I constantly waver between selling or donating the clothes I declutter.
On the donate side: I never bought the items with the thought of recouping their costs. My job is quite intense, with long hours, so I don’t have the time to fiddle around with listing, monitoring sales, packing and posting. One of the up sides of my job is that my pay is quite good, so I don’t need the money from selling items for a couple of dollars. I like helping the local charity by donating items of good quality. I want them out quickly and not hanging around the house cluttering up another spot.
On the sell side: Any money is good! I worry that some donated items will just end up in the bin or as rags. At least if someone buys it, the item might get worn. I have clothes that have been hardly worn (in a couple of cases, never worn), some vintage pieces and some retro or designer pieces. I really want them to go good homes – sad I know.
I think donating is winning. What do you do?
This week’s haul from my wardrobe:
A skirt I have never worn. I just can’t find a top that suits it and me. Or maybe the skirt just doesn’t suit me?
A long line cardy. It is quite nice and I liked it on me but I think I now look drab in it. And I have a nicer one anyway.
A top that is too stretched for me.
A skirt that no longer suits me. Long and black isn’t goth on a middle age sheila.
A top I quite like that I have just got too fat (Can I say that? Yes, given I am nearly 40% fat, I think I can.) for around the arm holes. Table 8, small. So I don’t feel too bad.
A rich green dressing gown. I felt quite medieval when I bought it but I realise I don’t like long dressing gowns. The flapping around my legs annoys me. This has hung on my door, sad and neglected.
My God. What are these? Swimmers, given to Mr Sans years ago. Thank goodness he never wore them and has finally consented to have them thrown away.
And finally, a vintage dress I bought when I was at uni, more than a quarter century ago, from a vintage dress shop. A lace, 60s number. With white lace-up boots, whoever wore this would look quite the miss. Hope this gets snaffled up by some young ‘un, who wants a Mod look.
Eight items. Not bad. More decluttering to come tomorrow.
lucinda sans 
I donate to our local op shop, they are busy & have good turnover of items & support local community groups.
I agree selling is a hassle.
Yes, Peachie, I think supporting local community groups is more important than a few shekels in my pocket.
I’ve just started a serious declutter, with about half and half donate / sell items. Unfortunately although i’d love to just give it all to the local charities, i’ve gone back to uni (because I didn’t old enough somehow, so thought surrounding myself with 18 year olds would help – it does) so have kept back some of the more expensive pieces.
I just found your blog, and am enjoying it so far! So hello from a new follower and fellow Australian. 🙂
Thanks for dropping by and commenting. Love the surrounding yourself with whippersnappers to help you realise your age.
I just can’t be bothered with selling things, except for something that might fetch $20+ such as a jacket or coat. But otherwise, it’s in a charity bin, or my op shop man. Like you, I tend to think I can ‘afford’ it in the first place, and I can ‘afford’ to give it away. I just hate having clothes that are past their best, and it seems a waste to donate them (as in, they might have no use for them), but then not everyone’s standards are as high, perhaps?
But another of my problems, Sarah, is how do I know an item with realise $20? I would hate to go through the whole shebang and then get nothing or a couple of dollars.
Oh my gosh, YES! You can set the minimum in ebay, but if it doesn’t sell it just seems like it is a waste of your time to even list it in the first place! grrrr