What to do with stuff neighbor gives us?

[missypie]

Our neighbor is constantly sending over (by way of our kids or hers) stuff she doesn't want. (It ticks me off a bit because we talk a lot about clutter control [DH is a packrat], so she controls her clutter by increasing mine.) Anyway, what should I do with things like the plaster bust of Beethoven, the out of style clothes, etc. that she gives us that I don't want? Return it to her, or donate it to a charity resale shop?

 

[skuttle]

I would thank her for the things and tell that you do appreciate them, however, you don't really need them and suggest maybe donating them so that people that *really* need the items can receive them.

My son's daycare teacher offered us tons of clothes...I didn't take them because my mom buys my DS lots of clothes all the time (I'm an only child and DS is the first grandchild so he's spoiled rotten!). I thanked her, but explained that we didn't need them and I suggested that she offer them to others who may need them more.

 

[mtemm]

I would tell her that as a family you've decided to decluter and currently you are not bringing anything new into the house, but thank you very much and recommend some places that may accept her donations.

 

[Disney Doll]

If you want to not cause a huge issue, just take them and the donate or discard them as appropriate. Or tell her that you are really trying to "clean out" your place after years of "packratting" and rather than her sending stuff over to you, could she donate it as appropriate.

 

[4greatboys]

My mil used to do this all the time. We have a house full of people and are not lacking for junk in any way. Everytime she woould start cleaning out her house she would bag it up for me
Totally useless stuff. She used to be a teacher and would try to give us home ec books from the 60's--oh yes I know that will come in handy

 

[Hillbeans]

My friend just did this...she moved and unpacked her closets of 20 years and is trying to convince me to wear the things that were worn in the 1980's....NOT.

I finally just started telling her to throw them out that no one will wear any of this stuff. I know she feels that she spent a fortune on clothes, but I won't wear Vanilla Ice acid washed faded jeans.

 

[Amberle3]

It's a two-step process.

Step 1: Ebay. Get rid of the stuff by selling it to someone else. You never know who's out there that happens to WANT that junk.

Step 2: Donate the rest to a local charity. Find one that comes and picks up at the house.

So far I've just been doing step 2, and I'm kicking myself now. Over the last year we've cleaned out at least 2 dozen garbage bags full of clothing from our closets due to weight loss. Some of the items were never worn! But now I have a bunch of stuff ready for Ebay, just have to get up the nerve to actually put them up now.