Donate Clutter and Help Your Community (and Even Get a Tax Deduction)

You might have just bought a new desk, or an improved set of silverware, so good for you. But what are you going to do with your old stuff? Have you been hoping that your collectible mug will crack so you can get rid of it? Is it time to shed the clutter and make room for the next wave of new stuff? Take the steps to donate your used items to a local thrift store.

In our consumption driven economy, it's easy to keep our eyes on the prize and flash the new bling. But most of the junk we replace is still usable. When does a couch really begin to lose its effectiveness? It may not look fresh anymore, it may be out of style, or have some tears here and there, but does it need to be destroyed? Some people will actually sledgehammer it to death with a personal hatred of the inanimate object. What good does that do? Often, many of these items can be easily repaired or restyled to the new owners' tastes.

I'm not Mr. Recycle, I don't separate my glass, paper, and etc, etc. That's a whole other issue, though anything we can do for Mother Earth would be welcomed. But leave a trash bag in the corner of your closet and fill it with your books, clothes, unfriendly kitchen gadgets, and anything that isn't actually garbage. When you're ready to let go of it, drop it off at a donation area and collect your receipt. It's that simple

If you have been wondering how to fit a floor to ceiling bookcase into your trashcan, then you might be overlooking the obvious. Most local thrift stores can schedule a special pickup for your larger items. Imagine that!

There's also a common feeling that anything of some use could be placed next to your trash, as if this is some sort of bait for the neighborhood characters. You might have seen an old television set placed at the curb and it's easy to see how that logic would work… if anyone wants it they can have it, otherwise it'll be gone by trash pickup. However, there are two flaws with this act of goodwill. What the unsuspecting donor is actually doing is placing a worm on a hook. If you hope that somebody will pickup your old TV, then you should consider that whatever character arrives might also go digging further for a remote, or some other nugget of value. (You do shred everything, right?) Another calamity of your pick-me-up offer could result as a destruction freebee. Have you ever wanted to take an Incredible Hulk approach to a television? You might be left with shattered parts across your lawn and driveway. You'll do better by offering your goods to a donation center.

If you need to receive payment for your retro turtlenecks and your first coffee table, then consider the tax break opportunities. Your receipts could document your charitable actions. You are allowed up to $500 in value on a typical 1040 tax return. If you think you'll be claiming more, then you'll need to fill out IRS form 8283 with a more detailed account of your good nature. Keep in mind that any items valued $250 or more will need to be documented by the charity, and anything of value more than $500 will also need an independent appraisal. Realistically, these incentives are much like an extended warranty, they help close the deal but they are hardly used for any benefit. You'll generally need a large amount of donations with proper record keeping in order to build any real savings on your taxes. If you plan on donating enough to benefit your taxes, then it will be a good idea to keep a list of what you've given, and use a digital camera to snap some pictures of your items to backup your receipts.

For some immediate satisfaction on your old junk, check your receipt or ask the staff if there are any discounts available in return for donations. The thrift stores can sometimes have a reasonable selection of goods for even the seasoned shopper. Books are of course a given as many previous bestsellers can be had for pocket change. And many thrift stores keep an upscale area for their rare finds such as jewelry and desirable antiques. Maybe you'll find a unique piece of furniture that could use some care.

At the end of the day, the benefit of donating to your local charity comes down to a warm, fuzzy feeling and a purging of senseless clutter.