Funny you should ask. I was just doing this today.
For fancy/expensive clothes (I didn’t have many), I put them on sale for ebay.
For plain clothes in good condition, I just held on to them to give away to friends who are having kids.
For clothes not in good condition, I use them as rag to mop the floor.
I don’t donate clothes in poor condition to Goodwill/Salvation army because I believe it just gets tossed out. Also, I don’t know what the overhead these organizations are, but I figure better to do a handme down to other folks I know.
Regarding toys, baby stuff, stuff that my kid has outgrown that are inexpensive, I usually just sell them or give them away on craigslist. There’s usually either a single parent on a tight budget or a self-run daycare that might be interested. Most of the stuff were free hands-me-down from neighbors, like a playpen, activity center,etc, I just list on craigslist for free.
For things like strollers, high chairs,etc, I either craiglist them with a meaningful small amount. I don’t resell car seats for liability issues.
The thing that I usually try to resell the most (50% original price) are the security gates, because those don’t really depreciate with age…..
For books, I donate used books either to the elementary school, her old preschool, the library, or if no one wants them, just use them as target practice.
But be forewarn..Craiglists, you often deal with the wierdest cheapest people on the face of the earth…
Just today, I listed a jogging stroller for 20 bucks (not that I’m really trying to make money off of this). I had 5 people interested, but I had to be nice and pick the first guy who ultimately was the biggest pain in the ass. First off, he shows up late in the day after work. Then he looks at the stroller for like 30 minutes!!!! Pointing out, this is bad, this is not good, the wheels have a little side rust, the front wheel isn’t turnable, can I clean it, yada yada yada.. I was thinking like “dude” it’s 20 bucks for a fvcking jogging stroller…to which i ended up just telling him after he annoyed me “Look, we’ve been out here for 30mins, I’m freezing my ass off, and I need to get back to work. The stroller is as is, if you don’t want it, I don’t mind. There’s 4 other people that want it….Make your decision now…”
The dude continues to go off on this is wrong that is wrong, and finally says “but how about $15 instead….” I was thinking, you have to be fvcking kidding me right? I’ve been out there for 1/2 hr over 5 bucks. To which I said , “you’re kidding right? We’ve been talking about this for 1/2 hr over $5????Dude, look at my car. It’s $80 for me to fill up each time… Do you think I’m trying to make a living off of this?”
Dead silence.. To which I then said, fine you know $15 is fine. I was that close to just saying no, just because you he was such a pain in the ass. But at the same time, I don’t want to spend the next 1/2 entertaining 4 other people who probably think the same way….
Anyway, craigslist…Love it and hate it.
Well, so today I gave away free stuff and gave someone a $5 discount so he can be happy going home… Looks like the $15 is going into a lotto ticket for Weds’ draw 🙂
