I do a purge at least twice a year and since I don’t usually have a lot to get rid of, it doesn’t make sense for me to hold a yard sale on my own. However, my neighborhood typically has a community yard sale every Spring so, at least a month beforehand, I go through every closet, drawer, bag, container, shelf, file, bin, box and cabinet with my husband to decide what we no longer want or need. I post everything I decide to get rid of for sale on various online platforms (see my Tips for Selling Unwanted Items post) and sell whatever I can before the community yard sale. I reduce my asking prices weekly to try to drive sales and then on yard sale day, I remove all of my online postings and ask for about $1 for each item I’m still selling. By this time I have so few things that I have to physically set up with other neighbors so buyers will actually stop and look at what I have to offer.

Finally, when the yard sale is over, I donate all of the items that didn’t sell. There is a Goodwill drop off about 3 miles from us so we pack everything up, including whatever the neighbors want to send along, make a quick drop off, get our donation receipt and head out for lunch with whatever money we made during the sale. I feel good about decluttering, recouping some of my money, donating items for people in need and supporting a local restaurant all at the same time!

I donate at Goodwill because it’s super convenient to me. However, I also like that they fund a career training program. My best advice is to donate somewhere that makes YOU feel good about your donation but is also convenient to you. What’s the point of decluttering your rooms if you’re going to clutter another space by not taking your donations right away? Ask people at your church, school, work, recreational sports, gym, book club, neighborhood group, etc. where they donate and why. Choose your go-to donation center and donate as soon as you can. You’ll feel good and so will your neat and tidy, organized home!

Here are just a few places to consider donating to:

Donation Town – Allows you to enter your zip code, choose a charity and schedule a donation pick up for free. They will even bring you a tax deduction receipt.

Salvation Army – there are five locations in the Upstate

·       Commonly donated items include: appliances, automobiles, children's clothing, furniture, household goods, men's and women's clothing, electronics, equipment and furniture

·       Schedule a pick up if you live in Greenville, Pickens or Oconee Counties

·       Donations provide critical income for The Salvation Army's Adult Rehabilitation Center in Greenville County and Social Service programs in Pickens and Oconee County. Donations may be made at any of the store locations  

Goodwill – there are numerous locations in the Upstate

·       Commonly donated items include: clothes, goods, cars, computers and furniture

·       Donations help provide career training, employment services and job placement in local communities

Miracle Hill – there are eight locations in the Upstate plus numerous dropboxes

·       Commonly donated items include: clothing and linens, shoes, upholstered furniture and rugs, wood and solid furniture, televisions and electronics and appliances

·       Donations provide operating funds for Miracle Hill shelters and programs for our homeless neighbors and jobs for our community and graduates of Miracle Hill’s addiction recovery programs

Safe Harbor – there is one location in Taylors, SC

·       Commonly donated items include: clothing, shoes, accessories, furniture and home decor

·       If you have furniture and/or a large donation, Safe Harbor will gladly pick up these items

Donations provide intervention services and prevention initiatives to break the cycle of domestic violence in the Upstate of South Carolina

Amerisleep - for ideas on where to donate or recyle mattresses