The Art of Giving it Away
When you own a bunch of things it can create mental clutter and lost time. To have less stuff can make spring cleaning more enjoyable. I don’t know about you, but I would much rather clean for a few hours and spend the rest of my day reading or writing another article for you. If you feel overwhelmed with stuff you could donate, sell or recycle.
We all have donated clothes to a charity or someone we know at some point in life. An act of kindness that never gets old. The warm feeling you get when helping someone else in need or simply putting a smile on someone’s face is indescribable. There are a number of charities that will pickup items right at your front door step. In return you will be given a receipt you can use to write-off donations on your taxes.
I took the liberty of donating more than half of my closet one year all at once. I had about 4 large trash bags full of gently used clothes. I did another haul recently mainly because like the rest of the globe I had nowhere to go due to the pandemic. This is the perfect time in my opinion to give away anything that you don’t use.
If you’re looking to discover yourself and reclaim time, own less. I’m not saying it’s not okay to have stuff. The material things you want can be purchased in moderation. I’ve heard people say social media makes them feel like they don’t have enough of the right stuff. I’m here to tell you to forget about what others own and focus on your needs. Remember temporary wants can cost you a fortune overtime.
As of today I have a financial system that I practice every other month. I don’t spend any money outside of food and emergencies for 30 days. At first I was going to try it for a week but I knew a week wasn’t enough for me to feel satisfied. If you want to create a new habit I challenge you to do the activity for 30 days. This will allow you to add whatever task or practice into your daily routine.
Another idea to consider is “Quality over Quantity”. So this means you would spend top dollars on a wardrobe but own a small amount of clothing. A good example is a person who buys eight suits, eight pairs of jeans, five Polo shirts, and 8 pairs of shoes. If you ever needed a little extra cash your closet could be the answer. The value will increase tomorrow for the timeless brands you buy today. I would certainly do the research to find out what people are consistently buying.
My closet is more inviting and only consists of clothing I will actually wear. I’ve organized the space by color and style. I have a mental picture of everything I own because I’ve donated all the unnecessary clutter. I’ve even included a motivational message that I read daily.
I’ve noticed my desire for stuff has decreased even when I planned on spending a large amount of money. It felt good to walk into a store and come out with absolutely nothing. Of course, I saw items I wanted but I thought about the stuff I already had in the closet collecting dust. I was in control of my spending and disciplined in my own right.
I plan on encouraging my little one to create a functional space of her own when she’s old enough. There is beauty and freedom in being organized.
