7 Ways To Declutter Your Life
You can get a warm, fuzzy feeling and make a few bucks by responsibly ditching all the excess stuff you accumulate.
It’s much easier to declutter your life once you know your actions can serve a good cause like saving trees, sparing landfills, or padding your bank account. So if you’re looking for motivation to pare down, check out our 7 compelling ideas to lose junk “weight.”
BEFORE YOU CAST OFF, SORT OUT
Designate an area in the home — preferably near an exit -- for the stuff you don’t want to forget to take out the door with you.
HAZARDOUS HOUSEHOLD MATERIALS Sure, we all know where to recycle stuff like soda cans and water bottles, but what about dicey items like medications, paint thinners, or asbestos?
Earth911.com, along with its free app iRecycle, is one of the best sources for finding acceptance centers that handle household hazardous waste.
OLD TECHNOLOGY
If you want to recycle appliances, cameras, computers, and TVs, Best Buy Recycle will take them, no matter where you bought them originally. It says it destroys CPUs to protect your data privacy.
NEW-ISH TECHNOLOGY
If you want to sell your current smartphone or Mac gadget quickly, Gazelle.com will give you an instant estimate and a free shipping label.
KIDS' STUFF
We all know how quickly kids outgrow their stuff. Once Upon a Child buys gently used clothing, toys, and baby gear. It won’t accept items that have been recalled or don’t meet their safety standards. To find a store location near you so you can swap your items for cash or trade for things your kid currently needs, visit their website.
BOOKS
There are many stores that match second-hand books with people who want them.
If you really want to cut down on your carbon footprint, try donating your books to local libraries, schools, and hospitals. Or build your own free library in your front yard and let passersby help themselves.
LINENS, CLEANING SUPPLIES, & OLD CARS
If you have old towels, blankets, heating pads, cleaning supplies, and even a car you need to get rid of, consider donating to a local animal shelter like the ASPCA.
