A Dozen Great Ways to
Get Rid of Hard-to-Get-Rid-of Stuff
Where to sell, donate or recycle that once-loved sofa, pet
supplies, clothes — even paint and mattresses — and feel good about it.
Large household goods and appliances
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Craigslist.com: If you
haven’t used the free online classified ad service, you’re missing out on a
wonderful marketplace where you can buy or sell almost anything or service you
can think of. But it is ideal for selling large furniture and appliances that
you don’t want to move yourself. I sold my refrigerator and electric stove
through the site. The woman who bought the refrigerator had always wanted a
side-by-side model and this was the first one she’d ever been able to afford.
That made me feel good. Plus, she had strong family members who hauled the
appliances out of my house, loaded them on a truck and drove away. I had zero
heavy lifting to do.
ReStore: Another
destination for used household items and building supplies are these retail
outlets that generate funds for Habitat for Humanity. A
friend at who volunteers at the Restore near her home in Tennessee introduced
me to this option. I was astonished at the array of things that they sold,
including appliances, chandeliers, desk lamps, building materials like doors
and stone, towel racks, and more. (This story is about getting rid of things,
but of course, I managed to buy something: a vintage Underwood typewriter for
just $20. They usually sell for hundreds.) Elin Nordegren, the ex-wife of pro
golfer Tiger Woods, donated Sub-Zero refrigerators, temperature-controlled wine
coolers and a large fountain to the charity, according to the Palm Beach Post.
Freecycle: When stuff
doesn’t sell, or isn’t handy to donate, Freecycle is your friend. Post your
item on the site — I always add the disclaimer that I can’t deliver it — and
you’ll often find someone will gratefully adopt your item. No tax deduction
here, but definitely a way to feel better about shedding belongings. As the
website explains:
It’s a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people
who are giving (and getting) stuff for free in their own towns. It’s all about
reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills.
Mattresses, electronics and toxic
waste
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Of course there are items – like mattresses and older
appliances – that just won’t sell and are tough to donate. We all have our
mattress discard horror stories. That’s where Earth911.com is a lifesaver. Type
in your zip code and the materials you want to recycle — paint, electronics,
motor oil, leaded paint, batteries, a mattress — and you’ll find a recycling
location. You can also consult the Steel Recycling Institute regarding
appliances and similar items.
Professional clothes, eyeglasses and
shoes
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I like to give my more professional clothes such as dresses
and suits to DressforSuccess, an organization that helps
needy women get a leg up in their career by providing the clothes and other
types of support. CareerGear is another ption
for men’s and women’s clothing.
Want to offer your shoes to folks who really need them? Soles4Soles and DonateYourOldShoes will
make sure they make a difference.
Have old eyeglasses lying around? Seems a shame to throw
them out, and here’s a great alternative: The service organization Lions Clubs International runs a
program that collects used eyeglasses to distribute to people in need. The Lions Recycle for Sight program website explains various
easy ways of donating yours.
If you have a lot of random stuff that you want to donate,
you can always bring it to The Salvation Army or Goodwill,
which have collection points and stores in most communities. To find the
nearest site, go to Goodwill locator or the Salvation Army donation site.
All of these nonprofit organizations help provide goods to
people who may not be able to afford them otherwise, and they raise money to
help in other ways–providing jobs and training and other services through the
money raised. In return for your contribution, you get a deduction at tax time.
Pet supplies
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Pet supplies are often difficult to donate. Look at the Animal Humane Society site to find out
all about pet supply donations and recycling.
Books, CDs and DVDs
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I like to see my used books, CDs and DVDs go to good homes,
so I often donate them to the local library. If you want to explore this
option, find a list of area libraries here.You can also donate books to these
worthy nonprofit organizations that distribute them to different populations: BooksforSoldiers, BooksforAfrica, BooksforAmerica and BookstoPrisoners.
If you have the patience to sell books, there are many sites
that can help you, including Cash4Books, BlueRocketBooks and
Ebay’s Half.com. Wonder how to get the most cash for your books? BookScouter.com will let you compare
what your book will bring at various sites. Sign onto Amazon’s Trade-In to see how much they will credit you for items
you’ve bought from them including books.
Tired of your CDs? Sell them at Amazon, SecondSpin.com and CashForCDs.
Cellphones
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Cellphones should not go into regular trash, because they
contain toxins that harm the environment and put landfill workers at risk.
But you can sell your old cellphone. Check out “5 Tips to Squeeze the Most Cash From Your
Old Phone.”
I could have made a few dollars off my old cellphone, but I
decided to donate it instead. You’ve probably seen collection boxes for
organizations that donate phones to crime victims. Those are great options, but
I chose CellphonesforSoldiers.
What’s your strategy for shedding stuff that you don’t want
anymore? Share with us in comments below or on our Facebook page.
