We live in a world of convenience. Where it was once so out of the way that we wouldn’t bother to purchase something, now you can have it delivered to your door. What I’m talking about is that we are now accumulating more stuff than ever before. And it’s about time to clear out the clutter and prepare for the holidays.
Here are a few ways to get the ball rolling:
Donate Your Stuff
There are many organizations (profit and non-profit) that allow for you to donate your goods. One place where I love to take my stuff is Goodwill. They provide a receipt so that you can file your charity contributions for tax purposes. These organizations will in turn resell your goods at affordable prices to customers.
Sometimes there are unmanned bins in parking lots where you can dump your things in. Your items are then given to people in need like the homeless and victims of domestic violence.
Some organizations will actually come and pick your donations up from your home.
Sell Your Things
You can sell things at a yard sale. And fall is prime time. It’s a little cooler and everyone is preparing for the cold months and stocking up for spring. As well as looking to snag some things for holiday gifts.
Look to online platforms to also sell your items like Craigslist, eBay, Facebook Marketplace, NextDoor and OfferUp. It’s always worth a try to see if you can get some money for your things, but for some, it just isn’t worth the hassle.
Give It All Away
Put your things up on the platforms mentioned above or just call your friends and family to come and take it all away. One man’s trash is another ones treasure.
Burn it All
Check with your state and local fire departments on starting a fire for this particular purpose. There are some months that have significant chances for wild-fires. The last thing you would want is to burn down your neighborhood.
Throw it in The Trash
There are some items that we just can’t anyone to take from us even if we paid them. For these things, we just have to close our eyes and put it in a trash bag and set it out for pickup. If it’s in great condition, you can leave it out on the curb and someone may just come and pick it up. There are people that drive around picking up stuff before the garbage man and make a living off of that.
Why is it so Hard to Get Rid of Things?
Many of the things that we tend to keep have some sentimental value. Another reason is not wanting to get rid of items without receiving some sort of value. Sometimes we just don’t have time or make it a priority.
How do I Let go of Possessions?
If you need help, you might want to listen to this audiobook by Marie Kondo. It’s called The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. You will learn tips and tricks on how to part ways with your things.
Where Do I Start Decluttering When Overwhelmed?
What you can do is start with one thing every day. If you haven’t used it in more than a few months, then that should be on top of your list of things that must go.
Summary
Hopefully you can begin to declutter using some of the strategies above. I know I have some decluttering to do myself. And remember, it can start with one thing a day.
I’ll leave you with this…
“Can you truthfully say that you treasure something buried so deeply in a closet or drawer that you have forgotten its existence? If things had feelings, they would certainly not be happy. Free them from the prison to which you have relegated them. Help them leave that deserted isle to which you have exiled them.”
– Marie Kondo
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