disasters & house fires too & sometimes people lose everything when they're forced to leave a bad relationship with the clothes on their back & these Stores aid families in starting over so everything helps, even a used coffee maker from the 80's!
There's no such thing where I live. The Goodwill and Salvation Army shops in the small towns are stuffed to the brim. Really stuffed. Not just with junk, either. I've purchased some first-class clothes there that I could never afford new.
Hey Anthony, just wanted to drop by and say thank you for making this video- it's a very painful truth that is inescapable when you word it so succinctly: "Just packing it up in a box and making it someone else's problem" I've found selling things very stressful, difficult and overall unsuccessful, taking up a lot of time for very little traction. Not to mention the emotional blow of seeing some of my favourite things being up for sale for just a few bucks but interesting absolutely no one. One thing I recommend is to swap and share with friends - I have received so many high quality items this way and its super fun to get together as a group and try on each other's clothes, compliment each other, share stories etc. There's something special about the comfort of knowing the legacy of your unwanted clothes living a new life with people you love.
I disagree in that it is slow. It took me only 1 year to go from collector to minimalist. Since then it has been sustained and the shock of decluttering fast taught me a huge lesson and prevented me in going back to over consumption.
We shop for most of our clothes at thrift shops so we have appreciated the extra supply of nice stuff. When things are past their prime and being cycled out of our wardrobes I cut them up and save a majority of the fabric for quilting and rug making or even just cleaning rags. We also try to focus on the natural fabrics so they are easy to reuse in multiple ways and better for us and the environment in general. I learned from my grandmas and great grandmas how to make things last and get the most out of what we do have to buy. I suppose that isn't common today though. I enjoy your work, keep spreading the good word! Hope you guys are enjoying your new home.
This is such an important message 💡Point 4 especially resonated with me. I hope people don't stop donating books tho, I love shopping for those at charity shops here in England 😆
Kezla or you can donate books to kids in Mexico 🇲🇽 there’s many people who are studying English and for them sometimes it’s difficult to buy books in English. One of the reasons it’s that they can be expensive and also that most of the time you don’t find those books 📚 in English unless you buy them online, and for some people it is not possible.
I'm not buying your argument. If I can't sell something on eBay, there might be a whole different set of demographic that doesn't shop there that can afford to buy it at the much lower prices that charity shops sell stuff at. It might not be worth it to me to sell a shirt at $5 and then deal with packaging and shipping, but someone else who relies on a charity shop for something cheap would still buy it there.
I actually agree with you here, as long as you're making the consideration, then donating it is the next logical step. It's that up front intentionality that often gets missed and perhaps I didn't do an excellent job of hitting that nail on the head.
Yeah you need to know where to go to sell what and sometimes it is not worth it. That said... there are people who list things online for you for a % Some do ebay others do etsy etc. Most take it hold it photograph it post it sell it then pay a % I have done cosignment for lots jts more effort then worth so I do bug swags instead You bring in 10 items take 2 type deals.
There are lots and lots of people who have rummage sales and then take whatever doesn’t sell to a thrift store, and those kinds of donations are a massive waste of everyone’s time.
80% of stuff that gets donated goes to the landfill, according to the Huffington Post. Most people donate crap. Nobody wants it because it's worn out, or dirty, or otherwise inappropriate. In fact, if isn't last season's fashion, it'll probably end up in the landfill because there are so many donations that people only want the best of the best. That's also according to the Huffington Post. So people need to get over the fantasy that donation is doing anyone a big fat favor and put your garbage in the garbage where it'll end up anyway.
I have been de-cluttering now for several years, it's a slow process. I'm down to finally living my dream in a travel trailer and only one storage unit. I have my own brick and mortar business and have a yard sale there twice a year. It's been quite a journey. I've found that I don't donate to Goodwill or the thrift stores as much anymore. I have started donating to my local shelters and job forces. This is helping my community more and I get more satisfaction from this. If trying to sell your items doesn't work well for you then do some research to find local charities that have large rummage sales that you can donate to.
Fold and stack neatly in an impoverished area with a “free” sign. It will find a home. But folks, trash is trash. Don’t donate crap ... also, Craigslist “free” ads will move about anything. Or a yard sale with “entire box $1”. There are a lot of ways to move stuff directly without eBay. Just use your heads. Make it simple. eBay and shipping is not simple.
It all depends on the individual situation. I agree. Do what is best for you and just be mindful. People shouldn't donate garbage. This is a no brainer.
In Montreal for as long as I can remember, if you dont want something you leave it on the curb with a "a donner" sign. If it was small items I'd leave them on a table. Everything always went very quickly. I still do this with things that I dont think are good enough to give to the second hand store.
My daughter is selling her home. Before she put it on the market, she gave away most of her furniture and got rid of stuff that she no longer needed or wanted. She helped out some low income families that were in need of what she gave away. Felt great to help out and to get rid of unwanted stuff. Helped make the home show well, as there is more space in the home. Her home shows well. Thanks 😁
I donate clothes to a local homeless shelter. I give away items to friends. I don’t have time to sell things. I will just end up shopping and looking at more stuff to buy. And to be honest, once I decide to let it go, it needs to go and not hold me back from moving forward. The local homeless shelters are always delighted with clothes in good repair. There are also women’s shelters that greatly benefit from donated items.
I agree completely. Its just amazing how thing, that you don't value much anymore, can be be valuable in someone's eyes! And, more important, it can be put to good use!
Earlier after a fire had happened to a family member who goes to out church, I was able to give their teenager a lot of my clothes that we're boxed up, the fact that they had a lot after everything was lost was nice. I did try to sell the rest of my clothes, as all the resale stores had said that they're in great shape, but not entirely in style. There are a handful of shelters not too far away from where I am, and I'm able to donate the rest of my clothes to one of them, probably more so the teen shelter or a woman's shelter. We have a take it or leave it shop where I live, which is basically a free second hand store, but a few of the people go there to get a ton of stuff just to go out and sell it..Which is fine, but not what I'd like to see happen either. Personally, I buy almost everything second-hand for my son and I, and in general a lot of what's in our house is some thing that has been passed down, was free somewhere(not from family), or is some thing that was inherited after a death. A good amount of it I've been able to paint and change some of the hardware to fit my style more.
I totally agree with you, this is kind of like an extension of the konmari method by improving one’s respectful handling of possessions. I also think when people are in a situation where they are drowning in their possessions knowing they can donate it allows them to actually start and see progress by counting carloads of stuff instead of one object at a time. Once people are down to a more manageable range, however, I think it really helps to see the true value of each object and it has influenced my buying a lot as well. I was one of those who was drowning and I eliminated at least 90% before a move then another 90% again a year later, and now it’s a lot more manageable, and I try to buy at donation centers and sell on Mercari. :)
Very good point about selling stuff you bought brand new making you realise the true cost. I bought a laptop brand new with all the bells and whistles and i went to sell it less than 6 months later as it became surplus, I got less than HALF of what I paid and it was perfect.
I can't sell things, but I have made an effort to get valuable books to a person who can appreciate it. Afraid some books would get tossed, I sent them. A famous neurobiologist wrote me he had never dreamed he would ever own it. Ten years later it is reprinted. I know he had something to do with it.
@@Comments_From_All_Channels It was valuable to me to have read it, and was the same fir whi I sent it to. He wanted all his grad students to possess the same experience.
Donations should be made mindfully. As an art teacher, I'd receive a lot of donations that were literally trash or recycle-bin items. (Used plastic utensils that had been rinsed, insulated shipping boxes for medications, packaging from food) People felt these were great supplies for creative projects - which meant that they didn't know what to do with the items/didn't want to toss the stuff and feel wasteful. Unfortunately, either because of limited storage space, the condition of a item, or something being so odd that even the most creative kids didn't feel inspired to do anything with it, I'd end up tossing stuff. If you're thinking, "if I donate this then someone can do something with it," it may mean the charity might not know what to do with it either.
I used to go to hobby lobby to buy foam, colored construction paper, plastic sheeting and many other things for my daughters science, history and art classes. What a waste of money!
I agree with selling the stuff ourselves because let’s face it, second hand stores and charities are changing too much per each item and that can deter people living in poverty from being able to afford the items. Sell it cheaper than them.
The problem with selling stuff is that either I have to hold on to the stuff until I can hold a sale, or else I wind up trying to sell only a few items at a time, meaning I'll have to hold sales often.
Ebay is SUPER easy to use. I sold $65,000 of Studebaker parts in a three-year span. It was an estate left by my father-in-law. It was actually kind of fun.
I Love it! This is so applicable to approaching life overall. People value things more when they pay for them than if given for free. Just because you don’t value it doesn’t mean someone else feels the same way. We all value the things we have differently! 💜
I think for people who have decades of accumulated things, donating is often the only sensible option. It's practically impossible to clear a whole house by laboriously listing each item. That said, once you've got rid of the large amounts, it is definitely sustainable to give items away (or sell them) on an individual basis. But it really depends on where you are in your minimalism journey.
If somebody is getting rid of decades of things, it'll go in the landfill anyway. Why donate crap that nobody wants because it's out of style, worn out, probably smelly, etc.? Donation centers are overwhelmed; 80% of donated stuff goes to the landfill, and that includes recycling centers, by the way. That just costs these places a lot of money. People need to get over their fantasy that their crap is somehow the golden fleece and just put their garbage in the garbage where it'll end up anyway.
@@edennis8578 You're assuming that what fills a house is mostly clothes. What about furniture, books, other objects that don't wear out or get smelly? People still want those. I'm not suggesting donating "crap", but a house full of useful and nice things that people would want is still far too overwhelming for some to sort through and sell individually.
@@YoSamdySam nope - here in Switzerland, 98% of donated books at the salvation army gets dumped. It's ebook or online reading time, no longer paper (with the typical exceptions to the rule ;-)))
@@Hippabellita1 I guess it depends on the culture, I live in the Netherlands where there is a big culture of second hand shopping, thrift stores, recycling and so on.
We had a house sell in our neighborhood that included all it's stuff. It was previously owned by a hoarder. The new owners had a 3 day estate sale that was packed. Maybe a person with could act like they were having an estate sale. :)
This happens all the time in my apartment complex. Everyone takes each other's "junk" and it is great! I have taken many things that I have turned around and sold too!
I've had stuff taken out of my yard when I was moving & taking stuff to storage! A sewing machine, kids toys, & a dresser disappear, none of it was sitting anywhere near the street & you could clearly tell where the line of demarcation was! I understand taking something set out along the road, on the corner or end of the driveway... but not stuff sitting near the house or in the yard.
In 2017 I donated about 90% of my belongings to the vet's. I first made some calls and took note of what they wanted. The rest when on creglist for like dirt cheap. When you stop trying to make money off your items and sell it for almost free, you meet people who are so greatful but don't feel like charity case since they paid for the items. A lot of my items where new since I had a shopping addiction of some sort. The trick after all these years is to be mindful with what your buying. I tell myself to let the stores be my garage and just know if I don't have a use for it in that moment of life to just take a picture and keep moving. 😉
I just stumbled upon this video... actually some algorithm placed it right in front of my nose somehow. I keep collecting decluttering and minimalism CZcams subscriptions (luckily I don’t trip over them in a dark hallway in the middle of the night) and I can see that my attitude is shifting away from mindlessly buying stuff. I am on a tight budget and after so many moves and cutting back over the years I find that I still want to pare down. I especially appreciate what you said about taking time to reflect on your stuff rather than shoving it in boxes to drop off somewhere. I have certainly done both. I have learned so much about the subtle but very real associations I have made with my stuff. I actually said out loud once, “I can’t just toss this, it deserves so much better than that!” I actually felt as if I owed my stuff enough respect to get a good price for it. I think it’s very humbling to go through the very personal process of seeing the beliefs we have that have allowed the overconsumption and that get in the way of letting things go. I find that I have endowed my things with more value than is rational. They might represent some of my values and interests but they are still just things and Not Me. Lastly, I am currently camping out in my own home. The basement has a mold problem. It’s where I have most of my things and considered it my personal space to hang out separate from my son, daughter in-law and grandchild. For 16 days I have been living in the main part of the house having no access to the basement where renovations are taking place. I had removed about 14 items of clothing, some books, toiletries and computer, chargers and such and I’m doing just fine with zero access to 95% of my stuff. I am getting to “try on” a more minimal lifestyle and, not counting the stress of being displaced, I haven’t needed anything that I hadn’t already set aside. I am grateful for this opportunity to, some day soon I hope, touch each and every one of my things that has been treated for mold and bagged up. I will keep only what I love now even if I had loved it for forty years and I feel that I can say goodby to it. I believe I had come up against the memory of loving the thing, decided to hang on to it and later felt weighted down by it. I need to slow down the process enough to honestly ask whether I’m willing to love it for another twenty years. If not, out it goes. And I will research the many ways I can sell or give to neighbors those things that I no longer love.
That's what I've done recently. I've just started my decluttering journey and gave a bunch of clothes. But I'm wondering what else I have that they could use?
I have resorted to leaving items beside the dumpsters at the landfill with BIG NOTES saying, "GOOD STUFF! TAKE IT!" One employee at the dump can't believe some of the things I leave. He's enjoying some of it himself. He's (and another guy) tell me that people will put the entire box or boxes in their vehicles and leave with them. There landfill guys don't mind at all. I feel good about doing it this way. Keep in mind, some dump sites don't allow *scavenging" so check with someone first. (I do it anyway even if they say "welllllll... You're not really supposed to leave stuff out")
There is a sign at my dump also , about no scavenging , and I think that it is ridiculous to discourage people from picking something up that they will use.
@@cmdviola I think it's ridiculous too. But u will say that most of those guys who work there don't care (for the enormous part). As matter if fact, there's been occasions where the employees asked if I was "really throwing that away?". Where I'm at, it's the city gov. who make the rules at the dump (and nobody cares).
I had one huge bundle of clothing as a listing and a lady eventually bought it. She said it's cheaper than going to art store to buy textiles for her kids art painting class. You never know who wants your pile of stuff!!
“Sweeping the globe” - are you kidding? There are people in the developing world who would love to have a chance to de clutter. But they don’t have anything to de-clutter. Not denying your argument- just don’t presume that what is happening in the USA is happening all over the world.
Are used to work in a charity shop and we had to get rid of at least 70% of everything we got in. Although we did get money for it and it went to be recycled for good art paper
That’s the thing isn’t it, we live in a world that’s made it easy to consume but there’s a less clear path once we’ve finish with something. Its so much effort to dispose thoughtfully of items, I wish it was more normal to put more thought into purchasing them in the first place!
I just had a professional do an estate sale for me where everything was included. It was only 1/3rd of my estate and netted me $8500 and sold only 95%. I'm having a 2nd sale soon when I finally move. This is a process and I do appreciate this blurb about donating. Thank you
Sold half my record collection this week and was shocked how quick and easy it was. When the records are done I’m moving onto the books. I’m letting my mom sell my unwanted clothes on Facebook and will donate or throw away whatever doesn’t sell online depending on condition. FEELS GOOD!
There's also a huge problem with Goodwill keeping extremely high prices and they are just going up. It's one thing for a store to know what brands are good and price them higher than a regular tee shirt. But when I'm looking for scrap fabric to try out a DIY project, I can't justify paying $3.50 for a used, stretched-out-in-some-places, shrunk-in-others, walmart Tee shirt. I could buy a new shirt from Walmart for $3.50. There's a supply and demand factor and if they can't sell something, then the price has to come down. You can blame the fact that too many people are donating, but that's not the problem. They're are plenty of people that would love to have literal trash and pay for the ease of not having to dumpster dive, but not full retail price.
I totally agree with you. We live in Washington state and the prices had gotten so high at Goodwill that I could buy brand new stuff at Kohl's or Target for about the same price. I'm sorry but 29.00 for a pair of jeans at Goodwill. I just stopped going. I still donate there which I should look for another place. Like someone mentioned above whenever I have larger items that I want to put on Craigslist it becomes an issue. Photo's, listing, back and forth communication, and I don't really want people coming to our house, especially if my husband is not home. I do try to give things away to others if I can, but mostly at our age of almost 50 most people don't need much. So it's that idea of well I'll get to it someday. Especially on the higher end items you don't just want to give away when you could make hundreds from it.
@@clarkclarke I'm not sure why you felt the need to state the obvious, but I'll go ahead and play devil's advocate. If it truly wanted to help people and provide jobs for the disabled like I hear over the radio every time I'm in the store, the company would lower the CEO's wage and price the merchandise so it moves off the shelf and/or rack. Overhead of storing those items eats at the entry level workers' wage. And by the way, if it were a not-for-profit it would make more sense that their CEO's wage is so high because not-for-profits aren't allowed to hold any money at the end of the year. It has to go somewhere. Every business has to keep a some padding during the year to cover overhead, but it's impossible to have a perfect prediction of cash flow. Which is why executives of not-for-profits get bonuses. All I said was, there are plenty of people that enjoy the service thrift stores offer. Many people are happy to have second hand items, but aren't able to go rummaging every Saturday or religiously scope Facebook marketplace/craigslist for what they need. A thrift store is an amazing option; however, inventory has to be priced to sell. It's ridiculous to blame consumers for a business's bad practice like this video does. There's no reason why any thrift store should have to rent storage facilities when thrfting and second shopping is just as trendy now as decluttering and minimizing. There are just as many materialistic people with small pocketbooks as there are minimalists. Most thrift stores take the saying "One man's trash is another man's treasure" too literally. No consumer wants to pay the same price for something used when they could get it new.
Nothing I own has monetary value. My clothing, furniture and kitchen items are all second or third hand. I don't own much and so am only decluttering in small amounts. I also don't shop/ buy unless I need it (replacement).
My local thrift store AND food bank spend a great deal of time and money throwing people's garbage away. Nobody wants your opened jar of spice from 1997. Nobody wants to buy your dirty, torn, T-shirt that marks some race a few years ago. No market for that at the store and too risky at the food bank. When I got rid of my "business attire," rather than donate it to the thrift store, in hopes that they'd eventually sell it, I took it to a domestic violence shelter (after washing the item or having it dry cleaned, except in the case of some new items that I'd never worn that were dusty but still had tags on them...I wanted them to see the tags) for them to use there. All the items I donate are clean and serviceable or they aren't donated. I don't want to be a pain and I want to increase the odds of the item being sold or being used, the purpose of donating the item.
Funny, i was just yesterday thinking about going through my stuff and declutter again, yet i realized that there is nothing to declutter, really. I stopped the consumption habit, all gifts i get are reasonable or i re-gift them (cosmetics and so on) but most of them are monetary gifts which i use to my liking (ok, a spend it on cats.. :D :D :D). So, there really is no stuff i feel the need to get rid of, which feels AAAAMAZING!! Hugs from Slovakia
Thanks for the really good advice. One problem though, is that selling takes a lot of time. That's a big problem if you are in need of decluttering and regaining free space. So, a solution I personally use is to sell REALLY cheap and if this fails I convert my ad to a giveaway. Thanks a lot.
I enjoy donating instead of selling because I give the clothing my kids outgrow, that are still in great shape, to the local Children’s Home. I even donated some Betsy Johnson purses i had bought and never used because I know that the older kids get overlooked more and that a teenage girl would love to have fashionable clothes and Accessories. I’m sure I could make money from it but I feel better donating it. It depends on what I’m getting rid of will depend on where I take it. We also have a local organization that rely on donations for people who have no money to purchase these items. It’s my understanding that not just anyone can walk in and grab whatever they want. They have to be sent there. I always donate things that are in great shape, and can be loved and used by somebody else. I have a tendency to splurge too often. I don’t smoke drink or use drugs, my outlet is shopping LOL
I donate because if money can be made on the item, the non-profit will get the proceeds and be able to help more people than if I get the money. I also have been known to shop at the same non-profit I donate to while I'm there. (although never as much as I drop off.) buying used is a great way to save money and reduce the amount of stuff clogging up landfills.
Totally agree, every point is a very valid one. Where I used to live we had very few shops, so the local thrift shop and the car boot were the default places to look for anything. It was a high military area, so alot of people were always on the move, and decluttering. However I started volunteering for a local animal rehoming and rescue, and hand made some blankets and toys, (all very high quality makes) when I 'donated' I got a horrible response, of "why are you giving us stuff we don't want and don't need?" I thanked them, smiled (gritted teeth and nearly cried) and walked away with my makes (Never to support them again!) and researched animal rehoming centres that did request and accept such makes. It is very true of what you pay for something reflects how you view it, and its worth. I have heard this many times .... only XYZ from the car boot ... etc, half the time the new owner can't wait to throw it away.
This is great advice if there's not much that you need to get rid of, but when doing a large downsize, it's not practical or realistic to sell everything you're getting rid of. I do think though, that everyone should try to buy used before buying new. It would be a lot easier for thrift stores etc to sell items (clothes are a good example) if everyone looked to see if they could find the item they need used instead of automatically buying new all the time. I also don't find that I personally value an item less if I paid less for it. I've gotten some pretty great finds at thrift stores, yard sales, etc. Some of them have been completely free, but I still value them because they meet my needs well, are unique, and/or just simply bring me joy. I think the true reason why items are undervalued and uncared for is because people have too many possessions.
Green Hippie - agreed. I've gotten into the habit of checking thrift stores first before buying and will often happen to find not only the things I need, but also the odd thing I really needed but just assumed I'd never really be able to afford in high quality. Like needing some nude coloured high heels (they go with everything so I'd only ever need one pair), stumbling across a pair of Christian Louboutin heels (a super expensive designer label with the red soles, worth hundreds of dollars), in mindblowingly almost perfect condition (the soles were a tiny bit dusty), for about $5-$7! I couldn't believe it. Those I will be treasuring for a long, LONG time.
Anthony, many thanks for this. I've discovered pretty much the same phenomenon too. I would add three things: 1. the process of learning about each item can be eye-opening and educational, something akin to Antiques Roadshow in your own closet. Don't underestimate this part of the de-clutter and the delight that comes with finding out some tiny pewter thing is worth about 100 dollars on ebay and that it actually comes from Holland (I've learned so much about markings, and factories, etc) 2. the money can be donated to the charities directly most of whom do not actually have thrift stores--my international societies for example don't accept donations 3. Realistically, it will take an assortment of methods to declutter--you will have to recycle, rehome, trash, donate AND sell. Social media platforms are a great resource as well as old fashioned garage sales. But thanks for putting this up and urging a deep rethinking of our patterns of consumption.
Earlier tonight I was mentally tallying what I have paid for my all the furnishings and appliances in the two bedroom condo that i have lived in for twenty years. I have spent only $1,500 in twenty years and this place is crammed full of decent, mostly mid century solid wood furniture. I live in a college town and almost every day i find great stuff close enough that I can move it here on a skateboard. I have leather couches, teak cabinets, a five foot recent tv. I find antiques and trendy items, lamps, art, electronics, like new clothing and bedding, designer handbags and leather goods, kitchen wear, camping gear, bicycles, sealed bottles of alcohol and even stashes of medical herbs. It's just amazing how much people throw out for their own convenience. Their trash, my treasure. The maintenance manager in my complex actually thanked me when he caught me taking a chair from a pile of furniture that someone had left by the dumpster. He said he has to pay a truck to take whatever sits for too long. Stuff, there's just so much of it! Now that my place is plum full I'm seriously thinking of starting a side hustle selling my finds totally based on the logic you've outlined here. I just hate the idea of it going to the dump.
I usually will advertise my stuff for sale for about 1 month to 3 months, if there is no buyer I just advertise it for free to whoever wants it. I usually able to let go of my stuff this way. I take care of my stuff/clothes well so I’m happy to let it go to someone else who will to continue to use/wear it.
Ha, ha, ha! Yeah..... And those poor suckers like me who have great aunts who go to second hand stores to buy their minimalist great nieces a bunch of random stuff, lol.
My neighbor is the absolute worst example of those people. She lives alone (with a bunch of roaming cats), has three cars (one of which actually runs, one which hardly runs, and one that's been abandoned on her driveway for three years). All three cars are filled to the brim with trash, her front and side yard are cluttered with dilapidated cheap furniture that others left out for free, and I can't even begin to imagine what the nightmare that is the inside of her house must look like. As nice as she is to talk with, I'm fully convinced she has a mental illness. I don't feel comfortable bringing it up since I feel like it's none of my business, but it's downright awful to watch. She literally goes out and _collects_ the shit that other people are throwing away, because she thinks it'll be worth something. And she's not even poor. She can afford to rent in one of the most expensive areas in America (she doesn't have a job, though).
NESherv she DOES have a mental illness. Read Liane Moriarty’s “Truly Madly Guilty”. One of the main character’s mother has this illness. The author explores how it affects her daughter into adulthood. Just be glad you’re not related to this neighbor.
Yes,indeed since konmari method poor hoarders swarming to goodwill buying crap. I see so many RV s passing my work ( goodwill ) ppl going places , hoarders will never experience RV or vacations !
People who buy at Thrift stores are not necessarily hoarders. We are a zero waste family, and shop (with a list) at Thrift stores support the re-use market, and to avoid excessive packaging that comes with buying new or buying online. Sometimes it takes a while to find what we need, but we are fortunate to have 5 Thrift, consignment and Charity stores in our small town, as well as Facebook Marketplace to draw from for our family needs. We are not minimalists (yet) but there is more going OUT than IN the home and this will continue until we are clutter-free.
It depends on the person. I don’t have the patience to wait for something to sell. I want it out . The best thing for me is to buy more consciously and intentionally.
Your arguement doesn‘t match with what I‘ve read so far on the issue. My research is about Europe though. But I can‘t believe there‘s any difference. Here in Europe, there‘s a triage at the beginning because used clothes have a whole industry. Stuff in very good condition and in season will get sold nationally. Stuff still good to wear, but maybe not good to sell nationally will get sold internationally, especially to poorer countries. (That‘s a totally different ethic problem to unpack). And stuff that‘s no longer good to use will get shredded and recycled into lower quality fabric or whatever you want to produce with thread. So there‘s actually no need to store things until they can be sold.
I don't know what country in Europe you are referring to, but I know from SEVERAL NGOs running the major thrift shops in Germany and Switzerland that they are also overloaded with stuff. 98% of books get immediately dumpted into the paper container (my friend runs the booksection at the Heilsarmee Switzerland ...) and clothes are going the same route. Furniture are getting carefully selected. Because of IKEA, shitty quality of clothes today, 1-EURO-household crap etc. the NGOs running thrift shops have to be highly cautious not to end up in bankcruptcy themselves - some of them only survive because they get public funding for their workers etc ... Also the refugee organisations are setting limits now (we work with some of those in other non stuff-related projects).
I truly appreciate your point & agree wholeheartedly. I find that donating directly to organizations such as shelters or any local org providing low-cost/no-cost services to a specific clientele - who also accept donations... to be a worthy alternative. Also, because I’m a creative person, I’m able to repurpose many items into ongoing projects. For example... melting down certain non-toxic plastics, breaking apart items & recycling select pieces (metal, glass, wires, appliance motors, etc.) for cash, (re)sewing old clothes into pet beds & blankets, & (re)gifting items to neighbors, etc, etc, etc. If ALL else fails... garbage. A little ingenuity goes a long way.
I have seen people I personally know wearing clothes I took to Goodwill however, I have to admit not everything I have donated was an item that would be highly desired 🥺 This is good information and I will definitely be more mindful before I give things away.
I will continue to donate for the tax deduction. I don’t have time to sell online and I think it’s often more trouble than it’s worth in addition it’s a safety concern meeting a stranger with the item. I don’t mind if the stuff is disposed of in the end because I’m getting my tax deduction and my house is decluttered.
There is a Solid Waste Management Warehouse in my county that has an agreement with several villages to collect hazardous waste periodically. I suppose they are a local quasi-governmental organization. They also accept all manner of dry goods for resale - furniture, audio and video recordings, audio equipment, small kitchen appliances, cookware, etc. Their prices are reasonable so I don't feel that my donation is resulting in hardship for someone needy to acquire stuff. More recently, I've discovered something even better - One of the local Catholic churches has a mission, where they house the homeless. I have given them clothes, linens, even clothes hangers, and they don't sell stuff - THEY GIVE IT AWAY.
I have a son who's growing out of his clothes fast I just make sure they are clean pack them in plastic bags put a sign BOY'S CLOTHERS. FREE .Put the bags by the dumpster 30 mins gone .I have done other items that way someone will use them or sale that works for me.
Our donation centers are ALWAYS in need. I live in central Texas and we have an abundance of second hand stores, flea markets and craftsmen. They're always in need. I donate only items in very good condition. I work in a library and if we can't use it in our collection, we sell for a quarter. We can't keep up. Nothing wrong with decluttering. It's wonderful to see so many 'cleaning up their life's and others finding use for something another no longer needs.
I generally sell clothes that I don't wear because I'm bored of them I donate clothes that I would still use but I think someone would need it much more than I do. This difference creates another perspective for decluttering and also for buying and using stuff, I guess.
I always try to sell stuff when my son grows out of his clothes and toys. I do mange to sell quit a bit and use the money to buy second hand items too. I.e. Grown out of his 18" wheel bike sell it and buy a 29" wheel bike from someone. I think this is a really good way for the item to be well used saving people money and the environment. I sometimes put clothes in clothes banks that are shipped to poor countries.
A guy a couple blocks from me had an "estate sale" with near retail prices on his used stuff. Wouldn't budge on the prices. 2 weeks later there was a dumpster in his driveway. They start at $500 in my area.
One of the best videos I have come across tackling the topic of reducing-recycling etc. while TAKING RESPONSIBILITY for your "shit" and not delegating it to others. I like the fact that you include the psychological impacts and learning possibilities DEALING with your stuff and not simply chucking it the easiest and quickest way which will most likely "teach you" that buying and getting rid of new stuff again this way is an easy option. Research in relation to dealing with messies proves this again and again. Dumpster-tidying the house for messies does not yield successes, but on an average it takes 3 months for the houses to be filled again ..... My partner and I had a totally different perspective about how to reduce our belongings when we moved into a house (about (600/ 700 square feet of living space) too small for our stuff. He aimed for calling a dumpster (but not really ready to fill it ;-))), but I argued for the sorting by potential recipients to value and deal with the stuff respectfully and extent its lifetime. It is a painful, very energy-intensive and long-winding process, but it changed and re-set our mindset incredibly plus we get to experience today's actual culture and people's mindsets (e.g. people being unreliable, not sticking to their bids and promisses etc., the reality of the "non-sharing" society etc.), but we also get to meet fascinating people (who would have thought that board members of the leading banks here in Switzerland shop or also sell secondhand small ticket items ;-))) (we have encountered 5 of them from different banks) and even made some friends. In the meantime, I have had to also deal with the estate of my parents in my home country, which added to the pile, but I cherish the feeling that one day I might be challenged for having had way too much stuff for a long time in my life, but that I have not contributed to the one-way-street towards the landfills and the enourmous problems with them as a result of it but that I have done my share of participating in a "sharing" society and keeping things in a loop.
I volunteer at a refugee resettlement agency in Tucson. We have a « store » on site where clients can come and get free clothing, shoes and other items that can fit in our tiny space. I also receive donations at my house from friends and neighbors and deliver those personally to families who have spent, on average, 18 years in refugee camps. I feel like Santa Claus everyday, especially when I have a bunch of toys in my trunk to give the kiddos.
You make a really good point, or five. Too many people just think the donation route is the only way to go but it really doesn't get them to think about the stuff itself or how it affects the centre that's overflowing from all the donations - both good and bad. I certainly agree that going through the "pain" of selling stuff, or finding a new home to give it to, is a good exercise to help you understand why you have an excess and how you can do better in future. At least it has helped me, I certainly think more carefully now before shopping.
Maybe take it one step further and after spending time selling your "stuff", donate the money to the charity you would have "dumped" it on. Then you will really feel the burn.
I work for Goodwill, please donate good stuff not garbadge. We,are oveload with donations, please don't donate everything at once. You can call local goodwill and find out if we take donations or not. You can always give unwanted goods to your friends or family or people in need.
Just don’t donate to goodwill. Goodwill is a parasitic company that benefits off corporate welfare. Donate to actual charity shops.
@@rockstarofredondo I agree. I took a working laser printer to Goodwill years ago. The person I gave it to dropped it into a huge box, and I heard it breaking as it hit the bottom. I don't donate to Goodwill anymore.
I donate to Goodwill... ONLY clean clothing, in excellent condition. I would never use Goodwill as a dumpster, but many people do. I think that's disgusting and shows incredible laziness and inconsideration on the part of those who do it.
@@rockstarofredondo Gives jobs to people who would not be able to get many jobs.
Rashone More like, gets free labor from people on government assistance.🤣
I’ve done free sales. A yard sale where people just take what they want or need. Straight to someone’s home.
GREAT IDEA
This is a great idea
cool!!!!
you could also sell everything for a buck and say it is for your favorite charity..... get together with some friends
I'm planning on doing this soon. I'm glad to hear you've done this too. :)
The key is to not accumulate stuff you later need to get rid of. Wish I understood that 40 years, and several moves ago.
I'm figuring this out now, in my late 40s after a big (and bit unexpected) move from a house I accumulated in for 18 years. It's been hard at times during this paring down process, but in the meantime I severely cut back on shopping/consuming to slow or completely halt any re-accumulation. At the very least, this buys me time as I work on some of the harder areas for me to minimize. It's a difficult process but very rewarding and I'm committed to my goals!
Agree, very difficult to downsize, I wish I had known not to collect so much stuff, when you get older it is hard on you physically.
Thanks to an early life on the road (16 - 32ish yrs old), I've kept the amount of junk I own waaaaay down. Now I live on a 35' sailboat. Don't have the space, and can't afford to add weight to the boat. It was an easy move.
You said it! But it is never too late to figure this out and to diminish if not stop this overconsumption. Let's all pull together and support each other as we change our lives. I'm buying stuff that is second hand, more and more, if and when I actually need it.
Agreed. Probably 3/4 of my stuff is either totally useless to me, or not worth keeping. I wish I'd known that when I was buying it...
The thing is, selling all your unwanted items takes a lot of effort- listing, photographing, packing and shipping. That effort is a friction point for many people and the payoff (money you will make) is very little. The effort-to-payoff ratio is not a good use of time. If people have too many friction points, they will just avoid doing the task. They will end up keeping the pile of items, procrastinating about "someday I will sell that stuff" but they never get around to it so the stuff stays in their house.
Most donations aren't being sold, either. According to Huffington Post, 80% of donations end up in the landfill. Ditto with recycling. People who think it's easy to recycle are the problem; they're recycling stuff that can't be recycled. For example, most textiles can't be recycled. If it isn't pure cotton, pure wool, or cotton/poly blend, they can't use it. Even 1% spandex disqualifies it. If you don't have time to sell it, do everybody a favor, cut out the middleman and your fantasy of being good to the earth, and put it in the garbage where it'll end up anyway.
I agree, if you have a huge amount of things to declutter then trying to sell or work out what to do with it can cause you to give up completely. Often it's better to just get rid of it (in the best way you can manage) then be very mindful of anything else new you fetch into your life afterwards.
Well said. Couldn't have said it better.
Not really. It takes me less than a minute to post, and eventually the item sells if u keep it posted indefinitely. I've sold stuff I posted 5 yrs ago, I post daily, and eventually everything gets sold. Someone in US eventually finds my post. It's lije garage sale for the entire US to see
@@edennis8578 I thrift shop myself so I have a pretty good idea of what they can sell and what is not sellable. I don't donate things that are worn out, stained or torn. I donate good usable things and throw out the garbage stuff (or use it for rags, or upcycle it since I also sew and DIY).
When I had to clean out the house of a deceased friend who was a “ collector” I held a 20 dollar/ all you can carry sale. Doors opened at 9 and by 3 p.m. everything was gone and I had a pocketful of cash
I went to donate some nice stuff to my local Goodwill. As I drove up the worker was smashing up some really nice chairs. I asked him why he was doing that and he said “we don’t have room for them right now”.
WOW. They should have just GIVEN them away then. Needless to say I DID NOT leave my donations ever again. I give the stuff I don’t want to sell away for free on Craigslist.
I took some very nice antique dishes and trinkets to goodwill once. And when I asked for the tub back that I used to carry items, the man dumped everything out while looking straight I to my eyes with so much contempt. It was heartbreaking to hear all the items crash, and I will NEVER EVER donate to them again. Besides it's not a charity foundation.
Wow they could just list them as free & people would probably take them.
Exactly and they shew homeless ppl away from their bins
@@rubyrose2522 that was an evil thing to do. I'm sorry you had to go through that.
They were clearing the crystal and china off. Told to break it into the dumpster.
Where I live every thrift store is crawling with ebay sellers. When store workers bring out new donations they immediately swoop down on it and pick over it like vultures. They buy up all the good deals, jack up the price and resell it. So when low income customers go looking for good used stuff, all they find is the junk left behind.
Goodwill gets tons of donations a day here in Seattle and yet their prices are ridiculous! I see countless items that the dollar tree sells for a dollar and Goodwill marks them at $5 or more. Maybe they wouldn’t have to get storage units if their prices were more reasonable. I don’t know what has changed with them over the years, they used to have great deals but now things are close to retail pricing.
They're profiting, welcome to America. If you already know choose somewhere else to donate.
There's a bit of irony here. They have to price products higher to pay for storage, but in doing so they're driving their main shoppers away so they're not moving product (which means more storage needed), and they have higher cost (storage space, workers to .maintain & run it).
Most charity shops are doing this now. I imagine the staff don't realise, but I try to look at it generously - they're raising money for a good cause. If I happen to buy something at an inflated priced, at least I'm making an additional donation to someone in need.
Serves them right for CEO salaries and underpaid employees. They are a profit organization and I don’t donate to that place.
I see the same, $25for a used button up shirt they got for free?.... I don’t support em.
I did this and it was completely mind opening. It made me realize how much money (and lifetime) I‘ve wasted on things I barely ever used.
same here
Like crying over spilt milk
Lessons learned, for sure.
me with my 8 year old self
I can’t say enough about my local Buy Nothing group. In the group, we gift big ticket items and small items to neighbors, and even the gift of our time. It’s a great way to give away the things we don’t need to individuals in the neighborhood who will use it. And it’s a great place to ask for things we need and want.
I have found the Buy Nothing project to be a really intentional way to pass along the things I no longer need. 😊 it’s so awesome to meet the person who will give the item it’s next home!
I always try to buy secondhand. Keeps stuff out of landfills and recycling is good.
When l see those huge declutterings on CZcams, l always think that 9 times out of 10 they are just making room to buy more stuff. Decluttering for good is much more difficult and takes a real change of mind set
YES!
Excellent point, and not only that, it really is helpful to move to a smaller house after that, not only do you not have the room then, to buy more stuff, but I gotta say when we sold everything we had, out of necessity, not decluttering (we just needed the money) we just felt our already small home was too...empty. It really helped once we moved into a really small house to feel like it’s not so bare, and you have less room for collecting stuff. Larger homes should, in my opinion, be for larger families. For the average 2-4 persons household, a very small home kept in a relatively minimal lifestyle is more than enough.
That is why this video is so good. It isn't a decluttering video per se, but one that tells you change your life by trying to sell each item, or rehoming it.
Maybe some do that but after you declutter you have put so much work into it and it takes a while so you have really changed some habits in that time. It feels so good to live in a space that is clutter free, I would never go back to living the other way.
Great video, I only donate really good items, some worth $100 or more... I have seen them accept my donation, and while I’m still in the store see them bought and the person walking out the door. Some people feel bad decluttering expensive items, I never do, I would rather see this item being loved and enjoyed, then sitting in a closet in my home. I have been minimal for four years. I have changed since I became minimal, I also never sold anything, but my donations for 2019 totaled 5K
I donated a collection worth thousands, because I don’t collect items anymore or collect, and the money went to feeding and caring for the dogs and cats that were in process of being rescued. Did my heart good.
Donation centers like Goodwill would do well to have regular sales and to price things reasonably so that they could move those products. If things were even less than what they are charging which is a typical price tag of $5.99 on everything, they would move the items out of the store and make room for the new ones and not need gigantic warehouses. Instead they see anything that might be somewhat of a brand and try to label it as Boutique and no one buys it because any Savvy Shopper can find those items for less than even the Goodwill prices.
@@Comments_From_All_Channels Goodwills here in Nashville charge 4.99 for a used top, can buy a brand new one at Walmart or Target for $5.99.$7.99 for pants, etc. You can buy a new top for $5.99 at Walmart. We only buy at Goodwill when it's on sale as those are more reasonable prices for used clothing. I agree with Clementine's suggestion, this would move a lot more merchandise and bring more money to Goodwill and the people they help in the end.
@@Comments_From_All_Channels not at my goodwill
Here's a funny one. I saw a cute little kimono in the Goodwill, brand new with tags. The original price from the bargain store it came from was $4.50 and the Goodwill had it priced for 6.99, LOL I showed the clerk there and we had a good laugh over it but they didn't change the price tag either
@@Comments_From_All_Channels The Goodwills here give a coupon as well when I donate which is nice but I'd rather they have lower prices on clothing that is clearly used, faded, sometimes torn and with broken zippers or buttons missing.
@@ClementinesChannel Geez!
Great video .
I was a former hoarder .
I asked friends and family and coworkers if they would like things that I thought that might interest
them
Then I went to homeless ppl and gave them stuff directly. If you are scared go with a friend or 2. Trust me they are so kind and sweet and appreciative. ( I have been coordinating homeless events for almost 20 years )
Shelters and most charities are so picky so that’s why I give it directly. Then whatever I had left I donated .
Selling would have never helped me . I decluttered for a week and now it’s been over 3 years I live an almost clutter free life . I am not a minimalist.... I just am realistic and don’t ever want to be overwhelmed with all that clutter . So I am mindful. Labels seem confusing and suffocating . I love my fresh start
We dont have thrift or charity shops in México, I donate clothes and homeware stuff to an all girls home (kind of an orphanage, but they dont get adopted they live there util they are
adults) in a low income area, they take what they need for the girls and the rest they sell in their own store.
katya gc - Awesomeness!! (I am picturing in my mind, beautiful)
katya gc is there a way we can send stuff from US do you have an address we can send items to
@@Comments_From_All_Channels I know the translation im mexican, but they are not popular here like in the US or Europe if someone sells used stuff its more like out of their house or in a mercado on the week ends, but nothing is in good condition. We have some antique shops but they dont usually sell clothes.
@@lgee9027 thank you, yes I could give you an adress
@@TheMrsKitKat What's the name of the home and address? Would love to send things there that they could use.
Thanks so much for sharing, I found it very interesting. I always say if you brought something into your home, it's your responsibility to declutter it in a responsible way. And the fact that that takes time and effort will help you to consume less, because you're mindful of the fact that you might have to put effort into decluttering it later.
Simple Happy Zen agreed I’m so more consciously aware of everything I consider purchasing now.
Totaly true, im trying to sell some never worn ítems and im having not that much luck so its taking some time and I dont want to do that again in the future
It took me 2 years selling unwanted stuff. It certainly was a lot of effort. Nowadays, I think twice before I buy something. I’m more responsible now, I look more stylish, and my house looks better with less. Be responsible - SELL YOUR STUFF.
People already know this stuff
Goodwill is a huge money making industry. Prices too high. Executives earn large sums of money.
I have a solution. Goodwill needs to sell things cheaper. More merchandise would be moved. Sales would be higher. But the executives are too greedy to see that.
Salvation army helps homeless people. I have to find one of their stores to donate too.
I won't even donate to good will, I prefer church thrift shops or mom and pop thrift shops when donating. Good will is not good will for anybody but their executives
Yes Jolene, we always donate to Salvation army. Found out a long time ago that Goodwill is in it for themselves.
@@krystynasmyth1891 it is not a non profit ...
Growing up, my mom had some hoarding habits and we always had a bunch of stuff. For her, every item had emotional value, even if it was trash. Whenever she does donate, it's usually not in great condition nor is it valuable. But in her mind, she thinks it's worth donating because she values many items that are in terrible condition. It's a bit difficult to argue otherwise with her
Maybe they will tell her it's garbage when she tries to donate. Thrift stores throw out garbage that can't be sold they aren't stupid. If they were they wouldn't be open.
My mother has NEVER given away or sold a single item. One summer, she made us make yard sale.tags for a bunch of clothes and some other stuff. No yard sale ever happened. Once my parents started living in separate houses, my dad started getting rid of her hoarding junk. After he died, she immediately accused me of stealing. As if I'd want any of her junk! If she had really wanted ANY of it so badly, she could've come and gotten it while he was at work, on literally any weekday
I live close to a shop where you can donate stuff that the "customers" then get for free (you don't have to be low income to "shop" there, everyone is welcome).
Whenever I have stuff that I want to donate I always ask them beforehand if they think that they could need it - if they got room for it and if they think that people might want that. I just donate things they say yes to.
Sometimes a conversation is all it needs ☺️
This is a big problem for donation centers. I worked in one. With all the decluttering and minimalism happening right now, donation centers are overwhelmed with stuff. There is no way it can all be processed for selling. It's way too much. Some can be transported to another location but that is very costly for a nonprofit to do. A lot of it goes in the dumpster. People have to be mindful of what they are giving too. If it doesn't work, don't donate it. If it has a hole in it, please don't donate it. If it has a chip, don't donate it. Put it out on the curb a day or two before trash pick up, maybe somebody will take it. Giving and donating is great IF there is a need for the items we are donating. Right now, there is an overabundance of stuff. Look into unlikely places like calling soup kitchens, unwed mother centers, senior citizen centers and churches...places that do not normally ask for items. Otherwise, curb it, free-cycle it, or just trash it. Thanks for this video. Not many people are willing to address this. Unless you are in it on a day to day, people cannot realize how big of a problem this has become.
I agree in part. The idea of buying a ton of fast fashion then donating it at the end of each season thinking you're doing a good deed it is a huge problem. Buying more mindfully in the first place is what we should all be looking with every purchase we make.
The other side of it is if you want to declutter your life, have a lifetime of stuff hoarded (like I do) then it's impractical to try and sell every last thing and it can stop you wanting to declutter it at all. The whole process is very overwhelming to someone that has accumulated many years worth of possessions and sometimes donation and recycling (even landfill if there's no choice) is the only practical option to get through it. Personally, with the volume of things I need to go through, knowing what to do with it has really stalled my progress because I now have bags of things that I don't want to just throw out but aren't really worth selling or spending the time trying to (especially clothing) and are still stuck cluttering my home. There are only so many items you can repurpose and it can end up causing you to hold onto things 'just in case' or 'I'll find a better use for it' trapping you in the cycle.
The whole frustration and overwhelm of the decluttering process does make you question everything new that comes into your life and I totally agree that if we are at the point of decluttering at a lower volume then we should be trying to sell or give away things to get more use out of them, but if you're starting out with potentially 1000s of items to get rid of, selling just wouldn't be feasible.
Nenemaria, I have to say that we stuck to the selling of our stuff until we got through it all. It took us about...4 years in total, with the last 2 of the 4 being the most productive, but we literally considered this our job during these years because we needed the money badly, and the only thing we could do to make extra money was sell stuff. All it took was about an hour every day of taking new photos and updating online ads, and answering a customer inquiry. We literally saw it as our part time job. $5 dollars here and $10 dollars there, and a few donations, made us about $5000 over 4 years. Sure it was a project but we literally considered it a daily ritual like having lunch and taking a shower during these years, we did it every evening until we sold it all. It just because a routine of the family, the money we earned on the side was the goal, and it actually does add up. It makes a side job, but it helps to have help. We had 4 of us doing it actively, and it was really really worth it for us. We got a very clean home, but to us it was not about decluttering to have a minimal lifestyle, at that time. It was being in the 08’ recession and needing to make extra out of what we already had and found out that we didn’t use. Whatever didn’t sell after x amount of time got donated, but we weren’t sending massive boxes to donations because we sold most. Even at $1.50 a shirt, it went to people who really couldn’t pay more, and really wanted it. We ended up giving those people free things in addition too. The key is finding someone who genuinely wants your items and will use them, and ads online do accomplish that better than thrift stores do, because people look for specific things, and then find them.
Good points. I was raised well but poor, so I think I hang on to stuff "just in case". The Depression was hard for my parents. Saving , repairing, repurpose, painting, cleaning was our family way. Still is for me but I still have lots of shoes, clothing and purses that I am paring down. I buy well made second hand items. God bless you.
@@user-rm4yd2cl2k Well done for sticking to it and making some extra cash on the side too! If it's possible for people to do the same as you then I would definitely encourage it. Unfortunately even that hour a day isn't something everyone can manage, I'm currently very sick and had to put my own business on hiatus (which is actually online selling so I know how much time it takes to photo, measure, write descriptions, answer emails etc - it was my full time job!) so donating is really my only option at the moment, plus for me it's time sensitive as I might have to move again shortly which is going to be very hard without all the extra stuff. I do wish I could do what you did, I think it's also a good lesson in making people more mindful about what comes into their homes in the first place by having it take so long to find a new home when it's no longer wanted. Thankfully I don't purchase much at all, it's the stuff that I've accumulated over the years that's the issue!
@@virgierutledge3004 Yes, the 'just in case' has really been an issue for me. I really like to repurpose and reuse as much as I can as it's the way I've been brought up too, but it's caused an accumulation of many things over the years that it's just too much and I need to clear some space to breathe. I don't actually purchase much at all, I buy second hand when I can too and 95% of my furniture etc is gifted or second hand. It's just the letting go of anything I find hard when it could come in handy or might be needed in the future. I think the scarcity mindset, coming from a place of not having the money to replace something, makes me hold on to things too. I'm not in a bad financial position now but have been in the past and I really think that it does make it difficult to let things go. Plus the guilt of getting rid of something that could be used/repaired etc even if I don't really need it. Definitely something I need to work on!
We often buy stuff that we don’t really need to, because we are conditioned by our culture to do so. It’s called capitalism.
We buy with a consumer mindset because our education system focuses on this more than learning to buy and use what we need.
Our culture does not teach people to be strong, healthy, and wise. It teaches us to grab whatever we can, because it’s on sale and will soon be gone. It teaches us to eat what tastes good, not what has good nutrition.
There’s always a sense of stress created for us. Learning how to do things the right way is kinda a hit-and-miss venture, because no one teaches us. It’s pretty much always a “figure it out for yourself” situation. So when someone figures it out and shares what they’ve learned, it can be really helpful.
Goods can sometimes be too expensive. Someone may be just starting out, or starting over. Thrift stores can be a true blessing for someone who has a limited amount of funds, and needs some things, and it can also really help someone who has too much, to declutter.
It’s not a perfect solution. But it’s one that works for countless people. And, until the system is really overhauled and fixed, it may be the best we can do.
In my city - Berlin - donation centers will mostly only take things, that they need and that are in good condition. Everything else should be thrown away. I only sell stuff that is worth something (at least 20$) and I make sure to only sell it in person (no sending packages all over the country). This ensures less ressources used for logistics. My goal with minimalism is to gain more time for my family. Selling stuff can be a huge pain in the ass and often takes up a lot of time. My wife and I got rid of about 2000 things. There is no way selling all this stuff would have been a good idea.
When I visited Berlin lately I saw that many houses had boxes on their front porch walls etc. where the people living there put clothes, household stuff and books into, when they didn't want it anymore. Any passerby could take these for free if he wanted to. I thought that was a good idea!
Agreed!
I just list things on Ebay Kleinanzeigen in Germany in the For Free section and have people come pick up the items they want. It doesn't cost anything to list it there and I don't need to go through the hassle of shipping. We also have a local Sozialkaufhaus that gets my excess kitchen stuff and good clothing.
When decluttering stuff, I first ask my friends if they want some, then share the rest in a local facebook group. No charity and no money involved. Clothes that are not in great condition get cut up and become cleaning rags.
i’m gonna think of that! didn’t even realize old clothes could be used as rags.
@@starylize Most mechanical workshops buy their rags by the bagful from the charity organisations. They are produced from the old clothing that they can't sell. At home, I cut up hubby's well worn shirts and any other cotton clothing that isn't good enough to sell or donate for his workshop and that saves him having to buy them. I also get to save all the buttons and zips to reuse.
In my home they often become rags or get donated to animal shelters for beds
I don’t usually comment on things, but this is a super interesting conversation. I have a local thrift store which I give my donations to, and I ask them regularly what they need. Instead of recycling jars and packaging materials, I take them in there because they need them for selling. I think because I have a great relationship with the volunteers there, I feel a connection with them and therefore only think about what would add value for them as opposed to just “dumping” my unwanted goods. They purchase equipment for our local hospital with the funding, so they often update me on where the money is going, which only inspires me to do more.
Love your message and agree with a lot of what you’re saying, but I would encourage people to get to know those who work in their local thrift store as I think the connection adds value to what you’re doing. One would never want to dump unsellable goods on the doorstep of people one respects.
Pls give to Salvation Army. They provide housing and help recovering alcoholics who are in need for basics of everything.
Also, there are woman shelters ...woman who fled their husbands with absolutely nothing on their back but their children.
I've see it and it's heartbreaking but rewarding when you can help those fractured families.
Ursela, I put a bunch of mostly new things in boxes, called salvation army, they came and left half the stuff there! It wasn't Junky or damaged. I won't do that again.
I donate to a woman's shelter near me. They were happy to get it and told me they were in need.
Salvation Army is a religious group. A conservative religious group. They don't just help people, they actively and financially support conservative causes. Most people don't know that.
Agree. I realized there are shelters that people have nothing but the clothes on their backs. They don’t want your cruddy, stained clothes, they need something that can give them humanity. I donate my too small, wishful thinking, sometimes with tags still on, but ALWAYS recent styles, clean, and newer to women’s shelters. And any children’s clothes also, I’m a grandma now, but I take my daughters kids barely used clothes too.
they take good stuff n give rest to homes under them . stuff that they refuse.
These giant grift operations like goodwill would not be renting the storage warehouses you mention unless they believed they could make free money off those donated items. The problem is not the donating itself, it’s that most people donate to the wrong organizations. Consider driving your donations to lesser-served rural communities’ charity shops that don’t have access to nearly as many stores as the urban areas.
That's a really good idea! The "goodwill/thrift" stores in rural areas rely mostly on people having to empty their elderly parents homes after moving them into a nursing home, assisted living or worse, a death of a parent..
Unfortunately much of the useful stuff in older peoples homes can be ruined, especially if they smoked... I'm sorry but nobody wants to take the time to clean dishes, or Tupperware caked in nicotine imo & who wants to buy clothes that smell like stale cigarette smoke.... But people in rural areas suffer from natural disasters & house fires too & sometimes people lose everything when they're forced to leave a bad relationship with the clothes on their back & these Stores aid families in starting over so everything helps, even a used coffee maker from the 80's!
We have a local “too good to toss” Facebook page. It is amazing how quickly things are spoken for.
There's no such thing where I live. The Goodwill and Salvation Army shops in the small towns are stuffed to the brim. Really stuffed. Not just with junk, either. I've purchased some first-class clothes there that I could never afford new.
Hey Anthony, just wanted to drop by and say thank you for making this video- it's a very painful truth that is inescapable when you word it so succinctly:
"Just packing it up in a box and making it someone else's problem"
I've found selling things very stressful, difficult and overall unsuccessful, taking up a lot of time for very little traction. Not to mention the emotional blow of seeing some of my favourite things being up for sale for just a few bucks but interesting absolutely no one.
One thing I recommend is to swap and share with friends - I have received so many high quality items this way and its super fun to get together as a group and try on each other's clothes, compliment each other, share stories etc. There's something special about the comfort of knowing the legacy of your unwanted clothes living a new life with people you love.
I disagree in that it is slow. It took me only 1 year to go from collector to minimalist. Since then it has been sustained and the shock of decluttering fast taught me a huge lesson and prevented me in going back to over consumption.
We shop for most of our clothes at thrift shops so we have appreciated the extra supply of nice stuff. When things are past their prime and being cycled out of our wardrobes I cut them up and save a majority of the fabric for quilting and rug making or even just cleaning rags. We also try to focus on the natural fabrics so they are easy to reuse in multiple ways and better for us and the environment in general. I learned from my grandmas and great grandmas how to make things last and get the most out of what we do have to buy. I suppose that isn't common today though. I enjoy your work, keep spreading the good word! Hope you guys are enjoying your new home.
This is such an important message 💡Point 4 especially resonated with me. I hope people don't stop donating books tho, I love shopping for those at charity shops here in England 😆
Kezla or you can donate books to kids in Mexico 🇲🇽 there’s many people who are studying English and for them sometimes it’s difficult to buy books in English. One of the reasons it’s that they can be expensive and also that most of the time you don’t find those books 📚 in English unless you buy them online, and for some people it is not possible.
I'm not buying your argument. If I can't sell something on eBay, there might be a whole different set of demographic that doesn't shop there that can afford to buy it at the much lower prices that charity shops sell stuff at.
It might not be worth it to me to sell a shirt at $5 and then deal with packaging and shipping, but someone else who relies on a charity shop for something cheap would still buy it there.
I actually agree with you here, as long as you're making the consideration, then donating it is the next logical step. It's that up front intentionality that often gets missed and perhaps I didn't do an excellent job of hitting that nail on the head.
Yeah you need to know where to go to sell what and sometimes it is not worth it.
That said... there are people who list things online for you for a %
Some do ebay others do etsy etc.
Most take it hold it photograph it post it sell it then pay a %
I have done cosignment for lots jts more effort then worth so I do bug swags instead You bring in 10 items take 2 type deals.
There are lots and lots of people who have rummage sales and then take whatever doesn’t sell to a thrift store, and those kinds of donations are a massive waste of everyone’s time.
80% of stuff that gets donated goes to the landfill, according to the Huffington Post. Most people donate crap. Nobody wants it because it's worn out, or dirty, or otherwise inappropriate. In fact, if isn't last season's fashion, it'll probably end up in the landfill because there are so many donations that people only want the best of the best. That's also according to the Huffington Post. So people need to get over the fantasy that donation is doing anyone a big fat favor and put your garbage in the garbage where it'll end up anyway.
Anne-Lou thx for good ideas
I have been de-cluttering now for several years, it's a slow process. I'm down to finally living my dream in a travel trailer and only one storage unit. I have my own brick and mortar business and have a yard sale there twice a year. It's been quite a journey. I've found that I don't donate to Goodwill or the thrift stores as much anymore. I have started donating to my local shelters and job forces. This is helping my community more and I get more satisfaction from this. If trying to sell your items doesn't work well for you then do some research to find local charities that have large rummage sales that you can donate to.
Fold and stack neatly in an impoverished area with a “free” sign. It will find a home. But folks, trash is trash. Don’t donate crap ... also, Craigslist “free” ads will move about anything. Or a yard sale with “entire box $1”. There are a lot of ways to move stuff directly without eBay. Just use your heads. Make it simple. eBay and shipping is not simple.
It all depends on the individual situation. I agree. Do what is best for you and just be mindful. People shouldn't donate garbage. This is a no brainer.
In Montreal for as long as I can remember, if you dont want something you leave it on the curb with a "a donner" sign. If it was small items I'd leave them on a table. Everything always went very quickly. I still do this with things that I dont think are good enough to give to the second hand store.
My daughter is selling her home. Before she put it on the market, she gave away most of her furniture and got rid of stuff that she no longer needed or wanted. She helped out some low income families that were in need of what she gave away. Felt great to help out and to get rid of unwanted stuff. Helped make the home show well, as there is more space in the home. Her home shows well. Thanks 😁
I donate clothes to a local homeless shelter. I give away items to friends. I don’t have time to sell things. I will just end up shopping and looking at more stuff to buy. And to be honest, once I decide to let it go, it needs to go and not hold me back from moving forward. The local homeless shelters are always delighted with clothes in good repair. There are also women’s shelters that greatly benefit from donated items.
I agree completely. Its just amazing how thing, that you don't value much anymore, can be be valuable in someone's eyes!
And, more important, it can be put to good use!
Earlier after a fire had happened to a family member who goes to out church, I was able to give their teenager a lot of my clothes that we're boxed up, the fact that they had a lot after everything was lost was nice. I did try to sell the rest of my clothes, as all the resale stores had said that they're in great shape, but not entirely in style. There are a handful of shelters not too far away from where I am, and I'm able to donate the rest of my clothes to one of them, probably more so the teen shelter or a woman's shelter. We have a take it or leave it shop where I live, which is basically a free second hand store, but a few of the people go there to get a ton of stuff just to go out and sell it..Which is fine, but not what I'd like to see happen either.
Personally, I buy almost everything second-hand for my son and I, and in general a lot of what's in our house is some thing that has been passed down, was free somewhere(not from family), or is some thing that was inherited after a death. A good amount of it I've been able to paint and change some of the hardware to fit my style more.
I totally agree with you, this is kind of like an extension of the konmari method by improving one’s respectful handling of possessions.
I also think when people are in a situation where they are drowning in their possessions knowing they can donate it allows them to actually start and see progress by counting carloads of stuff instead of one object at a time. Once people are down to a more manageable range, however, I think it really helps to see the true value of each object and it has influenced my buying a lot as well.
I was one of those who was drowning and I eliminated at least 90% before a move then another 90% again a year later, and now it’s a lot more manageable, and I try to buy at donation centers and sell on Mercari. :)
Sarah oo
Very good point about selling stuff you bought brand new making you realise the true cost. I bought a laptop brand new with all the bells and whistles and i went to sell it less than 6 months later as it became surplus, I got less than HALF of what I paid and it was perfect.
I can't sell things, but I have made an effort to get valuable books to a person who can appreciate it. Afraid some books would get tossed, I sent them. A famous neurobiologist wrote me he had never dreamed he would ever own it. Ten years later it is reprinted. I know he had something to do with it.
@@Comments_From_All_Channels It was valuable to me to have read it, and was the same fir whi I sent it to. He wanted all his grad students to possess the same experience.
@@lisa8220 now this is exciting!
Exactly what I'm thinking. Now I'm trying to refashion all my never-weared clothes to make them practical for me. Getting creative feels so great!
Another issue is my concern that if I donate to thrift shops, my crap will become someone else’s hoard.
Donations should be made mindfully. As an art teacher, I'd receive a lot of donations that were literally trash or recycle-bin items. (Used plastic utensils that had been rinsed, insulated shipping boxes for medications, packaging from food) People felt these were great supplies for creative projects - which meant that they didn't know what to do with the items/didn't want to toss the stuff and feel wasteful. Unfortunately, either because of limited storage space, the condition of a item, or something being so odd that even the most creative kids didn't feel inspired to do anything with it, I'd end up tossing stuff. If you're thinking, "if I donate this then someone can do something with it," it may mean the charity might not know what to do with it either.
Yes....I started finding that out too....
I used to go to hobby lobby to buy foam, colored construction paper, plastic sheeting and many other things for my daughters science, history and art classes. What a waste of money!
I agree with selling the stuff ourselves because let’s face it, second hand stores and charities are changing too much per each item and that can deter people living in poverty from being able to afford the items. Sell it cheaper than them.
Think you hit the nail on the head. If they didnt charge so much they wouldnt get stuck with all the stuff.
The problem with selling stuff is that either I have to hold on to the stuff until I can hold a sale, or else I wind up trying to sell only a few items at a time, meaning I'll have to hold sales often.
Ebay is SUPER easy to use. I sold $65,000 of Studebaker parts in a three-year span. It was an estate left by my father-in-law. It was actually kind of fun.
I've made 2K and all of it has gone to charity.
I Love it! This is so applicable to approaching life overall. People value things more when they pay for them than if given for free. Just because you don’t value it doesn’t mean someone else feels the same way. We all value the things we have differently! 💜
I think for people who have decades of accumulated things, donating is often the only sensible option. It's practically impossible to clear a whole house by laboriously listing each item.
That said, once you've got rid of the large amounts, it is definitely sustainable to give items away (or sell them) on an individual basis. But it really depends on where you are in your minimalism journey.
If somebody is getting rid of decades of things, it'll go in the landfill anyway. Why donate crap that nobody wants because it's out of style, worn out, probably smelly, etc.? Donation centers are overwhelmed; 80% of donated stuff goes to the landfill, and that includes recycling centers, by the way. That just costs these places a lot of money. People need to get over their fantasy that their crap is somehow the golden fleece and just put their garbage in the garbage where it'll end up anyway.
@@edennis8578 You're assuming that what fills a house is mostly clothes. What about furniture, books, other objects that don't wear out or get smelly? People still want those. I'm not suggesting donating "crap", but a house full of useful and nice things that people would want is still far too overwhelming for some to sort through and sell individually.
@@YoSamdySam nope - here in Switzerland, 98% of donated books at the salvation army gets dumped. It's ebook or online reading time, no longer paper (with the typical exceptions to the rule ;-)))
@@Hippabellita1 I guess it depends on the culture, I live in the Netherlands where there is a big culture of second hand shopping, thrift stores, recycling and so on.
We had a house sell in our neighborhood that included all it's stuff. It was previously owned by a hoarder. The new owners had a 3 day estate sale that was packed. Maybe a person with could act like they were having an estate sale. :)
I don’t have time to sell my stuff. I put outside and it’s gone within a second.
This happens all the time in my apartment complex. Everyone takes each other's "junk" and it is great! I have taken many things that I have turned around and sold too!
I've tried the FB groups for free or selling. It's aggravating.
@@CatmommieKG i tried it and most people didn't show up so now i just dont buy stuff, i take a picture of something i like instead lol
Yeah me too. If ifs not gone by collection day, bye.
I've had stuff taken out of my yard when I was moving & taking stuff to storage! A sewing machine, kids toys, & a dresser disappear, none of it was sitting anywhere near the street & you could clearly tell where the line of demarcation was!
I understand taking something set out along the road, on the corner or end of the driveway... but not stuff sitting near the house or in the yard.
In 2017 I donated about 90% of my belongings to the vet's. I first made some calls and took note of what they wanted. The rest when on creglist for like dirt cheap. When you stop trying to make money off your items and sell it for almost free, you meet people who are so greatful but don't feel like charity case since they paid for the items. A lot of my items where new since I had a shopping addiction of some sort. The trick after all these years is to be mindful with what your buying. I tell myself to let the stores be my garage and just know if I don't have a use for it in that moment of life to just take a picture and keep moving. 😉
I just stumbled upon this video... actually some algorithm placed it right in front of my nose somehow. I keep collecting decluttering and minimalism CZcams subscriptions (luckily I don’t trip over them in a dark hallway in the middle of the night) and I can see that my attitude is shifting away from mindlessly buying stuff. I am on a tight budget and after so many moves and cutting back over the years I find that I still want to pare down.
I especially appreciate what you said about taking time to reflect on your stuff rather than shoving it in boxes to drop off somewhere. I have certainly done both. I have learned so much about the subtle but very real associations I have made with my stuff. I actually said out loud once, “I can’t just toss this, it deserves so much better than that!” I actually felt as if I owed my stuff enough respect to get a good price for it. I think it’s very humbling to go through the very personal process of seeing the beliefs we have that have allowed the overconsumption and that get in the way of letting things go. I find that I have endowed my things with more value than is rational. They might represent some of my values and interests but they are still just things and Not Me.
Lastly, I am currently camping out in my own home. The basement has a mold problem. It’s where I have most of my things and considered it my personal space to hang out separate from my son, daughter in-law and grandchild. For 16 days I have been living in the main part of the house having no access to the basement where renovations are taking place. I had removed about 14 items of clothing, some books, toiletries and computer, chargers and such and I’m doing just fine with zero access to 95% of my stuff. I am getting to “try on” a more minimal lifestyle and, not counting the stress of being displaced, I haven’t needed anything that I hadn’t already set aside.
I am grateful for this opportunity to, some day soon I hope, touch each and every one of my things that has been treated for mold and bagged up. I will keep only what I love now even if I had loved it for forty years and I feel that I can say goodby to it. I believe I had come up against the memory of loving the thing, decided to hang on to it and later felt weighted down by it. I need to slow down the process enough to honestly ask whether I’m willing to love it for another twenty years. If not, out it goes. And I will research the many ways I can sell or give to neighbors those things that I no longer love.
You can always donate to homeless folks on the streets! They’re always very appreciative!!
That's what I've done recently. I've just started my decluttering journey and gave a bunch of clothes. But I'm wondering what else I have that they could use?
I have resorted to leaving items beside the dumpsters at the landfill with BIG NOTES saying, "GOOD STUFF! TAKE IT!" One employee at the dump can't believe some of the things I leave. He's enjoying some of it himself. He's (and another guy) tell me that people will put the entire box or boxes in their vehicles and leave with them. There landfill guys don't mind at all. I feel good about doing it this way. Keep in mind, some dump sites don't allow *scavenging" so check with someone first. (I do it anyway even if they say "welllllll... You're not really supposed to leave stuff out")
There is a sign at my dump also , about no scavenging , and I think that it is ridiculous to discourage people from picking something up that they will use.
@@cmdviola I think it's ridiculous too. But u will say that most of those guys who work there don't care (for the enormous part). As matter if fact, there's been occasions where the employees asked if I was "really throwing that away?". Where I'm at, it's the city gov. who make the rules at the dump (and nobody cares).
Love this. I wouldn't mind getting back some money on the thing I have bought and never used.
I had one huge bundle of clothing as a listing and a lady eventually bought it. She said it's cheaper than going to art store to buy textiles for her kids art painting class. You never know who wants your pile of stuff!!
“Sweeping the globe” - are you kidding? There are people in the developing world who would love to have a chance to de clutter. But they don’t have anything to de-clutter. Not denying your argument- just don’t presume that what is happening in the USA is happening all over the world.
Unfortunately, those people are usually living surrounded by our convenient disposal lives.
Are used to work in a charity shop and we had to get rid of at least 70% of everything we got in. Although we did get money for it and it went to be recycled for good art paper
I got rid of a decent chair by placing a FREE sign on it. It was taken within 5 minutes, I was stunned.
That’s the thing isn’t it, we live in a world that’s made it easy to consume but there’s a less clear path once we’ve finish with something. Its so much effort to dispose thoughtfully of items, I wish it was more normal to put more thought into purchasing them in the first place!
I just had a professional do an estate sale for me where everything was included. It was only 1/3rd of my estate and netted me $8500 and sold only 95%. I'm having a 2nd sale soon when I finally move. This is a process and I do appreciate this blurb about donating. Thank you
Sold half my record collection this week and was shocked how quick and easy it was. When the records are done I’m moving onto the books. I’m letting my mom sell my unwanted clothes on Facebook and will donate or throw away whatever doesn’t sell online depending on condition.
FEELS GOOD!
Unfortunately, we are a Society *INUNDATED* with *BUY MORE STUFF* .... many live in a delusion called *debt*
There's also a huge problem with Goodwill keeping extremely high prices and they are just going up. It's one thing for a store to know what brands are good and price them higher than a regular tee shirt. But when I'm looking for scrap fabric to try out a DIY project, I can't justify paying $3.50 for a used, stretched-out-in-some-places, shrunk-in-others, walmart Tee shirt. I could buy a new shirt from Walmart for $3.50. There's a supply and demand factor and if they can't sell something, then the price has to come down. You can blame the fact that too many people are donating, but that's not the problem. They're are plenty of people that would love to have literal trash and pay for the ease of not having to dumpster dive, but not full retail price.
I totally agree with you. We live in Washington state and the prices had gotten so high at Goodwill that I could buy brand new stuff at Kohl's or Target for about the same price. I'm sorry but 29.00 for a pair of jeans at Goodwill. I just stopped going. I still donate there which I should look for another place. Like someone mentioned above whenever I have larger items that I want to put on Craigslist it becomes an issue. Photo's, listing, back and forth communication, and I don't really want people coming to our house, especially if my husband is not home. I do try to give things away to others if I can, but mostly at our age of almost 50 most people don't need much. So it's that idea of well I'll get to it someday. Especially on the higher end items you don't just want to give away when you could make hundreds from it.
Goodwill is not a non profit ...it is a for profit company ...
@@clarkclarke I'm not sure why you felt the need to state the obvious, but I'll go ahead and play devil's advocate. If it truly wanted to help people and provide jobs for the disabled like I hear over the radio every time I'm in the store, the company would lower the CEO's wage and price the merchandise so it moves off the shelf and/or rack. Overhead of storing those items eats at the entry level workers' wage. And by the way, if it were a not-for-profit it would make more sense that their CEO's wage is so high because not-for-profits aren't allowed to hold any money at the end of the year. It has to go somewhere. Every business has to keep a some padding during the year to cover overhead, but it's impossible to have a perfect prediction of cash flow. Which is why executives of not-for-profits get bonuses. All I said was, there are plenty of people that enjoy the service thrift stores offer. Many people are happy to have second hand items, but aren't able to go rummaging every Saturday or religiously scope Facebook marketplace/craigslist for what they need. A thrift store is an amazing option; however, inventory has to be priced to sell. It's ridiculous to blame consumers for a business's bad practice like this video does. There's no reason why any thrift store should have to rent storage facilities when thrfting and second shopping is just as trendy now as decluttering and minimizing. There are just as many materialistic people with small pocketbooks as there are minimalists. Most thrift stores take the saying "One man's trash is another man's treasure" too literally. No consumer wants to pay the same price for something used when they could get it new.
Nothing I own has monetary value. My clothing, furniture and kitchen items are all second or third hand. I don't own much and so am only decluttering in small amounts. I also don't shop/ buy unless I need it (replacement).
My local thrift store AND food bank spend a great deal of time and money throwing people's garbage away. Nobody wants your opened jar of spice from 1997. Nobody wants to buy your dirty, torn, T-shirt that marks some race a few years ago. No market for that at the store and too risky at the food bank.
When I got rid of my "business attire," rather than donate it to the thrift store, in hopes that they'd eventually sell it, I took it to a domestic violence shelter (after washing the item or having it dry cleaned, except in the case of some new items that I'd never worn that were dusty but still had tags on them...I wanted them to see the tags) for them to use there. All the items I donate are clean and serviceable or they aren't donated. I don't want to be a pain and I want to increase the odds of the item being sold or being used, the purpose of donating the item.
It is true. I work in a nonprofit thrift center and the donations this summer have been almost more than we have the manpower to handle.
My mom collects all year from people, specially from me! And she makes a yardsale in the spring.
Funny, i was just yesterday thinking about going through my stuff and declutter again, yet i realized that there is nothing to declutter, really. I stopped the consumption habit, all gifts i get are reasonable or i re-gift them (cosmetics and so on) but most of them are monetary gifts which i use to my liking (ok, a spend it on cats.. :D :D :D). So, there really is no stuff i feel the need to get rid of, which feels AAAAMAZING!! Hugs from Slovakia
Thanks for the really good advice. One problem though, is that selling takes a lot of time. That's a big problem if you are in need of decluttering and regaining free space. So, a solution I personally use is to sell REALLY cheap and if this fails I convert my ad to a giveaway. Thanks a lot.
I enjoy donating instead of selling because I give the clothing my kids outgrow, that are still in great shape, to the local Children’s Home. I even donated some Betsy Johnson purses i had bought and never used because I know that the older kids get overlooked more and that a teenage girl would love to have fashionable clothes and Accessories. I’m sure I could make money from it but I feel better donating it. It depends on what I’m getting rid of will depend on where I take it. We also have a local organization that rely on donations for people who have no money to purchase these items. It’s my understanding that not just anyone can walk in and grab whatever they want. They have to be sent there. I always donate things that are in great shape, and can be loved and used by somebody else. I have a tendency to splurge too often. I don’t smoke drink or use drugs, my outlet is shopping LOL
And these donation centres are charging way too much! So yes, I agree we may as well sell our stuff ourselves.
Same problems here, but you are totally right: we should deal with the things that we buy and own.
I donate because if money can be made on the item, the non-profit will get the proceeds and be able to help more people than if I get the money. I also have been known to shop at the same non-profit I donate to while I'm there. (although never as much as I drop off.) buying used is a great way to save money and reduce the amount of stuff clogging up landfills.
Totally agree, every point is a very valid one. Where I used to live we had very few shops, so the local thrift shop and the car boot were the default places to look for anything. It was a high military area, so alot of people were always on the move, and decluttering. However I started volunteering for a local animal rehoming and rescue, and hand made some blankets and toys, (all very high quality makes) when I 'donated' I got a horrible response, of "why are you giving us stuff we don't want and don't need?" I thanked them, smiled (gritted teeth and nearly cried) and walked away with my makes (Never to support them again!) and researched animal rehoming centres that did request and accept such makes. It is very true of what you pay for something reflects how you view it, and its worth. I have heard this many times .... only XYZ from the car boot ... etc, half the time the new owner can't wait to throw it away.
Great content, I didn't think about that and just donated my stuff, but now I'll think twice before I drop my bags at donation centers ! Thanks 😊
This is great advice if there's not much that you need to get rid of, but when doing a large downsize, it's not practical or realistic to sell everything you're getting rid of. I do think though, that everyone should try to buy used before buying new. It would be a lot easier for thrift stores etc to sell items (clothes are a good example) if everyone looked to see if they could find the item they need used instead of automatically buying new all the time. I also don't find that I personally value an item less if I paid less for it. I've gotten some pretty great finds at thrift stores, yard sales, etc. Some of them have been completely free, but I still value them because they meet my needs well, are unique, and/or just simply bring me joy. I think the true reason why items are undervalued and uncared for is because people have too many possessions.
Green Hippie - agreed. I've gotten into the habit of checking thrift stores first before buying and will often happen to find not only the things I need, but also the odd thing I really needed but just assumed I'd never really be able to afford in high quality. Like needing some nude coloured high heels (they go with everything so I'd only ever need one pair), stumbling across a pair of Christian Louboutin heels (a super expensive designer label with the red soles, worth hundreds of dollars), in mindblowingly almost perfect condition (the soles were a tiny bit dusty), for about $5-$7! I couldn't believe it. Those I will be treasuring for a long, LONG time.
Anthony, many thanks for this. I've discovered pretty much the same phenomenon too. I would add three things: 1. the process of learning about each item can be eye-opening and educational, something akin to Antiques Roadshow in your own closet. Don't underestimate this part of the de-clutter and the delight that comes with finding out some tiny pewter thing is worth about 100 dollars on ebay and that it actually comes from Holland (I've learned so much about markings, and factories, etc) 2. the money can be donated to the charities directly most of whom do not actually have thrift stores--my international societies for example don't accept donations 3. Realistically, it will take an assortment of methods to declutter--you will have to recycle, rehome, trash, donate AND sell. Social media platforms are a great resource as well as old fashioned garage sales. But thanks for putting this up and urging a deep rethinking of our patterns of consumption.
Earlier tonight I was mentally tallying what I have paid for my all the furnishings and appliances in the two bedroom condo that i have lived in for twenty years. I have spent only $1,500 in twenty years and this place is crammed full of decent, mostly mid century solid wood furniture.
I live in a college town and almost every day i find great stuff close enough that I can move it here on a skateboard. I have leather couches, teak cabinets, a five foot recent tv. I find antiques and trendy items, lamps, art, electronics, like new clothing and bedding, designer handbags and leather goods, kitchen wear, camping gear, bicycles, sealed bottles of alcohol and even stashes of medical herbs. It's just amazing how much people throw out for their own convenience.
Their trash, my treasure.
The maintenance manager in my complex actually thanked me when he caught me taking a chair from a pile of furniture that someone had left by the dumpster. He said he has to pay a truck to take whatever sits for too long.
Stuff, there's just so much of it! Now that my place is plum full I'm seriously thinking of starting a side hustle selling my finds totally based on the logic you've outlined here.
I just hate the idea of it going to the dump.
Sounds like you live in an area with great trash and yes try selling a little!
I usually will advertise my stuff for sale for about 1 month to 3 months, if there is no buyer I just advertise it for free to whoever wants it. I usually able to let go of my stuff this way. I take care of my stuff/clothes well so I’m happy to let it go to someone else who will to continue to use/wear it.
Minimalist get rid of stuff.
Hoarders get more stuff at second hand stores.
Ha, ha, ha! Yeah..... And those poor suckers like me who have great aunts who go to second hand stores to buy their minimalist great nieces a bunch of random stuff, lol.
My neighbor is the absolute worst example of those people. She lives alone (with a bunch of roaming cats), has three cars (one of which actually runs, one which hardly runs, and one that's been abandoned on her driveway for three years). All three cars are filled to the brim with trash, her front and side yard are cluttered with dilapidated cheap furniture that others left out for free, and I can't even begin to imagine what the nightmare that is the inside of her house must look like.
As nice as she is to talk with, I'm fully convinced she has a mental illness. I don't feel comfortable bringing it up since I feel like it's none of my business, but it's downright awful to watch. She literally goes out and _collects_ the shit that other people are throwing away, because she thinks it'll be worth something. And she's not even poor. She can afford to rent in one of the most expensive areas in America (she doesn't have a job, though).
NESherv she DOES have a mental illness. Read Liane Moriarty’s “Truly Madly Guilty”. One of the main character’s mother has this illness. The author explores how it affects her daughter into adulthood. Just be glad you’re not related to this neighbor.
Yes,indeed since konmari method poor hoarders swarming to goodwill buying crap. I see so many RV s passing my work ( goodwill ) ppl going places , hoarders will never experience RV or vacations !
People who buy at Thrift stores are not necessarily hoarders. We are a zero waste family, and shop (with a list) at Thrift stores support the re-use market, and to avoid excessive packaging that comes with buying new or buying online. Sometimes it takes a while to find what we need, but we are fortunate to have 5 Thrift, consignment and Charity stores in our small town, as well as Facebook Marketplace to draw from for our family needs. We are not minimalists (yet) but there is more going OUT than IN the home and this will continue until we are clutter-free.
It depends on the person. I don’t have the patience to wait for something to sell. I want it out . The best thing for me is to buy more consciously and intentionally.
Your arguement doesn‘t match with what I‘ve read so far on the issue. My research is about Europe though. But I can‘t believe there‘s any difference. Here in Europe, there‘s a triage at the beginning because used clothes have a whole industry. Stuff in very good condition and in season will get sold nationally. Stuff still good to wear, but maybe not good to sell nationally will get sold internationally, especially to poorer countries. (That‘s a totally different ethic problem to unpack). And stuff that‘s no longer good to use will get shredded and recycled into lower quality fabric or whatever you want to produce with thread. So there‘s actually no need to store things until they can be sold.
I don't know what country in Europe you are referring to, but I know from SEVERAL NGOs running the major thrift shops in Germany and Switzerland that they are also overloaded with stuff. 98% of books get immediately dumpted into the paper container (my friend runs the booksection at the Heilsarmee Switzerland ...) and clothes are going the same route. Furniture are getting carefully selected. Because of IKEA, shitty quality of clothes today, 1-EURO-household crap etc. the NGOs running thrift shops have to be highly cautious not to end up in bankcruptcy themselves - some of them only survive because they get public funding for their workers etc ... Also the refugee organisations are setting limits now (we work with some of those in other non stuff-related projects).
I truly appreciate your point & agree wholeheartedly. I find that donating directly to organizations such as shelters or any local org providing low-cost/no-cost services to a specific clientele - who also accept donations... to be a worthy alternative. Also, because I’m a creative person, I’m able to repurpose many items into ongoing projects. For example... melting down certain non-toxic plastics, breaking apart items & recycling select pieces (metal, glass, wires, appliance motors, etc.) for cash, (re)sewing old clothes into pet beds & blankets, & (re)gifting items to neighbors, etc, etc, etc. If ALL else fails... garbage. A little ingenuity goes a long way.
I have seen people I personally know wearing clothes I took to Goodwill however, I have to admit not everything I have donated was an item that would be highly desired 🥺 This is good information and I will definitely be more mindful before I give things away.
That must be a small town!!
I will continue to donate for the tax deduction. I don’t have time to sell online and I think it’s often more trouble than it’s worth in addition it’s a safety concern meeting a stranger with the item. I don’t mind if the stuff is disposed of in the end because I’m getting my tax deduction and my house is decluttered.
There is a Solid Waste Management Warehouse in my county that has an agreement with several villages to collect hazardous waste periodically. I suppose they are a local quasi-governmental organization. They also accept all manner of dry goods for resale - furniture, audio and video recordings, audio equipment, small kitchen appliances, cookware, etc. Their prices are reasonable so I don't feel that my donation is resulting in hardship for someone needy to acquire stuff. More recently, I've discovered something even better - One of the local Catholic churches has a mission, where they house the homeless. I have given them clothes, linens, even clothes hangers, and they don't sell stuff - THEY GIVE IT AWAY.
I have a son who's growing out of his clothes fast I just make sure they are clean pack them in plastic bags put a sign BOY'S CLOTHERS. FREE .Put the bags by the dumpster 30 mins gone .I have done other items that way someone will use them or sale that works for me.
Our donation centers are ALWAYS in need. I live in central Texas and we have an abundance of second hand stores, flea markets and craftsmen. They're always in need. I donate only items in very good condition. I work in a library and if we can't use it in our collection, we sell for a quarter. We can't keep up. Nothing wrong with decluttering. It's wonderful to see so many 'cleaning up their life's and others finding use for something another no longer needs.
I generally sell clothes that I don't wear because I'm bored of them
I donate clothes that I would still use but I think someone would need it much more than I do.
This difference creates another perspective for decluttering and also for buying and using stuff, I guess.
I always try to sell stuff when my son grows out of his clothes and toys. I do mange to sell quit a bit and use the money to buy second hand items too. I.e. Grown out of his 18" wheel bike sell it and buy a 29" wheel bike from someone. I think this is a really good way for the item to be well used saving people money and the environment. I sometimes put clothes in clothes banks that are shipped to poor countries.
A guy a couple blocks from me had an "estate sale" with near retail prices on his used stuff. Wouldn't budge on the prices. 2 weeks later there was a dumpster in his driveway. They start at $500 in my area.
One of the best videos I have come across tackling the topic of reducing-recycling etc. while TAKING RESPONSIBILITY for your "shit" and not delegating it to others. I like the fact that you include the psychological impacts and learning possibilities DEALING with your stuff and not simply chucking it the easiest and quickest way which will most likely "teach you" that buying and getting rid of new stuff again this way is an easy option. Research in relation to dealing with messies proves this again and again. Dumpster-tidying the house for messies does not yield successes, but on an average it takes 3 months for the houses to be filled again .....
My partner and I had a totally different perspective about how to reduce our belongings when we moved into a house (about (600/ 700 square feet of living space) too small for our stuff. He aimed for calling a dumpster (but not really ready to fill it ;-))), but I argued for the sorting by potential recipients to value and deal with the stuff respectfully and extent its lifetime. It is a painful, very energy-intensive and long-winding process, but it changed and re-set our mindset incredibly plus we get to experience today's actual culture and people's mindsets (e.g. people being unreliable, not sticking to their bids and promisses etc., the reality of the "non-sharing" society etc.), but we also get to meet fascinating people (who would have thought that board members of the leading banks here in Switzerland shop or also sell secondhand small ticket items ;-))) (we have encountered 5 of them from different banks) and even made some friends. In the meantime, I have had to also deal with the estate of my parents in my home country, which added to the pile, but I cherish the feeling that one day I might be challenged for having had way too much stuff for a long time in my life, but that I have not contributed to the one-way-street towards the landfills and the enourmous problems with them as a result of it but that I have done my share of participating in a "sharing" society and keeping things in a loop.
I volunteer at a refugee resettlement agency in Tucson. We have a « store » on site where clients can come and get free clothing, shoes and other items that can fit in our tiny space. I also receive donations at my house from friends and neighbors and deliver those personally to families who have spent, on average, 18 years in refugee camps. I feel like Santa Claus everyday, especially when I have a bunch of toys in my trunk to give the kiddos.
Tip, if you don't have time to sell your stuff on your own, find a consignment shop.
You make a really good point, or five. Too many people just think the donation route is the only way to go but it really doesn't get them to think about the stuff itself or how it affects the centre that's overflowing from all the donations - both good and bad. I certainly agree that going through the "pain" of selling stuff, or finding a new home to give it to, is a good exercise to help you understand why you have an excess and how you can do better in future. At least it has helped me, I certainly think more carefully now before shopping.
Maybe take it one step further and after spending time selling your "stuff", donate the money to the charity you would have "dumped" it on. Then you will really feel the burn.
Feel the burn? Lol
I used to run thrift stores, and you're absolutely right.