Major regret and embarrassment at myself...

[DonJeer]

Can anyone hold my hand or offer any words if wisdom /stories of your own?
I am moving home soon and have been in our rented house for best part of a decade. Thought I would declutter before I move and opened cupboards and boxes that tbh I had mostly forgotten about.
Ive found lovely clothes with labels all still on that will just never fit me again and are 10 years old. All in virtually perfect condition (stored well thankfully). Jackets, trousers, skirts from mid range high street (M&S, Monsoon) to a designer jacket that I have to accept is lovely but will never fit.
I've packed it all up for a charity shop, but utterly shamed into thinking about the money I have wasted on these items. It's WELL into hundreds and probably over 1K.
Arrggghh!

Maybe focus instead on the pleasure it will bring someone who could never afford those kind of clothes?

But yeah, I would be pissed off too!

Ebay? Especially if classics

No point in regret, focus now on where those clothes can do most good. Charity shops definitely have their place, but there are people that can't even afford them. Your local food bank may also have a clothing project, or a women's refuge. There are also groups that help women with clothing for job interviews.

Your waste could change someone else's life.

Also look for any refugee support groups. We've just welcomed two families to our town and supplied clothing for them.

I've had this feeling with items too - I tell myself I'm making a donation to charity for X amount and that helps me.
Have you any friends or family who are a similar size you could give some away?

Think how pleased the people who end up with the never been worn bargain finds will be? A lot of joy will come out of it in the end. And you'll have less clutter and more space and peace of mind once it's all gone/now you've gotten round to sorting the stuff you'd forgotten you even had.

In the grand scheme of things 1k is nothing. Over 10 years that's only £1.92 a week, (less than the price of having a large starbucks coffee once a week...). Lots of people would think nothing of spending 1k on one outfit (or even on just one item, sometimes many times that on one thing).

OP
My housekeeping regret is currently being mended. £3000 of moth damage hidden under a sofa.

Oxfam shops give you a donator ID number that you tag your bags with. Then when something sells they log it and once every six months or so they send you a statement of the total your things have raised. It really helps to see that your donations do make a difference. I’ve been surprised at the amount it adds up to in the past.

Post them here OP and we'll have a look if we want anything ;)

Did buying it bring you joy at the time? By giving it to charity (or selling it on eBay) you'll be giving joy to someone else and some money will be recouped.

Spending on the high street also boosts the economy and saves jobs.

I look at misspent money the same way as I do cocktails or nice dinners - I paid for the pick me up feeling.

It's unfortunate that you didn't get the most out of your £1000 spend but you didn't really waste the money totally

Or, if they're sizes 10-14, then you could bring me joy by posting them to me

I've been giving all my unwise purchases to a woman at work who is ten years younger than me and it brings me great joy to see her wearing them and getting compliments on the outfits. I've given her two bib bag fulls, at least. So you can be as bad as me!

if you are short of cash, Ebay the items, particularly if they are unworn with tags. People pay a lot for clothes. I have been amazed that just about anything sells if you price it right. Some brands hold their value well.

Selling stuff is very green as well. It stops others from having to buy new.
A lot of women hate physical shops, they know their size and they enjoy browsing eBay

Oh just came back on and didn't expect so many wonderful replies! Thank you!
I hsvent really got the time to sell them. I've got two jobs and three children and live miles from a post office. I can manage ok without trying to recoup the money (although its been a squeeze for a while I'm back on the level now). I like the idea of being able to donate them to people who cant afford even charity stuff. I'll have to have a Google of that.
@AravisQueenOfArchenland 1.92 a week sounds ok doesn't it?! Thanks for that! Im not a coffee drinker but Im guessing Starbucks and Costa once a week add up to more than that with even less to show for it - thank you!
Thanks people!! Happy to hear other stories like mine if anyone cares to share!! I feel like Ive come out of a confessional!

Do post pics here, we could have an solidarity auction
Or if you do donate to charity some places allow you to gift aid the value.

I've got it all in (several) big bags for charity. Cant seem to find a refugee donation or clothes bank even vaguely locally. Hopefully it will bring pleasure to others!

Consignment shop? They'll take commission but do all the legwork for you, especially if new and a reputable brand.

Not quite the same, but a sort of other side.

DD was born after years of infertility and loss. I never bought a thing. We were given lots of lovely gifts in the early days.

I then spotted a bundle on Facebook of six to nine month clothes and a dress caught my eye. I messaged the lady and went to collect. I needed up buying bundles up to the age of two. Everything immaculate, often never worn, all beautiful and at least ten years old. She had saved it after her DD, for her second child who never arrived.

We both found some comfort in it going to DD, who we never thought would arrive. I of course did buy them and she treated her older DD.

I send her pictures from time to time of the outfits and have to say every single one makes me smile when I dress DD. The added bonus being we are quite rural, and often everyone is wearing the same things. All my stuff is older so it's completely unique.

Don't feel bad, it will bring someone else some joy.

Watch Tidying Up With Marie Kondo on Netflix. It will help you feel better.

You probably had fun shopping for them.
At least they weren’t ruined by mice or moisture, and someone will get a chance to enjoy wearing them.

@moobar that’s lovely

On a similar note, I recently had a clear out of ds (17) clothes. Loads of things he’d outgrown, most of it “big” labels, like you, a fair few things unworn. I gave it to our local children’s charity who organise bundles of clothes for kids who have literally nothing, and I’ve got such a warm feeling at the thought of some young lad getting some of the same labels that his mates are wearing.

My DS decided to get rid of some playmobil he kept for sentimental reasons (think complete aegyptians and romans etc.) plus a bag of clothes he got just before a growth spurt.
I contacted a charity via our local "avoid waste" net work and they'll come and get it.

Why not take it to a cancer or children's charity shop. Then think about how good it will be for the volunteers and the people that get a bargain that maybe another mum can't afford to buy herself any lovely clothes. Then think about how that money made will go towards improving someones life.

We've all found something we can't fit into anymore. Focus on the good you are doing by giving it to charity.

Don't feel badly! You will be doing a very good thing by donating them! Loads of people drink, gamble or smoke that sort of money away without giving it a second thought. At least these clothing items will go to a good cause and bring others pleasure! Enjoy the sense of space and organisation and control that decluttering will bring you!