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The biggest obstacle we face decluttering and organizing our homes is deciding to get rid of stuff. We easily get attached to the items we own whether it’s because of sentiment, monetary value, or thinking we’ll need it in the future. These feelings we have towards our stuff can make decluttering ineffective and something we feel we need to do often.
The Hardest Part of Decluttering
As much as I love decluttering and organizing, this plagues me as much as everybody else. I currently live in my first apartment. And to me, it feels like a starter home, a temporary place, where I won’t be there long. But because of that, I find myself buying and storing stuff that I want to use in my new place whenever that may be. This feeling of living in a temporary home makes it harder for me to declutter effectively.
I leave a bunch of random stuff in my closet and garage, thinking about how I’ll use it in the future. But this feeling isn’t just specific to my situation. A lot of the time, we hold onto stuff that we think we’ll eventually need. My parents are victims of this mindset so they constantly deal with clutter in their home. But holding onto these items isn’t a good habit. Slowly and surely, they’ll accumulate into clutter that’s overwhelming and that constantly needs reorganization and storage.
You’ll never feel like you’re done decluttering if you never actually get rid of anything.
The one thing that makes me instantly shift my mindset is when I remember this key advice:
The Best Advice I’ve Ever Received for How to Get Rid of Stuff
The best advice I’ve ever received for how to get rid of stuff is this one simple thing: Is it worth buying storage solutions for whatever you’re trying to keep (but has no use for right now)?
Usually, we hold onto stuff because we spent our hard-earned money on it. It’s not that we’re afraid of wasting it since most stuff can be donated. It’s more about parting with lost value. However, the flip side to keeping these items is figuring out how to store them (and that can be a headache on its own). Large clear plastic boxes run $7+. Purchasing outdoor storage runs a monthly cost. It’s not like you’re going to let your items pile up on the floor as the years go by. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have even thought about decluttering. Storing your stuff costs money. And it might be a hell of a lot cheaper if you choose to part with some items and donate them.
This advice hit me like a rock. I’ve got to thank Kathyrn, the Youtuber behind Do It On a Dime, for saying what I needed to hear!
I’ve taken a look at all the stuff I wanted to keep just blindly stored away in my closets, under my bed, and in the garage. The results were 1) removing Halloween & Christmas decorations, 2) getting rid of some (NOT ALL!) sentimental items, and not saving stuff for future use especially for moving out of my starter home.
Let’s Start Decluttering!
Does this resonate with you? I may be generalizing a bit, that most people don’t wish to throw out their stuff (that’s not sentimental) because of the money they’ve spent, but if it does apply to you, then this is worth considering. Considering paying for storage solutions seems like the best advice ever for me and the money-conscious alike.
If you’re ready to start the decluttering process and don’t know where to start, I’ve written this in-depth guide for The Best Way to Declutter Your House.
The hardest part of decluttering is always trying to figure out how to get rid of stuff, but with the price of storage solutions in mind, maybe this will make your thought process a lot easier.
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