To Donate or Sell, Asking BG Advice

[Pikarya]

Well, one time at band camp.

[Norelco]

I'm in the same boat...played Saxophone back in highschool...probably bought it in 93 or 94.

I should probably donate it as well.

Thanks for making this thread.

[Shuemue]

While the school is obviously a worthy cause, you might want to take a look at the people who offered you cash for it. See if one of them is scraping their last few pennies together to get their kid a sax instead of relying on charity. If so, perhaps donate it to them instead. I know it's not as practical as supporting a legit charity, but I've always loved the thought of random acts of kindness.

[Azalee]

I am going to jump on the donation boat.

In high school I had to use a beat up, used Cello, and if I ever had my own I would definitely donate it.

In the end the decision is yours... Everyone can use an extra $100-$200, but if you aren't in dire need then help out someone who really can't afford it.

[Saphirea]

Nice call shues.

[Taera]

I have an old Trombone that I thought about selling or donating, but instead, me and my friend are going to make it into a lamp.


Oh, sorry. Donate.

[Remyo]

make the school kids do your landscaping in return for it.

[Elesirdur]

make the school kids do your landscaping in return for it.

Exactly, get the kids to come in as part of a volunteer program. Why should the elderly and infirm be the recipients of volunteering when heartless Internet assholes need their lawn mowed too?

[Aerides]

If you are not cash-strapped then for sure donate. A word on the deductions:

-It's not lying to claim full amount and come on who doesn't - you will get screwed on taxes for way more than that in life.
-Not sure if charity is the same as other deductions, but if you are not "itemizing" - and taking the standard deduction then I'm not sure you can deduct anything. In other words, if you have house/kids/propertytaxes/mortgage, pile it on. If you are a standard deduction person normally, don't think you get to do it.

Even so, feel good about donating. Arts/Music budgets in public schools are nearly extinct iirc.

[Norellicus]

Only reason you'd have to itemize is if your deductions are more than the standard deduction, otherwise you may as well just claim standard deduction.

That said I voted donate because music is an awesome thing and I'd hate to deny some kid the chance at it because they couldn't afford an instrument

[Darus Grey]

Amazed you get such low offers for it... most wind instruments can last hundreds of years, the depreciation should be nearly nonexistent.

Hell electronic instruments/tools/boards/etc don't even depreciate that fast and they're outdated in weeks.

[Korietsu]

The only answer to this is donate. Having been a percussionist, I know the feeling of not having enough cash for anything in a music program, and having to play on 20 year old busted up shit that doesn't tune properly.

That sax, since you said it had no problems would be a godsend for a kid who has to play on a craptastic school sax that doesn't work half the time.

[archibaldcrane]

I have no horse in this race, but I do find the "there's no money for music programs in school / pay as little taxes as possible by getting a big deduction" arguments humorous.