Decluttering – How Owning Less Can Make You Buy Less

Ever fancied living with less stuff? We’re all surrounded by so many things, is it any wonder life can feel so chaotic.

There can be a great sense of freedom in letting go. Getting rid of things you don’t like, want or need. Living with less but making room in your life for more – of what’s important.

The main advantage of decluttering is that it makes everything around you less busy. So, you can find and use those things that matter to you most without having to fight through mountains of mess.

But there’s also another upside. Owning less can make you buy less. Here’s why:

•      When you declutter, you’re forced to face up to the amount of stuff you’ve bought that you don’t use. Clothes that don’t fit. Books you won’t read. Gadgets still in a box. It’s all just a waste of your hard-earned money.
•      You realise you can live quite happily without 27 T-shirts. Or 15 pairs of jeans. Or shoes you can’t walk in. The world won’t cave in if your wardrobes and drawers are not overflowing with gear. How liberating!
•      You don’t want to replace everything you’re getting rid of with more stuff. The urge to splurge is diluted by the guilt at the cash you’ve splashed.

The easiest way to declutter is not to accumulate clutter in the first place.

So, what you need now are some tips on how not to buy more stuff. Here you go:

•      Avoid online shopping. When you’re not physically carrying the shopping bags, it can pass you by as to how much stuff you’re buying. Until the delivery guy with the tower of boxes arrives at your door.
•      Think long-term. Is whatever you’re thinking of purchasing going to stand the test of time? Will it look just as great next season or go out of date the minute you cut the labels off? Only buy things as an investment.
•      Avoid the sales. Those three little words: ‘It’s a bargain’ are responsible for most wardrobe mistakes. There’s a reason for massive mark-downs – it’s stuff no-one wants. Including you.
•      Leave your cards at home. Impulse buys account for the majority of purchases. You see something, convince yourself it will change your life for the better, and bang! It’s in the bag. No cards to hand means you have time to consider if you really want/need it.

To summarise, decluttering will mean:

•      More time
•      More space
•      More money

So, what are you waiting for?!