The Story of Stuff
Last week when I was on vacation one of my goals was to clean off the sun porch. For months, it was home to a monitor, a laser printer, boxes of books, 7 bowling balls, a twin bed headboard and frame, 2 fish tanks, a tire, a blow up mattress, a plant stand, a TV and a microwave all just sitting out there taking up space. Instead of throwing everything away, I looked around for companies, organizations or people that might be able to benefit from them and found the following:
Got books? PaperBackSwap members want them! I have been a member of this site for years and never took advantage of it until this past weekend. Basically, for each book you swap with another member, you get a credit to receive a book. I posted 14 books and within 24 hours, I mailed four books to other members. You can also put books on your wish list and as they become available you can have them mailed to you. Rather than throwing books away, it’s a great way to pass them along to someone who needs it. If you decide to join, I’d appreciate it if you use my referral link that will enable me to get credit for one book! They also swap used CDs and DVDs.
WirelessRecycling.com is a site run by ReCellular Inc., the country’s (USA) largest recycler and reseller of used wireless phones. Why not dig through your junk drawers for old cell phones or any other accessories and recycle or donate your stuff! Just remember, erasing information from your phone doesn’t mean it’s gone, destroying the SIM card might be best.
If you have used prescription or nonprescription glasses or sunglasses in your drawers, desks, or closets, you can donate them to Lions Clubs International. Package the glasses and mail them to Lions Clubs International, Attention: Receiving Department, 300 W. 22nd Street, Oak Brook, IL 60523. Children’s glasses are especially needed. Click here to find a club near you.
After several unsuccessful attempts to sell some of my things on eBay or Craig’s List, unfortunately, I had to throw some stuff away. Every year I do my spring cleaning and my goal is to simplify my life and to control my “stuff” consumption. Less is the new more. The more you have, the more you have to worry about, the more you have to maintain, the more you have to throw away. This is the story of stuff…
“The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, (this above is only a teaser) fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. It’ll teach you something, it’ll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever.”
What do you do with the stuff you no longer need? Do you donate it, give it away or toss it in the trash?
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My name is Valerie aka Natural and I will be writing about whatever is on my mind. I love teaching, dialogue, sharing and making people laugh. I never know what I'll share here but this is me, Thinking Out Loud.
well I am kind of reluctant to part with a lot of it..but when I do I try to donate it…
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hmm, i just spent 5 hours watching a Clean House marathon and there were some people on there really attached to their stuff. one lady broke down crying saying she wanted to throw up. she can’t cope with change. had a lot of crap too…sentimental sure, but come on.
do you have anything i can use? mail it to me.
Oooo, I like the idea of sending my old paperbacks, CD’s, DVD’s, and eyeglasses somewhere with the confidence that why will be used again.
My stuff? Aside from the comics and action figures we collect, I make it a point to have as little “stuff” as possible cluttering the home. My mom used to do that and it DROVE ME NUTS. The H and I frequently donate clothes and others items we no longer want or need. I’ll admit we don’t recycle, but my Mom-in-law likes to comes buy and take all those.
So we could do better, but I *think* we do a little good for whatever it’s worth.
Nice video!
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Bookcrossing is kind of cool as well, it’s what I have been doing with my books lately… and as soon as I move into a house of my own, I will probably get rid of all my books through them.
I have several cell phones I need to get rid of, so thanks for the link!
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Jillian, the paperback swap thing is pretty nice, yes you pay for postage, but so does the other person when you want a book…it’s not much if you send it by media mail. I’m just glad I can get it off the porch. You can also try http://donatemycellphone.org/ if you want to print out a prepaid mailer…I used them because my butt was too lazy to drop off a cell phone somewhere. Mailing is easy for me.
Monique, I’ll have to checkout Bookcrossing,never heard of them. Hey now what a minute, what kind of books are you trying to get rid of..I want to see?
Hi Natural,
These are all great ideas. I had never heard of the book swap before.
I usually have an annual garage sale, and whatever is left over gets donated. I’m pretty good about recycling paper/cardboard, cans and bottles as our city has a good service for that.
I agree, less is more. But somehow that stuff still has a tendency to accumulate.
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For your books, you should check out http://bookscouter.com. You can check to see if any sites will pay you for your books instead of just giving them away.
Brandon, thanks for the link. I don’t think of it as giving them away, but more like sharing. If it’s just a regular book, I’m happy to swap or give it away, their not worth much.