How Purging Clutter Can Uncover Spending Habits
Recently, I had the pleasure of attending the book talk of New York Times Bestselling Author, Gretchen Rubin. Gretchen just released her new book, Outer Order, Inner Calm and delivered a joyful discussion about decluttering a home to make room for happiness.
While driving home I started to think about this hot topic “decluttering” and wanted to understand how individuals have gotten so deep in clutter. There had to be a common source. Within minutes of taking the time to dig a bit deeper, the root of the problem became vividly clear. Knowing the source of the problem is the only way to truly prevent repeating the habit of getting buried in clutter.
Decluttering a home is definitely a learned skill and I applaud these women for writing such incredible guides that are helping millions of people shed pounds of unwanted goods, organize homes, and learn to live with the concept that “less is more.” But, one thing not discussed in either book that, in my opinion, is the source of the problem, is SPENDING! Clutter goes hand in hand with poor spending habits that if not kept in check, clutter creeps back into a home. How many times have you cleaned out the garage, a closet, or a desk only to find a few years (or months) later that the same decluttered space is packed full again with items that you a) don’t need and b) never use? This happens to all of us!
Regardless of which system you choose to purge unwanted items, adding the additional step of identifying the items creating the most clutter and then reviewing spending habits behind purchasing these items, will help break the habits that led to clutter in the first place. It will also eliminate the buildup of clutter in the future and save you money. Every room, closet, box, or drawer presents an opportunity to identify where money is being spent on unneeded items. But before you just dump and donate, use the below tips to help break future clutter habits:
Take inventory
As you clean out each closet, drawer, or room, take the time to look for duplicates, review the items that you are giving away or selling, and write down the quantity of each item. For example, while cleaning out a clothes closet stack the items into groups(e.g., shirts, pants, shoes, handbags, etc.). Before you pop everything in a bag and donate the items, grab a notebook, review each stack, and write down which items make-up the largest portion of the donation. Once noted, immediately put the items in a donation bag.
Most donated awards
Next, review your notebook and determine which items win the largest donation pile. For ladies, most donated pile may be shoes or clothes. For the gentlemen, the pile may be tools from the garage or a coffee cup collection (random, but true). For kids, the list may range from clothing to puzzles or books to squishies.
Recognize spending habits
Sit down as a family and review the quantity of items being donated. Determine the purpose of buying such a large quantity of each specific item and ask the following questions. Were the majority of the items purchased on impulse? Is there a pattern of buying in bulk? Were the items purchased a “need” or a “want?”
Knowing the above will help identify spending habits. If items were purchased on impulse, going forward, take the time to think about a purchase before buying. Go home, review what you already have, and decide if the item is a necessary purchase. If items were purchased in bulk, buy less the next time and see if you can make do with one versus several. Always ask if the item is a “need” or a “want.” We tend to always want new things, but seldom do we really need them.
Jodee Brydges is the author of Digging Out: A Practical Guide to Getting Out of Debt and Paving a Path to a Secure Financial Future. With over 30 years of experience in the financial industry, Jodee is a financial coach, speaker,and currently works at RPM Mortgage in Alamo as a loan originator. Jodee can be reached at jodee@jodeebrydges.com.
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