Getting rid of clutter is more of a mental exercise than a physical one; it's not just belongings you're parting with, but the sentiment and memories associated with all of them. The process of acquiring these is often steeped in emotion, as gifts from friends or family, items that reflect an activity we once enjoyed, or the adrenalin rush that follows the purchase of an item we couldn't do without.
Eventually, you reach a point where there are too many "things" and it's time to declutter. Maybe you're forced into it because of an impending event such as a move or the arrival of company. Other times, we are driven by our own frustration to locate those everyday items, no longer easily within our grasp. Some are motivated by shame; that feeling of humiliation when guests come over and you quickly hang up their coat; closing the door, so they can't see the inside of your closet.
I used to admire people who calmly opened closets and bedroom doors for their guests, proudly displaying their orderly home. It wasn't until I put my home up for sale and had to declutter that I too, felt that way. Whatever your motivations, once you make the decision, focus on your goal and get moving. Look at the items in your closets and ask yourself, "Am I using everything in here or has it become long term storage".
In my case, I was moving across the country, my moving costs averaged .60 per pound. As I scrutinized each item, I asked myself, "Is this worth paying an additional .60 per pound". This was a valuable tool that resulted in my parting with about 30 garbage bags of stuff, enough for 2 garage sales, along with numerous truckloads to the Goodwill and the local dump.
If downsizing is the reason for your cleaning spree - you need to get serious. If you plan on moving into a home 2/3 the size of what you currently have, then you need to part with at least 1/3 of your treasured belongings.
Getting Down to Business
Get some containers handy so that you can organize your stuff as it gets hurled out of the closet; you'll need three or four bins for:
stuff you plan to keep
stuff you're throwing out
stuff you're selling, only if you plan on having a garage sale soon, don't fall into the trap of long term storage for this reason
stuff you're giving away
Sort quickly, trying not to spend too much time on any one item. Take regular breaks and play music that perks you up. Once the area is empty you can quickly clean the shelves and then reorganize the things you want to keep. This may involve getting storage containers or additional hangers.
If you're working on an entire room, start at one end and work your way around. If it's a big job, such as the entire house, break it down into little sections, such as completing two rooms a week.
When decluttering, clothing can be a tough nut to crack; about 1/4 of the clothes fit, the rest hold fond hopes of "I might fit into that someday ". Be strong, if you haven't worn something in 2 years, out it goes.
Items that reflect a change in lifestyle can sometimes be difficult to part with; it may feel like you are giving up a part of yourself. Trust me, when you're done, you'll still have the memories, as well as a nice clean closet.
Items that hold sentimental value can be hard to let go of; like the clay sculpture your child made in grade 3, or the tea set handed down from late, great Aunt Myrna. Be honest with yourself, ask whether you're keeping things out of a sense of obligation or because you really want them.
I had a friend who lost her home in a fire; she received a flood of donations from the community and couldn't bring herself to part with any of it. Years later, her new home was filled with a maze of boxes of unpacked sentiment. Select those items you really want to keep and pass on the rest, your children or other family members may appreciate the memories.
Once you've cleaned out that closet or room, the first thing you'll notice is a sense of lightness. Emotionally, we carry all this clutter around with us; if your home is messy and disorganized that feeling is reflected in your thoughts and overall frame of mind. Your biggest reward will be when friends come by and you shamelessly open the closet door.
The internet has opened up our world in a lot of ways. And with the explosion of online markets like EBay and Amazon, you can do a lot of your shopping online or sell an unwanted item much easier than trying to get rid of it around town. So it makes sense that the newest trend for online swap and shop sites is a natural next step to give you a way to exchange something cool you have for something cool someone else has.
Online swap and shop sites are among the fastest growing ways that people use the internet to create that swap meet experience and exchange in barter rather than buying and selling. They are very easy to use and usually all you have to do to qualify to be a citizen of one of these sites is to offer something to the community for trade. When you begin getting offers of swaps for your item, it is very easy to get "hooked" on barter as a great way to get rid of things you don't want and maybe find some hidden treasure out there in cyberspace that someone else doesn't want and is willing to make the exchange with you.
Looking to online swap and shop sites is an alternative to the conventional ways of getting rid of unwanted items around the house that could result in a much better pay back on your efforts. The tried and true method of cleaning out the closets and the attic is a garage sale. But the pricing structure at garage sales is ridiculously low. The result is you might sell an item worth $50 for $5 just because that is how garage sales work. People come to them expecting something for very little and if you ask for what something is really worth, you often see it go unsold.
In an online swap situation, you can place the real value on an item and because it is a trade, you can evaluate if the item you are getting matches up in value. In every respect, the open barter environment that might occur at a flea market or swap meet is preserved so if someone offers you something for less than your item is worth, you can negotiate for two items in trade for your piece or for the swap plus cash to even things up.
The fun of a swap site is that you get to see what other people have to offer. Like going to a garage sale, you could easily stumble across a real treasure that might otherwise be very difficult to find. And if you have a treasure to trade, both of you come away delighted. Because there was no money that changed hands, you don't need a receipt or to worry about tax implications. And you have a lot of fun both shopping for great stuff to trade for while you get rid of items you once loved but are now ready for someone else to love. You can make that happen with a fair trade at an online swap site.
Both Scott Baxter & Zach Thompson are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Scott Baxter has sinced written about articles on various topics from Real Estate, Consumer and Real Estate. Visit Realty 2000 Town & Country to view . Be sure to check out. Scott Baxter's top article generates over 74000 views. to your Favourites.
Zach Thompson has sinced written about articles on various topics from Business Loans, Nutrition and Tax Software. Zach Thompson is a freelance internet marketer and savvy online shopper. Join him in saving money - start shopping at .. Zach Thompson's top article generates over 49500 views. to your Favourites.