Decluttering before a move can save you a lot of time and be a liberating experience. What do you do with all the things you have decided you don’t need anymore though?
Donation Locations
Goodwill, Salvation Army, and other Thrift stores are usually easy to find. Google “donation drop off near me” and you will likely find more than a few names you did not even know about. They have guidelines for what they will and won’t accept that you can find through their website or with a quick call. Many of these donation companies offer tax rebate forms that you can use for write-offs during tax season as well.
Goodwill partners will Dell and accepts electronics and provide slightly used products for great deals at not only the normal Goodwill stores but also online and a Goodwill Computer Store in Dallas.
Libraries are another idea for donating pre-owned books, as well as DVD and CDs. Many times, they will sell these donated goods to help pay for events and library operating costs.
Habitat for Humanity is a great organization that will come pick up appliances and larger furniture items for you if you call and schedule. They help keep costs down by selling new and gently-used furniture, appliances, home accessories, building materials and more. Use this link to find their nearest location, give them a call and find let them know what you have to donate and then determine the best way to get the items to their Habitat for Humanity ReStores.
Foodbanks are a great way to avoid wasting food and being able to help those less fortunate. They should be things like canned goods, rice, cereal, pasta, etc. And only unused, non-expired items.
Another easy pickup option is to schedule with Pickup Please. It is run by the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) and can pick up all your unwanted belongings within 24 hours. They then sell the items to generate funding for local, state, and national programs of the VVA. Pickup Please accepts clothing, household goods, appliances, electronics, shoes and more. Just schedule the pickup online and leave the labeled boxes outside the door. A Pickup Please driver will pick up the donations and leave a tax deduction receipt behind. That is about as easy as it could be and helps a good cause.
Gifting to Family and Friends
Decluttering and moving can give you a way to be a good friend and share the nice things you are no longer needing. Maybe you have bought the latest generation of phone or have a lot of wonderful clothes that your children have outgrown? These things are a godsend to people that may not have the spare money to own themselves. Baby clothes, toys and so many of the things our children outgrow are great brand new gifts to another family. If the choice is either throw it away or help make someone’s day brighter, then consider spreading the joy to friends and family.
Freecycle is another option to consider if you have decided to give away some of your belongings and would like to know it is going to better use than by just donating. People see a lot of ways to repurpose and reuse what you may just consider clutter that needs to go away. Most times you can coordinate with just an email and have them come pick it up.
Selling – Local Ads and Garage Sales
Garage sales, especially community ones that draw larges crowds and are able to advertise are a good way to turn your things to cash. There is a certain amount of time in setting everything up and tagging a price with it. Online markets are also a good way to turn your possessions to cash.
It’s very likely you have used eBay or Craigslist to buy or sell. They are great markets, and places like eBay have some built-in user protections. As with all things online, be careful to not become a victim to fraud. If you do arrange to make a sale through a local market like Craigslist, Letgo, OfferUp or Facebook Buy and Sell Groups we strongly suggest you find if your area has a designated monitored Online Buyer Meetup location. Many cities like Dallas are offering safe meetup places, but always choose a public place and bring a friend if you can.
