18. A trip to the charity shop

Almost from the very beginning we had been setting aside things to be taken to a charity shop. There was now so much that it was almost blocking the front hall. If it stayed there, it would make it very difficult for the cleaners to work.

Stella said, ‘I've found a charity shop where you can park out in front. Will you help me load the car and take the stuff there?’

‘Sure’

Cluttergone consultants don't throw things away or remove things from client’s houses. That is both the client's responsibility and their satisfaction. However, we are happy to help and will join them on trips to the tip.

Accompanying clients to charity shops has become a regular service. Going to charity shops is so much part of our, Beverly and my, lives that we hadn't realised that many of our client's find it daunting. Lots of people worry about what will happen. Will the people in the shop open the bags and examine what is being offered? Will they refuse things? 

Since the economic downturn, they have been overrun by people looking for bargains and are now desperate for stock. Except for some very exclusive shops in very rich areas, you'll KNOW which they are, they don't look in the bags and they don't refuse what you give them. There are only a few charities that accept electrical items. It is always a good idea to call before you go, because sometimes they have too many donations to process and can't accept anything else on that particular day.

We did everything we needed to do. Besides our trip to the charity shop, we formalised a filing system using some drawers in Stella's bedroom. The house was ready for the cleaning service.

‘I'd rather not be here alone when the cleaners come. Can I book you to be here? I don't expect to be able to do much while they are working, but I'd be more comfortable if you were in the house’.

‘Of course, I can just sit and carry on doing preliminary paper sorting. I'll see you then.’