To Sell, Donate, or Toss? The Decluttering Dilemma

Do you want to declutter your home, but you don’t know what to do will all of the stuff? Should you sell it, donate it, or toss it? What’s the easiest way to make the most money or do the most good? This is such a common problem that will quickly hold up the decluttering process and prevent progress. I want to debunk some myths around this dilemma, and provide some clarity on how to think about getting rid of your stuff.

Are you being a perfectionist?

First of all, I believe that at the core of the question is a little bit of perfectionism. Because the easiest answer is certainly to just throw everything away. But I know you want more than that, right? You want to remove your clutter in the ideal way, maximizing each item’s value and lifespan. That’s a solid aspiration, but it’s not always easy to achieve, because selling and donating takes time. And it’s important to weigh the costs with the benefits of decluttering the “right way.”

Are you over-valuing your stuff?

I’d like to start with a philosophical conversation about garbage. Yes, you read that right—garbage. I want to start here, because I think it’s important to remember that nothing is permanent. In the Bible, Solomon writes in Ecclesiastes 3:20, “All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return.” What a hard truth. But true nonetheless.

Everything will eventually become garbage again one day. It’s just a matter of when and how. So the question isn’t so much, “Should I throw this away or donate it?” Rather, the question should be, “How can this item be maximized before it becomes garbage?” Or, “Will giving this item a second life help somebody else, or prevent the creation of more items that will become garbage?”

Yes, it’s good to care of your items and get rid of them in a wise way, when you can. But is your desire stemming from eco-friendly core values, or is it stemming from your idolatry of stuff? Are you thinking too highly of your items in a way that’s preventing you from parting with them? Sometimes selling and donating can be a crutch to simply make you feel better about the value of your stuff. But the sobering truth is that everything will become garbage one day.

“All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return.”

Ecclesiastes 3:20

If you approach your decluttering strategy with this mindset, you will likely become more choosy about which items are worth selling or donating. I don’t say this to complicate the process of decluttering. Rather, I suggest you switch your default removal method to toss, and let selling and donating be the exception to the rule.

Assume you will throw everything away, and then choose only the best items to sell or donate. Continually ask yourself, “Will this item actually actually help somebody else?” This approach will save you time and ensure you are conscious and respectful with your donations.

Are you in a difficult season?

Not only is it impractical for a regular person to sell or donate all of their items in an ideal way, but there are also a lot of us out there operating a lower capacity than a normal person. And we are probably the ones more likely to be drowning in clutter.

KC Davis’ book How to Keep House While Drowning has a great chapter entitled, “You Can’t Save the Rainforest if You’re Depressed.” As the title implies, Davis argues that you shouldn’t feel the pressure to sell, donate, or even recycle everything in “the right way” when you’re in a difficult season. Maybe you’re depressed; or maybe you have a new baby at home. Maybe you recently lost a loved one; or maybe you’re dealing with a tumultuous relationship. Whatever the case may be, it’s okay to not declutter the perfect way. As Davis writes, “When you are healthy and happy you will gain the capacity to do real good for the world.”

Just as “good enough” is acceptable in other areas of your life, “good enough” is acceptable when it comes to decluttering, too. Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good.

As long as you keep the clutter in your house, you’re missing out on the many benefits of a decluttered home:

• easier to clean and tidy
• more space
• clarity on what you own
• reduced spending
• reduced stress and anxiety
• and so on…

A clear house means a clear mind. The sooner you can get there, the sooner you’ll be in a better position to do good. And even then, getting rid of items the “right way” by selling or donating them perfectly doesn’t have to be the “good” that you choose to do.

“When you are healthy and happy you will gain the capacity to do real good for the world.”

KC Davis, How To Keep House While Drowning

Are you under-valuing your time?

One very fast and practical solution for removing stuff from your house is to call a full-service junk removal service like 1-800-GOT-JUNK. This would probably cost you around $150 to $600, depending on how much stuff you have.

You may not be in a position to spend money on decluttering, which is totally reasonable, but let this just serve as a reminder that removing stuff costs something. If it’s not your money, it’s your time.

If you are going to take the time to sell something, will you make back the money that would make it worth your time? I have spent a lot of time selling items online, and I’ve learned that it’s not always worth it. My new rule of thumb is that I only sell an item for $100 or more.

Similarly, when it comes to donations, do you really want to spend the time on specialized donation locations? I am a big fan of donation centers that accept nearly everything, like Salvation Army, Goodwill, or AMVETS. No need to over-complicate it.

Just as you might respect the limit of your money by not paying for full-service junk removal, be sure to respect the limit of your time by simplifying your removal process.

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Have you ever experienced decluttering paralysis due to the sell, donate, or toss dilemma? I hope you can more confidently more past that as you weigh the costs and benefits of each method. Happy decluttering!