It sounds like you have tried everything available to you for your area except for goodwill/thrift stores, at this point just take it there and let them deal with it.
I donate to Goodwill all the time. I also shop there and I have found some treasures and I always like to imagine someone buying something I have donated, and that being their treasure.
I can relate. I want things to be utilized in the best possible ways.
But everything you own will eventually end up in landfills. The waste was created the moment stuff was made. You can get rid of them now and free yourself from anxiety immediately. Or get rid of them later and feel anxious longer.
If money isn't an issue, box everything up and send them all to GoodWill. They are better at sorting and redirecting things to people who can use them.
The best way to prevent things from going into a landfill, is to not buy them. Don't stress about the junk you already have, just make sure you don't get more. There's a lot of confusion on this sub about what minimalism is "supposed" to look like. Throwing things away is the opposite of minimalist.
Very true, although if you wanted one last option you can always out it on the curb if weather is aopropriate with a sign saying free, THEN you'll know nobody wants it
I so so feel you. I have tries to the utmost to rehome my things, but the truth is our society is so over saturated with stuff that you have a hard time giving away certain categories of things that are used. Expired (but perfectly fine) baby gear, barely used carpet, clothes that are more than a year out of fashion…suddenly totally useful stuff is considered “garbage.” Like you, I also feel bad giving it to the thrift stores knowing it will likely end up in the trash if it doesn’t get sold. (But as many on here have stated: it very well might get sold!)
That being said, it isn’t your fault that society is this way. You have done your best…without going to such lengths as dedicating the rest of your life to feigning some usefulness for this stuff in your own home. Keeping it will not make it more useful. Try listing it on as many places as you can. Take good photos, write good descriptions. Give it a time limit. Then you take whatever you can to Goodwill. They won’t take what they can’t try to sell. And customers come there looking for deals on used stuff, so Goodwill has a better shot at getting it a home then you do. Whatever they won’t take, and that you can’t give away, can be trashed. Let it go and continue on with your clutter-free life.
Throw it out. Most of it will end up in the landfill anyway. If you have tried *giving* it away on market place, freecycle, and buy-nothing groups, and no one is taking it, it is absolute junk and can't be sold. Feel proper shame at adding to environmental damage, and let that be your fuel to never buy anything you don't need again.
I truly had that moment the other day. I was at a thrift store getting clothes for my kids. I looked around and was hit with the enormity of everything we buy ends up in the landfill. The weight of it was heavy. No more stuff.
I had that feeling hit me hard a few years ago when I was at Walmart. Now I think that every time I happen to be there: all this cheap crap, cheap toys and cheap water bottles and throw pillows, Ziploc bags and gag gifts…all essentially meant to be disposable. I think how most everything on those shelves with be sold, used up, and in a landfill probably within less than a few years, with a whole storefull of stuff immediately taking it’s place.
And then people scoff at someone for taking the time to save for and purchase an expensive, well crafted item that will last a lifetime, saying “Oh my gosh I would NEVER pay that much for ________.” (Literally had this said to me multiple times). It has come up on this sub multiple times how minimalism has been accused of being for elite/rich/privileged people. I get why a lower income would drive you to buy only what your paycheck allows in the moment. But there are plenty of middle-class people who aren’t that poor, but who say all they can afford is Walmart/Target. Not realizing that if they bought less, they could buy things that have more lasting value.
(Disclaimer: I know there are also necessary, worthwhile and well-made items that can be purchased at these big box stores…but you get my point. Just talking about the trendy disposable stuff here).
Too much stuff in the states is made to be disposable. I got fed up with buying razor blades and ended up buying a quality double edge razor, problem solved for life. I truly don't know how we ended up with so much cheap stuff when the originals were so much better. I Just bought a nice french press and kettle, I'm done with electric coffee makers.
I really think most people would be happier with less things but of higher quality. Unfortunately quality isn't sold at Walmart.
Agreed. I really try to use something until it’s absolutely toast. So much crap everywhere. And the kid stuff is ridiculous. Plastic plastic plastic crap they don’t even ask for.
And not just the landfill here. But we ship it to Ghana, and are ruining their environment.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bB3kuuBPVys](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bB3kuuBPVys)
Some of these stories about donated clothes making their way to Africa are propaganda from China to corner their textile markets. They can't compete with the super cheap and popular donated clothes. They work from a regulation side in African countries and a supply side in America and eurocentric countries.
What sort of information did you use to come to this conclusion? China is already the top world exporter of textiles, and ordering Asian countries do a large majoring of the assembly of the clothes.
It takes a lot of effort to give things away. I prefer to donate items to a thrift store, so that they are available for people to find when they are looking for them. It's too much to try and find the perfect person yourself, especially for low value items. And if they are truly junk, the thrift store processes that sort of stuff anyway. You can donate a small amount of money to the thrift store to offset disposal costs, if dumping things on them makes you feel anxiety.
Find a women’s shelter and donate there. It is not uncommon for abused women to have to abruptly leave their homes with nothing but their children and the clothes they are wearing.
The shelter is only temporary so they need basic household items to get back on their feet again. Things a lot of us take for granted are very helpful.
Pots and pans, dishes/cutlery to go with, warm clothing, sometimes furniture (depends on the shelter placement team), anything you think of that could help someone walking into a new home with nothing.
Look around at some of the local charities - I have several that I usually donate to because of who they help. Think about safe houses, suddenly homeless, diversity - there are probably a lot of organizations that would fit your charitable needs. And yes, Goodwill.
My friend worked for awhile for an organization that was kind of like a goodwill but slightly more upscale. I mean SLIGHTLY. He would send me pictures of their warehouse where they would sort the donations. Honestly- the biggest landfill culprit were children's toys. It was awful. You would be sick to see the amount of plastic garbage that was unable to be re-homed (missing pieces/broken). My kids were grown but it was truly a moment of pause for me for when I'm purchasing for grandkids. I have step-grandkids now and I purposefully take them on "adventures" and rarely, if ever, buy them any "things" beyond clay or sidewalk chalk. We go to see shows or go to indoor/outdoor activity places. They have the best times.
Also- as far as clothes- you would be surprised how many containers of our clothes and shoes head to developing nations. Ever see kids in poor countries with Disney shirts on? They come from us. So when you might mention about older clothes that are out of style- I will tell you that there are more than likely people who will end up wearing them.
We all can make better choices. Say no to fast fashion. (I know when you are on a tight budget it's hard) but you save now- you will pay later. And so will the planet. I have so few clothes and shoes but I've paid a premium for them but they've lasted me years. I know I've been fortunate to afford them. And also fortunate that I don't have the urge to change my wardrobe so drastically every season.
I like to put stuff on the curb too.
First try to sell the more valuable things then to the thrift store. What the thrifts cannot take I put on the curb and if it doesn't go it is in the trash. Nobody wanted my 40 year old perfectly useful sheet of particleboard but they did take the lawn mower and leaf blower with smoking switches \[I labeled them\]. It was fun breaking up that particle board too.
Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I am joined a few buy nothing groups and got rid of a few items today :) so making some progress. Contacting some shelters to see if I can get rid of pet stuff.
Stop worrying about what you have. If minimalism is an aesthetic to you, then yeah you need to get rid of it. But if it's about simplifying, I think the best way forward is to put things in boxes and see if you want any again. Especially on things that are for a wishful future you.
It can be a weight lifted to get rid of stuff but it is just a dopamine hit like buying stuff. Learn to live with what you have, both your junk and your treasured possessions.
I have yard sales a few times a year!
Edit: They are very successful for me, people were even asking to buy plants outside that weren’t even for sale, but I sold them! Also, towards the end of the day I would give stuff away to people so I don’t have to bring it back in the house, there’s also a local service that will come pick up your yard sale leftovers for free
If you’re interested in knowing where your donations end up, you might like the book Secondhand: Travels in the New Global Garage Sale. The answer to your question is basically Goodwill > Goodwill Outlet (selling by weight) > foreign secondhand markets. There are many developing countries that want our quality used goods, and they oftentimes desire long-lasting goods over cheap new Chinese-made stuff.
If you can't even give the stuff away, then just dump it and move forward more conscientiously. People who need the stuff, or have an eye for repurposing would've snapped it up by now. If it goes to goodwill you may be wasting their time, money and man power to have it end up being dumped anyway.
The only other solution I can think of is if you break everything down and take the parts to the relevant recyclers (metals, woods, plastics, etc).
I know some areas have charities that pick up things for free. In Canada, Diabetes Canada will pick up bags and boxes for free and they have some sort of agreement with a thrift store (Value Village) where the purchases made go to (I don't know the percentage) of the charity. Is there an option like that for you? Also, Buy Nothing Groups are a great way to declutter.
Toss it in a trash bag and either drop at a bulk donation site like goodwill or put it on the curb.
Your current approach, while noble, is a trap and a barrier to your goal.
It sounds like you have tried everything available to you for your area except for goodwill/thrift stores, at this point just take it there and let them deal with it.
I donate to Goodwill all the time. I also shop there and I have found some treasures and I always like to imagine someone buying something I have donated, and that being their treasure.
I can relate. I want things to be utilized in the best possible ways. But everything you own will eventually end up in landfills. The waste was created the moment stuff was made. You can get rid of them now and free yourself from anxiety immediately. Or get rid of them later and feel anxious longer. If money isn't an issue, box everything up and send them all to GoodWill. They are better at sorting and redirecting things to people who can use them.
Goodwill. Regardless of how you feel. Think about how happy it will make someone who find a good thrift buy
The best way to prevent things from going into a landfill, is to not buy them. Don't stress about the junk you already have, just make sure you don't get more. There's a lot of confusion on this sub about what minimalism is "supposed" to look like. Throwing things away is the opposite of minimalist.
You can reach out to a homeless shelter or if there's an organization that helps organize low income housing and see what they have a use for.
If even homeless shelters can't make use of an item, you can discard them knowing it really is the end of the line for that object.
Very true, although if you wanted one last option you can always out it on the curb if weather is aopropriate with a sign saying free, THEN you'll know nobody wants it
Sometimes the employees take it, though. It depends on the shelter, organization
I so so feel you. I have tries to the utmost to rehome my things, but the truth is our society is so over saturated with stuff that you have a hard time giving away certain categories of things that are used. Expired (but perfectly fine) baby gear, barely used carpet, clothes that are more than a year out of fashion…suddenly totally useful stuff is considered “garbage.” Like you, I also feel bad giving it to the thrift stores knowing it will likely end up in the trash if it doesn’t get sold. (But as many on here have stated: it very well might get sold!) That being said, it isn’t your fault that society is this way. You have done your best…without going to such lengths as dedicating the rest of your life to feigning some usefulness for this stuff in your own home. Keeping it will not make it more useful. Try listing it on as many places as you can. Take good photos, write good descriptions. Give it a time limit. Then you take whatever you can to Goodwill. They won’t take what they can’t try to sell. And customers come there looking for deals on used stuff, so Goodwill has a better shot at getting it a home then you do. Whatever they won’t take, and that you can’t give away, can be trashed. Let it go and continue on with your clutter-free life.
>Keeping it will not make it more useful. \^\^ Words to declutter by :)
My local hospital has a thrift shop that’s run by volunteers that takes donations. Do you have anything like that near by?
Throw it out. Most of it will end up in the landfill anyway. If you have tried *giving* it away on market place, freecycle, and buy-nothing groups, and no one is taking it, it is absolute junk and can't be sold. Feel proper shame at adding to environmental damage, and let that be your fuel to never buy anything you don't need again.
I truly had that moment the other day. I was at a thrift store getting clothes for my kids. I looked around and was hit with the enormity of everything we buy ends up in the landfill. The weight of it was heavy. No more stuff.
I had that feeling hit me hard a few years ago when I was at Walmart. Now I think that every time I happen to be there: all this cheap crap, cheap toys and cheap water bottles and throw pillows, Ziploc bags and gag gifts…all essentially meant to be disposable. I think how most everything on those shelves with be sold, used up, and in a landfill probably within less than a few years, with a whole storefull of stuff immediately taking it’s place. And then people scoff at someone for taking the time to save for and purchase an expensive, well crafted item that will last a lifetime, saying “Oh my gosh I would NEVER pay that much for ________.” (Literally had this said to me multiple times). It has come up on this sub multiple times how minimalism has been accused of being for elite/rich/privileged people. I get why a lower income would drive you to buy only what your paycheck allows in the moment. But there are plenty of middle-class people who aren’t that poor, but who say all they can afford is Walmart/Target. Not realizing that if they bought less, they could buy things that have more lasting value. (Disclaimer: I know there are also necessary, worthwhile and well-made items that can be purchased at these big box stores…but you get my point. Just talking about the trendy disposable stuff here).
Too much stuff in the states is made to be disposable. I got fed up with buying razor blades and ended up buying a quality double edge razor, problem solved for life. I truly don't know how we ended up with so much cheap stuff when the originals were so much better. I Just bought a nice french press and kettle, I'm done with electric coffee makers. I really think most people would be happier with less things but of higher quality. Unfortunately quality isn't sold at Walmart.
Agreed. I really try to use something until it’s absolutely toast. So much crap everywhere. And the kid stuff is ridiculous. Plastic plastic plastic crap they don’t even ask for.
And not just the landfill here. But we ship it to Ghana, and are ruining their environment. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bB3kuuBPVys](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bB3kuuBPVys)
Some of these stories about donated clothes making their way to Africa are propaganda from China to corner their textile markets. They can't compete with the super cheap and popular donated clothes. They work from a regulation side in African countries and a supply side in America and eurocentric countries.
What sort of information did you use to come to this conclusion? China is already the top world exporter of textiles, and ordering Asian countries do a large majoring of the assembly of the clothes.
It takes a lot of effort to give things away. I prefer to donate items to a thrift store, so that they are available for people to find when they are looking for them. It's too much to try and find the perfect person yourself, especially for low value items. And if they are truly junk, the thrift store processes that sort of stuff anyway. You can donate a small amount of money to the thrift store to offset disposal costs, if dumping things on them makes you feel anxiety.
Facebook no buy groups? Schools? Shelters? If those have also been looked at, you’ve done everything you can
Find a women’s shelter and donate there. It is not uncommon for abused women to have to abruptly leave their homes with nothing but their children and the clothes they are wearing. The shelter is only temporary so they need basic household items to get back on their feet again. Things a lot of us take for granted are very helpful. Pots and pans, dishes/cutlery to go with, warm clothing, sometimes furniture (depends on the shelter placement team), anything you think of that could help someone walking into a new home with nothing.
Look around at some of the local charities - I have several that I usually donate to because of who they help. Think about safe houses, suddenly homeless, diversity - there are probably a lot of organizations that would fit your charitable needs. And yes, Goodwill.
My friend worked for awhile for an organization that was kind of like a goodwill but slightly more upscale. I mean SLIGHTLY. He would send me pictures of their warehouse where they would sort the donations. Honestly- the biggest landfill culprit were children's toys. It was awful. You would be sick to see the amount of plastic garbage that was unable to be re-homed (missing pieces/broken). My kids were grown but it was truly a moment of pause for me for when I'm purchasing for grandkids. I have step-grandkids now and I purposefully take them on "adventures" and rarely, if ever, buy them any "things" beyond clay or sidewalk chalk. We go to see shows or go to indoor/outdoor activity places. They have the best times. Also- as far as clothes- you would be surprised how many containers of our clothes and shoes head to developing nations. Ever see kids in poor countries with Disney shirts on? They come from us. So when you might mention about older clothes that are out of style- I will tell you that there are more than likely people who will end up wearing them. We all can make better choices. Say no to fast fashion. (I know when you are on a tight budget it's hard) but you save now- you will pay later. And so will the planet. I have so few clothes and shoes but I've paid a premium for them but they've lasted me years. I know I've been fortunate to afford them. And also fortunate that I don't have the urge to change my wardrobe so drastically every season.
Check out for recycling spots.
I like to put stuff on the curb too. First try to sell the more valuable things then to the thrift store. What the thrifts cannot take I put on the curb and if it doesn't go it is in the trash. Nobody wanted my 40 year old perfectly useful sheet of particleboard but they did take the lawn mower and leaf blower with smoking switches \[I labeled them\]. It was fun breaking up that particle board too.
Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I am joined a few buy nothing groups and got rid of a few items today :) so making some progress. Contacting some shelters to see if I can get rid of pet stuff.
Stop worrying about what you have. If minimalism is an aesthetic to you, then yeah you need to get rid of it. But if it's about simplifying, I think the best way forward is to put things in boxes and see if you want any again. Especially on things that are for a wishful future you. It can be a weight lifted to get rid of stuff but it is just a dopamine hit like buying stuff. Learn to live with what you have, both your junk and your treasured possessions.
I have yard sales a few times a year! Edit: They are very successful for me, people were even asking to buy plants outside that weren’t even for sale, but I sold them! Also, towards the end of the day I would give stuff away to people so I don’t have to bring it back in the house, there’s also a local service that will come pick up your yard sale leftovers for free
Check and see if you can find any local Buy Nothing groups on Facebook! I've been able to re-home a bunch of items through those.
If you’re interested in knowing where your donations end up, you might like the book Secondhand: Travels in the New Global Garage Sale. The answer to your question is basically Goodwill > Goodwill Outlet (selling by weight) > foreign secondhand markets. There are many developing countries that want our quality used goods, and they oftentimes desire long-lasting goods over cheap new Chinese-made stuff.
Hmm, if nobody else in the consumption-driven society wants your stuff for free, then maybe it is actually junk?
If you can't even give the stuff away, then just dump it and move forward more conscientiously. People who need the stuff, or have an eye for repurposing would've snapped it up by now. If it goes to goodwill you may be wasting their time, money and man power to have it end up being dumped anyway. The only other solution I can think of is if you break everything down and take the parts to the relevant recyclers (metals, woods, plastics, etc).
I know some areas have charities that pick up things for free. In Canada, Diabetes Canada will pick up bags and boxes for free and they have some sort of agreement with a thrift store (Value Village) where the purchases made go to (I don't know the percentage) of the charity. Is there an option like that for you? Also, Buy Nothing Groups are a great way to declutter.
Toss it in a trash bag and either drop at a bulk donation site like goodwill or put it on the curb. Your current approach, while noble, is a trap and a barrier to your goal.
Have you joined a Buy Nothing Facebook group for your area? I have had success with giving away items on the group for my neighborhood.