’ve been doing a lot of research in the area of de-cluttering and I’ve been covering organisation and productivity on Smaggle for years now. One of the main issues a lot of Smaggle readers have is being given permission to get rid of items they’re no longer using. It feels like a waste of money and a waste of stuff, so most people resist it. The solution is simple though: If the item is usable, donate it to charity, if it’s not throw it away. That crusty plastic container will end up as landfill eventually so you might as well ditch it now. If you’re having guilt about throwing away a lot of stuff (and we all should have guilt – we’re a very wasteful society) make a promise for every item you throw away, that you will either do without a replacement, or replace it very thoughtfully. For example for every crusty plastic container I throw away, I’m only allowed to replace it with good quality Tupperware (actual Tupperware – that stuff is indestructible) or glass Pyrex containers which last a lot longer. They’re a lot more expensive but you don’t replace them as often and you’ll have far less guilt than you would if you throw away a $4 supermarket container every few months. With that in mind, here are 5 ways you can downsize and simplify your life.
Get rid of excess baggage
I used to have an entire wardrobe full of handbags. Beautiful clutches, leather shoulder bags and more designer shopping totes than I knew what to do with and I never used any of them. I’ve recently donated all my excess bags to charity. I now have one backpack, one shoulder bag and one clutch bag and it’s honestly all I need.
Get rid of any books you will never read again
This can be hard for book lovers but there’s no point in having a house full of books you will never look at again. I recently recycled a whole lot of of university text books because they’re actually useless and I’m never going to re-read my pedagogical behaviour study text from 2004. It cost me $90 but none of the information in it is relevant anymore. It had to go. I know it hurts to get rid of books but they’re just dead weight unless you look at them regularly. You can totally keep your dog-eared Roald Dahl books but that self help book you got given in 2009 and never read can totally be given to charity or given to your library if they accept books.
Embrace the fact that boxing wasn’t your thing
If you bought boxing gloves ten years ago and haven’t used them since, give them to charity. Yes they were probably very expensive but that’s no excuse to have them knocking around in your wardrobe, annoying you every time you go to get something. Ditch them. Note: If you have boxing gloves you use every day obviously keep them. Pro Tip: If you’re going to start a new sport or gym regime, look on Gumtree for second hand equipment. It might not be much cheaper than new stuff but if you’re only going to use it for a couple of months, you might as well get it second hand. That way you can donate it to charity in a few months time, totally guilt free with out increasing your waste creation.
Let go of novelty gadgets… and stop buying them in the first place
That Hello Kitty rice mould was super fun to use that one time you made sushi but if you’re not using it, donate it to charity. Same goes for those weird dolphin and turtle shaped back massagers everyone had ten years ago. If you’re not using it most days, ditch it.
Tip: Don’t buy this stuff to begin with. No one needs a weird cutter thing that turns carrots into roses. There’s a reason why we call these ‘impulse’ purchases because if you thought about it for a day, there’s no way you’d buy it. If you go to buy something like this, try waiting a few hours before laying down your cash. You’ll probably change your mind.
CDs and DVDs
Four years ago, I got rid of all of my CDs and DVDs and I don’t think I’ve touched a disc since then, nor have I missed it. If you spend most of your TV time watching Netflix or Foxtel, it’s time to ditch the discs. It’s really hard – I get it. I threw away my Alanis Morrisette Jagged Little Pill album. It was all scratched and hadn’t played well in years and I had the whole album on my iPhone anyway. I can remember going to Sanity at the Tuggeranong Hyperdome and laying down my $30 to buy it (that was a serious amount of coin back then) so getting rid of it was tough but I haven’t regretted it. It was a physical tie to a time in my life that I will never forget – my teenage years. I don’t need a raggedy and useless old CD to remind me of that.
Oh and if you need a little bit of guidance I have a free 7 day Cut The Crap course to help you do just that. Sign up here to get all the bits and pieces you need to clear your life of crap over the next 7 days.
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Do you struggle to get rid of things? Are you a hoarder or a chucker?
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17 Comments
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Jagged Little Pill is SUCH a seminal album! My copy is still pristine . . . and I likewise haven’t touched it since I ripped it to PC 10 or more years ago along with all the rest of them.
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It really is! It’s actually also just insanely good – it’s got all the rock ego-ness of a good 90s album without being totally annoying.
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Love this! By nature I’m a hoarder like my dad but as I’ve gotten older I’m turning into a chucker like my mum!!
I love decluttering and organising, and I’m definitely getting very into embracing minimalism and a simpler lifestyle. The not letting useless clutter and stuff get into your house in the first place is a big one, and often the hardest one. Especially now with a baby, I’m trying to avoid the accumulation of unnecessary ‘stuff’.-
Both of my parents are chuckers – I used to a hard core hoarder but I’m so over stuff at the moment. I just need surfaces and spaces everywhere. It clears my mind.
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Love it! I totally agree it’s best to not bring these things in our homes in the first place, but obviously that’s often easier said than done! I’ll also add if you’re in the midst of a cleanup of your home there are places you can recycle all kinds of households items (electronics, paint, expired medicines etc) rather than just throwing them out, so that’s worth looking into as well. I did a post on it a while ago if you’re interested!
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Oh yes please! Let me know the link – I’m always looking for conscious ways to get rid of stuff. There’s so much waste if we can get rid of things thoughtfully it makes it so much better.
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No pronlem, here it is! http://www.ispyplumpie.com/how-to-dispose-of-household-items/
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Great tips Carly. I could have a pristine minimalist house because I stored all my stuff at my gigantic factory warehouse. When that business closed I was forced to give it all away. IT WAS LIBERATING and marked the start of a new life. I have just finished a six week US trip with only a 6kg back pack…easy.
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Oh wow good on you you! Mr Smags and I just about to do 3 weeks in the US but it’s weird with packing because you need just as much stuff for one week as you need for 6!
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I caught a taxi the other day and had a very enlightening conversation with the driver. I said that i love keeping all of the books I’ve read because “one day”, when I have my adult house, I’d love to have a library where they all sit.
He said that in his culture, a book is seen as something that should be shared because it doesn’t do anyone any good just sitting on a shelf.
That was such an epiphany for me! I probably will never actually read any of them again, and they’re not fulfilling their purpose just sitting there. So, off they go into the world! Need any books Smags? 🙂
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Oh I love that concept! That’s so lovely! I agree – I love passing on books. I only keep photography books, craft books and my favourite kids books like my Roald Dahls.
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Hello my name is Lisa and I am a reformed hoarder. Now I am in ruthless chucker ninja, except for the books. They have to stay.
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I can cope with people keeping their books. 🙂
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Yes to this! I’m definitely a chucker, and I let go of all my university texts last year because, as you said, they were taking up loads of space and literally nothing in them is relevant to me anymore. The ones that were still applicable I sold to students. The rest got recycled. And it felt amazing to have them out of my life. I’ve lugged those behemoths to three different houses. It’s freeing to know I will never have to move them again.
But I can’t give up my DVDs and CDs. I just adore them and they have to stay. I’ll gladly give up all the shitty novelty kitchen stuff if I can keep my discs.
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Well that’s really part of the challenge! Choosing what you need sacrifice and what you really can’t live without!
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I am all about getting rid of stuff at the moment! It’s an awesome feeling when it goes!
I’m about to arrange a charity pick-up to take away a bunch of clothes and shoes I’m just never going to wear again- I’m holding onto one coat that was really expensive to buy, and which I think I can sell online and get some of that money back. The rest can just go, and I’m not fussed about it.
Just one note that some charities won’t accept exercise equipment, so you’ll need to get rid of your boxing gloves some other way. Every charity I’ve ever looked at donating to has a list of the things they can’t accept on their website or on the bin itself – make sure you read that and abide by it, or it will cost the charity money to get rid of it. That’s not cool!I will say that I finally did some tidying up in my kitchen last night and it just feels AWESOME now! When I walked into it this morning, it felt SO GOOD! I was DELIGHTED! ALL THE CAPS!!! Thank you for the inspiration, Smaggle. I’m so motivated to get the rest of my place done!
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Great article and engaging.
