Declutter, downsize, donate and deduct

Q: We will be moving soon into a small cottage at a continuing care retirement community and are planning on a partial meal plan. I keep telling my wife we don’t need all our kitchen appliances, doodads, gadgets and baking equipment. She’s convinced there will be room to store the items, and we might need them. Is there a rule of thumb for what we really should be taking with us for kitchen use? Thomas C., Harbeson

A: This is a recurring problem, Thomas! If it’s any consolation, everyone thinks they will need all the kitchen items they’ve accumulated over the years. We have a person on our team we affectionately call “the kitchen guy,” because he’s a master at paring down kitchens! Most people – particularly those on a meal plan – will need only a coffee maker and toaster oven for the countertop. If you like soups or stews from a crockpot, you might find a spot for that. Take only as many place settings as your table allows. One or two sauté pans and saucepans should be more than enough. Here’s the good news: You and your wife will find you are not cooking very much, and the additional kitchen items will be greatly appreciated at donation sites around the area.

Q: I’m going to be leaving my home to move into an over-55 community. Although I will have a garage, it will just be for one car, making storage of bicycles and beach equipment hard. Do these things have any resale value, or should I just donate them? Jan T., Rehoboth Beach

A: Well, if you still ride your bike often, don’t do either! Take it with you! There are handy ways to store it on the wall – within reach – to get it out of the way of your car. If you don’t ride the bike and it’s in good condition, you could inquire at local bike rental agencies to see if they would buy it, or you could place a classified ad in hopes of finding it a new home. Otherwise, it will be warmly received at a donation site. Your other beach equipment is probably best to donate, or if it’s seen some active summers, maybe just toss it out.

Q: I’m going through a decluttering exercise, and am wondering if I can deduct donations from my taxes. Joseph P., Milton

A: Good for you, Joseph! Yes, most of the larger charitable organizations (Goodwill, Salvation Army, veterans’ groups, Habitat for Humanity, etc.) will provide you with a tax form to document your donations. These forms are for your records and will remind you at tax time of how generous you’ve been. Be sure to consult an accountant, because the rules for deducting charitable donations have changed in the past few years.