Getting rid of things sustainably is bloody hard work

[cheeseomelette]

I’m trying to declutter well in advance of downsizing. It’s a nightmare. I don’t want to just bin things that anyone else could make use of, and some of the things are expensive so it just feels wasteful.

We have a charity shop drive through (amazing) but I work full time in another town and can only go occasionally. Then they often won’t take a particular item - such as pictures - because they already have loads.

Vinted, eBay etc are so much work and can be hit and miss with people messing you about. I really cannot face a car boot. Even listing on Facebook for free is admin.

and what about things like old travel books? Can they just go in recycling? Card or paper? What about cosmetics and make up thats unused? You end up driving stuff round in the boot for months without getting rid of it.

A good friend confessed she just bins stuff but I cannot do that in good conscience. I can understand why it’s tempting though after spending all afternoon sorting and not evicting very much.

We have a local WhatsApp group. Anything put on there goes immediately.

Car boot would probably get rid of loads quickly. Vinted is easy to list - once you have photos it's about a minute per item.

Could’ve written this myself. I’m downsizing too and have way too much much of everything. I’ve just done bras and swimwear and have resigned myself to putting it all in the clothes bank. Some unworn item; feels criminal :-(

Oh make up your local women's refuge would take if it's unopened

Facebook goes well here- giving away at least. Community Page, list it all and leave it outside the house. It goes like locusts get it!

You need to be proportionate and plan your approach.

Gather a lot and phone the charity shop before you set off so you know what they do and don't want.

Yes old travel books can be recycled.

Stick it all outside your front door with a sign saying "free" and pop a post on your local Facebook pages. It'll be gone within hours.

use the Olio app - I have given away lots of stuff on there for free

Ultimately everyone else in the country had a similar amount of stuff, so some of most of it is going to end up in the bin. It's a good incentive to stop buying things in the long run

Yes I agree. I put things on a Trash nothing group so some stuff gets picked up - unused toiletries, large houseplants, odd gardening bits..

eBay seems a bit of a faff at least the demand for my cast-off clothes has seriously dried up in the last few years..

https://anglodoorstepcollections.co.uk/

See if these will collect in your area from your doorstep

I agree it's hard work and I have next week off to try and sort my shit

I generally put things out on my driveway on a dry day and it goes pretty quickly. I live in a high footfall area though. It's way better than FB, Nextdoor etc, which I find just far too much faff. Clothes go to the local hospice shop. They don't seem to have random things they're refusing in any given week like the big charity shops so much easier to donate there. Useable furniture goes to the British Heart Foundation, who collect in my area. Anything broken goes to the tip and that reminds me to be careful about what I buy in the first place.

I have my charity bags picked up from my house as I don't drive.

Anglo are really good and if you leave them outside, they'll text and tell you when they've picked the bags up.

https://anglodoorstepcollections.co.uk/

I was going to suggest Anglo. They do take a lot of stuff and collect from you on a pre-booked date.

This. If you have a local Facebook group put it all outside on a dry day, put the address, and say you are going out so can’t keep tabs on it as someone will undoubtedly ask if a particular thing is still there or if you can hold it for a week (and not turn up…).

Old books can go in the recycling.

When I had large amounts of useable stuff to get rid of I took photos and put the whole lot on Freecycle as a car boot lot - all to go as 1 lot.
From the responses I have been able to help a couple saving for a trip back to their home country and a student working to get enough money for a working trip to a 3rd world country .
Its such a good feeling when it all goes at once and the money I could have made is nothing against the relief not to have to deal with buyers.

We used to live on a really busy residential street where there were a number of different churches and mosques, so lots of people coming and going. Anything we put on our garden wall used to go that day. It was brilliant. We’re now at the end of a cul de sac so that’s no good.

I’ve previously sent make up to the refuge - I’ll look into it again - thanks for that idea. And I’ll look into Anglo. We used to get bags through the door regularly but they’ve all stopped.

Yes! When I see people having hassle with buyers for things they’ve sold for £2 I am very thankful I don’t need to do that. I’ve given numerous big things away on Facebook but it’s the small stuff that’s more problematic

Our tip has a container where you can put stuff that's still usable and they have a shop somewhere where they sell the stuff. I don't know where the proceeds go but at least the stuff isn't wasted. We got rid of a lot doing that when we moved.

Regarding your bras, you can take them to places like John Lewis, who send them to poverty-stricken countries in conflict.
It’s an appalling reality, but girls and women who wear bras are less likely to be raped, as they are perceived as wealthy and influential.

I put loads on Freecycle when I moved, when clearing my dad's house we put quite a bit in the front garden with Help Yourself on a bit of cardboard, loads went doing that.

Furniture went to local charities.

Just put a post on Facebook with your address and a photo of everything - I promise it will still go no matter your location.

You could try Freegle, which is another reduce, reuse, recycle website. My brother is the founder and chief technology officer.

Agree OP - I tried freecycle the other day, it took nearly a day for my post to be approved, by which time it had been listed, had offers and been picked up from the listing on gumtree! Also had loads of clothes, not in good enough condition to bother selling individually in bags and repeatedly tried to put them in the big containers they have in supermarkets etc but they were always all completely full, so I just gave up and binned them in the end.

Agree with the person who said it's made me re-think about how much I buy going forward.

Yes it is more work than just putting in the bin so well done for making the effort.
British Heart Foundation have collected my furniture from the house. V efficient.
sealed cosmetics might be accepted by foodbank or give to someone you know who is involved in raffles for charities as prizes.
National Trust properties have great second hand book shops raising funds so travel books can go there and you can combine it with a lovely day out😁