There are lots of ways to get rid of things you don’t want or need anymore:
- Sell them on the Internet (eBay, Craigslist, Yardsellr, etc.)
- Sell them at a consignment shop
- Sell them at a yard sale
- Give them away to friends
- Donate them to a charitable organization (Salvation Army, shelters, etc.)
- Give them away to strangers (Freecycle, Craigslist, etc.)
- Barter them for things you do need
In the past two weeks, I have joined Freecycle and listed all my college textbooks on Half.com, something I had been meaning to do for about four years. I am really trying hard to declutter again. I have an impulse to try and get money out of things I spent money on, but sometimes I just give them away. And it’s not too bad a feeling to just give.
I have had two interactions through Freecycle.
- Someone asked for a scented candle, which I offered. When scheduling a drop-off, they told me they felt “bad karma” from me and told me to bury the candle and never light it. Freaky.
- I gave away my wedding dress.
It seemed like something too nice to just give away. I tried posting it on Craigslist for sale. No luck. I tried posting it on Craigslist for free! No luck. I tried giving it away in a Facebook group. Still nothing. So I joined Freecycle. There’s no way I want to just carry around a wedding dress forever. It certainly wasn’t doing me any good.
I listed the dress and got this email, from a man whose daughter is engaged to a soldier.
I would really like to get this for my daughter. Her wedding is in a few months and most of their money has been devoted to his medical care and his needs since he has came back to the states. This would really mean a lot to me if I could give her a wedding dress to wear, because he wants to wear his uniform for the ceremony and walk down the aisle with his new legs he has been fitted for. No one in the family except her and myself have seen him walk yet, and this would really be a blessing for her to be able to walk down a church aisle in a traditional wedding dress with the man of her dreams along her side.
And there went my wedding dress! The man told me that I was “a real blessing,” and he was so very appreciative of my serendipitous dress giveaway. He told me that when he told his sister about it, she advised him to make sure it wasn’t a Barbie wedding dress or a flower girl dress because people don’t just give away wedding dresses.
But I do! And it felt good! It’s a win, win, win situation. I get the dress out of my closet. She gets a free, and very pretty, dress for her wedding. The dress gets to be a dress, and not an ornament!
And hopefully giving away a wedding dress can help with my karmic issues with the candle!
Caitlin Liz Fisher 
I’ve had some strange encounters with Craigslist, but nothing like your candle story. I think some people just like to harass others and use this outlet as one. I was thinking the other day that it’s been close to 20 years since I received a prank phone call, that desire has to be directed somewhere.
I can understand your willingness to part with your wedding dress even if you had to give it away, but what a special gift it turned out to be for the woman who will now wear it.
I am constantly going back go decluttering mode, the last couple of weeks I have been busy outdoors but with rain and cold weather I am inside and decluttering has come back to haunt me😊
What’s up with this crazy weather! It’s downright cold out there. Not acceptable!
I am very glad I was able to give the dress to someone in need. 🙂 And I agree about redirecting that prank call energy! I am scared to light that candle though.
You are probably getting the same weather I am being so close. Its crazy Thursday we were sweating and wearing summer clothes, Friday we needed to pull out winter coats.
I think I would always remember how my wedding dress was able to give so much happiness. I’m a sucker for injured military individuals with my son having served for 9 years.
I know, I couldn’t say no to that story. I got a bunch of emails all at once but it just felt right to give it to him.
Oh! Maybe I could do that, too! I’ve listed my wedding dress on Craigslist and Facebook, like you, plus 2 garage sales, and no one wants it. It may be time to just give it away. Better giving it to someone else who can use it rather than let it sit and get crinkly and take up space, just “because it was my wedding dress.” Thanks for the idea!
Yessss Freecycle it! Let me know how it goes 🙂
Best blog EVER! What a beautiful tribute for Memorial Day too. And so very happy that you were able to offer such a precious gift. I had to read it aloud to my husband to share, which was hard because I was choking up reading aloud the Dad’s letter. Awesome sharing!
I am so glad so many people have enjoyed and appreciated this post. I didn’t even realize it was sort of a Memorial Day post, but it really is!! Thank you for your comments 🙂
This brought tears to my eyes. Oh, I DO hope he shares a picture!
He said he would send me a photo of the wedding! 🙂 It was a really moving experience, just giving it away to someone who needed it. I am glad you enjoyed the story.
I kept my wedding dress for years in a box in the garage. When we finally moved I opened the box and the mice had eaten it!!! You were so wise to give it away.
Oh no, I am sorry to hear about the mice. At least they had fine taste!
I am glad it’s gone and able to be someone else’s dress for their happy day. 🙂
Thanks for sharing this beautiful story.
Thank you for your comment, I am glad you enjoyed!
What a neat idea! I donated my dress to Goodwill, but how nice that you got to know a little about the people yours went to.
I was very close to just donating it, but I am very glad I got to meet its new family 🙂
I’m not too good at the selling stuff, nut I like to give away freebies. That is good karma, so in giving that dress you got your self some good karma. Actually, I don’t really believe that stuff anymore, but I do believe what goes around comes around. And forget what that person said, she just had to put a negative spin on something to feel powerful.
What goes around does indeed come around. 🙂 My sister and her friend just spent a day at my home and they both left with a bag of stuff out of the “get rid of this” pile. I love to give things away to people who can use them!
And my sister cleaned my kitchen for me… good karma in action! 🙂