Tag: donate

Toss It

With new gifts filling your house, should you keep your old stuff or toss it? I grew up in a family that used the same pieces of Christmas wrap for 10 or 15 years. We weren’t allowed to tear open a package. We carefully cut along the tape or lifted it gently, refolded the paper, and stored it away for another year.

African American woman in front of black background looking surprised while holding a small present with lid open.

The fact that we held onto things is evident in the houses I’ve cleaned out and the building I’m still emptying. I’ve rented multiple 30- and 40-yard dumpsters – 5 just for stuff my mother accumulated. Two of those equaled over 10,000 pounds of trash.

As gifts arrive, it’s a great time to contemplate another round of tossing. As I do, I’m reminded that I like feeling prepared. But do I really need another insulated tumbler, or do I just hate washing the one I have?

So when it comes to a specific item, how do you decide whether to keep it or toss it?

Determining what to keep can begin with a few simple questions…

  • Does this item feed me or weigh me down?
  • Do I use this item or is its value sentimental?
  • Would someone in my family value this more than I do?
  • Is the item in disrepair?
  • Would cash serve me better at this moment?
  • Could the item help someone?
  • How long have I had this without using it?
  • Can it be replicated digitally then disposed of?
  • Does this thing fit my current lifestyle?
  • Am I hanging onto something based on wishful thinking?
  • Has the tech become outdated?
  • Is it something my family or neighbors can collectively use?
  • Do I have more than one thing that serves this purpose?
  • Have I received an updated version?
  • Can it be repurposed and will I repurpose it?

How you answer these questions will make some answers obvious. If something weighs you down, toss it. If something has mostly sentimental value, a photo may suffice. If the item is in disrepair and you determine that you aren’t willing, or can’t afford to, fix it, give it away (or sell it).

While I don’t want to hang onto every little thing, I like the feeling of being prepared. I hate the feeling of being wasteful. I keep the best boxes throughout the year to use for gifts during the holiday season. I keep small flowerpots when I repot to larger ones. I have a collection of Allen wrenches I’ve saved from furniture assembly just in case a bolt comes loose.

I have jumper cables plus a rechargeable jump starter. I don’t plan to get rid of them because I’ve loaned them to two neighbors in the last month.

On the other hand, there’s a window seat, cedar chest, and box of small antiques that are nagging me to sort and toss. If I don’t finish those before the end of the year, I want to make sure they are included in my 2026 calendar.

Actually scheduling a toss out reminds me that as long as I don’t replace at the same rate I toss, I have more time for fun. It also allows me to take advantage of free recycling events.

I wish you lots of lovely gifts this holiday season, but when one isn’t for you, don’t be afraid to toss it to someone else.

Happy Holidays!

Haste Not Waste

Have a pantry full of mac & cheese, snack cakes, stuffing, pasta, complete boxed meals, flavored rice mixes, breakfast cereal, packets of instant oatmeal, biscuit mix, pancake mix, muffin mix, cake mix, and granola bars? Can’t stand the idea of it going to waste? I hear you. I hate wasting food.

If you are hesitant to begin an eating plan that lowers your carbs and sodium, or eliminates chemicals, starches, sugar, or gluten while the pantry is full, remember that it’s never too early to start getting healthy and the shelf life of boxed food is l-o-n-g. As you continue to consume foods that harm your system, your resolve to make positive changes can begin to wane, especially when you feel bad. How can you bridge the disconnect between your desire for better health and your guilt over wasting food? What if you can make haste without waste?

Instead of waiting until you’ve used the food you have on hand to start a healthy eating plan, consider donating that food to those in need or to those who you appreciate. Look around your community for the opportunity that best fits your values.

In my city, it is possible to donate food to a nonprofit food bank, a homeless shelter, and several church food pantries. There are online groups like Freecycle that allow members to offer any sort of item at no cost to other group members. Some local fire stations accept food donations giving you a chance to take your kids to visit the firemen when you drop off the food. Not only can your children learn about personally helping others, they can get a first hand view of a public service career.

For those of you with ample storage space and advanced will power, move the processed food items out of your pantry into long-term storage. Pull out and cook these items when you attend a potluck or donate to a bake sale. Do not replenish this store and soon your supply will be depleted.

If you feel you need one last hurrah before choosing a healthy path, have a party. Let the menu consist of the mismatched processed foods you have on hand. Create a memory card for each dish that says things like: Thank you Frosted Mini Wheats for making my leftover milk sugary sweet; thank you mac & cheese for making me feel like a 10 year old again; thank you granola bars for keeping my shirt clean when I eat in the car. These cards will be great conversation starters as you and your friends travel down memory lane.

Once you’ve emptied the pantry in a guilt-free manner, there will be room for healthy replacements. Once you let go of your old eating habits, you will have the energy to replace those habits with new ones. You are important. Your health is critical to your well being. You cannot afford to continue to delay. Now is the time to make haste, not waste.