DECLUTTER WITH PURPOSE: GARAGE SALE AND DONATION STRATEGIES

One of the most refreshing ways to declutter your home is to put your decluttered items to good use. It’s heartening to see your items loved by someone else, when they no longer have a functional place in your home. This is why garage sales and charitable donations are both favored answers to the age-old question of decluttering: “What should I do with this?”

THE BENEFITS OF DECLUTTERING

Why should you declutter through donations and garage sales? There are more than a few benefits you’re sure to enjoy.

• Create a more organized and spacious living environment
• Clearing spaces helps with our mental health
• Make room for new purchases
• See unused items find new purpose and life

WHAT TO DONATE VS SELL

If you are weighing whether to donate items or hold a garage sale, why not do both? The key is deciding what to donate (and where to donate) and what would be better if sold in a fun garage sale. Keep in mind the amount of time and energy it takes to have a garage sale. Our time is precious, so is it worth the time it takes to put on a garage sale for a few hundred dollars? If yes, then carry on!

DONATION-WORTHY ITEMS

When considering what to donate, think about living essentials. Charities help people live better lives by providing valuable essentials at little to no cost. Clothing that is still of good quality, unopened toiletries, undamaged children’s items, and household essentials can enrich someone’s life when they need it the most. You can also donate un-expired non-perishable food items. Set

these things aside to donate.

Make sure the items are of good quality and/or unopened from the packaging. As a rule of thumb, consider the recipient’s dignity. Never donate something you would be ashamed to give or receive as a gift.

GARAGE SALE KNICK KNACKS

For more whimsical or large items, prepare your driveway for a delightful garage sale. Furniture, knick-knacks, and costume clothing are all great candidates for a garage sale. You can also set out items that are a little too damaged to donate. If someone else sees the value and delightful qualities, they are welcome to buy it at a marked-down price.

WHERE TO DONATE

The best recipients for donations are charitable organizations that make a difference. The key to donating is not to get caught up on finding the “perfect” place for your donation because if you try doing that, you will exhaust yourself and ultimately give up. At POSH Organizing we tend to donate to 3 to 4 different places; schools, senior centers, different non-profits that help house vetrans and Goodwill / Savers.

These options will be different in every community, but you can use Google to find charities near you. If you live in the Greater Hartford area, check out the resource page on my website for a list of local charities and places to sell your items.

GARAGE SALE SORTING AND PRICING TIPS

How do you organize a garage sale? What are the right prices for garage sale items? These are important questions to ask. Remember the goal here – to get rid of your stuff, so keep this in mind when pricing.

• Organize tables of similar items
• Arrange items like a shop. Have fun with use of levels and display techniques.
• Offer bundles for matching sets or bulk prices for handfuls of small low-value items.
• Price items to sell. You are gaining back square footage in your home.
• If you have valuable items, you may consider selling on Ebay or FB Marketplace where you can sell for a higher price.
• Create a play area where children can discover toys they want to buy
• Offer shade and cups of cool water to encourage browsing and chatting

LEARN MORE ABOUT DECLUTTERING WITH POSH ORGANIZING

If you’re embarking on a journey of deep decluttering, we can help. Often this task is overwhelming and you may not know how or where to start the process. This is where POSH Organizing can step in, helping you navigate through all your stuff. We will ask you lots of questions to help figure out what needs to stay and what needs to go and then help you create personalized organizational systems that are tailored for you! Contact us today and let us help you transform your chaos into calm!