Do you have a Donation Box?

Here's a tip for keeping extra clutter from building up in your home: have a donation box.  Do you already have a designated spot for donations?  A "home" for donations in your home, so to speak.  This might be in your closet, by the exit door, in the garage, or even in your car... somewhere you can easily get to but that is out of the way.  It also doesn't have to be a box; it might be a bag, basket, or some other container of your choice.  All that truly matters is that you have a designated spot for donations.  
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Why is this helpful?  It means that whenever you come across an item that you no longer need in your home, you already know where it goes: directly into the donation box.   

Otherwise, these items might get put back where they used to belong, leaving it to sit for another day when you will likely have to re-decide whether or not to keep it.  Alternatively, you might put it on the floor or corner of a room until you can go out to drop off the donations, adding clutter to the room.  In any case, it usually is easiest and quickest to finalize the decision to discard it by putting it in the appropriate place right away.  Decision done.  Action completed.  

It makes it really easy if you have a "spot" for donations.  Simply add items as you decide you no longer want something.  Once it is full, take a trip to your favorite local donation spot.  If you're in Houston, you might consider one of these locations that Flourish Organizing supports.  (Click here)

As you think about where to donate items, keep in mind that some items may go to a particular place.  For example, towels are greatly appreciated by local animal shelters.  The Lion's Club collects used prescription eye glasses.  Specialty items may need to go to a specific drop off.  On the other hand, many general clothes and items can often be donated to the same location.  

Choosing a place that is meaningful to take your donations to can help ease the potential sting of letting go of items.  Sometimes, it is difficult to let go of "perfectly good items".  However, shifting the focus off of ourselves can help.  Consider a shirt you purchased but don't really wear; then consider how it might feel to give that to someone who would truly appreciate it and use it when you really aren't.  

Helping others by donating items I no longer need is a way that I can be a good steward of those items.  I can help others.  This generosity is an important part of my Christian faith.  It's also a great way to keep items we don't want from cluttering up our homes, and a good way to keep useable items out of the trash landfills.