Less stuff, less stress: how to lighten the load for moving out
Moving out is one of the most stressful yet unavoidable parts of university life, but with a bit of forward planning, you can make the process a whole lot easier.
Selling, donating or recycling your unwanted items not only makes the process a lot smoother, it also supports sustainable practices and can make a big difference to others in the community.
Sell your stuff
You can get rid of clothes, furniture, bikes, TVs and everything in between by selling them online. Vinted and Depop are a good place to sell your clothes, while furniture and other assorted items are better suited to Facebook Marketplace.
There are several local Facebook Groups where students can buy and sell unwanted items, like our own current student Facebook group and Leeds student Facebook group. Selling on these groups is very popular around the move in period in June and July, so give them a go to quickly get rid of your unwanted stuff, or to pick up some bargains to furnish your new house.
You can also pay a small fee to run a stall at Left Bank’s LS6 Junk Yard Sale, held on the second Sunday of every month, or make your way down to the weekly Leeds Bradford Car Boot Sale.
Donate and recycle
If your unwanted stuff is unlikely to sell, or you don’t have time to list it online, then you can always donate or recycle. Below, you can find an interactive map of donation and recycling points around Hyde Park, Woodhouse, Headingley, Kirkstall and Burley.
At these locations, you can donate and recycle:
- Clothing, towels, sheets, blankets, curtains or shoes at our four new Revive Charity Banks
- Small kitchenware (pots, pans, utensils), books, shoes, small working electricals, and clothes at the British Heart Foundation Charity Banks
- Books at the Little Free Libraries community cabinets
- Small electricals such as chargers and kettles at Electrical Items Banks
- Empty glass bottles at Glass Recycling Banks
- Bulkier items (such as furniture) can be donated at Kirkstall Recycling Centre or Meanwood Recycling Centre
There’s also a number of charity shops around Headingley and the city centre. Though if you’re looking to donate here, make sure to call in advance to check they’re accepting donations.
All donations should be in a clean and saleable condition. If you have any doubt on what you can or can’t donate, please email sustainability@leeds.ac.uk.
If you’ve got some food you’re not going to keep, then donating it to a foodbank can prevent waste and help others in need.
Most charities accept dried food and tins, spices and oils (both opened and unopened), unopened frozen food, eggs up to a week past their sell-by date, unopened bakery products and pet food.
Here’s a list of some local foodbank drop-off points:
- Leftbank — Cardigan Road, LS6 1LJ, Hyde Park
- Rainbow Junktion — 24 Regent Terrace, LS6 1NP, Hyde Park
- Leeds Grand Mosque — 9 Woodsley Road, LS6 1SN, Hyde Park
- Leeds North & West foodbank —Unit 3.3 Flexspace, 3 Burley Hill Drive, LS4 2PU, Burley
Bin it
When you’ve ran out of all other options you should dispose of your waste in the bin, or a local refuse centre for larger items. Make sure you’re using your recycling bin correctly — you can check what you can put in your green bin and bin collection days on Leeds City Council’s website.
What next?
The most important thing to remember is that moving out will probably take longer than you think, so the sooner you start getting rid of things you no longer need, the better.
Check out this handy guide by Save The Student to see what else you can do to get ahead of the game and make your move out as smooth and simple as can be.
