Moving and need help cleaning out!

[micheleq]

We are moving from CT to Michigan this summer, so I am beginning the great purge of 2010! When we moved into this house, we had gotten rid of alot of clutter. However, with two little girls, the clutter/toys take on a life of their own!

My mom and her friends have a tag sale planned in a month, so I'll jump on board with that. Otherwise, any suggestions on charities that will take baby & kid items? I know with the new laws donating toys has become much harder, but there are toys my girls are done with that I don't need to bring with us. I also have alot of kitchen items that I want to get rid of.

Any Freecyclers out there? I've sold a few items on Craigslist, so that is another possibility. I'm not a fan of ebay (bad buying experience), so that is out.

 

[poohfriend77]

In my area (central IL) toys and baby items are HUGE sellers at garage sales! You'll probably get rid of a lot at your sale if you price them right. Be prepared for hagglers or offer half-price after a certain time.

As far as donating items... as long as you know the items haven't been recalled, you should be able to get rid of them. I don't think many places take car seats, but our Goodwill doesn't have any other restrictions. I've listed things on Craigslist for free, too. I waited for a nice day, posted the ad and just left the items at the end of my driveway so I wouldn't have to let people in my house all day. Just post in the ad that everything is outside, first come, first served, so they won't knock on your door. Everything was gone by dinnertime!

 

[MyMagicKingdom]

I agree with OP and PP regarding craigslist, garage sales and Goodwill. I've also considered donating items to a domestic violence shelter for women and children. Some do have pretty strict guidelines as to what you can donate though, so I'd check into that if you are considering it. You never know, DD's old toy could be the one thing to lift the spirits of a child from a broken family!

 

[scrapquitler]

Don't forget about Freecycle, and if you don't feel like hauling things to Goodwill or want to sell it on Freecycle stick it out by the curb and put a FREE sign on it, and it will be gone quickly.

When you have that Tag Sale, I'd suggest that beforehand, you send a postcard to the guy who does the Tag Sale show on Sunday morning on WTIC1080. If you send him a postcard with all the information of who/what/when/where and your phone number, he'll advertise your tag sale for free on the air.

 

[burnsoc]

We're currently in the same situation. The amount of clutter is mind boggling. Check out local consignment shops for selling some of the kids items.

 

[Bren's Mom]

I know you're good on what to do with old car seats!

If you just want to get rid of things, putting them at the curb with a 'free' sign and then posting on Freecycle works like a charm. I have made posts on Freecycle and then make pickup arrangements, rather than putting at the curb, but you tend to get no-shows and I just have no time for that. I put it at the curb.

You also might want to check on what Goodwill or Savers (Milford and Orange, there might be a Goodwill closer to you, though.) will take. Donations can be dropped off at both. I know Goodwill sells a lot of kitchen items.

If you have really nice, larger items in good condition it might be worth it to consign them. Especially kid's toys/gear/clothes. Once Upon A Child is good, and I'm sure there are other kid's consignment places closer to you.

But if you've got a tag sale at your mom's coming up...just clean everything up, price it to sell (cheap) and make sure the sale is advertised well with really good signage and you'll likely get most of it gone that way.

Oh, and also if you'll be there through the begining of August you might want to consider this consignment sale:

http://savvychicconsignmentsales.com/Home_Page.html

 

[micheleq]

Thanks everyone, esp. Bren's Mom for taking the car seats We'll be gone by August, but I have heard of the savvy chic consignments. I'll have to check that out too.

I just found out today about the Big Bros. Big Sisters collaboration with Savers in Orange & scheduled a pick-up for next week. We don't have any toys that are on the recall list, they are just ones my girls have outgrown or baby toys. Those days are over for me, and I feel bad throwing away anything in good shape.

I'll try freecycle for anything that doesn't sell at the tag sale. My mom does a multi-family tag sale every other year with her friends & neighbors. They advertise and get great turn outs, so hopefully that will be good for my larger items. We've got two Weber grills - one we'll keep and the other I think will go quickly at a tag sale even though it's a few years old.

There is a homeless shelter in our town, so I will call them to see if they could use any of the kitchen items (they do housing assistance and I've donated baskets with laundry supplies/bath items before).

Old towels will go to the local animal shelter (where we got our cat).

Thanks everyone! Any other ideas would be appreciated! I'm just happy that all I need to do is clean out the clutter, DH's job is paying for the relocation including movers that will pack for me

 

[NotUrsula]

Organizations that help battered women will often take toys. They use them to keep the kids occupied while their Moms are dealing with paperwork and such. Homeless shelters often do too, for just the same reason.