Maybe it’s because I just put down the current issue of Oprah, which is all about organizing, or because spring is right around the corner, or because I feel like the time has come (again) for me and my closet to enjoy a little quality time, but today I’ve decided to focus on paring down, not buying more. Don’t get me wrong – I still love shopping. I love it so much that I need to clear some room out of my overstuffed closet so that I can do some more shopping. 🙂 Here are a few creative ways I plan to do it:
1. Copious.com: If you overshop, and you know who you are, this member-only site allows you to recoup some of your money by selling brand-new merchandise to another overshopper. Genius, really.
2. Ebay: Tried and true – a quick way to unload some of the excess baggage from your closet.
3. Local consignment shops: If you are fortunate enough to live in a town with a couple of good consignment stores, go for it. The best ones are in the nicer neighborhoods, where people are more label-conscious and are willing to spend more for items that they love.
4. Plato’s Closet: Like a consignment shop, but national. This popular store skews pretty young in our region (lots of Abercrombie, Hollister, etc.) but varies greatly, so it’s worth checking.
5. Style Swap: One of these days, I am going to host a closet clean out party, where all of my friends bring their nicer castoffs to swap with each other. No longer your size, not your color – it might be just the thing for a good friend. Everyone gets swap coupons based on what they bring in to “spend”, and the remainder goes to goodwill.
If you can’t sell it, donate it. Many organizations, like the Junior League, have wonderful established thrift shops that funnel the money right back into the community!
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