This time of year can feel very excessive, many of us will receive a lot of gifts we neither need nor want. Whilst we may be grateful, it does leave us with stuff, the question is then what to do with it all? This is one of the best times to help those less fortunate.
For most of us, our first thoughts are to think about what we can replace them with. We think about what we can exchange it for, or some of us simply save it ‘just in case’ it comes in handy. This is our cumulative mindset at work, we are always acquiring things – it’s a human instinct to gather possessions. So perhaps we can be forgiven a little? But as we know, too much stuff = stress. Nobody likes clutter.
Going Against our Instincts
Getting away from this natural human instinct of accumulating things can feel like a strange transition at first, but it’s worth it. How about instead of thinking about what you want to replace, replace this thinking with how you can use your position and surpluses items to help someone else in need?
Christmas is the season of giving, so why not use the remainder of the festive season to give back, especially after the past year, those most vulnerable in our society only find their situation worsened due to the pandemic, it’s important that us who are in a position to help do what we can. Lots of people require basic hygiene products such as soap, toothbrushes, deodorant etc. So if you’ve found yourself with more than you can use in a year, why not pass it on to someone who really could benefit from it?
Selling Unwanted Gifts & Donating to Charity
Donating your unwanted gifts straight to charity can seem like the obvious option, but it’s not necessarily the best option. Charity shops have been overrun with donations during the lockdown as people have been doing COVID-19 clear outs. For example, the British Heart Foundation found that contributions were 197% higher in their first week of reopening than in the same week last year. It’s safe to say charity shops are snowed under with donations at the moment, so check before you drop off items. There are still plenty of ways you can get rid of your unwanted gifts and at the same time help those in need.
How about selling on these unwanted items and donating the money to charity? Selling platforms such as eBay are great for selling your unwanted gifts and are very easy to use. Here’s an easy guide on how to sell for charity on eBay. It will also help you get your personal account ratings up if you ever want to sell to make money, and who knows, maybe this will be the start of your very own eBay empire. You’re welcome 😉
When you do make your listings, make sure to post it your social media accounts, and tag us in and let us know what charity you have decided to support. We are always here to help a good cause and do a re-post, or re-tweet for you 🙂
Roberta and the EBD Team x