Giving up your excess could be the answer to somebodies prayers...

Now I've known, and seen folks that pretty much hold on to any, and every last little trinket that they get their hands on... And while I have my shop, and home, well stocked, we often go through and determine what is just sucking up space and cluttering up our lives. 

Sometimes, we sell, but sometimes, it is just easier and more beneficial to find a non profit organization that can make use of my excess to further their cause...

In my recent case of the clean out / donation cycle, I have come across surplus musical equipment, and tools. Specifically my old B&D Firestorm non slide 10" miter saw needed to go. I had the Chicago Electric 12" slider set up well, and was happy with it, and the old B&D was sucking up space in my shop. I've got a friend and neighbor that is a dad with very young kids, that while he's not broke by any means, needs to be careful with his family funds, and needed to replace a broken older Delta miter saw... So out the door of my place over to his the B&D went. It will live on now to help him finish the crown molding project he started on that managed to kill his 20+ year old Delta...

The musical gear I had in excess was a nearly new 100 watt 1x15 bass amp. I had it listed on bass players forums for sale, on Craigslist, and several other locations... No bites. Price was listed reasonably, but no interest. Admittedly I did wait until I got my own new amp to sell this one, so the purchase for Christmas stuff was over... But it was a good amp, and it needed a home that could use it...

A few phone calls and I got in touch with the worship leader at my church, who was more than happy to take the donation in. When I dropped it off, he mentioned that the amp in the high school area was on its last legs and this was a real answer to prayer as they needed a new one...

So now I have less junk cluttering up my life, and even though I didn't get any cash value back from any of this, I DID get satisfaction knowing that my donations are making a difference in the lives of folks around me... And that can be worth far more than money...

I will admit, the bass amp at least going to a non profit organization, can be written off my 2015 income taxes, so I guess there is a financial benefit to me, not much of one, but I will take it. Takes over the last several years have been kind of painful. Any relief is a blessing...

If you've got stuff cluttering up your life, and assuming you don't need to sell it to raise money, you might want to seriously consider donation to a worthy cause. You just might make a difference in peoples lives!