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What Do You Do With

Items That Are Good, But

You Have No Use For?

by Maria Gracia Published on March 1, 2024 Join our newsletter to be notified when new content is added to our website. In a GON Reader Poll, we asked, “What do you do with items that are good, but you have no use for?” Here’s how our readers responded…along with a bunch of personal comments: 60% Donate them to a charity 16% Other 12% Give them away to a family member or friend 4% Sell them at a garage sale 4% Keep them forever! 2% Throw them out 2% Sell them online • If family or friends do not want it, I put it on my local Buy Nothing Facebook group to gift to someone who really wants it. It makes it easier to declutter when I know it's going to a good home). They pick it up from my front porch! • If suitable, I donate to a raffle for fundraising. • Donate. Sometimes it takes me some time before I can actually do this, but when it is done I am pleased. I get rid of items not needed and someone will find something they can use. Win, win!! • First, I try to find family member or friend that may want or need whatever it is. If that doesn't work out, I donate to a local charity. • Several of the above, depending on whose they are, mine or my husband's. I try to donate or give away, or toss. He can't get past thinking that “someday they'll come in handy." • I ask family members first. Then I set aside leftovers for a garage sale and donate what's left. • I fret forever about throwing it away. Then I hold onto it until I find the right person who wants it…which is almost always never! • If I know someone might like it, then I'll ask them if they'd like it. Otherwise I try to sell or give to charity. • If they are large items, I set them out by the curb the night before trash day. Nine times out of ten, someone has stopped and picked them up within an hour or two. • I sell special stuff online that’s too good to donate. • I try to find another use for them. I try to reinvent them. • First, I try to sell online. Then I donate to friends/family. Then I donate to a charitable organization. • Unfortunately, that's part of the problem. I don't get rid of what I should. I try to give things to other people if I know they could use things. I'll also bring things to a thrift shop or even put items out in front of my house with a "FREE" sign. • I’m building up to regular decluttering. Need a little mojo yet. • I keep it unless it can be recycled. Back to Web Poll Results Index