No matter what items you have to get rid of, one possibility is to donate them to a local charity. Depending on the charity, you can donate used clothing, furniture, appliances, vehicles, canned (or prepackaged) food items, old sports equipment, eyeglasses, and just about anything else that others might be able to use.

While you won't receive cash for making a donation to a charity, you can take a tax deduction if the charity you donate your stuff to is legitimate and provides you with a receipt.

Here is a listing of some charities that might be interested in your castaways:

• The Women's Alliance (www.thewomensalliance.org) is a national not-for-profit membership alliance of independent community-based groups that increase the employability of low-income women. Assistance provided to these women includes donated professional attire, career-skills training, and a range of support services from dental care to health and wellness programs.

• Dress for Success (www.dressforsuccess.org) is a not-for-profit organization that helps low-income women transition into the work force. Each client receives one suit for her interview and a second suit when she lands a job.

• The Salvation Army (www.salvationarmy.org) is an international movement, collecting a wide variety of items and selling them cheaply. They also provide jobs and training those who work in their centers.

• Volunteers of America (www.voa.org) is a national, not-for-profit, faith-based organization providing local service programs and the opportunity for individual and community involvement in about 300 communities across the country.

• Goodwill Industries (www.goodwill.org) is one of the world's largest not-for-profit providers of employment and training services for people with disabilities and other conditions, such as welfare dependency, illiteracy, criminal history, and homelessness.

Should you have old computers or computer equipment on hand, consider donating them to a worthy charity. In Julie Morgenstern's book Organizing from the Inside Out, she lists several charities that will refurbish old computers and ship them overseas to needy children.

Here is a listing of a few of these charities:

• The National Cristina Foundation (www.cristina.org)

• World Computer Exchange (www.worldcomputerexchange.org)

• Computers for Schools (www.pcsforschools.org)

Keep in mind that computers are unsafe for landfills and should be disposed of properly. Don't try to sneak “techno-trash” in with your regular garbage. Check with your city's recycling department to see what kind of recycling options are available. Many cities offer a “blue bag” or pick-up service for electrical items. This will ensure that your items are recycled or disposed of properly. Even if you can't recoup your initial investment, nothing is completely wasted when you make an ecologically conscious decision.