Originally Posted By Lisann22 I had the whole trophy trauma when was at the age to leave home too. I found out there are many organitions that want old trophies. They take them strip away the tab with the writing on it, freshen them up and give them to organizations for kids that can't afford new ones. I sorted through the ones that REALLY meant something to me, kept those and donated the rest. It made me feel better that I wasn't trashing them. That another kid was going to get them.
Originally Posted By Lisann22 Oh yeah, first my mom took a picture of me with all the trophies for memories, then I donated them. LOL! Gee just a tad self centered about this I was.
Originally Posted By LuLu That's a great idea - I recently read a great story about downsizing your parents' stuff in AARP. They suggested taking photos and making a scrapbook, so you can keep the memories, but not the stuff!!
Originally Posted By LuLu Oh and I love the idea of finding a home for the old trophies (and other stuff). I still have *beautiful* clothes from my MIL because I can't stand giving them to the thrift shop, where, if they even sell, they'll go for a few bucks. I need to get them to a place that takes donations for women reentering the workforce (even tho some are too dressy for that).
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb Maybe before you donate the trophies you can strip the tags yourself and put them in an envelope, mark what they were for on the back w/ a Sharpie. You should probably do that *after* the photo shoot, lol.
Originally Posted By Lisann22 I thought there was an organization that took "fancier" clothes for Proms and stuff. Man where did I read that? My great grandma left wonderful old clothes like that also. I'm talking black lined wool cocktail dresses with fur collars with matching coats to ballroom gowns, beaded hand bags and hats. My sister and I kept some and it was heartbreaking to give the rest away. I so feel your pain on that.
Originally Posted By LuLu I have lots of work finding good homes for *my* stuff too. I know there are places that want old cell phones, I have jewelry of varying quality, and stuff I should sell on eBay but can't bring myself to deal with the "messiness" of that... I just know when all this stuff's cleared out, I'll be like a new person. I feel "responsible" to dispose of these things, well, responsibly! It's a huge task! It probably sounds like I'm a clutterholic, but I'm not! Partly, I've lost a lot of family members over the last few years, so have accumulated stuff that way. And partly, I just want to seriously downsize. A friend tells me to keep this stuff as heirlooms... but then I look at her house/garage! No way!!!
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom I just came accross this topic. My answer is that I don't see any harm in helping someone clean their room. Sometimes cleaning can appear so overwhelming. Some people truely don't know where to start. My brother the Marine would not allow his wife to hire a maid to help clean their home they share with five children. My brother expected everyone to pick up after themselves. And would say to his wife "what kind of a message are we sending the kids if all of us are not going to clean up our messes". One time I was visiting them when he made that comment and I said,"sometimes in a crisis its OK to call in the Calvary". LOL Never be afraid to ask for help.
Originally Posted By CrouchingTigger At the risk of revealing myself to be some kind of weirdo, I have done exactly what Autopia Deb suggested with some things that I couldn't find room or justification to keep. Just pry off a key emblem as a keepsake and toss/give the item itself away. My 1980's Byte magazines are one thing that comes to mind. I ripped some of the more interesting covers off some issues, kept just one or two, and everything else hit the trash.
Originally Posted By Schmitty Good Vibes >>> I still have *beautiful* clothes from my MIL because I can't stand giving them to the thrift shop, where, if they even sell, they'll go for a few bucks. I need to get them to a place that takes donations for women reentering the workforce <<< In Sacramento it is the Saramento Assistance League who does just what you describe (they provide the clothes for free). I don't know if this organization does the same, but here's the info on the Southern California Assistance League. <a href="http://www.assistanceleague.net/" target="_blank">http://www.assistanceleague.ne t/</a>
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb hmmmm LP meet at LuLu's house to help her get rid of her stuff! LuLu: Wait a second, I never said you could take the TV! Who's that driving off with my car?! Alright where did my tiara go?
Originally Posted By dltraveler I guess it depends on the person. I like doing things in small chunks. If I have a big nasty project, I'll set a timer for 15 minutes and get to work. At the end of the 15 minutes, I walk away. Every day for just 15 minutes until it's done. It sounds weird because sometimes I think, "I'll just keep going", but I try not to because then I keep going until I burn out and then I won't do anything the next day, or the next, and it never gets finished. It's surpising how much you can do in 15 minutes. I think it's because you really stay focused due to the time limit. Without the timer, I find I end up sitting in a chair with a book I just found under the pile of stuff, or flipping through an old magazine.
Originally Posted By Ursula Cell phones... We have some to donate! Where? I Googled for info and found that most places only want specifics, or they just want minutes or yadda yadda. Is there not a place that will just take them? We have chargers and car chargers that match the phones, too. And the box and instructions. If you know of a place, please post it here and we can mail them to wherever.
Originally Posted By Lisann22 Urs, Just enter your zip and it'll give youa bunch of options. <a href="http://www.wirelessrecycling.com/home/index.html" target="_blank">http://www.wirelessrecycling.c om/home/index.html</a>
Originally Posted By avromark I love donating useable items, since I have been to third world countries and know what it's like to be without. Even old glasses (here) can be donated to charity where they send them aboard to be distributed for free (they have volunteer opticians who "check" the prescription to ensure the right people get the right glasses). What's one man's junk is truly another's treasure. You may not see value in that 1976 issue of Idunnowhat Magazine, but it may be the missing issue from someones complete collection. While I was aboard people were amazed that I could get fully functional electronics and perfectly good (but gaudy) furniture from the side of the road. I'll often pick up pieces and fix them (paint/tighten) then donate them to charities locally. Heck it helped me when I first purchased my home, but I'm replacing things with new items now.
Originally Posted By LuLu dltrav, I work like that with my own stuff. Half an hour to an hour here and there, it adds up. We may end up doing DD's room one storage area at a time, ie desk one day, dresser another. I don't think we could dedicate a whole weekend til summertime! SGV, thanks... I actually had found 2 LA places that would "take" my stuff, I just have to get it to them! Nonetheless, I think I did donate around $400 worth of other stuff in December. and LOL Deb!
Originally Posted By LuLu FYI on the cell phones, I had that same web site open b/c they provide a data eraser, so your new phone owner can't access any valuable data. <a href="http://www.wirelessrecycling.com/home/data_eraser/default.asp" target="_blank">http://www.wirelessrecycling.c om/home/data_eraser/default.asp</a>
Originally Posted By Labuda In the past, I've donated old cell phones (and stuffed animals, actually) to Safe Place, a local woman's shelter. Also have given some stuffed animals to a children's hospital. Just had to dust them all off first.
