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[tsavorite]

What drizzella and Bird mama said!! Me too

[Mary Bailey]

I've never regretted purging anything.

Since this thread started moving this morning I have gathered 4 bags of books, shoes & also toys my GS no longer plays with. To Goodwill it goes!

[perryp]

Love this thread!

It's interesting that after clearing out to move, I noticed how I would still buy things like gift wrap, etc & and instead of getting rid of leftovers, I started to put them in the attic and I had to say STOP! Stuff just seeps into storage.

[sommertime]

On 2/4/2015 feline groovy said:

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)

With that phrase you would make a good Q show host!

There have been some really good replies here. I too, am down-sizing and organizing things I want to keep. Not too happy with the last place I donated. Everything I donated was clean and either neatly folded in boxes or on hangers, well they proceeded to throw eveything into big dumpster type containers, as they un-packed my car. I mentioned this to the workers, but they did not care. So now I am looking for another charity that will appreciate nice donations to help people in need.

As other have said, getting rid of things you no longer use or need, is a good feeling. Plus, you are helping other people and charities out.

[ripkenfan]

Happy Housewife: I totally understand not wanting to give away something that belonged to a loved one, as I have struggled with that myself.

A few years ago, I was cleaning out a closet and was looking at a beautiful coat that I could not fit in, with the tags still on it. The coat was given to me by my Nonnie (Italian for grandmother) and even though I couldn't fit in it, I didn't want to let it go.

One winter day, I was watching the local news and they were desperately asking for women's coats for the poor and those in shelters, especially in plus sizes. I took that coat out of my closet and donated it to the drive that very day. I'm sure that made my Nonnie smile and someone got a wonderfully warm coat they needed.

I now go through my closets at least twice a year looking for items to donate. I always have things I am not wearing and want to make sure that someone who really needs it can have the clothing.

I'm purging to get rid of things while not buying any more items of clothing. I have enough to "shop my closet" for some time.

Good luck to everyone as we purge!

[gigy]

I have two suggestions or thoughts.

1. See if there is a local community tag sale on Facebook that is near you. Join them and sell your things on there for what you want. I have done that and it is quite easy and convenient.

2. If you donate to the Salvation Army or Goodwill you can get a receipt of the value of your things and write that off your taxes for next year.

Good luck and I have to do the same thing. I have a bunch of really nice clothes that either no longer fit or are out of style and need to sell, donate give away.

[phoenixbrd]

Congratulations....just bite the bullet and consider it a cost of a lesson learned. You will feel so much lighter and happy to have the space.

[tsavorite]

Well ladies between this thread and the one about getting rid of wedding gift china I have gotten alot packed up in boxes and in the trunk of my blazer!! It was difficult to reach some so I had to get a big heavy ladder in the kitchen (I am determined) and the H is gone so it's my chance to get these nasty dishes out and all the other awful kitchen gadgets that don't work right. I am tired right now but can't wait to drop it off 1st thing in the morning

I only wish salvation army was open right now....freezing cold or not I would brave it just to get it out of my kitchen LOL!

Gotta go and organize some now...I have space to do this. Also I am SURE I will find more that needs to go...as I dig around. I love the feeling of purging things that I am not using (and never will)....I need the cabinet space so badly.

I am still needing to do this in other rooms/closets but I figure if I do it once per week I should have it done in a few months.

[Mary Bailey]

oh dear, I just found 2 complete series sets of "The Di ck Van Dyke Show" and I used to have it in VHS. LOL it's my favorite old TV series.

I have 4 DVDs of "It's A Wonderful Life" (one is signed by the actress that played Zuzu)

[sfnative]

Hi NorskyGal,

(Have not read any of the responses, so am just diving in.)

I feel your pain!

I retired mid-2013, which was complicated by a planned move to a different state so that we could be near our DD, SIL and soon-to-be GD. This situation forced me into a humongous purge and I don't like to be forced into anything. I like my clothes and I like my "stuff." That's just me. However, I simply had to downsize big-time.

Oh my, the weekends we spent going through everything (we'd been married 44 years at that point). It was gut wrenching, as I attach memories to so many things. The stuff won out over clothes, as we did a lot of international and national travel and have many things from our daughter's childhood. When it came to clothes, I thought about consignment shops and eBay, but in the end decided to donate my suits and such to Goodwill. Everything I donated to Goodwill was either Jones of New York or like quality and was happy that it was going into their special program for women who have had it really hard in life. Goodwill trains them in certain skills; then they practice interview skills; they're helped along the way to get a line on jobs that will suit them; and finally, they're brought into the big store downtown and they can choose what they want for their interview outfit, plus an additional one. They also receive help regarding hair and make-up. When I found out about this program, I felt better about letting go of all my clothes. I mean it looked like half a ton of clothes and shoes, some of which had been worn very little (shoes). And, someone really in need was going to benefit from my donation.

Perhaps you can look for such a program in your area.

God Bless - R