The worst questions to ask yourself when decluttering Start with the “what ifs”. What if I need this again in the future? What if the person who gave it to me notices? Letting what-if questions guide your decision-making can keep you stuck in your limbo, but Decluttering tip I recently discovered an effective antidote!
This decluttering tip is pretty simple: Donate or sell items that contribute to clutter, even if you’re worried you might need them in the future. Then if you eventually need or want something you no longer have, you can shop at a thrift store (or on Facebook Marketplace or wherever you buy secondhand items).
This strategy can save you serious space around the house, which is the goal of decluttering. (It’s not necessarily a money-saving tip, but spending a few dollars at a thrift store every now and then probably won’t break the bank!)
Geely’s Take:
After the family reunion, I stacked the lawn games and large toys from the event in our garage, which was a huge waste of space. I’d be better off donating games and toys to free up space for other items, then thrift yard games in line if needed. But you live and learn!
6 Types of Clutter You Can Thrift Later
Think of your favorite secondhand store as a storage unit for things you don’t use often. Here are some examples of things you can thrift instead of hoard:
- Special tools. Bought equipment for a project and haven’t used it since? Donate or sell them. If you need those special tools again in the future, consider renting them from a home improvement store like Home Depot or thrifting them (and then donating them again!).
- Kitchen Appliances and Gadgets. If you tend to jump from hobby to hobby, buying a top-of-the-line bread machine so you can try making homemade bread can be a waste of money and space. You can make homemade bread in a used machine from the thrift store for very little money, and if you to do The next time you want a fancy bread machine, you’ll have a better idea of what to look for.
- Games and toys. If games and toys take up space in your home but are never used, donate them and use the space for a better purpose. If you have a game night in the future, you’ll have no problem finding used games at the thrift store.
- Home decoration. As your decorating preferences change, it’s easy to justify hanging on to old picture frames, candles, curtain rods and rugs. But really, they’re just taking up space, so donate them and use that space for something else.
- Exercise Gear. Most of us have probably bought exercise gear that we’ve only used a few times. If you have a set of weights (or, heaven forbid, a giant treadmill) taking up space, donate them and move on. (Bonus tip: offer resistance bands Great workout without contributing to clutter!)
- ‘Just in case’ items. Anything you’re holding onto “just in case” is probably something you can splurge on down the road. In many cases, that theoretical event never happens.
Need more decluttering help?
These posts are full of useful tips and practical suggestions for de-cluttering your home:
You “just in case?” What’s holding up?
