The Value of Giving Your Stuff Away

giving stuff away

Give your stuff away

After sorting through our physical possessions and identifying the clutter, there is now the challenge of what to do with it. There are many ways to get rid of physical clutter from simply throwing it away to recycling it to selling it. I have done all of these things and they all have their advantages, but giving the stuff away is often the most satisfying path.

 

As I travel further along on my journey towards freedom and happiness, I’ve noticed I am gravitating towards simplicity. I no longer really need or want much of the stuff around me. It doesn’t bring me joy. Letting go has actually made me feel richer. The less I have, the more I feel like I have. The more I let go, the more I find myself in control of my life.  It’s a bit strange and counterintuitive.

 

I still have a lot of material things; I’ve spent my whole life accumulating. But because of my new mindset, every time I turn around there is a new box or bag of things to be eliminated from my life. I’ve mentally let go, but physically the items are still here. It takes a surprising amount of work to get material things out of your life.

 

I used to sell my stuff. I’ve made a few dollars having garage sales and selling high value items on Craigslist, but after a while I realized it wasn’t worth it. Making $30 on Craigslist is not really worth a joyless half hour of my life. I would be much better served by just giving the stuff away and working a few more hours. Occasionally I will sell a high value item to a friend (for a below market price) but this is rare.

 

What follows are some of my random thoughts on charity and giving.

 

Values

One reason we are not happy is often we do not align our actions with our values. Two things that I value are efficiency and environmental responsibility. How does this relate to material items? It turns out in every way imaginable. I could just throw all of my things into a giant dumpster and the superfluous stuff would be gone tomorrow, but this would be both wasteful and not great for the environment. It would not align with my values.

 

If instead I give stuff away, I prevent some other unnecessary item from being produced, saving the resources and energy for something more useful. Since the item no longer brings me joy, I can only hope that by giving it away someone else will experience it. In this way I am aligning my actions with my values.

 

 

Giving is subversive

Many people feel that going on marches or protesting something or angrily sharing things on social media is the best way to change the world. Maybe these do change things to some degree, but our real power lies in how we allocate our limited resources.

 

I’m happy we have a government. I certainly am not an anarchist or hard core Libertarian* but I do pay more federal and state taxes than I would like to. I’m not angry about this, but it’s not something I completely ignore. Donating items to charity is one small way I can take action.  When I donate an item to a charity I avoid paying some small amount of income tax in the form of a tax deduction. The giving and sharing economy takes money out of the hands of government and places it in our pocket. Giving is power. Giving is subversive.

 

Feedback

Nature works by feedback loops. When I put my hand in a fire there is immediate feedback. I tend to stop doing it. Giving away thousands of dollars’ worth (the original purchase price) of stuff should feel painful. It should remind us of how wasteful we are. In a properly designed feedback loop it will act as a deterrent to bringing more crap into our lives. Perhaps it will give us a window into the opportunity cost of our consumerism.

 

High value

The last time I dropped off a box of things to a local charity I was curious, what were the high value items? What should I be looking to get rid of that will be really valuable to the most vulnerable among us? After all, that is the purpose of giving, to provide value, not just a mechanism to purge things.

 

After talking to a woman who has worked at this local charity for a while, some of the answers surprised me a little. It turns out quality men’s clothes are constantly in demand; jeans, socks, footwear, etc. In general, men don’t buy as many clothes as women, and they tend to wear stuff longer. It is a bit more fashion resistant. Kids outgrow clothes so rapidly; much of it ends up donated in good condition. As a result there is an abundance of women’s and kids clothes, but a shortage of men’s clothes.

 

This made sense to me. And this stuff really makes a difference. A good pair of jeans, some decent socks and a warm jacket can change the life a guy who is homeless.

 

Other items didn’t surprise me as much: towels, bedding, simple kitchen items, and toiletries.

 

Challenge

I issue a challenge to all the guys reading this article. When you have finished reading go to your closet and fill a box or bag with items to donate. We all have things that no longer fit or we just don’t wear. This stuff is meaningless to you, but will make a big change in someone else’s life.

Find a local charity in your community, preferably one that distributes directly to people in need. I know there are national charity organizations that are easy and convenient, but my choice is to start with the micro-charities first. If you can’t find one then go with one of the big boys.

 

This will take a little work, but it is our responsibility to find a good home for our stuff.

 

Seriously, go do this, then leave a comment below confirming you have. I know how many people read my articles, so I should see hundreds if not a couple thousand comments. I know I specifically called out the guys, but if you are a woman feel free to join in the fun as well 🙂

 


*Actually politically I am nothing, and you should consider doing the same. Politics is tribalism. Political labels will confine your thinking. Shed them immediately.

30 comments

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  1. I started filling boxes a couple years ago. We’ve got a corner in our master bedroom reserved for the full-time donation box(es). It’s great to unload the stuff and the tax deduction in my peak earning years is nice, too!

    Cheers!
    -PoF

    1. Yes, definitely better to give more in the high income years.

  2. We routinely give out about 2 boxes worth of stuff every other month because our family outgrows them and the utility value of that stuff is higher with some other people than with us. This includes clothes, toys, and other stuff. It is cathartic and liberating. It’s amazing how much stuff we accumulate in our human lives, none of which give lasting happiness. I have a post on happiness coming in a few weeks that you might particularly like.

    1. excellent. Posts about happiness make me happy 🙂

  3. We have a box that lives in our living room (front and center so we see it all the time). Whenever we bring something new into the house, we put something we don’t need in the box. Or whenever we come across something that we don’t use anymore, in the box it goes. Then when the box is full, we take it to donate right away. It helps keep our material items under control. I mean, who doesn’t like a large cardboard box decorative item in the middle of their home!

    1. Making decorative donation boxes seems like a business opportunity 😉

    • RocDoc on May 14, 2017 at 3:45 pm
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    I just filled three boxes of my stuff to take to my Church sale coming up in June. Husband contributed a bunch of his old polo shirts. This post was a motivation to get started early and not wait until the night before the Church sale like I usually do. Hopefully my husband and I can fill a few more boxes before June. We have been talking about getting rid of stuff. Retirement is looming close and we want to downsize and travel.

    1. Excellent 🙂

  4. Once a quarter we tend to take a car load to charity. It’s weighted heavily to kids clothes as I wear clothes until they develop holes. We also donate a lot of toys. The write off on taxes is also always nice. Honestly even beyond the helping others aspect, is it really worth the Hassel to try to sell old clothes and toys? It’s a double benefit as it’s easier.

    1. After my last garage sale I was exhausted and a whole weekend wasted. I looked down at the few hundred dollars, did the tax math and vowed never again.

  5. I usually try to sell stuff on eBay or CL, just to get back some of what I put into it (and often get back a decent amount!) but I’ve started doing what I call “Free Stuff Friday.” That’s when I post pictures on Facebook of things I want to get rid of, and give them to whoever calls first dibs. I love getting to see friends enjoying my old things!

    1. I love that idea. Great way to see people in real life that you otherwise may only interact with online.

    • Melissa on July 17, 2017 at 1:07 pm
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    We keep a basket in the basement for Goodwill, and when it’s filled, we take it in.

    It never occurred to me that my husband’s clothing would be more sought-after than other items…but of course it is. He’s tall. And when he looks for clothes @ Goodwill, it’s nearly impossible for him to find anything that fits. I can’t imagine how difficult it must be for someone looking to outfit a gangly, growing teenage boy.

    Something for us to keep in mind.

    • Erik on August 1, 2017 at 10:07 am
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    Box Made. More to follow.

    Your inspiration matters.

    After seeing the “challenge” at the bottom of the article and lack confirmation comments it seemed necessary.

    1. Awesome!

    • Chad LeGare on September 4, 2017 at 8:41 pm
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    Sorry I’m getting in on the way tail end of this, but I was searching for some like minded postings.
    I have two quick thoughts that have popped into my head over the years.
    One is there are things that have first use value, i.e apparels, (clothes , shoes, coats etc) that once they have served their purpose for me, their value has been forfeited, if that’s away to put it.
    And second in my mind would be appliances and other household items.
    Anyway I’m glad I stumbled upon this site and I look forward to reading more articles

    • Anne on September 15, 2017 at 4:22 am
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    Hello from Ireland.
    This is a regular thing in my country – I can’t imagine actually throwing out clothes. Even clothes that are no longer “good enough” can be recycled and used in manufacturing. We pay for rubbish pick up at the curb so we are incentivised not to throw out large amounts of stuff. I am amazed when I see my American mother-in-law just throw things out.
    Unfortunately we don’t have a tax deduction here – that would be an added bonus.

    We are a great system of passing along kids clothes. Although as they get older it is only coats, welly boots and dressing gowns that survive long enough to be passed around the neighbourhood. Most other things are destroyed by two little boys (or maybe just my little boys!)

    Check out free cycle as a way to give things directly to someone who will appreciate it. Free cycle is set up in most cities of any size all over the world.
    Thanks
    Anne

  6. THP, What a great post! I’m motivated today to get to work on the clutter. January seems like a great time to go after it. Thanks for some great ideas.

  7. I’m happy that I was able to come across to your article and learned about the benefits of donating your stuff especially when you said that it will give to someone who will receive it. Our neighborhood informed us that they will be going to have a fundraising event for the local charity and invited us to participate. We have some stuff that we don’t need anymore, and I’m thinking of donating the wine from grandfather to the fundraising. Thanks for the good read.

    • Cc on April 21, 2018 at 1:45 pm
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    Yep I have stopped trying to sell things as well My clothes wear out and become rags. I am currently not working but standing in the sun after dragging my stuff out to the yard to make 50 cents doesnt yield much. Even when i tried raise money for a local charity I made 60 bucks over 2 days and was sunburned and exhausted. So while spend my time job hunting I just put iut tge good stuff on the curb with a sign that says free What doesnt disappear I figure is true junk and I dump it. I have my old brville juicer in the garage and it will stay there until i find soneone eho wants it. Yes i could use the money but my time is better spent happily networking for my next big adventure

    • Trish on August 20, 2018 at 12:13 am
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    I have just found your website today and I want to say your articles are very interesting and well written. As for this topic I separated from my husband a few years back and in my search to find out who I really was now I found numerous websites on living with less and that is what I did. I could not believe what was lurking in some of my cupboards and my ex took half of the stuff and I have spent countless times making my way to the donation shops. Now I only buy if something needs replacing and I feel my life has been uplifted from this. Keep up the good work,look forward to reading more.

    • Courtney on January 19, 2019 at 2:18 pm
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    We drop off about 6 boxes per month and have been for most of the past 2 yrs. Most of the baby/maternity stuff goes to a pregnancy support center. All the rest goes to a thrift shop run by the local domestic violence shelter. All their donated kid clothing goes directly to residents, there is no kids’ clothing section in the shop. And the women get first dibs on womens’ clothing before it is put up for sale in the shop. It is particularly gratifying to donate my old womens’ dress clothing, suits, dress shoes, work bags, etc and think a woman escaping an abusive situation is wearing that to rebuild her life. They also tell us if there is a particular need, like one time they needed cases of diapers and pull-ups so we went and bought those. Or at Christmas they had a needs list and wants list with specific requests/sizes, toys, etc and the week before xmas, none of it had been fulfilled, so we went and got about 80% of the list.
    My 3 yr old and infant are usually with me at drop off and I’ve started working with 3 yr old to pick out toys he doesn’t play with anymore to donate. I thought it would be hard for him but was surprisingly easy. “Mommy, where is that thing with the coins?” (toy cash register) “We donated it. Remember? We gave it to kids who don’t have homes or enough money for toys bc we weren’t playing with it anymore.” Play continued with no further comment. And about 1-2 times a week he asks, “How come some people don’t have homes?”
    I agree. I feel like we have more and more as we give so much away and see how much less we actually need.

      • Courtney on January 19, 2019 at 2:21 pm
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      And of course I bring all my husband’s stuff too!! =) I realize that was the specific part you were trying to encourage. In our house, I just happen to be the one doing the decluttering and dropping off. So one more household donating mens’ clothing and shoes here.

    • blackbauble on June 27, 2019 at 6:50 am
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    i give stuff away a lot. selling things is stressful and the money never seems like enough, it devalues the item, but when you find someone that needs and deserves the item, their appreciation and use of that item is of much greater worth not just to me but to everyone.

    • Christopher N Bush on August 25, 2019 at 9:11 am
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    Well, not clothes. But I have a new bicycle motor kit I was going to install on a mountain bike and sell it. The kit cost me 100. I have a friend who lives a simple life (+ alcohol which makes things a little too complicated for him I think), but really enjoys his motorized bicycle. His motor quit, and I was unable to fix it, so I am going to give this to him as a gift. I feel better already, thank you very much 🙂

    • CJ on June 22, 2020 at 10:03 pm
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    Thank you! After years of letting of my stuff and the last five I give away or throw out things. I gave up on selling and half the time when someone Claims Something they Never show up. It has taken a lot to lessen my load that I took at 26 yrs or more to accumulate. Now your article lets me enjoy giving it away. Even though money is tight I just dont want to drag stuff out for a uard sale and soend days in the sun to make $60. Thats what I made on my last yard sale 2 days in the hot sun. I do get a kick out of giving stuff away and I am ok with throwing the stuff that no one wants out. Sometimes even Goodwill wont take it. I have stopped beating myself up for buying it all in the first place. I mean thats what we do we spend the first Half if our lives collecting stuff and the second half getting rid of it

    • William on June 30, 2020 at 7:57 pm
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    I just donated and gave away so many things that I have had for years and now I am extremely depressed. I’m not a hoarding at all but have a hard time letting things go especially items that were used or owned by my father.

  8. During this pandemic, I’ve realized how many material things I have that I don’t need. I have a closet full of clothes still with tags on. What I’ve started to do is to sell clothes on Poshmark, and when someone buys an item, I add in one or two bonus items similar to what item that has sold. These clothes have not brought me joy, but rather agony and guilt. When I give away items to buyers, it seems to bring them joy and surprise. I’m also thanking them for their purchase. Sometimes they end up with items far exceeding what they initially paid. This feels rewarding to me, and I have decluttered my closet as a result!! I’ve had a complete paradigm shift with regards to consumerism and hoarding, one good thing to come out of this very challenging time!

    • MR LEIGH ADAMS on November 10, 2020 at 11:17 am
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    Its all gone, a few Star Wars Lego spaceships left while I await the opportunity for the Childrens hospital to take them. You are right, the more you lighten the load, the more freedom you feel. Desires are reduced, the apparent need for more replaced with no needs or wants at all. The thought of buying and filling space now repells me. No more being posessed by posessions. Bliss.

    • Shane Armstrong on March 12, 2021 at 2:20 am
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    im trying to rid myself of almost all my possessions to friends…but i don’t
    want them to have conspiracy theories any help

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