Many of you have followed along with my minimalism challenge as I completed #TheMinimalismGame, twice. The rules are simple. You can giveaway, donate, sell, or throw away the number of items corresponding to the date, so on the 1st you get rid of 1 thing, on the 2nd you get rid of 2 things, etc. By the end of the month, you will have rid your space of 496 items, and believe me, it feels so good!

I got several questions as people were following along on my posts or participating in the challenge themselves, many of which revolved around what to do with the stuff. One of the deterrents to decluttering is the process of figuring out where to take the items after you decide to let them go. Many people keep them around in a box or the garage. I recommend against this because you or your kids may reconsider the item after you’ve made the decision to give it away. Getting it out of the house as quickly as possible will cut down on the anxiety you’ll experience when you see the item sitting around.

Here are some places in League City, Texas, the town I live and practice in, but honestly these ideas will help no matter your location. Find a spot that’s easy and convenient, and take your stuff there quickly. You’ll also notice the benefits of having less stuff if you remove the items hastily and spend time enjoying the space as opposed to the items.

GoodWill

I know that people have lots of thoughts on GoodWill and I can understand some concerns about the corporate side of their organization. They create jobs and reduce waste, so I think it’s worth exploring more about their company. If you do some research on the subject and feel comfortable donating to them, they are the easiest and most convenient option for most people. You can take the items in bags or boxes, there are multiple drop off locations, and they will give you a receipt for your taxes. They accept most items, except for hangers, cleaning supplies/chemicals, appliances, cribs, food, and a few other items you can see here.

Salvation Army

The Salvation Army is a great option for donations. They have some drop off locations, or you can schedule pick up for larger items. They will also provide a receipt for your taxes, and sell the items in their stores. Profits from the stores are used to fund Rehabilitation Centers. You can even donate your car!

RCC-Resource and Crisis Center of Galveston County

RCC is another wonderful place to take your donated items. They accept most items as well, their exceptions are listed here. You can schedule a pick up or take your items to their resale stores. The items are first used for their program services (shelter, office, or client use) and items outside that scope are sold in their stores. They are dedicated to providing resources and services for domestic violence and sexual abuse victims.

Bay Area Turning Point

Bay Area Turning Point is a local non-profit organization that works with women and children experiencing domestic and sexual violence. They do have a list of needs for the residents of the facility, so if you want to provide those items in new condition, you’re able to. You can also donate your used items to their resale store which are used in two ways. Firstly, clients are able to use vouchers to purchase items from the store as they are starting new chapters in their lives, and secondly by selling items to the public.

Clothing Pickup Texas

Have you seen the large boxes at the end of parking lots around town? Those boxes are actually clothing donation centers. They ask that donated items are packaged in 13-gallon trash bags, and although the main focus is on clothing, they will accept small household items as well. The organization collects the items that are left in the box, which is very convenient, and then sells them to thrift shops. Each box supports a local charity that is posted on the outside of the box. They are a bit more restrictive as they are mainly looking for clothing items.

Bonus: Friends, Churches, Reselling Online

Friends: I always love asking friends if they want my items, especially if I know they’ll actually use them. I ask beforehand, and then package the items in a bag or box, and put the person’s name on it so that in my mind, the items now belong to that person and not me. This helps me to mentally separate from the item. I also set up a time within 1-2 weeks to get the items to the person. If that doesn’t feel feasible from the start, you can donate the items instead of allowing them to sit in your house unused and tempting you.

Churches: Churches have many programs that take donations. There are share tables, charitable programs, refuge programs, etc. I suggest asking the leadership at your home church, or asking friends and family if they know of programs at their church that could use the items you have available. You can also call church offices and make a list of the types of items they are typically looking for, and then you’ll know where to take your stuff when you decide to declutter.

Reselling Online: There are many places to resell your items online. I haven’t personally used all of them, but I do warn about the time it may take time to sell and separate with the item. You will create a listing, be contacted by the buyer, agree on a price, and ship or set up a place to pick up or distribute the item. I like Facebook Marketplace for furniture, appliances, household items, and kid’s items. For clothing, jewelry, makeup, and shoes I prefer to use Poshmark (they take a percentage of the sell but it is easy on the seller’s part and they process everything for you).

Community Garage Sales/Trading Events: Check social media or ask your friends for local meetups. There are often large meetup events where you can sell your stuff, mainly kid’s clothes and toys, and buy others’ gently used items. Don’t bring unnecessary items back into your life just because you are getting rid of others, but if you find items that have value and you will use, by all means trade or buy at discounted rates. These events also promote reusing and creating less waste, so it’s really a win all the way around.

5 Places to Donate Your Stuff in League City, Texas