Avoid Clutter in the Home

One man's trash is not necessarily another man's treasure. Sometimes it's just trash. That goes for many items purchased at secondhand stores and garage sales too. Just because something is dirt cheap, doesn't mean we need to buy it and bring it home.

What we bring home still costs us in terms of living space--not to mention the cost paid for the item. Add up a bunch of dirt cheap items we don't need and it means a house full of clutter and a whole lot of cash gone from the budget. So why do we accumulate clutter and how can we stop?

Special Clutter

We surround ourselves with clutter for various reasons. Some of what others would deem clutter in our homes is the result of inherited pieces or special gifts. The item may not have been our personal choice or taste, but because of where it originated or who gave it to us, we keep it and display it.

Family Pieces

What's more, it's difficult to give away a family piece--unless someone else in the family wants to accept it. We can't just dispose of something quietly, or we may have to account for it someday to a relative. So we keep things and store things and grow our stash of personal belongings into quite a sizable amount. Then it surprises us when we require a semi to make a major move.

Great Bargains

Bargain hunters love the hunt, finding potentially valuable pieces. Bargain hunters are enticed by the cheap buy and by the investment potential of stuff. It's an addiction to some. To other's, it's just a fun way to spend an afternoon with like-minded bargain hunters.

Speculative Buys

Some clutter-collectors are more selective in their collecting. They purchase in order to resell. The problem with this sort of behavior is that there's no guarantee anyone else will want to buy the speculative item. The end result is stuff--stuff purchased for its potential value that never realized.

Clutter And Stress

Some folks gather a houseful of stuff because they have an overzealous eclectic sense of style--believing that more décor is better--that more stuff makes the room house beautiful. But they are disillusioned. More stuff actually creates a feeling of clutter, of less space, and clutter add stress.

Substitute and Donate

There are several solutions to the accumulation problem. Some folks have learned to move something out for everything moved in. Other folks hold their own garage sales or donate to charity. But the easiest way to overcome the tendency to accumulate those bargains is to think in terms of indirect costs.

How to Stop Accumulating

Think about what are you giving up in order to own that bargain. Think about how many hours of work you had to stand on your feet or answer phones, or pretend to like a co-worker, in order to pay for it. Think about how you will box it, carry it, or ship it--just to move it from here to there. Then decide if it's still a bargain. After you've asked yourself these questions, chances are you will put that bargain back on the self.