To Donate or not to donate . . .

[dewdrop_me_a_line]

Yes, that is why my posts are always green. I used to have my photo up green . . . some will remember, eh? I am green.

My Waste Management company just gave me a huge recycle container and I am so thrilled that I can recycle more than they took before. I probably take about two truckloads a year to the dump . . . and of course the recycling center.

When I'm going thru clothes; it's so difficult to throw things away. My list includes (to toss) holes, huge stains, large rips - even on seams. I hate when I see items in the TS that have been ruined in the wash (like wool). I know some of my TS are run by old women (hey, IR one!) and they sometimes don't catch little (sometimes huge ruinous boo boos.)

I worked for the American Cancer Society shop here in America's Vancouver before my accident. It was amazing the garbage that we had to go thru. When Dearly Departed took his last tour out at sea (USS Ranger) the kidz and I lived in my home town of Tillamook Oregon. I volunteered at the ARC TS (Association of Retarded Citizens). Tillamook had a population of about 5K. Oh the sacks of garage, even large items – they left in front of the shop.

I get tax slips but even if I didn't need them; I would hand deliver my donations to a person at the door.

I have a huge stack of tubs in the family room to go thru. My granddaughter (the 18 yr-old) is helping me decide that I just don't need some things. I have a collection of old linen and embroidered towels and hankies. How can I part with any! They are so beautiful. And then there's the Bakelite that I have several sets of that I don't allow anyone to use (except company, LOL!) Those rascals (the kidz) would throw them in the dishwasher when I wasn't looking.

I want to downsize, sell this big house and move into a condo or even an apartment. I'm waiting for my house value to go up enough to make it a smart move. (Yes, I have confidence, just hope to live to see the day.)

Anywho . . . anyone want to share how they decide to donate or not?

Hugz
dew

[valleythriftshopper]

When I have out of town friends & relatives visiting & staying overnight there is almost always a few thrift donation runs that happen before they come (cleaning out).

When my great aunt & uncle passed away, my father was the executor of their estate as they had no children.  We took some furniture, rugs etc.  But alot of the little were sold at an estate sale as my aunt runs an estate sale business.  I was only in my early 20's when that happened, so I didn't care about linens or bakelite.  I would love to go back in time now & sift through the drawers & cabinets of that house!  So you never know your grandkids might thank you later on if you hang on to some of those treasures when they are old enough to appreciate them!

[Big Daddy Audio]

Decide what you want to get rid of first.

Then try to sell anything you can (Craigslist is great for this)

Whatever doesn't sell, or is unsellable, donate or discard.

"I don't want to not live, because of the fear of what could happen."
- Laird Hamilton

Laird Hamilton, for those who don't know, is probably the best surfer on the planet and probably the best surfer to have ever lived.

Don't worry about what your kids or Grandkids might want down the road.  If you want to downsize, ask them once what they want, then chuck it.  I mean, you are looking to downsize, right?

SYNT
BFN

[daswitzer]

I donate everything.  I have never been one to have rummage sales or try to sell things on ebay, etc.  I take donations to the free clothing giveaway at the Baptist Church.  Everything else goes to the humane association or GW as a last resort.  I don't like giving things to GW, because they charge too much for things and the people who need the things, can't afford them.  But, I really have no choice.  There is nowhere else to dump things.

[Mattie]

I tend to hang on to clothing forever.  Worn out, stained or torn clothes are taken apart for the buttons and other usable parts, then the fabric is put in either the rag bag or the fabric stash.  Occasionally I donate clothes if I truly can't stand them and they're still wearable. 

I donate books to the SPCA for their annual book sale.  Sometimes people give me things that I can't use in artwork no matter how hard I try, so I donate the stuff to St. Vincent de Paul.  Things I can't carry to St. Vincent, I offer on freecycle.  Let somebody else come and pick 'em up!

[anastasiabeaverhausen]

I have a rule, if I buy something I have to donate something, and Im pretty good about sticking to it, dont want our kids stuck going thru tons of stuff. I dont have yard sales Im one of those crazy ppl that go to yard sales.. :} I donate first to domestic violence, then relay for life then the animals...try to get something for them all when I can...I still make speeches at womens clubs soliciting donations for domestic violence stores, still trying not to fill up our already full landfills....you guys take care! AB

[SplashsMom]

I have to be "in the mood..."  clear it out and send it along. I can find useful ness in 99.789% of any piece of junk.  So I have to be so tired of living amongst the clutter and then I can purge. Once I begin, I fill bags and bags of donations.
Music helps - definitely something uptempo.
I have tried the "rules" about having not worn or used it in ayear, does not motivate me, and only one size above or below what fits. Even if something does not fit I think I will use the material, or it has memories, or no one else will appreciate it like I do.
Books are soo hard for me, even some duplicates. I can give them away for others to appreciate, but not donate.
I found out recently that the local thrifts in our area (about an hour around) share donations. If one store has too much of some type of thing, it does not even pull out the best for themselves, but sends truckloads to other places. So I am donating to causes I had no intention of supporting.  Bothers me a little altho it should not.
The gift is in the giving and the clearing, right?

[daswitzer]

That's a good rule...buy something, donate something.  This would keep my house from be overloaded.  I do follow this rule...sometimes...I try to follow it....I really do....really.

[thrifty shopper]

I like the person before me who posted about giving to domestic violence. That's a good group to give to. I never thought of that - I'll keep that in mind for future donations.

I usually will clear away things (clothes) when I find I'm running out of room. I get rid of (prefer donating) anything I thought I was going to wear but simply haven't up till then.

I tried selling a pair of new shoes I hardly wore and later after they didn't sell, I donated them to SA, but I wish I would have just given them and the clothes to a church or domestic violence or other similar organizations. Although I'm happy with donating to SA. I think in the future I'll try giving directly to someone or some group - which I have also done in the past.

I usually keep a bag going of things I don't want and when I get a good amount, I give them away. I never thought of keeping material to make other items or keeping buttons, because I'm not much of a old used or outdated clothes for rags.

[dewdrop_me_a_line]

I give away clothing that is still in usable condition. I save some T-shirts as rags. IMHO, one can have too many rags. Garbage for the rest.

dew