488: Gifts Plus Decluttering

Is it possible to really change how I clean my house?

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I’m answering questions around the theme of dealing with gifts while you’re actively decluttering your home!

Do you have any tips for dealing with gifts? After every holiday, I end up with a pile of items in the garage that were given with love, but I have no use for or room for.
What do you do with very personalized gifts you don’t want to keep? They’re too nice to throw away but it feels weird to donate.
How do I declutter items my son made as gifts for me that I no longer like. My son still lives with me, they are displayed in the living area and I don’t want to hurt his feelings but would love to re-decorate this space.
What do I do when “gifts” (receiving & giving) is the love language of everyone in my household?
I *tried* to do an alternative to gifts this year. Joke’s on me, hubby still bought everyone gifts, kids still bought everyone gifts, apparently Mom is a Grinch trying to steal Christmas.
My mother in law knows how far we’ve come decluttering and simplifying and she knows I usually say no to most items she offers. What do I do with these highly sentimental gifts we never wanted?
I’m having a hard time getting rid of gifted Christmas ornaments — even when I know they haven’t made it on the tree in the past few years.

Dana K. White