How brutal are you with chucking things out?

Well done! It feels great doesn’t it

I sorted through all our coats last week, all we had grown out of. Had a huge pile to sell on vinted and then actually thought I am never going to do it so bagged it all up and took it to the charity shop. I felt so much better!

I'm pretty brutal. For the last couple of years, unwanted birthday and Christmas presents have gone straight into the charity shop bag. I don't feel guilty.

I rarely sell anything because I can't be bothered with having stuff lying around waiting and then having to post it or organising for some random to come round to collect; I just want it out the house ASAP. Having clutter lying around makes me feel stressed. Getting rid of clutter makes me feel very calm.

With the bikes, I try to sell them if you want to, but if they don't go within a month or so, then just leave them out the front with a note saying "take me, I'm free". They'll probably be gone by the end of the day. Yes they were £140 each, but you've spent that money all ready and used them. Now you just want rid.

I occasionally sell something on Vinted but only if I know it'll go for decent money. Otherwise I am ruthless and give everything to charity. I've spent the last couple of years decluttering 10+ years worth of stuff & never want to go back to owning that much again! I am a minimalist at heart & cope with life better when there is less stuff to look after. Brutal is the way forward. It's only stuff.

Best advice on here was "Accept that you're not actually going to Ebay it and just take it to the charity shop" 😂

Op do you drive? My local tip has a postbox style collection box for clothing, you'll often find them in supermarkets car parks too. They don't want rags it still has to be reasonably wearable, but it's amazing as you can just bag it all up and post it in the box!
It's worth splitting up your decluttering into like categories. Alot of charity shops won't take plug in electrical items, so I put them to one side for the charity shops that do, lots of shops point blank refuse toys so I tend to keep toys all in one bag, i also try and do little and often so it's less overwhelming for both me and the shop staff.

I’m brutal and always have been. I have a small box containing a few precious memories. Other than that if it’s not used or worn it’s gone. Mainly given to charity shops with the occasional Vinted item.

I'm giving myself permission to get rid of a lot at the minute on the understanding that I won't buy lots of rubbish to replace it. Selling stuff is much harder work when you just need stuff gone.

Most of our stuff is from charity shops to begin with or vinted.

Can anybody tell me the best/ easiest online company that collects from your house and definitely donates it to charity.

Our charity shops just don’t seem to take anything( no idea how they survive).

I live in North Germany and there are no charity shops here so I prefer to sell everything I don't want. I sell at car boot sales and twice a year I sell all kids clothes and toys at Kinderflohmarkts (NCT sales). I've made a bit of money over the years. I have the time as I'm a SAHM, DH is a high earner, I see my selling as a side hustle and like to feel I'm contributing money to the family. I hate throwing good stuff in the bin so selling is my only option, if clothes don't sell after a certain time they go in the textile recycling bin.

I’ve had a purge and it feels so much better, no time to faff about on vinted or marketplace either. Once you’ve factored in your time there’s often no great profit anyway!

But if everyone did this landfills would be full up. Better not to buy so much in the first place.

@tedibear Royalmail postage I print the label at home and they pick it up for free. No standing about in post office queues! Some of what I sell is new with tags or toys kids got but already have but not always.

I've been getting QR code that the Post Office counter scans & puts the label on for me but still have to go there & stand around waiting which has got worse since the closure of our main PO. I've been pondering about having the postie bring the label or printing myself. Is that hard to set up as I'm a bit of a tecchie pleb? Do the labels have to be sticky or can you sellotape them on? Thank you.

I didn't know there were clothes banks, I would rather give to them. I've taken warm coats, gloves etc to the homeless shelter but they list what they need and it doesn't include most of the stuff I am getting rid of. I do choose which charity shop I use though, always the local hospice which I have some connection with.

Vinted. I'm on mounjaro so having to sell and buy clothes.. vinted tells me I've made over 3 Grand in a year.
I don't like clutter.. I'm always clearing out.

When I felt like you, I donated it all. Since then, I’ve had the space and time to sell things as I go. I’ve made over £500 from Vinted this way.

I have regular clear outs. Like quite a few times a year. Some to sell, some for charity and some for the dump. My 2 also have a ridiculous amount of everything too.

It's hard finding the time (but u need to make time) to sell stuff but worth doing it. An hour here and there for photos and then u can list the stuff in the evening when the kids are in bed. Royalmail postage I print the label at home and they pick it up for free. No standing about in post office queues! Some of what I sell is new with tags or toys kids got but already have but not always.

Big things on Facebook marketplace. Some stuff won't make much money so I just send to charity shop. I kinda stick to the rule of if it's worth less than £5 it goes to charity shop. That will help get rid of lots! U can bundle up toys though too I've done that before, mainly baby toddler toys.

Check sold prices on eBay before deciding. Some stuff gets surprisingly gd money. Clothes are better sold in size bundles by season unless a particular item is designer or like a decent high street branded jacket.

I made enough over a few years to take the kids to Disneyland for 4 days staying onsite and spending money, was about £3k. That was less than 2yrs ago. I'm back up at over £2k again. If you're not needing the cash put it aside and do something nice with the kids.

You need to balance:
Space
Time / effort
Money

You can create space quickly and get no money.

You can get money but it takes time and effort.

Personally I value creating space and my time the most, So that means I take stuff to charity rather than Vinted/eBay it. I want the space more than I want a few quid!

I am brutal and it will usually go in the bin

However years ago when mine were young I’d sell on FB by the bag eg take a photo of stuff laid out all together on the bed then say boys clothes to fit 1-2 yo that type of thing and it would always sell

I think unless people really need the money there is zero point in selling stuff. I have always just donated my items. I volunteer for a charity and the amount of very good quality items donated has dropped, understandably as people are suffering with the cost of living so selling instead.

The charity shop can probably rag them for you if you tell them that's what they are.The value of rag is v low as the collectors are overwhelmed and it's ending up polluting waterways overseas. I read something about there already being enough clothes in existence to clothe the world but here we are.
Not applying this to you but many non clothing donations are fit only for the bin and the charity shop is paying for their waste collections so sometimes are overwhelmed

Currently going through something similar myself. I’ve committed to listing 5 items I think are worth a bit more on vinted a day. I also have sorted the clothes in to ages and each day I lay out all the clothes from 1 age range and take a picture of them and list them as a bundle. I’m giving myself a month and anything not gone is being donated guilt free.

Yes! Adding my voice to say go ahead and get rid.
You don't have to sell and so release the guilt of that too.

I sold something for £1 on Vinted which somehow came back to me. Think it was uncollected. Don't understand it but I thought why the fuck am I wasting my time with this?!

I've donated books, games, uniform, good quality underwear and socks to school who are grateful to accept.

Otherwise charity shop it.