I can't get rid of the stuff..

[IliveonCoffee]

Books, craft stuff, other stuff.

Right now there is a bag in my hallway, with books I'm past wanting. Books from my childhood - big chunky ones. But I can't see myself giving them away, to languish unwanted in a charity shop. I'd put them on fb, but almost feel upset at the idea of giving them away to "me" "me plz", who literally grab anything they can for free. Or worse, selling them for a pittance - £1 each for all the hours I poured in them.

Same with the CDs currently staring at me on the tv stand, we don't even have a cd player any more... they literally get played in the car...if that.

And the craft stuff, okay broad definition here, but so many sketchbooks (2 pages removed), colouring books and dot to dots with 3/4 done. Absolutely worthless, yet I can't see myself throwing them out.

It feels such a waste. I really want to clear them out. But like the bag in the hallway, I sort out what I don't want but can't actually decide how they are going to leave.

How do you get rid of stuff?

Take it to the tip.

Shops are closed here but we’ve been able to get rid of some stuff by taking it to the clothing and book banks at the shopping centre and the dump.

@wellthatsunusual I had same issue. I ended up putting them in the boot of my car so I don’t have to look at them!!

@SilentShadows

For books, I like to give mine to the local library. When I was a child and teenager I loved the libraries and being free to read my way through them, and like to think that by giving them books I'm helping others to do the same. Would you consider that for any of the books?

Agree with this ^ When I moved I did exactly this with a pile of art books, and the library was really happy to take them. For me, it means that many people get to enjoy them.

I usually put books on a book swap website - bookswap.co.uk/referral/932 (delete last bit of that if you want to, they have referral offers)

It’s nice to have some idea of who they go to. While it takes a bit of effort to post them out - it seems a good way of doing it while it’s not possible to trail round all the charity shops looks for specific titles.

Just don’t end up ordering a load more from there like I did

@IliveonCoffee

I promise there is only one bag in the hallway! And it hasn't been there long.

I can be untidy, which does make things seem cluttered and I think that doesn't help...

I'm generally good at clearing the practical stuff. But I think the hardest stuff I'd where I've attached a value that just isn't really there. The cds I've spent £5/10 are never going to be worth that. The books I couldn't even put a price on.

As for stuff languishing in the charity shop...I'm not entirely sure where I've formed that idea...I think a combination of unreliable sources, advising no-one buys books, charity shops don't want your rubbish etc. I suspect it's one of those ideas that when actually examined is a load of crap...

Strangely, I like the idea of thinking it selfish and I really really should not care what happens after its left me.

I'm always at the charity book shop. People do buy them. With 'the hours and money you've spent ' look at it like an experience you've paid for and enjoyed but can't keep , eg going to the cinema or out for a meal. Unfortunately charity shops are closed atm. Can you put them somewhere else til they're open ? Garage or shed ?

Have you tried the Olio app? You list things for free for local people to collect, but in my experience so far people seem to genuinely want them much more than giving them away for free on fb.

Quite a few people locally have put books and stuff at the end of their drive in a plastic tub with a “free” sign on. Might that be an option for you?

Almost all of our books are from charity shops and freebie sites. And when I've finished with them, they go back there.

They'd likely bring several people hours of pleasure if you donated them. Would be very surprised if they languished.

We had them out all along our street during the last lockdown

Maybe start a community book swap?

Or worse, selling them for a pittance - £1 each for all the hours I poured in them.

Not sure what you mean by this? You've READ them. That's obviously given you many hours of enjoyment but it doesn't entitle you to financial recompense?

Books don't languish in charity shops/secondhand book shops. I regularly buy from there, love reading secondhand books. When the shops are open of course....

Books may be unsaleable in that it's not worth your time to try and sell them yourself, but they are certainly not unsaleable to charity shops.

I regularly buy, and then re-donate at a later date when I've finished with them, to the multitude of charity shops in my nearest towns and they are always more than happy to take them.

Don't just take books to the tip, that's so wasteful! I hate the thought of things just being thrown into landfill when they could be donated to a charity shop or given away for someone else's use.

Music Magpie the CD's.

I've got an app to scan each book to see if I can get money for them.

I've got 17 books waiting to go and around £6 money back. Some were only valued at 3p, but if they are not in my house I'd be happy. And they collect.

We have just moved house, with all our stuff, and I am determined to clear some out! (17 books doesn't scratch the surface tbh, but it is one box less.)

And now I only buy second hand books or Kindle books. Easier to get rid!

What is the app @DinosApple?

I used to have loads of books, like @DinosApple once I started using the Kindle app, I found it much easier to get rid of especially fiction.

Non fiction much less so, even though it's now much easier to find something online rather than look through the shelves to find the right book.

For years I always meant to spend the time between Christmas and new year cataloging my books. That's one job now crossed off the list. Hurrah.

You need to not have an emotional attachment to objects op otherwise you will never get rid of anything.

My friend has an idealised version of her life in her head and keeps/buys things that she never uses that fit that ideal. It's not healthy to live in a dreamworld.

Ooh I’d like to know the app too please. I have so many books! Used to sell them on Amazon back in the day and made quite a lot of money until everything changed.

@NowellSingWe I use Sell it back for books, but only because it offered marginally more than the one mentioned earlier. I've just downloaded MusicMagpie to try too.

@FinallyHere same - the non fiction is very hard to get rid of, because a) it's a bit niche so those buying websites aren't interested, b) you can't get the things I'm interested in on Kindle and c) I don't want to as I like a reference book .

When I do get rid it'll be to someone or somewhere with an (archaeological) interest.

If you've read and enjoyed a book then youve already got your money's worth - it owes nothing more to you so you're not out of pocket if you give it away.

Same with CDs.

If they're tatty or horribly dated then recycle them. They're just paper. The intrinsic worth was the experience you had when you picked them up and read them. The physical object has no particular worth if they're no longer in a state where anyone's realistically going to use them again.

Thank you DinosApple

I belong to a few recycling pages on Facebook. People advertise items they longer want and people snap them up. Could be worth trying?

If you register for gift aid when you donate your items to the charity shops you get an update when things sell letting you know the gift aid they’ve claimed on the sale. I donate to BHF this way and it’s really gratifying to see the amount tick up as the books or whatever else we donated are sold.

Lots of options for unwanted stuff

Local women’s refuge
Local children’s hospital/hospice
Children’s home
Charity shop
Old people’s home
Facebook (yes you will get lots of greedy fuckers but it’s preferable to actually chucking away)
In a dry day depending on where you leave put outside with a sign saying free
Friends with younger kids
Food bank