With the kids back at school, I think a lot of us are itching to organize. The first step in organizing is decluttering. Decluttering is easier said than done, however, once we know why we are holding onto stuff, it makes getting rid of it less painful.
Generally we hold onto clutter for one of 5 reasons:
1. We just can't resist a freebie or a sale. (This is called Bargain Clutter and I covered how to overcome it HERE.)
2. We hold onto keepsakes and sentimental items because we're afraid to let them go. (This is called Sentimental Clutter and I covered how to overcome it HERE.)
3. We like to have a lot of stuff around. (Abundance Clutter)
4. We think we "might need it someday." (Aspirational Clutter)
5. We don't know where to start!
I've been going over each clutter type and what we can do to overcome them. Links to the previous posts can be found at the bottom.
ABUNDANCE CLUTTER simply means you have too much stuff.
Generally we hold onto clutter for one of 5 reasons:
1. We just can't resist a freebie or a sale. (This is called Bargain Clutter and I covered how to overcome it HERE.)
2. We hold onto keepsakes and sentimental items because we're afraid to let them go. (This is called Sentimental Clutter and I covered how to overcome it HERE.)
3. We like to have a lot of stuff around. (Abundance Clutter)
4. We think we "might need it someday." (Aspirational Clutter)
5. We don't know where to start!
I've been going over each clutter type and what we can do to overcome them. Links to the previous posts can be found at the bottom.
ABUNDANCE CLUTTER simply means you have too much stuff.
We like to have a lot of stuff around. Maybe we want to look like a good cook so we have
all the latest gadgets and cookbooks. Or maybe we just love to have extras around of anything
we may need. However, there's a limit to how much our homes can hold and there's a fine line between stocking up,
and over abundance.
Food storage and a fully stocked pantry
are great, but if no one cooks that food, are you really ahead of the game? If
the meat spoils and the super-sized bottle of mustard never gets used, it was just a waste of money.
Abundance clutter is similar.
Abundance clutter is similar.
Do you own a cookbook you've never cooked
a recipe from?
Do you have hobby materials or sports
equipment that you've never used?
Are your kitchen cabinets full of
appliances you never use?
Are books and magazines that you never read taking over your coffee table?
Here's how to break the cycle of keeping
too much stuff around:
1. Borrow instead of buy.
Rather than buying that new cookbook, check it out of the library.
2. Buy less.
Before you buy something, think about how many of a particular item you really need. Just because it's on sale doesn't mean you need to stock up. When buying in bulk, only buy things you know you will use.
Instead of buying the super-size of a new product, purchase the travel size to see if you like it. Small items are (obviously) easier to store.
3. Buy just enough to get you started.
When starting a new hobby or sport, resist the urge to buy all things related to it until you've have tried it out for a while and know it's something you want to continue doing.
1. Borrow instead of buy.
Rather than buying that new cookbook, check it out of the library.
2. Buy less.
Before you buy something, think about how many of a particular item you really need. Just because it's on sale doesn't mean you need to stock up. When buying in bulk, only buy things you know you will use.
Instead of buying the super-size of a new product, purchase the travel size to see if you like it. Small items are (obviously) easier to store.
3. Buy just enough to get you started.
When starting a new hobby or sport, resist the urge to buy all things related to it until you've have tried it out for a while and know it's something you want to continue doing.
Once you know what abundance clutter is, it's easier to ask "do I really need this?"
To read the rest of the series check out these posts:
To read the rest of the series check out these posts:
3 Reasons to Get Organized
WHY we hold onto Clutter
How to Get Rid of Bargain Clutter
How to Get Rid of Sentimental Clutter
WHY we hold onto Clutter
How to Get Rid of Bargain Clutter
How to Get Rid of Sentimental Clutter
