I think we all have the question of whether we should donate or sell when decluttering, especially when it comes to craft supplies and finished objects. Let’s look at both sides so you can decide what’s right for you.
The Case for Selling
I totally see why people would want to sell things when they are decluttering. Especially if you could use some extra cash (and who couldn’t these days?).
You spent money on those things — and time in the case of finished objects — so why shouldn’t you get a little compensation for that?
Also the prospect of potentially earning some money from your decluttering efforts can be motivating for some people.
The Case for Donating
If the idea of setting up listings online or having a garage sale just makes you want to lie down, donating your decluttered items is probably the right choice for you.
Letting things go all in one go feels amazing, a lot lighter and like less work than if you’re shipping things out one at a time. You also need a place to store the items you’re selling, and you’ll pay for materials for shipping and listing fees if you’re selling online.
If you believe in the idea of sunk costs, you know the money, time and energy you’ve put into your items is already gone, and reselling that stuff won’t get it back.
Should You Donate or Sell?
For me, the vast majority of the time, I choose to donate items rather than try to sell them. Part of it is when I’m in a decluttering mood I just want things gone, not sitting somewhere waiting to maybe sell.
When I do sell, it’s individual items online, and I generally only sell finished items, not craft supplies. But all of that takes time and effort and trips to the office supply store and the post office that I’m generally not up for.
I like the feeling of clearing up spaces and loading up the car and taking all the things (not just craft supplies, but clothes and house stuff and all the things at once) to the thrift store. It feels done in a way that having a pile of scarves waiting for a buyer just doesn’t.
If you have the fortitude to deal with all the things that go into selling, and the patience to wait for things to sell (keeping the items somewhere safe that isn’t contributing to more clutter) if you’re selling online, then by all means try to sell things if you want or need to.
It’s a personal decision and different for everyone, so I’d love to hear your thoughts. Do you tend to donate or sell when you’re decluttering?
