Tips to Keep Your Old Stuff Out of the Landfill.
 
May is all about Spring cleaning and now is the perfect reason to think about what to do with all the clutter you’ve cleared. It’s easy to dump your items into a donation bin in a parking lot or thrift store and assume they will find a happy new home. But they may just be taking a rest stop before heading to the landfill.


What’s a clutter buster to do?

Don’t panic. Donating is still a good option if you do it the right way, and there are other ways to keep your former treasures out of the present trash.

Does Anyone Want This?

The first step to getting that pile out of the house is determining which items are usable as-is. For clothing, this means clean and free of stains, rips, broken zippers, missing buttons, etc. Furniture with some wear and tear is fine, but a table that’s missing a leg or a couch with ripped upholstery isn’t going to be in high demand. And a jigsaw puzzle that’s missing a piece? Just no.
 
Not sure how to rate the status of an item? Ask yourself, “If I needed this item, would I buy it in this condition?” If the answer is yes, donation is an option, but you need to do some homework before heading out the door.


Where Should I Take it?

Once you’ve cleared the hurdle of “I don’t want it, but someone else may,” check out the places you can donate to and see if you can find the right match. Ask (or look online) to find out:

  • What happens to the items that don’t sell? If they don’t have a system for recycling or reselling unsold merchandise to keep it out of the waste stream, look for an organization that does.

  • What donations are accepted? Heavy jackets may not be a good fit for an organization collecting goods for people in Africa, but they will be welcomed by a Coats for Kids program.

  • Are out-of-season items welcomed? Most charities don’t have warehouse space to store donations for months before selling, but there may be exceptions.

  • Can you accept a broken or nonworking item? Sometimes the answer is yes! For example, a thrift store may be able to refurbish and resell a computer or other electronic device, or recycle its parts. If the organization doesn’t have that type of program, they may be able to refer you somewhere else.


If an organization ticks all the right boxes, then take one last step before loading up your car: Make sure your items are sales-floor ready and take a few extra minutes to package your donations neatly. If the item is sellable, the charity may need to accept it, price it, and move it straight to the sales floor.
 
Of course, there is a money-conscious, environmentally-friendly way to avoid worrying about what to do with old items: Buy less stuff. Consider a motto that shaped everyone who lived through the Great Depression: “Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.”

You can lengthen the time from purchase to “wear it out” state by investing in high-quality items that will stand the test of time. Usually this means spending a bit more, but if you’re buying less, your budget shouldn’t take a hit. “Make it do” might mean learning to mend or upcycle items into new looks or uses. And it won’t be as painful to “do without” purchases if you focus on what you can do with the money you save, like paying down debt, saving up for a new home or renovation, investing for retirement, or traveling.
 
If you want to keep more but need more space to put it? We can help! Let us help you purchase a new home. Reach out to us today by calling 1-708-364-2525 or fill in your contact information on our Home Finance Resource Center and we can contact you!

 


 

This article was repurposed with permission from Ellie Mae, Inc. - Encompass© in the Vibrant Living Newsletter April 2023
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