Retirement is a great time to sort through items and declutter your space. Getting rid of things you don't have room for if you downsize or things you just don't need anymore can be therapeutic.
But knowing where to start can be a challenge. Following are a few items you might consider tossing — or perhaps selling so you can earn some extra cash.
Eliminate your late tax debt
Each year, the IRS forgives millions in unpaid taxes. If you have more than $10,000 in tax debt, or have 3+ years of unfiled taxes, you could get forgiveness too. You might be eligible to lower the amount you owe, or eliminate your tax debt completely.
Easy Tax Relief could help you lower or get out of your tax debt for good. They’re well respected in the industry and have been recognized for their ethical standards when dealing with tax debt. While most tax companies just put you on a payment plan and file your taxes for you, Easy Tax Relief talks to the IRS directly. They can help you pay off your tax debt faster while potentially reducing what you owe.
Important: Not everyone will qualify. To take advantage of this special program you must owe more than $10,000 in past-due taxes.
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Work clothes and shoes
![woman standing with senior lady at store trying shirts to purchase](https://cdn.financebuzz.com/filters:quality(75)/images/2023/03/23/woman-with-senior-lady-shopping-for-clothes.jpeg)
If you worked in a buttoned-up office for years or even decades, you likely won't need all those suits and skirts anymore.
Sort through your closet for things that you want to save, such as a nice suit or two for formal engagements like weddings or parties. Then, create a donation pile for any work items that you don't need anymore.
Doing so will free up space in your closet and give you a decluttered sense of accomplishment.
Employment paperwork
![man pointing at paper bin in hand](https://cdn.financebuzz.com/filters:quality(75)/images/2023/07/01/man-holding-paper-bin-in-hand.jpeg)
You likely have work papers that have piled up over the years that you can toss now that you have retired.
Just be careful. You may not want to get rid of important papers related to taxes, life insurance, or health care coverage.
Make three piles for papers you need, papers you want, and papers destined for the trash. This will help you organize the process.
Transportation passes
![businessman at office throwing garbage](https://cdn.financebuzz.com/filters:quality(75)/images/2023/07/01/business-man-throwing-garbage.jpeg)
Go through all those extra public transportation passes you collected and toss out expired ones.
If you still have current monthly passes, use them up by enjoying all the places you never got to visit while you were working.
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Your second car
![senior couple selling car holding keys](https://cdn.financebuzz.com/filters:quality(75)/images/2023/07/01/senior-couple-selling-car.jpeg)
Now that you're retired, you no longer need a car to commute to and from work. If you are a two-car household, consider getting rid of one car.
Doing so can save money on car payments, insurance, and monthly gas costs. It will likely be even easier to ditch your second vehicle if you and your spouse are retired.
Business travel items
![woman keeping laptop in case](https://cdn.financebuzz.com/filters:quality(75)/images/2023/07/01/woman-putting-laptop-in-case.jpeg)
Are you tired of getting on a plane every week to travel for work? The good news is that you don't have to do that anymore.
Think about ditching your work suitcase that you've shoved into too many overhead compartments.
Household items
![woman taking picture of lounge on tablet](https://cdn.financebuzz.com/filters:quality(75)/images/2023/07/01/woman-taking-picture-on-tablet.jpeg)
Retirement might also mean it’s time to move or downsize. If so, eliminate things you won't have room for in your next home.
Consider holding a garage sale to sell these items. Or, find places where you can donate your old furniture. You can also post these items online and offer to give them away for free.
Items in a storage unit
![man in storage unit holding box](https://cdn.financebuzz.com/filters:quality(75)/images/2023/07/01/man-with-box-in-storage-unit.jpeg)
If you have items in a storage unit, now is the time to sort through them or figure out what you want to toss. By doing so, you might eliminate that extra cost of storage you have been taking on.
Books
![woman donating books in brown box](https://cdn.financebuzz.com/filters:quality(75)/images/2023/07/01/woman-donating-books.jpeg)
If you have books related to work — such as books about marketing, mechanics, or leadership — they will probably just collect dust on your shelves now that you are retired.
Consider donating them to a local library. You can pass on some of the things you've learned over your career to someone else.
Old electronics
![man throwing phone in recycle container](https://cdn.financebuzz.com/filters:quality(75)/images/2023/07/01/man-throwing-phones-in-recycle-container.jpeg)
Retirement is the time to get rid of work-related electronics, from cell phones to computers and chargers.
Collect all of your old electronics and do a little research on how to dispose of them properly. Remember that things like batteries or certain types of old technology may require special disposal.
If you’re over 50, take advantage of massive discounts and financial resources
Over 50? Join AARP today — because if you’re not a member you could be missing out on huge perks. When you start your membership today, you can get discounts on things like travel, meal deliveries, eyeglasses, prescriptions that aren’t covered by insurance and more.
How to become a member today:
- Go here, select your free gift, and click “Join Today”
- Create your account (important!) by answering a few simple questions
- Start enjoying your discounts and perks!
You’ll also get insider info on social security, job listings, caregiving, and retirement planning. And you’ll get access to AARP’s Fraud Watch Network to help you protect your money, as well as tools to help you plan for retirement.
Important: Start your membership by creating an account here and filling in all of the information (Do not skip this step!) Doing so will allow you to take up 25% off your AARP membership, making it just $12 per year with auto-renewal.
Kitchen gadgets
![smiling senior couple recycling trash](https://cdn.financebuzz.com/filters:quality(75)/images/2023/07/01/senior-couple-recycling-trash.jpeg)
You now have the time to use your kitchen to make lunch and eat dinner at home. As you do so, you might notice that some kitchen gadgets rarely get used.
Sell things like the blender you never use, and toss or donate your mismatched silverware.
Sports equipment
![senior woman on treadmill at home](https://cdn.financebuzz.com/filters:quality(75)/images/2023/07/01/senior-woman-walking-on-treadmill.jpeg)
Is there a treadmill in your basement and bedroom that's going unused and taking up space? Get rid of it.
To stay active, join a gym or a neighborhood club for walkers, bikers, or runners. Ditch the stuff cluttering up your home space that isn't getting used.
Outdated media
![female technician reviewing cassettes](https://cdn.financebuzz.com/filters:quality(75)/images/2023/07/01/female-technician-checking-cassettes.jpeg)
Perhaps you have VHS movies or CDs that are collecting dust. If so, toss that outdated media, or find places to donate it, such as your local library.
Bottom line
![senior woman writing on book](https://cdn.financebuzz.com/filters:quality(75)/images/2023/07/01/senior-woman-writing.jpeg)
Whether you decide to retire early or start your golden years a bit later, now is the time to take advantage of your freedom and spend some time decluttering.
Create a list now of charities you can donate to or join local free groups where you can give away items. You have freed your mind from work responsibilities, and now is the time to rid your home of clutter, too.
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