Are your tables and chairs looking a little stressed? Is new furniture at the top of your holiday wish list? Our furniture puts up with a lot of things year round – spills, scratches, scrapes, being used as a palette for a child’s crayon masterpiece, and other mild to moderate abuse that’s just a part of every day living. Fortunately, the holiday season brings the hope of a new beginning.
You may have considered the new furniture you’d like to receive, but have you considered what you’ll do with the old stuff? There are a few options for getting rid of your old furniture, each with their own pros and cons.
First, you could use a consignment shop. By using a consignment shop, you don’t have to give out your personal information like you would with a classified ad. For a small cut of the price, a consignment shop will take your furniture, provided it’s in good condition. Their professional staff will then sell your piece for you.
You could also try to sell the furniture on your own, through a classified service or a yard sale. If you know other families with unwanted furniture, you could all collaborate to put on a big rummage sale.
Finally, my favorite option: you can donate your used furniture to families who need it. A quick online search will reveal plenty of charities that need gently used furniture. Goodwill stores are easy to find. There are also organizations that take used furniture for victims of specific disasters, like Hurricane Katrina and the San Diego wild fires. If you own a business, try to think outside the box; those old reception chairs could be put to good use in someone’s dining or living rooms. And most donations are fully tax deductible. That’s not quite as rewarding as the warm feeling you’ll get from helping your fellow man, but it’s a significant added bonus.
