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[Lynnj]

I donate really nice things, and some unused or practically used, all the time. I've only started doing this over the last few years. I found that I was like you, holding on to things because it was nice or practically used, and didn't think it was worthy of going to a thrift store for someone else to buy dirt cheap. Well...that only created clutter on my end. First I needed to control myself, and stop buying things I didn't need and know I had a use for. Once I got myself under control, then I worked up to a huge purge. Filled my SUV to the brim and drove straight to Goodwill. I felt sick driving over there with so many nice things. Once there, just sort of closed my eyes, and quickly handed all of my stuff over to them, then jumped back into the car and drove away. On way home I thought of my stuff there. But once home and living in my clutter free, organized space for a bit, I felt so much better. Less is more. My space looks great. It's organized, and I keep up with keeping things in place. I still find myself buying things I don't use or need. Then I also buy things to replace something older or outdated. But I now see when I start to get cluttered up again. Now about once a year I use one of my vacation weeks from work and dedicate it to de clutter and home organization. I go through everything and either keep, trash, or donate. By the end of the week I fill up the car, then drive it over to Goodwill. Same sick feeling, and do the unload with them as quick as possible. But I found that I get over it, don't miss any of those things after all, and really enjoy living in a clutter free, clean, organized space. The Goodwill people must love it when I do the drop off. I am sure the workers probably take my stuff, and it never even makes it out to the floor for public sale. If you ever see me coming, you'll do your best shopping there a few days after my drop off, lol.

[DiAnne]

I have been working on this for about a year. I keep ""Goodwill"" box and keep putting things into it. When it is full I take it to the donation site. I have been working on this so long I am worried that the attendants at the Goodwill trailer think I am stalking them. LOL.

I have never regretted donating anything. They sell it to make money and if some one buys to sell on e-bay and make money that does not bother me at all.

[feline groovy]

To answer your question:

Nope; when it's gone, it's gone. And I like to think of the pleasure it may give someone else. 8)

[Mominohio]

We tried the Ebay route, and I find it annoying. Aside from the photographing, listing, packing and mailing, you have to deal with people who aren't happy with the product, damages and such. Messing with pay pal, waiting for payments to clear, the whole nine yards. Just too much trouble for me.

And I have donated things that are worth money and nice and new. It bites a little when I do, so it is a real wake up call the next time I am looking to buy something in that category. It makes me think "hey, I just gave away something similar that I paid good money for and didn't get the use out of, what am I thinking about buying this one for?"

So, if nothing else, use it as a guide, a learning tool about your purchasing habits and where you might want to change them.

[NickNack]

I just donated several bags of clothes. Some of them still had the tags on them. I do sell on eBay, but have never sold clothes on eBay. I thought about taking them to a consignment shop but never got around to it. I recently donated a couch, so when they came to pick that up I gave them a lot of other stuff, too. I didn't regret donating any of it. I was just glad to get rid of it.

[Anniecamp]

In all my years of donating, there's only been one item that I still regret donating. It was a brown faux fur, long coat. (Fur was short.) I had lost a lot of weight (unintentionally), and it was way too big on me. I eventually was put on some medicine, and gained all the weight back! I still miss that coat. I wasn't very old, it was classic, and never out of style. Of course, I'm surviving without it, but still miss it. lol I just hope that whoever got it, enjoyed it.

[SisterSisto]

I did alot of this in October, November and December and I feel so GOOD for having purged and gotten rid of so much. This is how I got started....

I watched a couple of episodes of Hoarding and was so sickened by it, it was easy to get started! My Dad was a hoarder (50 years) and lived in the house we were raised. After he passed away, it was my job and my two brothers to get rid of everything. I kept a few items and mostly kept the pictures but let the rest go. We took his 50 suits, 200 slacks and jeans and double that amount of shirts to the men's shelter. They were so happy with us!

After an experience like that, I like to "relive" it from time to time with an episode of Hoarders because it sure spurs me on into action to declutter and get my own place cleaned out. I have a tendency to hang on to items and/or purchase more than I need because "you never know when you might need it." So, after a decluttering I talk to myself and say outloud, "now you are not able to shop for anything unless you need it." This usually works because I mentally revisit what I had just purged and did I want to spend my money only to give it away again, etc. Another thing I think about is when my husband and I go on vacation, I used to buy little mementos of the trip and while happy at first, I was usually giving it away a few years later. I no longer purchase "knick knack paddie wacks" and if I need or want something from our vacation, it's usually a piece of jewelry or something functional that really will get used.

So, to sum this up, . . . no, I don't regret giving items away. Sure, it stings when I am unloading the items, but it's such a good feeling to come home and see the effects of getting rid of it/them. Things look so orderly and put together. I don't have the patience for ebay, consignment shops and certainly don't want anybody in my garage pawing through my stuff, so I just donate it and feel good about it.

[Annabellethecat66]

Hopefully, this will be the year I manage to get my ummmm stuff together and sell this huge house, buy a Winter house and another year around house here in Va.

But I'll be getting 'my stuff' together and getting rid of 50 (almost) years of stuff! Every toy my daughters ever owned (nothing ever broke), too tired to go into it, but a lot of stuff.

Phew! Hopefully I can do it.....others do it...I should be able to do it.

[Mominohio]

On 2/5/2015 annabellethecat said:

Hopefully, this will be the year I manage to get my ummmm stuff together and sell this huge house, buy a Winter house and another year around house here in Va.

But I'll be getting 'my stuff' together and getting rid of 50 (almost) years of stuff! Every toy my daughters ever owned (nothing ever broke), too tired to go into it, but a lot of stuff.

Phew! Hopefully I can do it.....others do it...I should be able to do it.

I don't know about you, but the toys are really hard for me. My kid has so many, and many were high quality, and are still like new. He played with them extensively, was very attached to many of them, and I was a stay at home mom with an only child so I played with him/them as well. It is very hard for me to part with his toys and books. We spent so many happy hours with them, and they are in fine shape to pass down, so for now, I have hung on to many of them for his children.

[lynnjamie]

Hi, I just wanted to say I love to donate my items to people who are in need of them. It makes me feel good and I don't regret it a bit. My husband is a bit of a clothes hoarder..lol. Most of his items still have the tags on them and they just sit in the closet for months. I then get on my cleaning spree and take the clothes out that he doesn't wear or hasn't worn since purchased. It seems like I always have things to give too. I don't donate our things to Goodwill anymore because I simply found it ridiculous to give them nice free clothes and they turn around and sell it to make money off of people who don't have a lot of money, but still want decent things to wear. I now have found a place in my city that houses only men who are homeless and that's where my husbands donated clothes and shoes go. I give my clothes and shoes to a women's group in my area. It makes me feel good inside that I can give to someone and they don't have to pay a price for it and they truly need it.