OK, I think I know the answer to this, but I may need support and am interested in your approaches.

I never used to consign anything—Goodwill was my clothing destination, and occasionally our church rummage sales.

But then with my “unfrumping” after years of style stagnation, I had a bigger turnover in the past couple of years. So I consigned some things. It takes a lot of time due to their limited hours of operation, and the return isn’t great. But it made me feel a little less guilty—woohoo, $50 here or there ! And then on YLF, everyone seems to be a devoted and conscientious consigner—I feel lower than a snake’s navel in comparison.

So in the past few months I have done 2 major edits, capturing the last of my prior decade (or more!) suits and jackets and things that didn’t really fit or flatter, and my early “makeover mistakes,", and recently some color palette shifts—it is one of my bigger collections for toss-out. I packed up the car and made time to make another trip (they even limit what an individual can consign per session, so it can take 2-3 trips) and they weren’t taking any new items again! This happened in Sept.

Also because consignment doesn’t take everything, but you don’t know ‘til you’ve presented your 20 or so items, I find myself trying to imagine what will be judged “worthy” or not, so I have to maintain two separate purge piles. Plus the seasonal thing--"oh,we're not taking any more fall items--try again next year!"

So—gabardine, velvet, cashmere, you name it, I’ve got it. No real ”duhsigner” stuff, though. And you know how you look at it and say, this ought to be worth something !--but honestly, the return is probably less than 10%, considering that not all items sell.

But I want it gone, even though it is in a spare closet that is not the same as my "holding zone". And the next church deal is not until late spring, and sometimes I’m not sure I want to rotate my clothes past parishoners' eyes anyway (not that they’d remember, but...).

We don't have that womens' workwear charity here anymore, because that would have been another option. I think that back on a regular toss-out schedule of a few things here or there throughout the year (because for consignment, I saved up, since it’s way more of a hassle than dropping by Goodwill, actually), I would not have this same emotional issue and would be most comfortable in full charity-donation mode. I do support the various shelters in town, but have not really connected with a way to target needs for women's clothing and sizes--that's something I could look into further.

And I'm becoming more and more convinced that holding on to things, even ones that are targeted for tossing, interferes with progress.

So, what say you? Should this just be Goodwill’s Good Luck? Shall I visualize the free feelings and not the guilt?