“Use it Up, Wear It Out, Make it Do or Do Without”
While we call it “downsizing,” I prefer to think of it as rightsizing. Decluttering your life can have an effect on our mental wellbeing and consuming less reduces our carbon footprint. Do we really need all this stuff? Maybe you don’t, and maybe someone else does.
If you are looking to shift your mindset and start a more decluttered life, below is a wealth of resources from books on the topic to help you prepare, to compassionate companies that will handle everything for you if it’s all too much. Experience the “Magic of Tidying Up,” and send those items onto their next life.
CLEARINGHOUSE FOR CLEARING HOUSES
Downsizing Resources for Sussex County, Delaware
Books & Articles:
•The Buy Nothing, Get Everything Plan: Discover the Joy of Spending Less,
Sharing More, and Living Generously, by Liesl Clark & Rebecca Rockefeller, 2020
• Downsizing The Family Home: What to Save – What to Let Go, by Marni
Jameson, AARP 2015
• The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and
Organizing, by Marie Kondo, 2010
• The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Free Yourself and Your Family
from a Lifetime of Clutter, by Margareta Magnusson, 2017
• A Guide to Getting Rid of Almost Everything, by Patricia Marx, New Yorker,
2/28/2022
Full-Service Downsizing/Decluttering Companies:
• Caring Transitions of Southern Delaware (franchise), 302-648-5552 – Stacey
Himler, 302-604-8689, shimler@caringtransitions.com,
www.caringtransitionssoutherndelaware.com
• Squared Away Today, Stephanie Fletcher, 302-270-8191,
steph@squaredawaytoday.com, www.squaredawaytoday.com
Thrift Stores – Lewes & Rehoboth:
• All Saints & St. George’s Parish Thrift Shops, 2 stores, same contact info for both
302-226-3123, M-F 10-4, Saturday 9-2, allsaintsandsaint-georges.org
~ Parish Thrift Shop @ Rehoboth, 20673 Coastal Hwy, Rehoboth Beach
~ Parish Thrift Shop @ Midway, 18675 Coastal Hwy, Rehoboth Beach
• American Veteran’s Thrift Shop – 2 stores
~ 34396 Tenley Court, Lewes, 302-703-6406, M-Sat 9-5
~ 35224 Hudson Way, Rehoboth Beach, 302-200-7913, M-F 10-6
• Conley’s Community Thrift Shop – 22150 Robinsville Rd, Lewes, 302-945-5566,
Tu-F 10-4, Sat 9-3
• God’s Way – 19871 Coastal Hwy, Rehoboth Beach, 302-227-2314 M-F, 9-5
• Habitat for Humanity ReStore – 18501 Stamper Dr., Lewes, 302-855-1156, Tu-
Sat 10-5 (no clothes)
• New Life Thrift Shop – 34686 Jiffy Way, Lewes, M-Sat 10-4, 302-644-0171
• Unfinished Business – 18389 Olde Coach Dr., Rehoboth Beach, 302-645-8700,
M-Sat 10-5, Sun 10-3
Thrift Stores – Georgetown:
•Pickers Paradise Thrift Store, Georgetown, Th & Sat. 9-6, Sun 9-5
• Robin Hood Thrift Store – Cedar St. & Kinney St., Georgetown, M-Th 12-3, Sat
9-12
Thrift Stores — Milford:
• Bridging the Gap Thrift Store – 21 SE Front St., Milford, M-Sat. 10-5
• God’s Way Thrift Store, 1 Maple Ave, Milford, 9-5 M-Sat.
• Goodwill – 694 N. Dupont Blvd, Milford – M-Sat 10-8, Sun 11-7
• Salvation Army Thrift Store – 117 SE Front St., Milford, M-Sat 10-7
Thrift Stores — Millsboro:
•Christian Storehouse – 149 Mitchell St., Millsboro, M-Sat 10-2
•Goodwill – 28595 E. Dupont Blvd, Millsboro, M-Sat 10-8, Sun 11-7
Thrift Stores – Bridgeville, Laurel, Ocean View, Seaford, Selbyville:
• Goodwill – 18178 Sussex Highway, Bridgeville, M-Sat 10-8, Sun 11-7
• Bridgeville Thrift Store – 603 S. Main St., Bridgeville, M-Sat 9-6
• Dollar Bills – 405 N. Central Ave, Laurel, M-Sat 10-5
• Good Samaritan Thrift Shop – 11510 Market St., Laurel, Th-Sat 10-4
• Pam’s Treasures – 233 Mechanic St., Laurel, F-Sun 9-5
• Thrifty Creations (was “That Second Hand Store”) – 1003 S. Central Ave, Unit B,
Laurel, M-Th 10-5, F-Sat 10-6, Sun 10-4
• Atlantic Community Thrift – 34634 Atlantic Ave, Ocean View, W-F 12-3, Sat 9-12
• Curiosity Shop – 1100 Middleford Rd., Seaford, Tu-Sat 10-3
• Delmarva Teen Challenge Mega Thrift – 22941 Sussex Hwy, Seaford, M-Sat 9-6
• Hidden Treasurers – 38475 Dupont Blvd, M, Th-F 11-4:30, Sat & Sun 11-4
• Samaritan Thrift – 38288 London Ave, Selbyville, M, Tu, Th, F 9-3, Sat 9-12
Auctions/Estate Sales:
• A&M Auction/Appraisals – Dave Allen, 302-545-1903
• Emmert Auction Associates, 302-227-1433, emmertauction.com
• Reagan Watson Auctions – Scott Reagan, 302-228-7355 (Milford area)
• The Estate Preserve – Mark Erskine, theestatepreserve.com, 302-381-4121
Consignment:
• Christine’s Consignments (2 shops)
~ 42 Atlantic Ave, Ocean View, DE, 302-829-1425, Th-Sat 10-5, Sun 10-4,
Mon-Tu 10-5. Closed Wed. CLOTHES ONLY
~ 1300 Coastal Hwy, Fenwick Island – 302-537-1037, Th-Sat 11-5, Sun 10-3.
Closed Tuesdays & Wednesdays. NO CLOTHES
• Seaquels Furniture Consignment Shop – 4 Town Road, Ocean View, W-Sat 10-4
• She Sells Consignment & Resale Boutique – 15 Atlantic Ave, Ocean View M, Th-
Sat 10:30 – 4:30, Sun 10:30-2:30
• Wilson’s Auction (in-person consignment auction) – 10120 DuPont Blvd (Rt. 113
South), Lincoln, DE 302-422-3454, www.Wilsonsauction.com
Donate to Organizations that give items away to people in need (not resale):
• Higher Ground House – day shelter for homeless, 12 East Pine Street,
Georgetown, 302-470-7497, help@highergroundoutreachinc.org, Th-Tues 9-6
• Home of the Brave – 6632 Sharps Rd, Milford, 302-424-1681, serves veterans,
www.homeofthebravefdn.org
• Lions Club – medical equipment, eyeglasses
• Nana’s Music Box, www.nanasmucisbox.com – takes donations of gently used
music devices including headphones, record players, CD players, cassette
players and recorded music “to bring joy and memory to Alzheimer’s patients.”
• Shepherd’s Office – 408 N. Bedford St., Georgetown, 302-858-8556 (supports
the homeless)
• The Giving Cellar, Milton, on Facebook – run by Threasa Brittingham, helps
people in the community in need.
Give Things Away:
• Offer to family, friends, neighbors informally
• Buy Nothing Groups (Facebook)
• Freecycle.org (online, not Facebook)
• Community websites and facebook groups (may also be allowed to sell items)
• NextDoor, OfferUp (online, not Facebook); can offer for free or for sale
Selling Things on Your Own:
• Yard sale – by yourself or as part of a community sale
• Ebay, Craig’s List (online but not FaceBook)
• NextDoor groups, OfferUp (online but not Facebook) – can also give away
• Facebook Marketplace, and related “online yard sale groups”
Recycling:
• Through DSWA (Delaware Solid Waste Authority) DWSA.com
~ Free drop off at DWSA sites including Electronics, Batteries, Styrofoam
~ Trash companies offer Single Stream Recycling
• Staples – takes a wide range of electronics
• New Balance, other shoe stores take shoes for recycling
• Fitzgerald Salvage & Recycling, 17115 Fitzgeralds Rd, Lincoln, DE 19960, 302-
422-7584, info@fitzgeralds.us, M-F 8-4, Sat 8-12 – scrap metal, appliances, cars
