One of the biggest roadblocks to decluttering our homes and spaces is our thought process.
Specifically, those pesky thoughts that cause us to hesitate before discarding an item we haven’t used in years… simply because we MIGHT need that item again someday.
Yeah… don’t act like you don’t know what I’m talking about!
I call this “what-if-I-need-it-clutter”.
What-if-I-need-it-clutter accumulates quickly and can be very difficult to purge — especially if you are frugal, sentimental, or prone to worry about the future.
Examples of what-if-I-need-it-clutter:
- back-up small appliances… in case your current appliances die
- an extra set of dishes… in case you buy a rental house or cottage someday
- large quantities of extra linens… in case you have an army of guests all at the same time
- craft supplies you don’t use… but might eventually if creativity strikes
- your youngest child’s outgrown clothing… you never know, you might have another baby someday!
- fancy stemware you never use… but what if you throw a fancy dinner party someday
- extra holiday decorations… in case you really decide to go all-out next year
- specific ingredients you bought for a recipe you didn’t like and have no other use for
- clothing that’s too small… but that you might fit into again someday
- old technology… you never know when you might need another charging cord or remote!
As someone who isn’t overly sentimental or anxious, I must tell you that my frugal nature sometimes makes it difficult to donate when I feel there’s a chance we might have a use for the item again someday.
The struggle is real… I get it!
If you need a little inspiration and motivation to help you let go of your what-if-I-need-it-clutter once and for all, let me share 5 practical tips that always seem to work for me!
1. Evaluate if you can make do with something else.
If you’re already thinking of putting an item in your donation pile, chances are you probably aren’t using it all that much… right!?
On the off chance you might need this item at some point in the future, could you simply make do with something else?
It’s always interesting to see just how resourceful I become when I don’t have the exact item I want. In fact, there have been several times when I found I actually like using something I already have in the house more than the item I previously purged.
If you feel you could probably make do with another item, that’s a pretty good sign you can purge now without regretting it later.
2. Consider selling your items.
I’m a huge fan of selling unneeded items (my go-to is Facebook Marketplace) as it’s often easier for frugal minds to part with something if we get a little cash in return!
I usually reserve my online sales for larger items (furniture, large baby accessories, small appliances, outdoor toys, etc.) and then donate smaller items like clothing, books, games, small toys, etc.
If you plan to sell some of your cast-offs, please be sure to set reasonable prices and be willing to negotiate with potential buyers for a lower price. Remember, anything you get will be better than nothing, and you want to get the items OUT of your house.
Also, give yourself a time frame (maybe 2 weeks) and commit to donating the items in question if they don’t sell within those 2 weeks. This will prevent you from ending up with a room full of “stuff to sell someday”.
NOTE: Are you unsure when it makes more sense to sell or donate? Read this!
3. Visualize the extra space you’ll have.
One of the top “excuses” I hear for hanging onto unused stuff is: “but I have space for it”.
This is a horrible excuse because it encourages hoarding-like behavior by filling every nook and cranny of our closets and cabinets, just because we can.
Technically you might be able to cram a little more into your closet or the shelves in your garage or your attic crawl space… but why?
If you don’t use something, if you don’t need it, want it, or love it, there is no reason to hold onto it even if you do have plenty of empty storage space for it.
Just think of how it will feel to open your closet and actually be able to see each item inside because things aren’t all crammed together.
Or what about opening your kitchen cabinets and finding exactly what you were looking for in 10 seconds (without a cascade of other ingredients or containers spilling out).
When you let go of what-if-I-need-it-clutter, you give yourself and your home more room to breathe (and more room for the excess that will continue coming in).
If extra space in your home sounds good to you, then it’s time to purge!
4. Realize that others could enjoy your things right now.
Have you ever saved bins of clothing “just in case” only to find that they got musty, stained, or visited by bugs or rodents?
Or what about all the what-if-I-need-it-clutter stored in basements that flood and attics that leak… then into the dumpster it all goes.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve come across these scenarios. It’s so sad and wasteful.
Just think about all the families who could be using and enjoying your what-if-I-need-it-clutter right now… while it’s still in good condition and in style.
Maybe that will inspire you to finally let go of the items in question.
5. Admit that you most likely won’t need it.
Whenever someone says, “but what if I might need it again someday”, my response is always, “but what if you don’t?”
How’s that for a good way to rationalize! 😂
Over the last 15 years, we’ve given literal truckloads of stuff away and I have few (if any) regrets… I expect you’ll feel the same after the items are out of your home.
Practically speaking, if you haven’t used or needed or wanted the item in quite a while, the odds are pretty likely that you will NOT need it (whatever “it” is) any time in the near future.
Regular decluttering has become a way of life for me… constantly evaluating our family’s needs, balancing those needs with the amount of storage space available in our home, and then purging the rest.
It’s not always easy or straightforward, but I’m always glad when it’s done!
I hope these tips to let go of your what-if-I-need-it-clutter offer the extra boost of motivation you need to get started decluttering your spaces.
I know from my own personal experience how freeing it feels to finally let go of items I don’t need, use, want, or love — even if there is a chance I might need them again someday.
After all… I might NOT need them!
Being intentional about purging the things you don’t need or use will bring you one step closer to a simpler, more organized home and life!
Edna says
After the first hurricane which did damage, I felt bad I had not donated a lot of clothes that no longer fit, so I tried everything on and hauled off a lot of things that were now too big or just wrong for me in some way. I kept thinking if they had been destroyed then someone else could not have used them.
Andrea says
This is a great way to look at your possessions… just think of the others who will be able to use your things (and all the space you will free up!)
Paulette says
Andrea, your homemade whole grain bread looks beautiful!
Andrea says
Thanks Paulette — it tastes good too 🙂
Jen O says
I’m in the process of building a house 650 miles away. It’s the third house I’ve built, and I’m making a point to build for the person I am now, not the person I WANT to be. Because honestly, if I haven’t become a person who likes to entertain and throw parties in 49 years, it’s probably not happening at this point!
I’m also being ruthless about getting rid of stuff bc I am NOT paying movers to move unopened Rubbermaid totes for a third time, lol. This extra building time is a gift, even though I’m so ready to move!
Andrea says
haha — you are smart (or at least getting smarter!)
I often joke that one of the best ways to declutter is to pretend like you’re moving across the country — if you wouldn’t want to take something with you across the country, you probably don’t need it all that badly.
Enjoy the new house!
Margaret says
Only two activities I have actually resumed after a years-long hiatus; bicycling and knitting. I did buy a new bike (I got the old one when Jimmy Carter was President…) that was fitted to compensate for some disabilities I didn’t have back in the day, and a new helmet for safety reasons, but I was glad I’d kept other gear.
I’d stopped knitting back in the mid 1990s, partly time constraints, but mostly frustration, after I moved back to the US I didn’t know anyone else who knitted and could help me when I got stuck. And real wool was very hard to find.
As soon as I retired I started knitting my brains out. No head is safe from one of my hats. There’s a massive amount of help available on the internet.
I am glad I kept the needles and yarn because they would have been difficult and expensive to replace.
But nothing else of the what-ifs has been more than clutter.
So, when it comes to gear for activities, I would say: if your interests have changed, accept it, re-home the gear, and move on. You already spent that money.
If the factors holding you back are external and might change, AND if replacement cost would be high, think twice.
Liane says
My only problem is appliances I keep because they are American made and high quality like a Crockpot and a deep fryer we rarely use because I can’t ever buy them again. So sad but new appliances are poor quality made in China. Case in point: 25 yr old crockpot 4 qt still going strong. Used in motorhome mostly. Larger crockpot in kitchen, oval 5 qt. Replaced four times already because of heating element failure.
Andrea says
I hear you on this! I’d say, if you just have 1 slow cooker and 1 deep fryer, you’re probably doing OK. However, if you have multiple of them and don’t really use any, then I’d suggest paring down to 1 each and purging the rest.
Mary says
I was with my granddaughter when the new owner came to haul away her lovely wooden play kitchen. My daughter posted pics including play kitchen utensils and food. My granddaughter is a bit of a hoarder about her toys and assorted odds and ends so I worried that she would be upset about her kitchen going away even though she didn’t play with it anymore. At the last minute, she pulled out a wooden tomato, then she was fine getting rid of the rest of it. No idea why that tomato was special but perhaps it was a good memory.
Andrea says
this is fantastic! Hey, who cares about a little tomato — I’m thrilled she didn’t have a reaction to getting rid of the play kitchen!
Marisa says
My favorite sentence and the most helpful for me is, “Purging is a very personal process…”
I tend to keep things just in case. And I tend to come back and use them, too. Years later, when I need a particular thing and need it NOW, it’s a fantastic feeling to know I’ve got exactly what I need because I saved it instead of getting rid of it.
Too, too, too many times I’ve listened to my mom who is wonderful and loving and helpful and, like you, very practical about what she saves. And then I hugely regret it. I didn’t do it on my own time, when I was ready–I did it to please others, to “be a big girl”, to live up to expectations. To make my life match someone else’s. And every single time I’ve wanted that specific item/s and regretted letting it go.
I can identify quite a few things in my home right now which I would like to get rid of. It’s time and I’m ready. But knowing when I’m ready is a very personal thing; it can’t be identified by someone from the outside.
Andrea says
interesting — thanks so much for sharing what works for you!
For me, I would feel so “wasteful” using valuable space to store items I don’t use (and energy to clean around them and remember where they are). But if this works for you, then YES, definitely do it YOUR way!
Barbara says
Added to the reason ,” I appreciate the extra space” is “It is easier to find what I DO need”.
Kim davis says
That is a very helpful thought Barbara
stacie kaltz says
I just wanted you to know you have inspired me in so many ways….how to get organized, cleaning, food recipes, etc. I came across your your blog in 2012 my husband was just laid off and I was looking for something to assist me/us to live more simple and feel incontrol, as I was starting to feel nervous and not sure of what our future will be. We have three kids, at that time I thankfully was working full time as a social worker. You opened my eyes to so many ways to do things so frugally, and how you can live a wonderful life “simple” yet be very content and happy! We too love to just be home. I continually read your blog everyday and is something I look forward too! So Thank you!!! God Bless!
Andrea says
wow — thanks so much Stacie!
I’m thrilled to know my blog had a small part in your life success! Thanks for sharing with me!
Bonnie'sMama says
I’ve learned to trust that there will be more stuff when I need it. “But what if I need it?” comes from a mindset of scarcity. Trusting that God will provide what I need when I need it comes from a mindset of abundance.
This change in mindset keeps me from trusting in my stockpile, and it helps me release my excess so others can have what they need when they need it.
Mary says
I have a good sized house with great storage. My two daughters live in small spaces and my mother in law has moved to assisted living. So I am the keeper of all things “special” for everyone. But I keep working on my own clutter, when we decide to move, they’ll have to decide what they need badly enough to make their own space for that stuff.
Andrea says
well good for you for being willing to hold onto everyone’s special things! My grandma did this for me when I was in college but stockpiling stuff from our wedding showers. It was nice to know all my stuff was safe and in one place!
JJ says
You have no idea how glad I am that I found your blog years ago. You inspired me to get rid of the excess!!! I was super excited to purge through my kids’ clothes. We have friends going on a mission trip to Mexico to visit another friend who is a missionary there(an orphanage/Christian school). I got really choked up when my daughter brought down three of her beautiful dresses and said, “I don’t need these anymore. The kids at the orphanage can have them!” It has helped me to know that my, “No!” is another’s, “Yes!”
Andrea says
Thanks so much — I’m glad you found me too! 🙂
what a nice story about your daughter’s dresses!
Liane says
Argh!!! This needs a caveat. Do not declutter any appliances made in America. My old crockpot was getting grimy and the paint was sort of blistering. Since I rarely use it in the summer (traveling) months, I got rid of it last spring. This last winter I’ve bought and trashed 4 count em 4 crockpots made in China. My old one lasted 30 years. The ugliness on the outside of the metal part is why I trashed that one, but the Chinese made ones had way worse issues. The first one did not work at all. Sent it back to Amazon. Second one from Target, the cord and plug assembly got hot and melted and blew a fuse. That went back. Got a different brand the next time. It had a digital display that didn’t. Display that is. The last one a very pricy brand from William Sonoma bought with Christmas money burned everything. So it’s in a box. Can’t give to goodwill in good conscience. I’m trying to get my money back. It’s almost April. They called it operator errors !!!! Hello I have grad degrees I can read instructions.
Get rid of all the I might need it but only if it turns out to need replacement. Old sheets, towels, no brained. Grandma’s deep fryer? Hang on to it. You can’t find one anywhere except eBay.
Learned my lesson!
L.
Andrea says
haha — sorry for your slow-cooker woes 🙁 Hope you get your refund!
Leslie says
So pleased to make your acquaintance, Andrea! A friend linked me here as we are purchasing a new home but haven’t listed the old one – a prime opportunity to declutter 20 years’ worth of “things I might need”… my challenge will be that we will have to leave some nicer things at the old place so that it is staged for sale. Your advice about breaking up matching things will help me to live with nice things at the new place right away! Secondly, we immediately decluttered and will be sprucing up (don’t laugh) before the listing agent sees the old house (sheepish grin!) That has already put me in ruthless purge mode. Thirdly, we are actually moving into a house with tons more storage than we currently have, and you have inspired me to leave it uncluttered. You are currently my hero 😀 Now off to devour the rest of your blog…
Andrea says
Hi Leslie! Glad to have you as a new reader!!
Good luck with the move and yay for more storage at the new house!!
Trisha G says
We just bought and moved into our very own house (after 7 yrs of marriage and 3 kids). Now, my husband thinks we are done having children…I’m not so sure. So in preparation of our move, Hubby was adamant that we get rid of the boxes and boxes of baby clothes and other things that we currently don’t need for our youngest. And thanks to you and your rationale that if we have another kid, we can easily replace clothes and other items, we did it! And I am so glad we did for 2 reasons: 1. I’m so glad we don’t have all of those boxes (and there were A LOT of them) cluttering up our new garage, and 2. I realized after having 3 kids and finally seeing ALL of those clothes piled up at our yard sale, that we had WAY more than any one person needs for their kid (like you, we received a lot of freebies with our first one). I didn’t even use half of the boy clothes with my second son. It’s kinda crazy that I held onto them for as long as I did! But my mom’s a very “what if I need it person” and so that’s how I was until I began reading your blog. Thanks for showing me a different way!
Andrea says
yay — this is AWESOME!!! Thanks so much for sharing! I’m so happy your husband “put his foot down” and that you were willing to purge all that baby stuff — especially since you moved (that would have been SO much to move!)
We’ve already purged many items James is done with and it feels soooo good! We can always find more IF we ever need them again 🙂
Ilana b says
Great post! Today I followed your advise and I got rid of half of my glasses and cups, it feels great to have the extra space.
Thank you 🙂
Ilana
Andrea says
yay! I’m sure it felt great — and I’m SURE you have plenty of glasses still 🙂
Kris says
I usually have the hardest time getting rid of things when I say to myself: “but this sweater still fits really well”, “these decorations match my home”, “this kitchen item is still brand new and cute”, “this is part of a nice matching set” (relating to your recent post about those), etc. and of course – exactly as you put it so well – “what if I need to use it/want to wear it/miss it later”. Sometimes it helps to mentally think through what is REALLY the reason for wanting to hold onto and item and often I come to terms with the fact that I just need to get over whatever is holding me back and just purge. I am a perfectionist by nature so it would usually drive me nuts to get rid of a partial set of something – would rather have all or nothing. I also struggle most when I know the item isn’t replaceable if it’s something that’s super unique or not for sale anymore. However, when it comes to clothes, my biggest motivator (other than a slimmer closet) is knowing that there will always be cute, practical, good fitting stuff out there I can look forward to shopping for in the future if I ever do find myself needing to replace something I gave up. Like you mentioned, I usually don’t end up missing the purged items at all, but reminding myself that it’s “just a sweater and can always be replaced” helps my reasoning process and leads to more successful purges!
Andrea says
yes… the excuses! (If you haven’t read this post yet, it will probably give you a laugh!)
Also, I’m so happy you keep telling yourself that “it’s just a sweater” (or whatever it is). It takes a lot of work to purge — even I have to talk myself into it sometimes — but it really does pay off in the end with less stuff, less stress, more space, and more peace of mind!
Kris says
Exactly! With motivation from this post, I rid my closet of 30 items today! And with other things I had set aside ready to donate, an entire truckload is going to the thrift store tomorrow. 🙂
Kris says
Trunkload*, whoops. Maybe someday I’ll have enough to fill a truck, haha.
Andrea says
wow — that’s awesome Kris! Also, I am super impressed that you got rid of a “trunkload” and was originally shocked when I read you purged a “truckload” in your first comment 🙂
Summer says
I have learned and applied so many great decluttering tips from you and feel so much more free in our home, and in turn, in my mind. I can find what I need and it’s streamlined the whole household having the family purge regularly. Thank you Andrea!
We have a huge cedar walk in closet and it’s kind of the ‘holding area’ where anything goes and then I gather everything up at my convenience for a Goodwill drop. I personally go through the boxes, or clothes. I will cut up old tshirts for cleaning clothes and throw out the stuff really that should have gone in the trash (but am still thankful they purged it!) and have found one tip to work for me on ‘hard to get rid of items.’ I have a roll of masking tape & a sharpie in there and I write the date & stick it on it. If it’s still sitting there the next Goodwill run, I usually toss it in. I have left stuff there for longer than a few months, and sometimes it does get used or picked up by someone who needs it, but normally, after I see that date a few times, I indeed get rid of it!
Happy Wednesday!
Andrea says
Thanks so much Summer! It sounds like you have a really good system for purging — I love that you put a date on items so you can actually know how long they’ve been sitting around. It’s amazing how quickly something goes unused for months (or years) without us realizing it!
Jamie says
Yes, this is definitely something I struggle with. My husband was laid off 3 times within 5 years early in our marriage so I am always afraid of us not having money to replace it if we need it. We are purchasing our first home and in preparation we donated tons of stuff and threw tons out but I still feel like we have way too much. I told my husband we should leave everything in boxes and only unpack as we find we need something. After 6 months if we haven’t unpacked it, we should throw away the boxes without looking in them.
Andrea says
I think that’s a great idea Jamie! Obviously, you’ll need to unpack some essentials right away, but if you really haven’t used something in 6 months, there’s a pretty good chance you’ll be able to easily live without it!
Holly S says
Very relatable article for me. I am in the process of selling my spacious condo and looking to downsize into a smaller place. I can’t tell you how many things I’ve either sold or taken to our local Goodwill and I still have so much “stuff”. I love the uncluttered, staged look we have going right now but there are still some closets and our garage that have more stuff I know I should get rid of.
Andrea says
I’m sure it’s probably a bit overwhelming… but doesn’t it just feel GREAT to purge!!
Julie says
This was a great post. We are going through our house again. We do periodically. I usually want to “throw out more” than my husband. But, after having to empty out his aunt’s home he has finally seen the light. She didn’t have much left other than her clothes and normal living things like pots, pans, kitchen equipment, furniture etc.,but still, it was a weekend worth of work for several people many calls to find out what to do with antiques and many trips to Goodwill. Great post!!
Andrea says
I hear this SO often — the “light bulb” finally goes on after they need to clear out a house after someone’s death. Glad you were able to clean out his aunt’s house though — so great of you to do that!
Julie S-H says
Great post! All so true. We are due for more purging in our garage at the moment! (And everywhere else in the house, too!). I wanted to also add sometimes to get rid of something is painful, but still worth it. In our 20’s my husband and I had small apartment in San Francisco. We did a big purge and gave a couple of carloads of stuff to the Goodwill. It was so wonderful to get rid of all that stuff. I, however, felt a great loss because I had decided to give away a giant teddy bear that my mom had given to me in high school. I was so sad and I couldn’t even remember how I had decided to give that teddy bear away! It seemed like such a mistake . My husband even went around to the different Goodwills in San Francisco looking for it! After a week or so though , the feeling went away. And I realized I was so glad not to have that giant teddy bear! We just didn’t have room for it. And I was in my 20’s, in the city, with my husband- a giant teddy bear just didn’t fit my life! We didn’t even have much closet space, so the bear was prominent in our one room! Ha ha. I was sort of stuck with it. In a moment of wisdom I knew I wanted it to go. So I sort of had to walk through that grief. And it was hard , but it needed to happen. I still remember the bear and I appreciate it and the feelings it held. I didn’t lose that. If it wasn’t so huge I could have kept it! I still have my childhood (regular size bear) in my kid’s room today, because my kid’s like it. So size and space and how your life is does matter. It’s okay to make those tough choices, and overall it will be okay, even if it’s hard sometimes. We can’t carry everything with us everywhere, and that is okay. In fact it’s just so nice to have space and room to live in the moment!
SK says
Thank you for sharing the story about your big bear. I have what seems/feels like hundreds of “giant bears.” I just read on another blog about taking pictures and writing the story/memory that goes with the picture and keeping it in a memory book, for those times when you enjoy reflecting on the memory the thing sparks. I could use encouragement in the purging area of life and this post and the comments are encouraging. Something else that I think about is…what if purging does NOT give me clarity of mind, peace, etc. What if I clear out my clutter and then feel like I’ve lost a friend? Ha! The burden is real, isn’t it?! 🙂 I do know that currently there is a feeling overwhelm and may be worth taking the chance and seeing if possibly this can be lifted with a bit of purging.
Andrea says
you might not believe this… but I’ve never actually thought of the idea that someone might NOT feel less stress, peace, etc. after purging! I just always figured everyone would feel so “free” after removing boatloads of stuff they no longer needed or used.
You’ve given me something to think/read about… that’s for sure!
In the meantime, take a picture of your bears and then get rid of them (or maybe only keep one!) 🙂
Wilma says
I have a friend who struggled with this. She put some items in a box, labelled it and then tucked it away to see how she would feel. Some time later, she went through the box and she said it was easier to let go of some things without feeling such a big loss. She said it helped to have things out of sight first, but with a delay before making a decision about it. Not sure if this might help anyone, but I thought I would mention it.
Andrea says
yes, this is a great idea Wilma — I’ve actually done this with some kid’s stuff that they weren’t sure they were ready to part with. After a few months in a box without asking for it, I figured it was safe to donate!
Beatriz says
I need to do this in my kitchen, I have quite a few repeats in there. I always think that I will need it later but in reality there are lots of things that I’ve used once and that was it. It is hard to do the purging sometimes but I am running out of space at this point.
Andrea says
Yes, kitchen gadgets are the worst! They are so enticing and seem so useful… until you realize they really aren’t that awesome and are just taking up valuable real estate!
Shan says
Andrea, A perfect post for me as a grandmother approaching a significant birthday in 60 days! I am all of what you mentioned: sentimental, frugal, and tending towards worry. But thanks to my husband, we downsized out of the house we raised our children in upon my early retirement and moved into a much smaller but still very functional home in a retirement community. We fit most of our “stuff” into a POD when we moved! Still, I have boxes in the garage that I need to go through. Your post today is a great encouragement to me to finish purging the rest of my “stuff” !!! My goal is to do it within 60 days!
Andrea says
well… happy birthday (in 60 days!)
I hope you make some good progress with your boxes! I know it will feel so freeing once you purge much of that stuff!
Shan says
Thank you, Andrea, you’re so sweet! You are so young, but I have learned so much from you 🙂
Iliana says
I agree with you a 100% but it is sometimes so difficult to do. I think that we tend by nature to hold onto our stuff “just in case” because in human history there have been times when people struggled to get things they needed. Maybe that explains why it is so difficult for most people to get rid of their stuff.
Bonnie'sMama says
If you approach life with a poverty mindset, you believe you need to hoard and keep things because there is a limited amount out there and you need to keep your pile, just in case. If you have an abundance mindset, you believe that there will be more when you need it, so you can happily give away what you don’t need.
Our Heavenly Father is infinite and has infinite resources to insure that His children have what they need. It’s so much more peaceful to trust His care than to worry about how we’re going to have enough. Sometimes He uses some really creative means to take good care of His children. It’s great fun to watch.
Sometimes we get to be the answer to someone else’s prayer for something they need. We’re switching beds as our children are getting bigger. We needed a new twin size mattress for our son’s bigger bed, but hadn’t gone shopping for one. We have to drive a long way to buy big items like that, and we’re at a busy time of the year with my husband’s school starting. We Just Happened to Mention this to an aunt on Sunday, who Just Happened to have gotten a bigger bed and was wondering how she could get rid of her old twin size mattress! No shopping needed, no money exchanged, and we have what we need and our aunt doesn’t have to make arrangements to have a big item hauled out of her small apartment. That makes God and me smile.
Andrea says
This is so true Bonnie — thanks for sharing your insight (and your great story!)
Debby says
I love this comment. Think in abundance. I am relatively good at purging but over the last year things have creeped up and I am tackling it as we speak.
Ruth says
I am definitely not a keeper or clutterer anymore. I’ve always been a bit sentimental but I got over that when I realized I didn’t want to pass junk onto my kids and strap them with guilt about keeping something of mine just cause it belonged to their mom. When does it end?
The worst I ever saw and it was life altering for me, my friend’s mom passed and left 4000sqft of a well organized and cataloged life. It was horrifying to watch her kids have to clear out that house while they were also grieving. It cause so much fighting and trouble, the kids have never recovered from it. So sad.
Andrea says
oh wow — that’s a huge house and a lot of stuff!
My grandma is my only close relative who has died and left stuff behind — but she was SO good about purging that there was hardly anything left to go through. Even with her few possessions, there was STILL some arguing and hurt feelings. It’s so crazy (and sad) how THINGS and GREED can have such a huge impact and hold on our lives.
Christina says
Ruth that is such a thoughtful & great thing that you have done for your children. My Mom had moved twice and when she got into her apartment she was mindful of not bringing in lots of clutter. I believe also she was also thinking that when she passed on that she didn’t want to pass on “stuff” to us. My M♥️M has been gone for almost a year now and I treasure the gifts she left us.
Thank you Andrea for posting this and I love reading your blog.
Andrea says
Thanks Christina!
Laurel says
Good thoughts. I am on the same page. Just out of curiosity, what are the things you regret getting rid of?
Kristen says
I was wondering the same thing 😉
Bonnie'sMama says
Me, too!
As I reflect on all my years of decluttering, I’m happy to realize I can’t think of anything I am sorry to have gotten rid of! And in a similar train of thought, I can’t think of anything I’m sorry I didn’t buy.
Andrea says
yeah… I agree with the “nothing I’m sorry I didn’t buy”. There are so many times when I think “oh shoot, I just missed that deal” only to realize later that we totally didn’t need it and I’m SO glad we didn’t purchase it in the first place!
Andrea says
haha… I figured someone would ask 🙂
One item was an electric cord we could have used later, another was a couple pairs of Nora’s FAVORITE leggings that were too short. I could have cut them into shorts for her but didn’t think about it until later and she was really sad I gave them away. Also, I unknowingly purged a favorite kitchen spatula that I have never replaced just because I know I don’t NEED it
Mara says
Great post!! Thanks, Andrea!
sue says
right now I have soooo much clutter.. but with working full time out of the house and 2 kids going in completely different directions… I really have to make some time to have a garage sale !
it is on the list… LOL
Sue in NJ
Andrea says
One thought — what about just donating everything and skipping the super time-consuming garage sale?
I’ve personally never had a garage sale because they seem like WAAAAAY too much work for me. Maybe it’s worth it for you based on the income you make from it — but in my experience (and after talking with lots of people who have garage sales) it might be more advantageous for you to simply purge and not worry about sorting, pricing, and organizing everything… and then giving up an entire weekend to sit outside and wait for potential buyers.
Tina says
My husband and I never think we have much to sell but we always make about a hundred dollars by quiting time. That’s a days pay and we got to hang out together. Win, win! It’s a great resource for those of us on a limited income. It was also a great way to show our son how if he purged some ‘tired’ toys that he could use that money toward something new at Target!
Also, garage sales can be pretty easy nowadays. Dollar tree has pre-priced sticker dots and garage sale signs. If you have a family member that wants to join in it can be twice as fun and fruitful.
Andrea says
Good to know — Thanks Tina!
If I ever have a garage sale, I’ll head to the Dollar Tree to get my supplies!!
Chris says
Great tips! In regards to your comment about having more children, I love to read a blog called Frugalwoods. When they had their daughter, they had this on their blog. “Thus far, we’ve spent a whopping $20 on baby accessories: $10 for a charming baby swing from a garage sale (see photo below) and $10 for a bag of 53 baby outfits, 3 hats, and 2 blankets from another garage sale (see photo above). Everything else in Babywoods’ retinue is a used hand-me-down”. I thought that was great. Even if things are needed in the future, they can purchased pretty cheaply sometimes.
Andrea says
yes… exactly!
Jenn S. says
If only I could convince my husband of this.. 😛
Andrea says
yes… I have no magic tips for that 🙂
Shelley says
The best post you’ve ever written!!!!! Followed closely by “It’s not magic, it’s maintenance” 🙂
Andrea says
haha — WOW, that’s quite a compliment!