Need to get rid of stuff, how do I get over guilt of giving away/binning rather than selling it

[porthcurnick]

House is bursting, 3 kids, 2 adults, very small terraced house, only 2 bedrooms are usable at the moment (and they are stuffed full) 3rd bedroom is attic conversion and is being used as a dumping ground and is literally full pretty much to the ceiling and the stairs up to it as well, IT'S BAD.

We need to start using attic as a bedroom now, but can't seem to clear it, I keep trying but I never get there, I think it needs a bomb

My main problem is a lot of it is either brand new or in perfect condition, 2 double pushchairs, a lot of baby toys, 2 brand new scooters in the box that we will never use for instance, gawd knows what else is up there.

I just can't get over giving it to the charity shop when we could really do with the money, but I never ever get round to selling it, I'm not even sure where to, we have no babysitter so car boot is difficult and I think I would be annoyed when loads of it didn't sell, would the charity shop even want 2 massive double pushchairs, and about 30 bin bags full of toys and books (at least). I have already given massive amounts to the charity shops, but I don't seem to make a dent.

So it all just sits there, arrghh help me, I really want to be using the house properly. Am very, very tempted to just keep filling the car and getting DH to drive the whole lot to the tip, but can't quite bring myself to do it. WHY CAN'T I JUST SORT IT, am shouting at myself not you whole house is a mess.

Getting rid of stuff where I live is a bit tricky. There aren't really any charity shops as in the UK and there are complicated rules about how to get rid of all sorts of things.

What people do here with things that are good enough for re-use but not worth selling is leave them in a box outside the house with a notice saying "Free". It is amazing how quickly the stuff goes.

Or do as my parents did with my cousin when he helped them clear their loft - anything he thought might sell on eBay he could take and sell and they would share the profits. He got some money for his efforts and they got something back too but more importantly for them, the stuff was gone and gone to a good home.

Find out if there is a womans refuge local to you - they would love pushchairs, toys, childrens toys etc etc oh and bedding as every new person in needs bedding to take with them.

neverquitesure way too embarrassed to have anyone round here and show them that 3rd bedroom, read part above where I had to spend 6 weeks throwing things out before phoning plumber to get new boiler fitted. No, no

Have just decluttered big pile of things on table from our holiday last weekend, sack just put in wheelie bin, can actually eat at table tonight.

Am not going up in attic on my own, but will try to WILL get DH to help me do a load tonight, last time I went up there 4 wasps kept dive bombing me, and there where 3 dead ones on the stairs, suspect they are busy building a nest somewhere in all the crap, and there are lots of spiders.

Spiders

I think you just have to continue as you are, one sack at a time. It's only stuff and if your house burned to the ground whilst you were all out one day you'd be thankful you were all ok and learn to live without it all.

Some charities will come and collect. I had a massive clearout once and gave stuff to the RSPCA charity shop. Give them a ring, even if there isn't one in your local area, they have drivers.

Have you got a Friday-Ad type paper, free ads up to a certain value. Batch stuff up into saleable bundles. You can list online.

never It's only stuff and if your house burned to the ground whilst you were all out one day you'd be thankful you were all ok and learn to live without it all

That's it, I don't want any of it, I have no problem with seeing it go, it's all stuff we no longer have a use for, I just want it to go to a good home really where it will be used.

I don't have any worries about it building back up either, there is a bit of a story behind why it was all kept.

Have just sorted a bag of decent toys from the toy boxes down here, told DH he's coming upstairs with me later think he may have misunderstood.

I will phone some charities in the morning, I'll try and find a number for a women's refuge as well, it would be good if I could get a big load piled up and they would come and collect it all.

I had a couple of huge bags of random stuff that were entirely useful and in good condition but not worth any money, I am an avid charity shop fan but
a bit fed up with unrealistic pricing around where I live, in the end a friend put me in touch with a Woman's Refuge support person and they collected and were exceptionally greatful which was really neat. Will definitely do this again, however I still have several bags of excellent condition kids clothes that I'm dragging my feet with listing on eBay, the reality is tho its a bucket load of bother for less than £100 so the bags just sit there cluttering up my bedroom :-/

Salvation Army will collect I believe, people in need who will really benefit from a helping hand :)

How are you getting on with it op?

Well managed to sell lots of random stuff at the car boot today £170

BUT the biggest of all was seeing how much emptier our loft storage room is!!!

DEBRA came and collected some furniture from me.

I was so grateful that I didn't have to pay the council to remove it and was absolutely thrilled when DEBRA wrote to me to say the stuff had raised £200 in their shop.

I would never had thought it because to me it was rubbish.

Ask in any charity shop, I'm sure they'll collect if they can.

I use free cycle more than I sell its so satsifying to give to people who really need and want it rather than giving to friends who might be too polite to say No thanks.