What do you do with items you don't use anymore?

United States
July 22, 2007 2:38pm CST
Do you donate them? Sell them? I'm talking about anything--clothes, shoes, towels, luggage, dishes, whatever. I will usually go through things I'm not using and see if anything is of true value, then maybe sell it. The others I will donate to a thrift shop like a goodwill, or if i know someone personally who could use what I have, I'll ask them. I don't like to have lots of "stuff" sitting around, so I find if I'm not using something, I will try to pass it on to someone who can make use of it.
7 people like this
36 responses
@Jennifer21 (2476)
• United States
22 Jul 07
Actually, I will hold onto them forever!:D If it is clothes, I feel as though I could use them for something else, such as cutting up the fabric and making a purse or a pillow out of it. I usually end up doing nothing with it though, and the stuff just ends up in the basement along with everything else I don't use anymore. My husband calls me a pack rat!:D I am thinking of having a yard sale sometime soon though.
2 people like this
• United States
22 Jul 07
Yeah, you could unearth all the stuff in your basement, have a yard sale and make some bucks!!
1 person likes this
@dimaks (786)
• Japan
4 Aug 07
i think i am going alongside with your ideas here. for those olds things, stuffs or items at home, i usually store them for my relatives or if they were items for kids, i usually ask my kins about their kids on what age are they and what sizes of garments they wear. or some other times, i put them in a plastic bag, go to a nearby donation center and give them the items for distribution to the needy people near my hometown. it gives a great delight of feelings inside when you know you made other people happy.
1 person likes this
@TerryZ (22076)
• United States
23 Jul 07
I usually ask my family members if they want it. Or my friends. And if not then I will donate things to goodwill and sometimes I will through things out. Im thinking about having a yard sale soon. I think thats a good way of getting rid of things.
@PhilSam (23)
• Philippines
23 Jul 07
for me some i donate them but some are not.i donate it to some people who dont have something like clothes,shoes or whatever.i dont sell it.some of my 'stuff' specially the oldies ,that have a centimental value,it reminds me of a place, a person,or when and what happens on that time.
1 person likes this
• United States
23 Jul 07
If I no longer want or need something I first ask friends and family if they want it or know of anyone who needs it. If not, I offer it up on Freecycle.org in my area. If there is still no takers it goes to Goodwill or the dump. I try not to takes stuff to the dump if the item is still able to be used.
23 Jul 07
usually the things that i dont use anymore like bags, clothes, accessories,shoes i gave it to my sister since we have the same size and likes. :)
@soulist (2985)
• United States
23 Jul 07
I see if anyone I know could use it, if not I either donate to somewhere, or give it to my church to sell in their annual yard sale to help raise money.
1 person likes this
• Malaysia
23 Jul 07
For clothing which I am not using anymore, I would usually donate them to the orphanage or to people suffering from disasters like the tsunami or flood. If other things which could no longer be used I will just compile it together and burn them to ash. But something which has sentimental value, I would keep it even though it has no longer any use to me.
1 person likes this
• United States
23 Jul 07
I throw things out mostly. I don't have time to be trying to sell things or find someone to give them to. It's so time consuming and then the stuff just ends up sitting around for months. If I'm easily able to donate then I will do that. Like, I just recently donated some books to a place in my neighborhood that are taking books for salvation army. But I did that because it was easy, otherwise I just throw stuff out.
1 person likes this
• United States
23 Jul 07
i think i would have a grage sale.. that is normaly who i get ride of all my old stuff. Or i would give it away to charity.
1 person likes this
@wiccania (3360)
• United States
23 Jul 07
I usually try selling first (ebay and craigslist mostly). Then donating, unless I don't get any of those donation pick up phone calls, in which case it gets tossed.
1 person likes this
• Atlantic City, New Jersey
23 Jul 07
I donate ALL of my old clothes to charity- but other things- such as things I may have grown out of- stuffed animals, the old G. I. Joe doll- those types of things I find that I have better luck getting rid of them on EBAY- because I can make a few dollars in the process- you know the old saying- one mans trash- is another mans treasure.
1 person likes this
@alnilam (969)
• United States
23 Jul 07
a lot of things i will hold on to for eternity (sentimental value). some things i will give away (CD, books). some things i will sell. than again some things i will give to charity. well a lot of things are just trash so that is where they will end up :D
1 person likes this
• Philippines
23 Jul 07
I usually donate same time all my old stuff to the orphanage in which I feel glad after I share even a little things like that..
1 person likes this
@gr8life (6251)
• Malaysia
23 Jul 07
Hello Geminigirl, I will normally donate them especially clothes. I will give to my sister and she will distribute the clothes to less fortunate people that she or her friends know about. Last time, I felt so uneasy thinking of giving away my clothes though I couldn't fit in anymore. But now, I try to learn and understand the fact that it won't bring good to me anymore if I just keep it at home. It is better for me to give away those clothings that I don't need anymore. I always give my shoes to my nieces. The rest, I seldom give to strangers *smile*
1 person likes this
@jeff0208 (28)
• Singapore
23 Jul 07
I usually find something else on how to use things I don't use anymore. How? Simply using 3 R's for environmental aspects. 3 R's is Re-use, Reduce and Recycle. Re-use for example Old Shirt, pants or any fabrics. I usually use them in other means like making it as a rag or whatever. Reduce for example is disposing the item... thru donating or giving it away to somebody who needed it. Recycle... who among us do not know the meaning of this? Hey grow up ^_^
1 person likes this
@truartiss (386)
• United States
23 Jul 07
I usually just give my old clothes to my relatives. At one point I was going to try to get money off of some of them by taking them to Plato's Closet. (If you don't know what that is) It's kind of a thrift(bargain) store where they let people come in and turn in clothes or items and they give you money. But anyway back to my story. I was about to go there when my friends told me that it wasn't worth it. They had already been before and they told me that the people at Plato's Closet only want like brand new clothing. My friend told me that she had just brought a new purse and worn it once. It cost her $30 but they were trying to give her $8 for it. She just walked out. lol So I just stick to giving old clothes to family. As for luggage, I usually keep it unless it's really torn or out of shape then I throw it away. Dishes? Ummmm I'm still using paper plates and cups. :) lol
1 person likes this
@d_hapke (165)
• United States
23 Jul 07
I am ususally the end of the line for hand-me-downs, When I get something it's been handed down a few generations already, therefore, it's not in really good condition to pass on again. I feel guilty throwing things away lately. I take a look at out garbage and feel very guilty. We shouldn't throw out so many things. By the time the items are out of commssion, I can't bring myself to throw them in my garbage. I've been thinking lately that I should start a service of picking up peoples low quality clothing and selling back to a recycling plant or something... Anyone know of some type of program like that?
1 person likes this
• Philippines
23 Jul 07
When i don't need that item anymore, i usually give it to my friends, cousins, sister-in-law,and mother-in-law but before i will give it to them i will first ask them if they like it or need an item like that because if not then i will not give it because it will just add up to their items that they are not using.
• Philippines
23 Jul 07
Well here in our country (philippines) theirs a lot of buyers of those stuff you been mentioning like clothes,shoes,towels,dishes etc. Where mostly filipinos like to make use of old stuffy things. Besides they can make use for themselves or sell in rural areas..