Disclosure: Any post may contain links to my shop or affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission from any purchase you make. All opinions about products I use are my own. Read the full disclosure and Privacy Policy HERE.
Thursday I made a large drop-off at my Mothers of Multiples Club consignment sale. We are a non-profit club and the proceeds from our sale go to support families with multiples in our community, and we make donations to local groups who serve children and families. Participating in this sale is something I do twice a year and I love the time with my fellow club members and friends, but I also love getting rid of so much stuff!
I also have an even bigger pile of stuff that I am taking to donate today. It makes it so much easier to get rid of nice things when I imagine someone feeling like they “scored” shopping at the thrift shop. Yes, sometimes I actually stop and visualize the young mom feeling blessed to find such a cute baby outfit while she shops at the thrift shop. Visualizing the people benefiting by my donations inspires me.
Have you noticed how much harder it can be to get rid of the nice things, the things that still have a lot of life left in them, even if you know you don’t need or want to use it anymore? Think about it this way, though, it is actually so backward to hold onto nice things we don’t use! As they sit in our homes, they get older and more obsolete, possibly broken or ruined, while we wait to dream up a use for them. We hold on to them even though sitting un-used sucks all the life out of them.
Turn your thoughts around: donate (or sell) nice things and let them be used!! If you had a friend or neighbor that needed something from you, my guess is you’d probably give them the shirt off your back. I think most of us would. We have friends and neighbors that we don’t know, who need our stuff, but they don’t know us to be able to ask. Your donations bless them. Give them your nice things by donating them to local thrift shops and non-profits in your area! I also consider selling for a very low price as a form of donating. People who need your stuff are getting a great deal with the dignity of purchasing.
What’s in it for you?
Good feelings: It is an adrenalin rush to bless someone else. It FEELS good!
Money: Instant cash if you sell your used items. Cash on your next tax return or owe less money with income deductions from donations. (You can get a Donation Tracker FREE download HERE.)
Space: You don’t need to feel claustrophobic in your own home. Get rid of stuff you don’t need and get some space!
Freedom: Now you can do whatever you want with the empty space in your home and with the extra cash. You have an empty canvas to create the life you want.
Here is my big donation pile from this week. It needs to come off the treadmill because I need to get on that treadmill. Ha! Goodbye, unused items!
From my home to yours,
Mary
(Originally published 4/5/2014 as part of a Mini-Declutter Challenge.)
Have this and more decluttering inspiration read to you!
I do donate nice things but I often feel bad about it. The fact that I purchased something that we didn’t really use. I love your philosophy of picturing someone else enjoying it. Thanks for another great post.
Thank you! It really helps me, because it can be tricky getting rid of the “nice things”!
Mary,
This is the best reason I’ve ever heard for giving away things — to bless others. Thank you for this heartwarming, inspiring, loving message.
PM
Oh, thank you so much for your kind words. They mean a lot to me. š
I take stuff to a place that has a thrift store and they like to feel they serve the working poor, and the sales from the thrift store help support the health clinic and the soon to open dental clinic, all staffed by volunteers. Any expenses they incur for those clinics come from donations and sales at the thrift store. Totally awesome. Feels good to support something like that with my “stuff!”
That sounds like an amazing opportunity to share your stuff!
In my decluttering journey I’ve been making donations to the local domestic violence women’s shelter. They not only provide shelter for women and children in danger but they also help them set up house with the basics because so often they leave with only the clothes they’re wearing and have to start from scratch. So far I’ve donated a stack of linen and unopened bathroom products…you know the gifts that never get opened or the hair product that was used once but didn’t like. I also have a couple of dinner sets and will probably have lots more kitchen stuff after next week.
I should add that donating to the women’s shelter makes me feel better about parting with the good/nice things.
I agree! Those women will feel much more confident in current clothing styles! I think I will donate my closet de-cluttering pile to the women’s shelter. Thanks for the reminder.
I already replied to your other comment, but I LOVE this! It feels so good to give like this!
Excellent points! I found in trying to “give value” to the nice things I make a deal with myself. For clothes in particular, I bring them to a local consignment shop and whatever they do not buy I immediately drop off at a Goodwill or Salvation Army. I feel it’s win-win. I may only get $10 but it meant I was able to mentally and emotionally part with the item. I am passing this on to my children and they are more willing to pass on the toys they don’t play with also and they understand that if it doesn’t sell, we donate it to other children who do not have as many toys as we do. They agree – as long as they get the money.
So glad you’ve found something that works for you!!