Make Clutter Control a Life Style
One day, you look around and wonder how your home became so cluttered. You lead a busy life and do not want to spend all your free time dealing with it. Instead of just throwing it all out and regretting it later, get control of your life and your space.
Do not bring it into the house.
The first line of defense is to leave stuff where you find it. If you know you will never use it, do not bring it into your life. Leave promotional stuff, free samples, maps of places you visit once like Disney, old magazines, etc. where you found them.
Stay away from clutter collection places
It is fine to scour yard sales, flea markets, and thrift stores for things you really want and will use. It makes life easier if you shop these places less often, or not at all. Know what you want and resist temptation to buy something because it is a bargain.
Do a little each day.
Go through a drawer, closet shelf, kitchen cabinet, or another area and evaluate your stuff. Ask whether you really need it, if you honestly use it or will soon, and if you would miss it if it disappeared. Apply the time worn advice: “If you have not used it in six months, you probably never will.”
You will resent it if you declutter all in one marathon session but 15 minutes a day helps keep your place looking great.
Donate on a regular basis.
Other people need stuff that is sitting around your house, unused. Thrift stores provide goods for the less advantaged at a reasonable price, the proceeds help those in the community, and you even get a tax write-off.
Women’s shelters, pregnancy centers, nursing homes, and other institutions in your town need donations also. Call and ask what they need to avoid a wasted trip.
Sell Valuable Items You Are Not Using
The Internet affords many opportunities to sell things. Ebay and other auction sites let you list your items and take a percentage of what you get or charge a fee for listing. Craig’s List lets you place free ads. Use caution when selling or buying on the Internet as not everyone is honest.
Consignment shops pay for clothes in excellent or fine condition. Many auction houses sell collections of things, antiques, or one-of-a-kind items. The telephone book lists dealers in gold, silver, and jewelry.
Give treasured items to family members
You are not immortal. Some day someone will go through your things and wonder why you kept all that stuff.
Start giving well thought out gifts of your treasures to loved ones. If your son or daughter always admired that picture on the wall, give it to him/her. The same goes for other things. Search through your volumes of photos and make up albums to gift family members.
Start a basket of interesting items for children who pass through your doors. Let the grandbabies or neighborhood children pick out something on each visit. Add to the basket as you come across things you do not want anymore.
Feel the power
Getting control of your home and space gives a feeling of power and exhilaration. As you progress though the decluttering process, you will come up with many more ideas to get to your goal. Make it a way of life and you will never regret it.
Sources:
Aslett, Don, “Clutter’s Last Stand: It’s Time to Dejunk Your Life” 2005
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