Hey friend!
If you’ve ever had a donation bag riding in the back of your car for weeks (or let’s be honest, months), you are so not alone. Today, I want to walk you through something incredibly practical yet deeply emotional—how to finally let go of the things taking up space in your home and your heart.
As homemakers, many of us have a special basket (or five) set aside for donations. We keep filling it up with good intentions, but the follow-through? That’s the hard part. Maybe we don’t know where to take it, maybe we’ve grown oddly attached to the items, or maybe we just feel too guilty to let them go. I’ve been there—literally. With bags of stuff just living in my trunk for far too long.
So let’s dive in—gracefully, truthfully, and practically—on how to release what no longer serves us and make room for peace.
The #1 Game-Changer: Put the Drop-Off in Your Calendar
Not your to-do list. Your calendar.
There’s a big difference between thinking “I’ll do this someday” and actually carving out space in your week to do it. Block off time as if it's a real appointment, and treat it with the same respect you would a meeting with a friend. Add the address of the donation center to your calendar event so there’s no hesitation or mental friction when the time comes.
Choose the Place Before the Day Comes
Planning ahead eliminates the stress of wondering where to go. Whether it's a Goodwill, a women's shelter, or a local ministry, decide in advance. This will help your brain shift from procrastination to peace. You’re not “just going to donate”—you have a plan.
A Note from My Story
A few years ago, I ran a thrift resell business and dropped things off at the same Goodwill so often, I started recognizing my own donations on the rack! And that did something to my confidence. I started to wonder if I was being too much… giving too often. I even drove 30 minutes out of my way to other donation centers just so I wouldn’t feel judged.
If you’ve ever felt weird about donating—or built up some quiet anxiety around it—I see you. I am you. But friend, this isn't silly. It's human. And it’s something we can work through together.
Your Stuff Could Be Someone Else’s Miracle
Those items you're hesitating to let go of? They could be exactly what another woman needs in her home right now. She’s praying for affordable clothes, a decent set of dishes, a baby blanket… and it's sitting in your hallway. That shifted something in me. What if my delay was holding back someone else’s answered prayer?
What to Donate vs. What to Toss
Here’s the grace-filled truth: not everything belongs in a donation bin. Some things really are just trash. If it's stained, ripped beyond repair, or smells a little funky—give yourself permission to let it go properly.
Ask yourself: Would someone joyfully pay for this with their hard-earned money? If not, it's okay to toss it. You're not a bad steward for throwing away unusable items—you’re showing kindness to the workers who sort through those donations.
The Sentimental Struggle is Real
Letting go is hard when you're sentimental. Maybe it was your child’s outfit, or a hobby you once loved. The memories are real and precious. But holding onto everything from past seasons can keep us from stepping fully into our current one.
Just like trees lose their leaves to prepare for spring, we too can release with purpose—trusting that what’s ahead will be even more beautiful.
A Practical System: My Donation Basket Routine
I keep a large basket lined with a trash bag in my entryway closet. Anytime I come across something we don’t need, I toss it in. When donation day rolls around (remember—calendar, not to-do list!), I simply grab the bag, tie it up, and go. Then I line it with a new trash bag and start again. This tiny habit has made a big difference.
Sister, You Are Not Behind
You’re not lazy. You’re not messy. You’re human.
Give yourself grace for the bags in the trunk, the baskets in the hallway, and the clothes you’re still deciding about. Start with one small step. Maybe it’s five minutes of decluttering today. Maybe it’s finally scheduling that drop-off for next Tuesday.
Whatever it is—walk in grace, not guilt.
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Last But Not Least!!! My Gift to YOU!
Here is a special FREE Printable just for you: A donation Tracker!
Use this fun and simple tracker to celebrate when you drop off your donations! Just color in the line until the whole bag is full. You can print this again and again and use it as much as you life.
I personally create my own donation tracker inside the Lovely Home Planner so that I have everything I need in one place, and with the Lovely Home Planner, there is plenty of open and free white space for you to add any tracker you want!
Would You Rather...
Let’s have a little fun. Would you rather have someone help you declutter your whole house—or help you do all the donation drop-offs?
I’d pick drop-offs, 100%. I’m a little too attached to let someone else decide what stays or goes. 😂
Let me know your answer by messaging me on Instagram, emailing me at shopallthingslovelyco@gmail.com, or dropping a comment right here on this blog post! I love hearing your thoughts.
One Last Thing...
If this blog post resonated with you, would you share it with a friend? Maybe a fellow homemaker or mama who needs a nudge (and a whole lot of grace) to clear out the back of her car. You never know who’s just waiting to feel less alone in the overwhelm.
And if you want to hear me go more in depth on this topic, feel free to tune in to episode 40 on the Lovely Home Podcast! I'll link it below:
You are doing a wonderful job. You are a steward of your home. And most of all—you are loved by a God who makes all things new.
Now go declutter just one little thing. You’ve got this.
You are lovely, and so is your home.
Evelyn