Compare instead of decide
When deciding what to keep and what not to keep, compare two items at a time. Do you like this item more than that item? Which one do I use more? Wear more? Feel better about?
Other helpful tips:
Tag Archive for: Getting rid of stuff
Keep only your favorites
Identify your favorite things and make space to enjoy those things. This will probably require the removal of unused, outdated, and unwanted stuff. By reducing those possessions, your favorite things have breathing room, and you have less to organize and maintain.
Here are a few suggestions:
Value space over stuff
Our stuff has a value, but so does the space it occupies. Which is more important, space or stuff? I know it will depend on the item, but as a general rule, I’d recommend placing a higher value on our spaces rather than on our stuff.
- Let’s value clear kitchen counters that allow us the space to cook with and for our families, verses counters piled up with appliances, gadgets, mail, and groceries?
- Let’s value a walk in closet that we can actually walk into and maintain with ease, verses a trendy new outfit every week.
- Let’s value an uncluttered desk that fosters productivity, verses one piled high with papers, mail, office supplies and tech items.
Donate books
Books are a great donation and accepted at many resale shops, like Goodwill, Savers, and Salvation Army. 
Some libraries may take them to resell also, but I recommend calling before bringing them to the library.
Depending on what type of books they are you can donate to senior centers, daycare centers, nursing homes, or hospitals, but again, call first to confirm their interest.
Here are three websites to check out:
More Than Words
One word of caution, no one really wants old text books or encyclopedias. An option is to offer them to theater companies who may like them for props.
Donating Media
Have you ever wondered if your old VHS tapes had any value? Are you holding on to CDs but no longer have a player? Do you want to donate DVDs but aren’t sure where to do so? Well, you’re not alone. These are questions I get asked all the time.
Here are a few suggestions for you.
- CDs and DVDs can still be donated to Goodwill and Savers. Donate them if they’re in good condition with no scratches and in their original case. If they are scratched, consider donating them to an art school, an up-cycle artist, or crafter.
- Most VHS tapes are not accepted for donation, but some are still donate-able, especially Disney. Call Goodwill, Savers or Salvation Army before donating them to see if they’re interested in the ones you want to get rid of. If you’re ambitions and want to do some on-line research you may be able to sell some old VHS tapes. They can be sold on-line via Facebook Yard sale, Ebay, or other avenues.
- However, no resale stores take cassette tapes. You can offer them up for free on-line via Freecycle or Buy Nothing, but if you don’t want to put in the effort, they just go in the trash.
You may want to call your local Staples or Best Buy store to see if they’ll recycle any of these items. I know the Staples in Attleboro recycles CDs and DVDs. Hope that helps.
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