An Uncluttered Life: Tips for Buying Less
Reaching into the bag of emails today. Here’s a question from Jess:
- Katie, I think you might become the queen of clutter. Well, not having clutter I mean. I have a question. My boyfriend and I are combining houses and I’m really afraid we’ll have too much really fast cause we both seem to love shopping for new home stuff more than we want. Our apartment is pretty small. What would you say? If you were to give a tip about shopping and bringing home clutter, what would you say? You have me excited. I hope my boyfriend will be too! -Jess
There is an age old trick to keeping your house uncluttered: every time you bring something in, take something else out.
It doesn’t work for me.
The idea sounds really good, and quite a few readers have mentioned how well it works for them. I agree that every time you shop, it does help to think of what you can get rid of when you buy more because a funny thing happens – you quit buying so much! For me, the problem is that it really takes the excitement out of something when you start thinking of what to get rid of back home. You also start to hang onto junk items just so you have something to ditch when you buy something new. Old hole-filled socks? A picture frame you hate? Plus one-in-one-out is tough when you’re starting a new home, especially in our case – we didn’t even have stuff to get rid of in our new country of Germany!
I just can’t think that way. And when I find myself unattached to items in our house, I want to get rid of them right away. (You might recall my quick trick for pulling clutter from the closet.)
So here’s how I approach the purchase of new stuff:
1. Do I love it and need it?
I try not to buy what I don’t love. I try not to buy what I don’t need. Don’t feel like you have to deprive yourself, though. If you love the sticky notes with cute cartoons on them, buy them IF you will use them. It’s easy to want to have them forever. So try to find joy in using the things you have. You know – it’s more fun to eat chocolate than have it sitting on your desk.
2. Where will I keep it?
We have to have a place for it right now. Not in a month. Not next year. Remembering this idea keeps me from scoping out after-holiday sales. It also makes me question how much I really need the item.
3. How often do I have to clean it?
Serious! Nicknacks can be fun. But remember: every item on the shelf or floor adds a few more moments of cleaning and dusting than if that space were empty. So pick what you’re okay with cleaning.
4. Where will I keep it when I’m not using it?
Holiday decor, off-season clothes, craft supplies, stationery – you name it. It’s good to have a use for something now. It’s just as important to have a plan for what you’ll do with that item later.
5. Ask yourself if the stuff represented you, not family who doesn’t live with you or what society deems a perfect addition.
Love it or leave it. That’s all I’m saying. Just be sure you’re loving for you.
Looking for more tips on keeping clutter from knocking on your door? Try these classic tips. Or these oldies but goodies.
Anyone else have some tips on preventing yourself from buying more than you need? How about successes with one-in-one-out?
I think number 5 is the hardest for me. It’s also the reason it’s hard for me to get rid of some things. But I’m trying!
Thanks for giving all of us some things to think about. Although I’ve lived in my house for two years, as it’s in constant upheaval from renovation, a lot of my stuff is still hidden away in boxes. I guess that tells me that I don’t particularly need it, if I haven’t for the last two years. There are times when I wish I didn’t have the 10+ boxes in my basement of old childhood toys; but then I think how much I’d love to pass those things on to my kids (if I have any).
I do like your #3, while I don’t have a lot of knickknacks, I do have ALOT of DVDs and Books…all of which I probably should clean more often than I do.
Thanks for giving me something to think about…maybe I’ll do some winter cleaning this weekend.
Your blog is such an inspiration to me. These are great things to think about and things that I need to take into account more. My husband is in the military and we move fairly frequently but instead of just using each move as an excuse to downsize I am downsizing now so that I just keep the things I love. I think this is an excellent concept and all the people around me are probably getting sick of me talking about “downsizing” my wardrobe and the kitchen and my bookshelf-but I love it!
Great post, I need to take on some of these tips – I love the cleaning one, there is far too much dusting around here as it is!
When I first met my partner he told me of this crazy “every time you bring something in, take something else out” thing. And despite that I’m still with him 10 years later. ;-) I have to say, I am a bit better about doing that now…it does help to streamline my “collections” — and when I ask myself “am I willing to get rid of something else so I can bring this treasure home,” if the answer is yes it potentially comes home with me. I also bagged up a huge shopping bag of Christmas decorations to donate next year (as I was taking them down I was thinking, “I don’t even like this!”). I agree with you on the “love” thing…I should start to do a better job of distinguishing “love” vs. “like.”
This is something that works for me, but is SERIOUSLY crazy!
Over the last 10 years, my potential clutter items have mostly been quilting supplies and fabrics. I go into a fabric store and FILL UP MY CART with EVERYTHING I want… whether I have the money (today) to buy it or not. This can take two hours or more. I carefully contemplate what fabrics will go together. I look at books, patterns, trims, rulers, tools, and bolts of fabric… and load them up. I don’t consider myself a “shopper”, but I SHOP to my heart’s content.
In the store, I “own” these items. I’ve got “dibs” on them (rights to them). They are under my control.
Then I look at the items, again, and, one by one, I ask myself if I REALLY want it, love it, can afford it. If there is a “no”, I walk back and put it where it belongs on the shelf. Usually, by the end, my cart has somewhere between 2 and ZERO items. I look at any remaining items, and decide. (I RARELY buy.)
Then I go home and USE what I already have. I LOVE it, LOVE it, LOVE it!!!!
I call this my “HAVING-NESS EXERCISE”. I experienced “having” those items for a couple of hours, but didn’t waste my money on something I might never get around to USING. And they stored, rotated, and dusted everything for me! And they will continue to do this for me FREE OF CHARGE, for as long as I want them to! LOL!
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Want to really blow your mind? Notice how MANY things we all OWN.. We own libraries, roads, public restrooms, museums, and government offices. If you pay ANY taxes, you REALLY DO own a portion of these buildings and services! (I love that the Great Masters painted fine works of art for my viewing pleasure, hundreds of years before I was born so that *I* could enjoy them NOW; and the museum staff carefully maintains my collection for me!)
Furthermore, all stores, gasoline stations, shops, and vendors are here for our personal use, whenever we decide we want their goods or services.
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This little exercise keeps me feeling rich and “full”, without having to actually clutter up my space.
I TOLD you it was SERIOUSLY crazy! What’s CRAZY …is that it WORKS for me!
Kathryn Kistner in Texas
Any suggestions for dealing with pottery, pottery, pottery? I have a family (husband, mother-in-law, son and 2 daughters) who love to make pottery…or have in the past. Pottery is everywhere! While I admire their creativity and am glad they all have (or had) a nice hobby…the pottery is overwhelming. Do you think I can ship some to Germany? Ha ha!
Katheryn – Unbelievable! The best, and most “out of the box” ideas on decluttering I’ve read in a long time! Thanks for sharing!
M – In my case, I’m the potter, and still have this problem. In fact, tho I love the class, I stopped going because my limited space is overflowing with so-so projects that I put much time and material into, and therefore hate to discard. Help!
I love your thoughts, too, Kathryn. At first I was nervous. She pulls all that stuff from the shelves and then buys nothing… OH! But you put it all back as part of your process. BRILLIANT.
M: I’m brainstorming right now, so stay tuned!
Katie
I didn’t even mention the books, jars of glaze, items waiting to be fired, items drying….etc. Not to mention the dust!
A beautiful refreshing reminder re: Clutter… What drew your attention to the new home or apartment when you first saw it? It was open and roomy and uncluttered. When it is all cluttered, doesn’t it make you want to move again.
I think our homes look like our minds think. Unclutter the mind, the home will follow. I think we tned to surround ourselves with THINGS, for some kind of securite…like a baby with his blanket. Nothing in this world can make us happpy–it is only a small momentary high–to fall as quickly. The Human Nature is never satisfied…never filled up!!! We want more and more and more. Spiritual Nature is easy to please, and so
grateful. :-)
A beautiful refreshing reminder re: Clutter… What drew your attention to the new home or apartment when you first saw it? It was open and roomy and uncluttered. When it is all cluttered, doesn’t it make you want to move again.
I think our homes “look” like our minds “think”… Unclutter the mind, the home will follow. I think we try to surround ourselves with THINGS, for some kind of security…like a baby with his blanket. Nothing in this world can make us happpy–it is only a small momentary high–to fall as quickly. The Human Nature is never satisfied…never filled up!!! We want more and more and more. Spiritual Nature is easy to please, and so
grateful. :-) Let’s band together to live an uncluttered life in 2012. HAPPY NEW YEAR!