Comments on: The Value of Giving Your Stuff Away

By: Shane Armstrong

Shane Armstrong — Fri, 12 Mar 2021 10:20:32 +0000

im trying to rid myself of almost all my possessions to friends…but i don’t
want them to have conspiracy theories any help

By: MR LEIGH ADAMS

MR LEIGH ADAMS — Tue, 10 Nov 2020 19:17:23 +0000

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.

By: Mamasan

Mamasan — Mon, 24 Aug 2020 04:40:10 +0000

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!

By: William

William — Wed, 01 Jul 2020 02:57:04 +0000

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.

By: CJ

CJ — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 05:03:13 +0000

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

By: Christopher N Bush

Christopher N Bush — Sun, 25 Aug 2019 16:11:04 +0000

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 🙂

By: blackbauble

blackbauble — Thu, 27 Jun 2019 13:50:27 +0000

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.

By: Courtney

Courtney — Sat, 19 Jan 2019 22:21:22 +0000

In reply to Courtney. 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.

By: Courtney

Courtney — Sat, 19 Jan 2019 22:18:07 +0000

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.

By: Trish

Trish — Mon, 20 Aug 2018 07:13:58 +0000

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.