Great Ideas for Parting With Your Crap

Here’s a question: How many things do you have lying around that you don’t use anymore? How many things do you have that you’ve never used?

I’m betting it’s more than you think. When you’re done reading this article, go take a peek in the back of your closet or the depths of your dresser drawers. It’s no secret: they’re filled with crap.

Everyone has junk they don’t need. One person’s trash might be another person’s treasure, but really, it’s probably just a piece of junk. So in honor of spring-cleaning time, here are some ideas for moving your junk out of your home and into someplace other than a landfill.

Thrift Stores:
Duh, we all know how awesome thrift stores are. If you have a few pieces in your closet that you don’t wear but can’t bear to part with, maybe you can give them the thrift-store treatment by finding accessories that go with them or using them to enhance other thrift-store finds (using a great fabric to sew patches onto jeans, for example). Or just donate your crap. It’s probably stylish to somebody.

Consignment Shops:
These stores are popping up all over the country right now thanks to the economy, and they are the perfect way to get rid of last season’s clothes (or the last five seasons if you haven’t cleaned that closet in awhile). Simply pull everything you no longer wear out of the closet, make sure it’s all clean and in good shape, then take it to the local consignment store and sell it! You can get anywhere from 35-50% of what they sell your stuff for, which is a great way to make room in your wardrobe for new duds….and the money to buy ‘em.

Stuff Swap:
I love this idea. Since you’re never the only one with a bunch of junk, call up all your friends and get them to gather their junk, too. Then have a free-for-all swap or barter arrangement where you can score sweet finds from people you already know. The more people you can get involved the better—you might even think about organizing this as an official event at your school. You and your friends could even hold a yard sale and collect cashola for the stuff you don’t use anymore. Which brings me to . . .

Sell It:
Why not make some cash from the stuff you don’t use anymore? Undercut the bookstore by selling your old textbooks to underclassmen, or put them on half.com. Write killer product descriptions for your gently used Steve Maddens with the killer heels (ouch) and set them up on eBay or Craigslist. In fact, get rid of tons of stuff -  from extra furniture to clothes you don’t wear – on Craigslist. You’d be surprised at the things people will buy if your prices are reasonable.

Re-purpose It:
This is one of my personal favorite options. If you’re crafty, save up bits of fabric and yarn and use them for gorgeous projects like the ones showcased every day on Etsy. If you can’t tell a spool of thread from a turkey leg, give your bits and pieces to your more talented friends who have been known to carry around duct-tape messenger bags and sew their own clothing. They’ll love you!

What other ideas do you guys have for pitching your stuff? Let’s hear ‘em!