5 Decluttering Tips for “Thrifty” People

Are you a thrifty person who is struggling with the concept of decluttering because it feels wasteful to let go of perfectly good things that you might need someday?

Does it seem like everyone else is able to blissfully toss stacks of things that you secretly want to bring back into your house under the cover of night?

Would it help you to know that you are not alone? That I’m struggling with those same issues?

I grew up outside of Portland, Maine, in a very affluent neighborhood, but my family was of a much more humble means. My classmates had designer clothes, while I had hand-me-downs from my best friend and my cousins. Our family vacations were camping trips on a budget, while other kids came back from the summer, talking about expensive sleep-away camps and European trips. Instead of fancy ski gear and lift tickets, we found our winter fun with a plastic sled and a steep hill.

Let me be clear: I don’t feel deprived because I didn’t have the things my classmates enjoyed, but I did have an acute awareness of having a different set of values. I was particularly careful of the things and clothes that I had, because unlike my friends if my things broke or wore out, I was not going to have another one any time soon. Saving “good” things for special occasions was definitely a family value, along with being thrifty. I did my best to squeeze the most value out of any object or experience that came into my life.

These are some of the “Yankee thriftiness” values I cherish, and they have served me well over the years. I can spot a bargain from a mile away, and I won’t hesitate to haggle for a better price. I recycle and reuse faithfully, and am proud of my creativity in making resources stretch a little farther. The positive value of these skills is clear, but there is also a shadow side to this thriftiness that can make the process of decluttering and downsizing grind to a halt.

Let’s talk about five thrifty pitfalls that might be slowing you down. I want to give you some of my best tools to help you move through these tough places (since these are areas that are my struggle, too!).

#1 – Jars and other kitchen storage items.

Are you holding on to empty jars?

It was almost automatic for me – when I emptied a pickle jar, I faithfully placed it in the dishwasher so that it would be nice and clean so that I could store… something. I ended up with shelves full of empty jars in odd sizes. And egg cartons. Loads of them. Someone might need these, so I saved them.

Go through your storage items that are sitting empty. Use what you can and let the rest go. Seriously. It will be OK. Recycle those nice clean jars (or maybe they are dusty from sitting in your cupboard for so long). You will eat more pickles in the future and will have another jar if you really need one. Right now, the space you will be gaining in your life is far more valuable.

#2 – Cardboard boxes

Cardboard boxes take up a ton of space

This problem got worse with the advent of Amazon Prime. These are nice, sturdy boxes that could be used again, surely! I stacked them up to the ceiling in the garage. When I was feeling crowded, I would virtuously break the boxes down and slide them into every available space. I could remember how much money we paid each time we had to move and had to purchase boxes. Surely this thrifty maneuver would save us some money when something needed to be mailed?

Ummm… no. Not really. Those boxes, while having one or two on hand may be useful, to have a whole herd of them is not practical. They are not good for moving, because they are odd sizes and won’t stack uniformly in the truck. Keep one or two for emergency mailing, but release the rest to recycling. Remember – you can always pick up priority mailing boxes at the post office for FREE.

#3 – “Good” things for “special occasions”

There are two tips to help with this category, both of which can improve the quality of your life. First, you could actually use these precious things – china, silver, candles, that set of fancy underwear…whatever you are saving – and let them enrich your daily life. Imagine how special it would feel to eat meals on your grandmother’s china as you remember the meals she cooked for you! Burn that lovely candle, and experience gratitude for the person who gave it to you. Wear that fancy underwear and feel like the sexy goddess you are – even if it is under your work clothes! Enhance your life by bringing these treasures out of hiding and into regular use, making TODAY a “special occasion”.

But, if this seems too decadent for you (or not practical with little ones), perhaps you could share the china with another family member who will use and love it. Sell some of the items and use the money to take a long awaited trip. I remember the story of a widower who was bringing clothes to the funeral home for his wife to be buried in. He brought a beautiful suit, blouse, jewelry and even silk underwear that she had been saving for a “special occasion.” How sad that her funeral ended up being that “special occasion.”

#4 – “Things I paid “good money” for but no longer use”

Sports equipment and musical instruments may be able to help a young person in need

Ohhh… this is a tough one. When you’ve saved your money for something that was dearly desired at the time but hasn’t been used (or even touched?) in years. This Thrifty Yankee finds herself deeply conflicted. Do you feel guilty for having spent the money in the first place? Is that guilt compounded by the fact that it is sitting at the back of a closet, unused? Guilt is not a feeling that builds momentum towards our goals. Instead, it lets the air out of our tires, leaving us flat and unable to move forward.

Come on, use your thrifty self to your advantage! Can you sell the item and recoup some cash? Is there someone for whom the gift of this item could be a game changer? After school enrichment programs might be able to use your old sports equipment. Your local middle school might be able to use that old band instrument. Your old computer might be a help to inner-city kids. And you just might surprise yourself at how good it feels to help someone with something that was only taking up space in your life and making you feel guilty.

#5 – “Things I might need in the future”

OK. We need to have an honest conversation about this one. How likely are you to need this item in the next year? In the next five years? Chances are good that you will not need it in the next ten years if you have not needed it in the past two years. Can you truly not afford to replace this item in the slim chance that you do need it? How does it make you feel to hold it in your hand right at this moment? If it doesn’t make you feel anything positive, LET IT GO. It will be OK. And, if you do have to buy a replacement in the future, it will probably be a better model than this one.

It’s only by surrounding ourselves with things that truly lift us up and give us joy that we can create the kind of home environment that leaves us feeling energized and inspired to move forward in life. By using our frugal nature for the acquiring of experiences and things that bring us joy, we are using the best parts of what we learned as kids. And we create new values that honor our pasts while helping us to achieve the goals we desire.

Clear your Space – Recharge your Self – Direct your Life

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Christina Laberge

Owner at Wellspring Energyworks

Liturgical Fabric Artist, Composer, Reiki Master Teacher, Space Clearing Consultant, Energetic Better Living Coach - Christina Laberge is living abundantly in the Boston area with her wife, Kelly, her two cats (Tam-Tam and Rosie) and one very cranky parrot (Daisy). She loves choral music, creating fabric art, travel, and riding on the back of a very large Harley motorcycle.

Latest posts by Christina Laberge (see all)

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