8 Excuses We Make For Clutter
We all make them.
We all make excuses.
We all make excuses for the clutter we have in life.
What is your go-to excuse?
I made excuses for too many years.
It was when I realized that it was time to stop making excuses, that I started to come to grips with our clutter. With all of our stuff. With our excess.
If you find yourself saying “that is me…” to one of the excuses listed below, think about ways that you can combat those excuses. Time to get a grip on the clutter and start anew!
Excuses for Clutter (and some helpful tips on how to combat them):
1. Guilt. “I can’t get rid of it…(insert name) might be hurt!” Lets be real. Are they ever going to KNOW you got rid of that item? You don’t want to come across as ungrateful, but who is going to remember or even ASK if you got rid of an item?
2. Brings back memories. These memories could be good or bad. If they are bad, you SHOULD get rid of the item(s). If good, ask “is there another way to ‘remember’ without having to keep the item?” Sometimes a picture will do or even the memory of it, itself.
3. Free! How often do our money-saving, deal-seeking selves get the best of us? Yes, you got a good deal on it – but it is worth the space it takes up? Do you ever use it? Or is the only thought you have of it, that it was free? If so, get rid of it.
4. Saving it for someone. Who are you saving it for and why? You may be saving some things to pass onto your children someday. That in itself is not a bad thing. But are you saving it more for yourself than for them? Are they going to appreciate it or wish you had gotten rid of it? Don’t expect others to have the same feelings about something as you do – talk to the person you want to give that item to, to see if they share that same love for it.
5. It will be worth something someday! Unless you know 100% for sure that it will gain value, don’t let this excuse be the reason you keep something. Look on Ebay, Craigslist, etc. to see if that item has any value at all, before assuming it does.
6. Was expensive. It is so hard to part with something that you know you paid a good penny for. Often though, the guilt attached to that item, is far more damaging than the money value itself. If you got rid of the item, there are no more reminders as to how expensive it was and it’s the “out of sight out of mind” concept that will hopefully come into play.
7. Don’t have time. Time comes up over and over again, when it comes to dealing with clutter. Finding time to go through everything, is key. You do not need a lifetime though. With anything in life, if you want to do it bad enough, you WILL find the time. Think about all the things you enjoy in life – do you make time for those? Maybe you do, maybe you don’t. Whatever the case, you make time for the things you care about. Make time to declutter.
8. You may need it someday. Has that day ever come? I think there has been one or two times, where I had thought of something I had gotten rid of, and maybe could have used it. On the flip side, I had something else that worked JUST FINE instead. No, it may not have been the exact item, but that is the joy of simplicity – you make what you have, work. The “I’ll need it someday” can be dangerous because you can think about that with every item you own (even if you are filled to overabundance in your home).
Don’t let excuses get the best of you. Conquer those excuses and start the decluttering process TODAY!
My clutter usually comes not from wanting to get rid of things but from wanting to dispose of them properly. I can't just throw things in the garbage. I have to make sure they are recycled, donated, or returned to proper owner. This causes things to pile up as I search for the perfect solution. Add some procrastination and it can be sometime before I get things out the door!
Rochelle, I so fall into this trap! I have a closet of things I need to donate (I always have a "donation station" in our coat closet) and if I don't keep up on, it just becomes clutter. I think finding the right way to dispose of the item is a good mindset to have. Our landfills are plenty full! Scheduling in decluttering time may be helpful – like when you run to town, you don't leave without a bag to the thrift store. This has helped me incredibly! Glad I am not the only one 🙂
I can honestly answer that I know someone who literally asks if I wear something they gave me, if I still use something they gave me and also ask where I have it. That person is my mother. She has issues with people getting rid of things she gave them..no matter how long ago. But its ok for her to get rid of something you gave her, of course. I want a simple uncluttered life but it stresses me to deal with her in order to get there. ugh
Charlotte, it sounds like you are in a really tough situation. It may not be the actual clutter that is the hardest thing to overcome, but the emotional struggle it entails. I think that no matter what you choose, it will be difficult, but what is going to make the most impact and help you reach your ultimate goal? It probably is to get rid of the clutter, but know that it may involve some difficult conversations. I encourage you to start a box with all of the things that you want to get rid of. If she would like it back, so be it, but otherwise I would encourage you to donate it. If she asks, tell her that you know someone else needed it more than you did. Maybe be intentional about who you give the items to, so that she knows it went to a good home. Let me know what you think and if you need any other suggestions, let me know Charlotte!
Charlotte, I feel your pain on this one. I come from a long line of sentimental horders, and I am known as the black sheep of shameful discarding! I feel stress around holiday time knowing people are going to send me gifts that I may or may not need and will feel tons of guilt about passing on to someone who might need it more since it will inevitably be mentioned at some point. In the last few years I have finally realized the best way to deal with this is to be honest and creative about our wishlists, letting family know the kids and I don't really need anything particular, but maybe a membership to a local museum or tickets to a concert. This year I admitted I haven't had time for baking and Mom was happy to send a big box of holiday treats that we are happily consuming! Win – win.
Christa, thank you for sharing! I so agree with you that the holidays can be one of the most stressful times of the season. You don't want to offend anybody, but letting items that will just take up unnecessary space, are hard to hang on to and bring into our homes. What a wonderful idea to give specific suggestions (which are sometimes easiest), while doing something together as a FAMILY! I think those are sometimes the best gifts – time spent together. Thank you for sharing these great ideas Christa!