If you're hanging on to some old stuff that you no longer need or want you could be causing yourself stress and needless aggravation. Did you realize that living with clutter or having difficulty locating the things you need when you need them can impact your health and well being? When you recognize all the negative effects of holding on to old items you may be ready to purge. This post will have some great tips to help you decide what to get rid of, where it should go, and how to organize everything that's left. We'll even tell you how Stockpile new home inventory system can help!
The Rule of Twelve
Have you used the item in the last twelve months? If the answer is no you may be looking at something you no longer need or want. Of course there are some exceptions, you probably have keepsakes that you no longer use but you would like to keep them anyway. Those items are different from a pair of shoes that you haven't worn in years or a craft item that is collecting dust somewhere. Items with no sentimental value that haven't been used in the last year probably aren't worth hanging on to. Going room by room and just eliminating these items can free up a lot of space.
Do You Love It?
There may be some items that you have used recently but you just don't really like them anymore. It's okay to go ahead and add those items to the discard pile as well. Don't get sucked into keeping items just because you know how much you paid for them or feel guilty about how little they were used. Donating these items to a worthy cause where they can be used and appreciated is a much better option than continuing to hold on to items out of guilt.
Does It Fit?
If an item doesn't fit you or fit in your home it should go. Many of us hold to items that no longer fit for a number of reasons. You may think your weight will fluctuate and you'll be wear something in the future. That's always a possibility but holding on to too many items can create a bad situation. It would be better to let go and buy new when the need arises. If you have furniture or other household items that don't fit in your home you need to realistically evaluate the probability of your situation changing so that they do fit. If you're not planning to move to a new home what would have to happen to make these things work in your current space? How likely is that scenario? If it's a one in a million long shot you may want to let go of the things that are holding you back.
Buy New to Renew
Sometimes you just need a little refresher. Sure, the old version may still work but a new color, style, or pattern can really brighten up your home and refresh your space. Creating an environment that makes you happy can have huge benefits on your outlook, your mood, and your motivation. Don't underestimate the power of positivity.
Where Should It Go?
Once you've identified the items that should be on their way out the door it's important to consider your options. There may be some items that are so worn or broken the landfill is the only possible destination. Keep in mind that many places recycle old clothes and other linens into things like insulation so even if they are too raggedy to wear they may still have life left in them. This even includes old shoes and rugs. Check for a program in your area before tossing stuff in the trash. There are numerous organizations that accept donations of usable goods so you shouldn't have any trouble finding one in your area. For really nice items that are still in great condition you may have some success selling them online. This will allow you to make a little extra cash and may ease your guilt over getting ready of something that was still so new.
A Few Final Reminders
Just remember if you buy new you should get rid of the old version if you already have one at home. The idea here is to declutter and streamline your home. You'll also want to use Stockpile new home inventory system. Stockpile makes it simple to track the things you own. Creating item records is quick and easy. You choose which fields to include in item records so you can decide what information to put in the system. Using areas and locations allows you to be very specific about where items are kept. This makes it easy to quickly locate items and to put them back in the right place time and time again. You'll be able to stay organized long term with our simple system. Plus, you can track other good to know details such as age of item, purchase price, related accessories, warranty info and so much more. You can even include a photo in your item record. The best part is that all this info will be at your fingertips, even when you're away from home. Stockpile is mobile compatible so you can access your inventory as long as you have internet access. When you're standing in the store wondering what to buy you'll have the answer in your hand. You can easily see what you have at home. There are so many benefits to using Stockpile. Ready to see what we can do for you? Try Stockpile now!
