Thursday, August 16, 2012

Are you a Hoarder?

Every once in a while, I find myself wanting to get rid of things. I tend to collect way too much makeup, clothes and accessories and sometimes I just wish I could have a minimalist wardrobe. Yet, when I should actually be paring down such collections, I pause.

You know... that foundation I haven't used in a year, what if I suddenly want to use it and I got rid of it? What if I need it? I think back to times such as this one: the time I got rid of a camouflage shirt I never wore, only to find myself needing a camo shirt for spirit week in high school. My head thinks back to these times and wonders, well what if I will need that one day?

I read a minimalist blog now and then and they discuss these same feelings. When they were purging their stuff, they had the same urge to keep things. I think we all do. Do I really need 10 tubes of lip gloss when I rarely ever wear it at all? Definitely not. Do I think twice before throwing it away or giving it to a friend? Definitely. WHY?

We get attached to the things we own. Hoarders have this philosophy: well I might need it one day. But really, will you? Will you need the things you hold on to for years, never touching? Probably not. Even if you find yourself needed that camo shirt, chances are you can borrow one from someone else or just buy a new one for cheap.

I definitely admire those that dive head first into minimalism and have very little clutter. My new goal is to get rid of items I never use such as clothes that don't fit well and I never wear, makeup I never use, etc. I want to look at the things I own very carefully and ask myself a few questions.

Have I used this in the past year?
For clothes, does it have stains or holes that suggest I should toss it?
Do I really need it or like it anymore?
Can someone else use it on a regular basis instead of just sitting at my house collecting dust?

What do you think? Do you need to organize and get rid of things in your home? Any suggestions for me?

2 comments:

  1. I know that if I haven't used it in the past 6months - 1yr I will pitch it, or give it away. If I can't think of a place to store it, I won't buy it, because I probably don't need it. I also try to think about how much I'd use it before I buy it.
    Oh, and I love watching those Hoarders shows because its aways easy to get rid of things after watching an episode or two...
    Robin:)

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  2. Very good advice, thanks Robin! :)

    ReplyDelete

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