Giving away items no longer needed

[Randi]

I find it difficult to get rid of things and clothes, too, but I AM getting better. I also have been saying...I'll lose a bit of weight soon and then I'll fit it. It rarely happens though.

What I do is put the clothes in three piles, like Catty1 does, and then sit down and think... who do I know that will fit and like this? I find it's always easier to get rid of something, if you know someone who can use it, like friends and family.

If you have some items that are in really good condition, or an expensive brand, you could try to sell them. In Denmark we have a site where you can sell anything - from clothes to furniture. In fact, I'm helping a friend do just that at the moment. She and her family are moving to the Middle East after 3 years in Denmark, so there's a lot of stuff to get rid of.

http://www.dba.dk/soeg/?soeg=clothes

This thread actually made me open a box of porcelain - a Royal Copenhagen coffee set, 12 of each, which I inherited from my mother. I must try to sell that.

Good luck!

[Asiel]

I'm too good at it for my own good. Every few years I go through my closets and yank out everything that I haven't worn in a year or so. Like my size 1 and 2 Jeans...heck, I'll never need those again, hanging on to them just because I loved them. So out they went with blazers slacks and other stuff.Come this year and I'm hunting size 1 and 2 jeans because I lost weight again. And when I do find some that look right on me I have to wash then so many times before they feel soft enough to wear...( No I don't press them anymore Pom)
My cupboards are almost empty though and I don't miss any of it. Had some of my gradmother's stuff and them my mom's when she passed so although it tore me apart I gave it all away.

I just wish I had my clothes back though...and I won't be giving my too big jeans away cause next year I will probably need them again. I keep bouncing like a ball when it comes to weight. Wish I could keep what I put on.

[pomtzu]

I've gotten really good with the clothes/shoes/handbags/accessories give away. When I get ready to put away summer items and get out the winter ones - the summer items I didn't wear or use that season, are gone. And vise-versa - what winter items didn't get worn or used all season when I am putting them away - out they go! I have a few things I've kept for sentimental reasons - but very few.

As far as family items that I have acquired, then I'm not so good. I feel like I'm somehow betraying the person that owned it if I get rid of it. I still have my mother's wallet that she was using at the time of her death about 25 years ago, complete with the pictures that were in it, and her S.S. card! Of course it's of absolutely no use to me, but I won't part with it. The china is in my corner hutch and the silverware is packed away. Have tons of her needlework crafts too. I have a belt buckle and cuff links that were my father's, a couple of his jewelers loupes, and his driver's license - of course all of no real value other than sentimental.

And RB pet items?? - dishes, collars, dog tags, etc - I will never part with any of it.

Fortunately, the items I do choose to keep, don't take up a lot of space - not like the clothes, etc.

[RICHARD]

What I do is promise to replace whatever I throw out.

I am so broke I never get around to buying new stuff.