Organizing Lesson #1

Thrifting

Apr 17

There is a common thread when organizing and decluttering that goes something like this:

“Gosh, I haven’t used it/worn it since I bought it! I feel so bad getting rid of it because that feels so wasteful.”

Wasteful of time and money that was spent to buy it and wasteful of the space it took up in the home while not in use.

The organizing lesson here is only learned by looking backward (at the past purchase) but can only be applied looking forward.

You cannot change the past. You cannot go back and unbuy the thing.

You cannot go back and ask for your money back and give them the thing back.

Sometimes we buy things we don’t end up using or loving because:

it was on sale
we were bored
we thought it would make us happier
we figured 4 was better than 1
we were peer pressured

Regardless of the reason, the fact remains that the purchase was made and keeping it will not change the “wastefulness” of the decision.

The lesson is learned by looking backwards.

The lesson is applied going forward.

So how do you apply it?

You veer away from making choices because of the sale.
You do not go shopping when you are bored.
You find a hobby that is fulfilling and no, shopping cannot be the hobby. ;)
You buy what you need and use.
You leave well-meaning friends and family at home rather than tote them along with you to the store.

As I’ve been cleaning out and decluttering myself, I realize that most of the things I am getting rid of where purchased while I was out thrifting. This makes it easier to let go knowing I didn’t spend a lot of money on it. However, I am also realizing I should spend less time at the thrift stores, unless I am looking for something in particular.