This month, I’ve shared budget-friendly tips for No Buy July, things that I’m doing and learning from. If you missed it, you can catch up on the intro here, and then over to read about how to save money by shopping at home and hundreds on your food bill.

If you have been taking part, how are you doing?

Whether or not you stuck with the challenge the entire month, I hope it helped you become more intentional about what you have—and what you really need. Maybe you:

• Used several items from your freezer
• Planned better grocery lists going forward
• Created outfits from clothes you already owned
• Discovered a few self-care products that were hiding in the back of the cabinet

Now that you’ve shopped your home and taken stock, it’s the perfect time to finish strong with the 3 D’s: Declutter, Dispose, and Donate. With this challenge you can gain space—and peace—by clearing out what no longer serves you.

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✅Before starting this challenge, get one or two good-sized boxes or bins and a heavy-duty trash bag. The boxes will be for donations, and the trash bag is for unusable items and well, trash.  

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Declutter: What Do You No Longer Use?

If took the challenge this month to shop at home from your closet and bathroom cabinets, what do you no longer use?

Let’s start in the bathroom. Are there unopened products you know you’ll never use—extra body wash, shampoos, or samples you’ve been hanging on to “just in case”? If they’re still within their expiration date and in good condition, set them aside for donation.

Then head to your closet. If something no longer fits, flatters, or suitable for your current lifestyle, it’s okay to let it go. Just because it once felt like a “perfect” purchase doesn’t mean you need to keep it. Your style evolves—and so can your wardrobe.

As you collect items, remember: you’re not giving something away—you’re blessing someone else with something they can use.

Dispose: Toss What’s Truly Trash

Face it: some things really do need to go in the trash.

Let’s talk about the t-shirts with holes and stains, or the socks with no mates. Unless you’re regularly painting or doing messy projects, you probably don’t need more than a few “grubby” clothes.

In the pantry, you may have already tossed expired items—but look again. Are there unopened foods no one in your family likes? If they’re still safe and in date, consider donating them (see the next section). If they’re expired or in poor condition, it’s time to dispose.

✅ Tip: For guidelines on what foods are still safe, check out this Cold Food Storage Chart from foodsafety.gov.

Donate: Give to Those Who Need it Most

Now that you’ve decluttered and disposed, don’t leave those donation bags sitting in your hallway! Place them in your car today so they’re ready to drop off this week.

Here are a few ideas for where to donate:

• The Salvation Army – Often do pick-ups, especially for large items like furniture.
• Women’s safe shelters – Accept gently used clothing and new toiletries.
• Homeless shelters – Needs socks, t-shirts and hygiene products.
• Food pantries – Appreciate basic shelf-stable items like canned goods, peanut butter and pasta. Always check their donation guidelines. Avoid exotic or gourmet foods.

If you’re unsure where to donate in your area, check local church websites, city government listings, or community Facebook groups.

Inviting Adult Kids in the Process

If your children are grown, this can be a great time to gently encourage them to go through the items they’ve left behind—especially if you’re holding onto things they no longer need or want. Childhood memorabilia, old toys, or clothes in storage can take up valuable space and emotional energy. Invite them to help you sort through those boxes next time they visit, or take photos and ask if they’d like to keep anything before you donate.

This season of life is about creating room—not just in your home, but in your heart—for what matters most.

Live It Out

No Buy July isn’t just about money—it’s about mindfulness. When you stop and take stock, you begin to see your blessings more clearly. You realize how much you already have, and how much you can share.

This week, take a final step:

• Declutter one area of your home
• Dispose of what’s truly trash
• Donate to someone who could really use what you no longer need

Small actions can have a big impact—not just on your space, but on your heart.

A time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away. – Ecclesiastes 3:6 (ESV)

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DIsclosure: Feature photo courtesy of Sarah Brown on Unsplash

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