Kat’s Money Corner: Time to declutter
One of my favorite things to do at the end of summer is go through my closets and determine what I can give away, repair or recycle. This week I am going to help you do the same thing! Clean out your closet (or attic, or basement, or garage) with the following tips and I promise you’ll breathe easier.
Reduce
The first thing you have to do is empty out whatever nook or cranny you’ve managed to fill. Pull everything out, even the stuff you know you’re keeping. http://mnmlist.com/5-simple-steps-to-declutter-your-closet/ Depending on the size of your closet, you’ll want to give yourself a couple of hours to do this. Why? Because eliminating clutter and reducing your junk, while definitely cathartic, isn’t something you should do on impulse. Instead, ask yourself the following types of questions:
· Have I used/worn this item in the past year?
· Am I saving this just in case?
· If it’s broken or missing parts, can I reasonably fix it or should I replace it?
· Am I holding on to this for someone else? Can they take it?
Of course, there are always a few things that don’t fall under the normal “reduction rules.” For example, family heirlooms, seasonal items, and kids’ clothes that we’re waiting for our youngest son, Pete, to grow into are all exceptions.
Reuse
With the Internet, and websites like Pinterest http://www.pinterest.com available, I’m starting to think that almost anything can be repurposed. Before I throw something away, I think about different ways we could use the item. We have been able to transform some furniture we would have paid a pretty penny for into awesome new pieces. For instance, did you know that an old wooden headboard could quickly, and fairly easily, become an awesome bench? http://www.myrepurposedlife.com/2012/10/25-benches-headboards-more.html
Recycle
We are fortunate enough to have friends with a son, Joe, who’s a little older than our oldest, Jack. Our friends put Joe’s clothes in a tote and bring it to our house when he outgrows them. Then, when Jack grows, we will pass on his clothes to Joe’s little brother, Ollie. Then, we get them back and are ready for baby Pete.
What this story illustrates is that you should never underestimate the power of a neighborhood, friend or family swap. http://www.givemeneither.com/a-thrifty-idea-a-clothing-exchange-party/. Granted, some clothes are naturally ruined by play, but more often, it means our sons’ wardrobes grow and grow while we spend less and less. We’ve been able to do the same trade for maternity clothes as well. If you have friends or family members with similar sized children, try this out!
These tips should get you off to a good start. Once you’ve cleared out the clutter, you can start organizing what’s left. http://www.dontpayfull.com/blog/11-genius-ways-to-organize-your-closet-on-a-budget Tweet me and the other Savin’ Mavens pictures of your progress using #KatsClosetCleanOutWeek as the hashtag – I can’t wait to see what you do!
Kat's Money Corner is posted on Dollars & Sense every Tuesday. Kat Hnatyshyn, when not blogging or caring for her little ones, is a manager with CommunityAmerica Credit Union. For more financial chatter, click http://twitter.com/savinmavens or visit http://communityamerica.com
This story was originally published September 22, 2015 at 10:16 AM with the headline "Kat’s Money Corner: Time to declutter."