This Genius Decluttering Tip Is The Answer To Your What-Ifs

The worst questions to ask yourself when decluttering begin with “what if.” What if I need this again in the future? What if the person who gave it to me notices it’s gone? Allowing what-if questions to guide your decision-making can keep you chained to your clutter, but a decluttering tip I recently discovered is an effective antidote!

This decluttering tip is super simple: donate or sell items that contribute to clutter, even if you worry you might need them in the future. Then if you do eventually need or want something you no longer have, you can buy one at a thrift store (or on Facebook Marketplace or wherever you buy secondhand items).

This strategy can save you serious space around the house, which is the goal of decluttering. (It’s not necessarily a money-saving tip, but occasionally spending a few dollars at the thrift store probably won’t break the bank!)

Jillee’s Take:

After a family reunion, I stacked the lawn games and large toys from the event in our garage, which ended up being a huge waste of space. I would have been much better off donating the games and toys to free up space for other things, then thrifting yard games down the line if necessary. But you live and learn!

6 Types Of Clutter You Can Thrift Later

Think of your favorite secondhand store as a storage unit for items you don’t use frequently. Here are some examples of items you can thrift instead of storing:

1. Specialized Tools. Bought tools for a project and haven’t used them since? Donate or sell them. Should you need those specialized tools again in the future, consider renting them from a home improvement store like Home Depot or thrifting them (and then re-donating!)
2. Kitchen Appliances And Gadgets. If you tend to jump from hobby to hobby, buying a top-of-the-line bread machine so you can try making homemade bread may be a waste of money and space. You can make homemade bread in a used machine from the thrift store for a lot less money, and if you do want a fancy bread machine in the future, you’ll have a better idea of what to look for.
3. Games And Toys. If games and toys take up space in your home but never get used, donate them and use the space for a better purpose. If you have a game night in the future, you’ll have no problem finding used games at a thrift store.
4. Home Decor. As your decor preferences change, it’s easy to justify hanging onto old picture frames, candles, curtain rods, and throw pillows. But in reality, they’re just taking up space, so donate them and use that space for something else.
5. Exercise Gear. Most of us have probably bought exercise gear we only ever used a few times. If you have a set of weights (or, heaven forbid, a bulky treadmill) taking up space, donate it and move on. (Bonus Tip: Resistance bands offer a great workout without contributing to clutter!)
6. ‘Just In Case’ Items. Anything you may be holding onto “just in case” is probably something you can thrift down the road. In many cases, that theoretical eventuality never comes to pass.

What have you been holding onto “just in case?”