To wonder how you get rid of your clutter?

[PastelPompoms]

We are in the process of decluttering the house. There is lots I want to go from clothes to toys, towels etc.

I am finding it hard to let go of some things that are new e.g. clothes with labels still in etc. I have tried selling but not much had much luck and I’d rather the things just went than hung around waiting for someone to collect who never shows. I am planning to donate to charity and then take the rest to the tip that’s not worth the charity shop.

How do you get over the thought of losing money by giving so much away? My DP wouldn’t be pleased to know I was giving it away rather than selling due to the money that was originally spent and I think that’s making me hang onto more than I want to.

I can’t think of a better way to try and sell it than eBay or Facebook though.

[HaggieMaggie]

If you donate it,think of it as making a generous donation to that charity rather than losing money. I pick my preferred charity shops and walk away happy.

[thinkingaboutLangCleg]

Freecycle, Upcycle and Freegle are all ways of giving stuff away — you join an online group, post your offers and people respond by email. Nextdoor is an online neighbourhood group that includes a section for giving or selling stuff. You can also offer things that need mending, or ask if anyone can mend something for you. Small local charity shops may accept a wider range of stuff than the big charities.

[MumbleJunction]

It's great to consider buying more things second hand, eg kids toys that are really robust. That way it's easier to donate or pass things on for a few pounds, and better for the environment too.

[Mummadeeze]

It does take ages but I put lots of clothes on eBay for £2 upwards and most sell in the end. I think the thing is to not over price them. It does annoy me selling things that cost a lot more so cheaply but it does all add up and is better than nothing. It is still being charitable in a way as people are getting such a bargain!

[TwinMumSuperHero]

Cash for clothes helped me to be very ruthless. They give you 40p a kilo (no underwear, socks or blankets/towels) but they do take shoes and bags.
Also you can sell books/games/DVDs to music magpie and ziffit (?) very easily (download the app and scan the barcodes) Often just pennies but the occasional really bizarre book was worth £2
All of the above probably made me about £20 over lock down but I needed to get rid of the stuff anyway and selling it (even for peanuts to businesses) helped me be extra brutal

[PlanDeRaccordement]

Because we’ve moved a lot for work, we do a clear out annually. This keeps clutter down.
Don’t feel too bad about purchases you end up not using. I think everyone is guilty of that from time to time. I tend to have 3-4 of those per year. I do try to not buy much anyway, but sometimes it happens.

[BikeRunSki]

The cost of the stuff you have already bought is “sunk” / the money is already spent, you can’t chsvfe that. Have a google on “Sunk costs fallacy”, and think more carefully about future spending.

Do you have a local clothes bank, or school uniform exchange?

[Fruggalo]

Find out your local clothes bank/basics bank whatever - those bnwt clothes will make a world of difference to someone. If it’s not obvious, if you contact a local football they will be able to recommend somewhere.

[Brown76]

Find a charity that you really care about, donate good quality items to them. I have given away expensive items eg gifts that I wasn’t using and that didn’t sell online. I reframed the ‘they cost so much money aspect’ as the money is already spent, it’s costing me to store the item and keep it clean etc, plus my time to list and sell - if I donate it it actually releases value and benefits the charity (in my case, a children’s hospice). Also if you register for gift aid, the value of your donations can be increased by the charity and as I do a tax return it also can be claimed as a tax deduction by me so it does slightly benefit me financially. If your DP isn’t convinced, let them try and find a buyer.

[Wincarnis]

Link for I second that...

www.isecondthat.co.uk/freeclearoutpack

[TheShoesa]

Check with your local charity shop what they will actually take.

There is one near me that takes electrical goods which some don't.
That one also accepts unsaleable clothes (the stained / misshapen ones) because they can put them in rag bags and get some money that way.

I am drowning in clutter and it just seems like an overwhelming task at the moment, but I do know that once it's gone I will feel so much better

[Dinocan]

If you can be arsed Car boot. And then anything left over tip or charity that day. That way you will recoup at least a little bit of money and it’s much easier psychologically to let it go.

[HUCKMUCK]

We did this a year or so ago. DH wanted to try and sell everything that he thought had value. In the end, we agreed that if something didn’t seek within 2 weeks of being posted, we took it to the charity shop. We didn’t have any new stuff but lots of toys and games. We donated some to a local community children’s association too.

[Benjispruce2]

I think you need to have a good think about why you bought things you don’t need. De cluttering is the easy part. I don’t have a single thing with a tag still on. If I realise I don’t like it it it doesn’t fit, I return it.

[Curlyshabtree]

We’re doing the same. I had a few car boot sales over the summer, made about £250! Are there any indoor ones where you are?
I have also sold some stuff in FB Marketplace. The rest I have sorted into clothing bank/dump and charity. I was quite ruthless! The Marie Kondo thing of holding something for 3 seconds and seeing if it “sparks” an emotion is quite daft but does help. Good luck! Enjoy your clutter free existence!

[dinosaurrisotto]

It's worth finding out (via local facebook groups or friends) if you have a family charity in your area. In my town we have a charity that works with the council to identify low income families in need, women who have escaped domestic violence, young single mothers with newborns etc. They are always keen for clothing, toys (especially this time of year as Christmas approaches), baby equipment etc. They put together bundles and deliver it directly to the families. This gives me so much satisfaction as it goes direct to the needy family, unlike when i take stuff to the charity shop and they either seem miffed that they need to sort through it or throw some of the stuff away anyway.

[Baileyscoffeeandcampfires]

@Unsure33

What about books ? We have boxes of books from a house clearance. Many good quality.

I used ziffit for books but they do need to be in very good condition

[DianaT1969]

H&M run a recycle scheme with £5 voucher for a bag of clothes/fabric. The items don't have to be from their store.
The voucher can be used when you spend £25 or more on full price items, I think. Rather than buying more unnecessary clothes, it could be used on H&M Home bed linen, towels etc. They make useful gifts too.
I understand your dilemma completely OP. It's hard to let go because we haven't got our money's worth. Lesson learned not to buy unless something is essential.

[ClaireP20]

Wednesdays is our bin day. I hate clutter as my mum was a hoarder and it was horrendous to live like that as a child, so I go around with a black sack when my husband isn't looking, then hide it under the stairs, and when my husband has his shower on bin day morning, I sneak the bag outside for the bin men. He doesn't notice the extra bag because he has already taken the bins out earlier, before his shower.
Any unwanted clothes I take to charity. However my mum, being a hoarder, when she does has a clear out, every item of clothing goes to charity shop, even if it is 20 years old, full of holes, stinks of fags. She will say 'this cost alot of money' and will have no concept of it being alot of money 20 years ago, or it's current condition.

[BGDino]

When I declutter, in my head I tell myself that if I haven't got the money's worth out of the item, that that is the price of decluttering and buying too many things. Has gradually helped me to acquire too many things over the years. DH is not very acquisitory (he hardly ever gets anything for himself) so he never has to declutter, but with a PFB 3 month DD I can see our house acquiring many more things to come!

[MrsHSW]

I've had success with selling BNWT or higher end items on ebay - handbags, nice dresses, cashmere. You'll never get retail - think half at least. But I did get some money back so better than nothing.

Music magpie DVDs.

Books you can't even seem to give away - charity shop said 'anything but books'. Do you have a local swap shelf in a village hall or book phone box? Or school fate?

Towels - animal shelter.

I generally tend to just give to charity shop - it will do someone a good turn, help the charity and the planet. Let it be your good deed of the day.

You'll feel much better once it's gone!

[Hahaha88]

I don't get the point in keeping hold of stuff just because it's new, you've already wasted the money the minute you bought it and didn't need it. Just charity shop it and learn to stop buying things you don't need

[BGDino]

helped me to NOT* acquire too many things!!!

[Member984815]

Join depop and sell on there

[Doryhunky]

Oxfam have specialised bookshops