Moving Out? How to Give Away Everything
Moving is stressful, but it does not have to be wasteful. Instead of throwing out furniture, clothes, and household items, give them away to people in your community who need them. Here is a step-by-step plan for decluttering before your move:
- Start 2-3 weeks early — Don't wait until the last minute. Begin by going room by room and identifying items you will not take to your new place. Seasonal items, duplicate kitchenware, and furniture that will not fit are good starting points.
- Download Givore and post items — Take photos of everything you want to give away and post them on Givore. Be clear about pickup timing in your descriptions. Mention that you are moving and items need to go by a specific date.
- Schedule bulk pickups — For large items like furniture, schedule specific pickup windows so you are not constantly interrupted. Weekends tend to work best for furniture pickups since people have access to vehicles.
- Work in phases — Week one: seasonal items, decor, extra linens, and stored items. Week two: furniture, kitchen items, and electronics. Final days: last-minute items and anything remaining.
- Bundle similar items — Group kitchen items, books, or clothes together. Bundles attract more interest and reduce the number of separate pickups you need to coordinate.
- Last resort options — If anything remains on moving day, leave items by the curb with a "free" sign and share the location on Givore. Contact local charities for same-day pickup if available.
Many Givore users report giving away an entire apartment's worth of items in under two weeks. The key is starting early and posting consistently.
Moving In? How to Furnish Your Place for Free
Setting up a new home from scratch can be expensive. But with Givore, you can furnish your apartment with quality items for free. Here is how:
- Start browsing before you move — Set your Givore location to your new neighborhood and begin browsing available items. Save posts you are interested in and message givers to arrange pickups for your first days in the new place.
- Prioritize essentials — Focus on the big items first: a bed frame or mattress, a sofa, a table with chairs, and a desk if you work from home. These are the most commonly given away items and the most expensive to buy new.
- Kitchen basics — Pots, pans, dishes, utensils, and small appliances are frequently given away. You can build a complete kitchen setup from Givore posts without spending a cent.
- Enable notifications — Turn on push notifications for your new area. The best items go quickly, so being alerted immediately gives you an advantage.
- Be flexible on style — Free items may not match perfectly, but they are functional and save you hundreds or thousands. You can always upgrade individual pieces over time.
- Check multiple times daily — People post items at all hours. Checking Givore in the morning, afternoon, and evening gives you the best chance of finding what you need.
Many people have furnished entire apartments for free within their first week using Givore. The end of the month is especially productive since many people move simultaneously, creating a large supply of free items.
Most Needed Items When Moving
Whether you are moving in or out, these are the items most commonly shared and needed during moves:
- Furniture — Sofas, beds, tables, chairs, desks, and shelves top every moving list. These are the most expensive items to buy and the most common items given away. Check our free furniture guide for detailed tips.
- Kitchen essentials — Pots, pans, dishes, glasses, cutlery, toasters, microwaves, and coffee makers. A complete kitchen setup is often available for free across multiple Givore posts.
- Electronics — Lamps, extension cords, routers, monitors, and small appliances. These basics add up when purchased new but are regularly given away. See our electronics donation guide for more.
- Home decor — Curtains, rugs, mirrors, picture frames, and plants. These finishing touches make a house feel like home and are frequently posted on Givore.
- Linens and textiles — Towels, sheets, blankets, and pillows. While some people prefer to buy these new, many items are shared in excellent condition.
- Storage and organization — Shelving units, storage boxes, closet organizers, and hooks. Essential for getting settled and often available for free.
Student Moving Guide
Students move more frequently than almost any other group. Whether you are starting university, changing apartments, or graduating, here is how to make your move easier with Givore:
- End of semester = free stuff season — When students finish the academic year, there is an avalanche of free items near universities. Furniture, textbooks, kitchen supplies, and electronics flood Givore. If you are arriving for a new semester, this is your best opportunity.
- Graduating? Give it forward — When you finish your studies, post your furniture, books, and household items on Givore. Incoming students will thank you, and you avoid the cost and hassle of moving items you don't need.
- Textbook exchange — Books are heavy and expensive. Post textbooks you have finished with on Givore. Search for books you need for next semester. This saves money and keeps books in circulation.
- Shared apartment essentials — Moving into a shared apartment? Coordinate with roommates on what is needed and browse Givore together. Split the effort of picking up free furniture and kitchen items.
- International students — If you are moving to a new country for university, Givore is invaluable. You cannot bring furniture on a plane, but you can find everything you need in your new city through the app.
- Summer storage alternative — Instead of paying for summer storage, give away items at the end of the year and find new ones in the fall. It is often cheaper and less stressful than storage.
Sustainable Moving Tips
Moving generates enormous amounts of waste — from packing materials to discarded furniture. Here is how to make your move more sustainable:
- Donate, don't dump — The single most impactful thing you can do is give away items instead of throwing them in the trash. A sofa in a landfill takes decades to decompose. A sofa given to a neighbor gets years more use.
- Reuse packing materials — Use towels, blankets, and clothing to wrap fragile items instead of buying bubble wrap. Ask friends and local shops for used boxes. Post on Givore when you are done with packing materials — someone else is always about to move.
- Reduce before you move — Moving less stuff means fewer trips, less fuel, and a smaller environmental footprint. Use the move as motivation to simplify your belongings.
- Choose items wisely in your new place — When furnishing your new home, look for free items on Givore first before buying new. Every reused item reduces demand for new production and keeps waste out of landfills.
- Share your moving boxes — After unpacking, post your boxes and packing materials on Givore. They will be claimed quickly by someone else who is about to move.
- Consider the lifecycle — When you do need to buy new items, choose quality pieces that will last and can eventually be passed on to the next person through Givore.
Find What You Need in Your New City
Moving to a new city? Givore helps you connect with your new community right away:
- Find free items in Madrid, Spain
- Find free items in Barcelona, Spain
- Find free items in Valencia, Spain
- Find free items in Sevilla, Spain
- Find free items in Bilbao, Spain
- Find free items in Málaga, Spain
- Find free items in Zaragoza, Spain
- Find free items in Palma, Spain
Don't see your city listed? Download Givore and set your location. You will instantly see what is available near you, and you can start giving away or finding items right away. Moving is the perfect time to discover the Givore community in your new neighborhood.
