I love the idea of never buying anything new, but even I am sometimes enchanted by the idea of something new and shiny. In order to have my cake and eat it too (why would you have cake and not eat it?!) I am reconnecting with the swapping, re-gifting approach.

Just a few days ago, I finished up a big professional organizing job with a wonderful woman who is fiercely passionate about NOT sending things to the landfill or letting things go to waste! In brainstorming about how to embrace this ethic and have less stuff, we came up with a few ideas:

1. Have a community “yard sale” to raise money for a cause you care about. In this case a prom for the school my client’s daughter works for. You can do this on your own or with friends and neighbors!

2. Re-Gifting! We set aside items’s the client’s daughter could give to her students as small christmas presents or rewards for a job well done.

3. Donating. The client took some brand new handmade soaps, new baby clothes and a beautiful scarf to a women’s shelter to see if anyone could use them for themselves or as christmas presents.

4. Start or join a Buy Nothing Group. Swap items with your coworkers, friends, neighbors, or anyone you can find.

With the holidays quickly approaching now is a great time to pass along things that you no longer have a use for. I hope some of these ideas will inspire you to buy less and give more.

You can clear clutter, keep things from the landfill and bring a smile to someones face with a gift that is not only thoughtful but maybe has a great story too!

Happy Swapping and Re-gifting!