It happens to all of us. Either we inherit a lot of ‘stuff’ or we just accumulate it over time. One day we head to that spare room, garage or attic and decide it’s time to clean it up. On the heels of our spring cleaning, the reveal remains another decision; Donate, trade or sell? The option of simply throwing it away seems ecologically destructive, and after all, somewhere, someone might think our ‘stuff’ is treasure.
Here are some simple questions that can help you decide what to do, followed by some options, depending on where you land:
- Are you looking to get a little cash for your items or would you be happy to donate them?
- Do you have rooms and garages full of stuff to get rid of, or are you just looking to unload a few things your family no longer uses?
- Will you have enough donation receipts at the end of the year to make a difference on your taxes?
- Do you get satisfaction when you have done what you can to help those in need in your community?
- Are there people who might be interested in trading what they have for what you have?
- Your items may have little monetary value, but could be invaluable to a disadvantaged family. Do you have blankets and coats?
- If your items are not in usable condition, are they harmful if disposed of incorrectly? If you don’t know. Check.
- Do you have money to advertise or time to be available for sales and calls?
- Do you have internet access to post ads or follow up with emails?
Donation Options:
There are several options for donating your unwanted, but usable items. Most communities have organizations like Goodwill or St. Vincent de Paul that can resell things at low cost to families who can’t afford new things. Because these organizations can resell their items, they maintain a (non-profit) income stream that is used for other outreach services and, in some cases, the employment of disabled people. Depending on where you live, some organizations will even collect your donation.
Other options for donating your stuff include the Red Cross, local police stations, fire stations, shelters, safe houses, and low-income clinics. And don’t forget your neighborhood church, temple, school, or community center—most offer some form of outreach to those in need, and are often seeking donations as a result.
Put or trade options
If you can use the extra money and have time to price out all your stuff, fix it up in your garage or yard, and get through the service day, hosting a garage or yard sale can be an effective way to make money, meet people, and get rid of the things you no longer want or need. But don’t forget the marketing! Unless you live on a conspicuous corner or busy street, you’ll need to be creative and place signs on phone surveys to attract attention. Online, you have several options to help spread the word, classified ads, newspapers, and even apps. Check out the iGarageSale iPhone app to attract buyers to your sale. Just remember, those paper signs have to come down when you’re done. If you don’t sell everything, there is always the option of donating.
Similar to a garage sale, but requiring a little more planning, is the option of coordinating a neighborhood trading stand or barter sale. A trade post is like a block sale, but with a cooler name that involves bartering as a payment option. By setting up a trading post, you gain more resources by involving the entire neighborhood, which should certainly reduce advertising expenses and “service” time. Also, group sales or barter parties are a great way to meet people who live near you. If you add games and snacks, you can keep the kids happy all weekend. A barter party, on the other hand, usually involves a small group of friends bringing things to trade. Books, movies, toys, children’s clothing, tools… the list of possibilities is long.
Swap parties can be a lot of fun, but they require even more planning than a garage sale or even a barter party. They tend to occur in old drive-ins, vacant lots, or commercial leased properties. If you think a swap meet sounds like the way to go, be sure to contact your local swap meet coordinators in time to rent your space and plan your sale. There are usually a lot of people attending swap meets, so keep an eye on your items while they’re on display. Having two people present is a good way to combat theft at these crowded events.
CraigsList.org is a popular place to sell or trade your items. You can place a free ad to advertise almost any item (except firearms), or you can use the site to advertise your neighborhood trading stand or garage sale.
recycling options
Opportunities to recycle more than just your milk cartons, cereal boxes, and soda cans are available to you, and they’re often free. There are places to bring old televisions, drums, certain metals, and even denim! A quick search online will reveal the closest locations and delivery options.
Know the value!
Do searches online before you sell grandma’s old cabinet and make sure it’s not a valuable antique before you settle for that $50 bill. Involve those Internet-savvy kids in the investigation. They will enjoy showing you how smart they are and helping you at the same time! Work as a family on billboards with markers, pictures, and liven up your online ads with photos, videos, and humor.
You have a lot of options when it comes to ‘your stuff’, so pick the one that’s best for you and your community, and have fun. There’s nothing like finding a great deal or seeing a volunteer’s face light up when he drops off urgently needed items on a cold, rainy day.