The Case for Decluttering (Even When You’re Low on Money)

This guest post was written by: Alyssa Wolff from Unbusy

Are you afraid to declutter because you’re living on a tight budget?

Worried that this minimalism trend, while obviously beneficial to some, goes totally in the wrong direction (even based off common sense) for you?

 

Keep reading to find out what minimalism has to do with low-budget households. I’ll give you a hint – it’s not just a write-off!

Everyone has a bottom 20%

There are still things you aren’t using – yes, you!

Get familiar with Pareto’s principle again. (20% of what you own is doing 80% of the work.)

You may have frugal-ized and decluttered your way into using most of what you’ve got – in fact, I hope that’s true – but there’s still at least a bottom 20%, if not an 80%, of unused items at your house.

Don’t believe me? Look around.

Empty out that Tupperware cabinet, pots-and-pans cupboard, or toiletries drawer. Make a heap of everything you used last week, and see what’s left.

All that stuff? That’s your security blanket. Your “what if I need” blanket.

That’s your 20%. (Is it closer to 40%?)

Now. You be the judge.

• Are all those things ready and able to be put into use at a moment’s notice (when your weekly items break)?
• Do they need repairs first?
• And are you happy or overwhelmed by the amount of backup items you actually have?

If you’re satisfied with your stash, and everything’s in good condition, pack it up and put it somewhere else in the house. Because stashes are for “oh, shoot!” scenarios, not for everyday living.

Low income doesn’t mean keep everything

You see, low income is no excuse for clutter.

If you don’t want to wear those clothes ever again, and you have more than a few jeans, shorts, or skirts in your closet, give yourself the freedom to let those clothes go.

After all, there’s more in the 50% off today rack at Goodwill if you suddenly lost everything in a fire. (And what good would a full closet of just-in-case’s do you then?)

Don’t let your just-in-case’s….

• blind you to the space you could be using for something else (likely much needed in your cramped home)
• lull you into thinking that you’ve got enough kid clothes or toys for the next two years (when in reality they got you through the first two kids, but they’re almost worn out)
• or whisper that you’re doing the smart thing by saving everything possible (which turns into never being able to find that one component you just KNOW you put in the attic, but now you have to re-buy anyway)

If you don’t actually intend to ever use that broken coffeepot that kind-of-sort-of holds together long enough to make one cup of coffee (and spill the rest all over the counter), don’t you think you’d rather live on instant (I know, the horror) until you scrape together the funds to buy a new coffeemaker?

How many of your just-in-case’s would be miserable to use, eat off of, wear, or move around in? Why not make your life better on the front end by taking all the “make me miserable to use” stuff out? You’d be one grumpy mom constantly pulling those jeans up all day or wearing the itchy (but warm! for winter!) sweater – or you could gleefully send those garments off to Goodwill and keep the two shirts that do fit when you reach for something above your head.

See what’s next in your life

Now that you’ve lightened your life, take a look around.

• Is your bottom line a little bit easier to deal with ‘cause you made $20 off consignment?
• Do you have the mental space to attack grocery shopping or side hustling?
• Are you just plain more contented with your space, schedule, or season in life now that you’ve pared back to the basics?

There’s ALWAYS something good post-decluttering. It’s time to find out what.

• It may be nothing more than realizing you shouldn’t shop at the 50% off tag sale for just-in-case items (because you always hate them when they’re home).
• Or perhaps after you decluttered the kid clothes and toys that were about to fall apart, you’re able to fit that one giant toy they love (so you grudgingly keep) back in their room, not your living room.
• Maybe you can fit another month’s worth of shampoo or toothpaste in your backup toiletries location now that you donated all the “itchy hair” shampoo or “felt like throwing up” toothpaste.

So what action do you need to take next?

 

This isn’t just another feel-good post with a few tips to superficially improve your life. This one requires action.

• Do you need to go hunting for that bottom 20% (or 40% or 80%) and get it out of your weekly essentials?
• Or take a look at the condition of all your “what if” items and see if using them would be more hassle than living without them?
• Are you hoping for a more streamlined family room or nursery closet post-decluttering?

Start in one of these three areas to let minimalism work its magic for you.

‘Cause it’s only by getting real about what we’re not using (that we think we are), and what the worst case scenario is without those things, that we get the courage to declutter.

So grab a box (for the what if’s) and get ready to lighten your spaces. Who knows – you might find out you need way less than you think!

Free Download: Quiz: What’s Your Minimalism Personality: https://colossal-motivator-2652.ck.page/b22f1d85bb