When it comes to deciding what to do with things you no longer need after decluttering, the good news is that you have options. The bad news is that you have options. With so many options, it can be tough to decide!

I’m often asked the ‘donate vs. sell’ question. 9 times out of 10, my answer is to donate. Why? Because selling things is a lot of work. My typical client has quite a bit to declutter so re-directing time and energy toward selling detracts from achieving decluttering goals. It may even bring decluttering to a screeching halt.

‘But, Margaret, how can I pass up that money in good conscience?’, you may be asking. Good question—let’s think about it.

Have you looked at both sides of the equation?

✨ one-stop donation vs the selling process (take pictures, write descriptions, post pictures & descriptions, have strangers come to your home OR box and ship items, accept payments from strangers)

✨ donate and make $0 but get a tax deduction (depending on your financial situation) vs making $X but giving up a portion of the proceeds in fees (eBay, Poshmark, consignment, etc.)

✨ opportunity to immediately remove items from your home when donating vs working around items as you wait for them to sell

✨100% you can donate/trash/recycle items vs you may go to all the work of trying to sell something only to find you have no buyer

Most of the time, if you have a decluttering project that takes a fair amount of time and energy, it makes more sense to donate. (If you have very high-ticket items, your situation may be different.)

But, there are always exceptions.

Mandy D. (PA) had a good system for ‘poshing’ her clothing and was very efficient. We set a time limit of a few weeks to post her clothing and if it hadn’t sold by then, she donated it.

Lyn P. (IL) did something similar. She lives in a large urban area with some unique selling options. She chose her most high-end pieces to send to ThredUp and to go to upscale consignment shops in the area. Like Mandy, if they didn’t sell within a few weeks, she donated them.

Peggy L. (WA) planned on selling a large reclining chair but when she balanced the effort of physically dealing with the chair compared to what she would net, she decided to donate instead.

What about garage sales (or rummage sales, yard sales, or tag sales depending on where you live in the US)? Go ahead and have one if you enjoy doing them. (I do, but it appears that I’m a minority) but realize they’re a lot of work, don’t typically net much money, and you’re dependent on the weather as well as the other events going on in your area when you hold your sale. High risk, low return . . . . hmmmmmm.

There isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer but for most people with a lot to declutte, you can’t go wrong with donating rather than selling.