I used to be a pack-rat in my teens and early 20's. Now, I'm so anti-clutter, but my house still looks like it has tons of junk in it!

We donate to a charity and take it as a tax deduction or list stuff for free on craigslist. Like a PP, when I want the stuff out of here, I want it out NOW! I also don't have the patience to have a garage sale. It's not worth my time anymore.

We always have tons of donations and have for years. I swear I don't know how this stuff is still here. I don't think I'm buying that much junk??? I am constantly "de-cluttering". I hate stuff sitting around and on my counters. To me, it means more work and more of my time to keep things clean.

Good luck on your de-cluttering!!!

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SAHM of 4

August food budget (groceries/take-out): $500.00/$75.00
Total spent: $238.97/$14.12

July budget/spent: $500.00/$650.00

Goodwill, Planet Aid, or Special Olympics are my best bet if I want to declutter quickly because I can just drive my stuff over and dump it. Vietnam Vets is great because they will pick up, but I have to wait for them to call me that they are going to be in the area. I get really excited about having garage sales, but the last 3 we had were total busts. Our stuff was attractively arranged, very organized, etc. BUT one year it poured rain and the other year was so Hot hardly anyone came. This year I'm not going through all that, I'm just doing the drive and dump or Vietnam Vets.

I keep a pile in the back of the basement for stuff I think will sell well at a yardsale. The rest goes to the local Goodwill store. I load it up, drive there, and they help me unload it. Its always a nice feeling to get it out of the house!!!!!

Remember that Salvation Army, Goodwill, etc will gladly take torn and stained clothing because they can sell it to companies who recycle it, thus keeping things out of the landfills. If your community has a Habitat for Humanity reStore, that is a good place to donate bulkier things as well as household items. All of these charities are a good thing for your kids to see, so they know that their old stuff is doing someone some good, and they are helping the earth by recycing. A preschool, after school care center, or Sunday School may want craft materials, kids picture books, etc. Some communities have free markets, associated loosely with Freecycle.com, where you can take your stuff to give away (and get other free stuff...) If you have a used bookstore nearby, you can turn in old books (in good shape) for credit on a few new (to you) volumes. Finally, keep an eye on yardsale ads in your newspapwer, and donate your stuff to an upcoming church, arts council, or benefit yardsale. In the spring there may be a lot of Relay for Life yardsales, for example. Gail