We’ve all kept a few things we probably don’t need. A couple of old concert stubs here, your primary school yearbooks there. Maybe 36 issues of TV Hits from the late 90s.
Although the idea of moving to get away from the mess is funny, shifting to a new house can be the perfect time to declutter. Follow these tips to streamline your life and avoid putting everything you own in the moving truck.
1. Overwhelmed? Take the 30-day challenge.
Decluttering sounds simple enough, but standing in front of sock mountain can be pretty overwhelming. Why not start small and build from there?
The 30-day challenge works like this: on day one, you choose one item to get rid of. Simple, right? Day two, you remove two items. Day three, three items. Day 30, all the weird spoons your nanna brought back from her holidays. By the end of the month, your life will be 540 items lighter.
2. Let someone else benefit.
One man’s trash can be another person’s treasure. That unwanted passive-aggressive gift from your mother-in-law could brighten another person’s day (like someone else’s mother-in-law). Ship the clutter out of your life – and away from landfill – by holding a garage sale, sending it to the local op shop or donating to a community charity.
Remember, though: if you wouldn’t give it to your mate, don’t offload it on someone else. Choose things that are in good nick and with plenty still to offer.
3. Don’t fall victim to ‘just in case’.
You’ve still got boxes packed from the last time you moved, but that doesn’t mean you should just throw them out. While you probably don’t need a 2009 diary or a bag of broken textas, the extra set of champagne flutes (still in the box) will definitely come in handy when that bachelorette party descends on your doorstep.
Be honest: if you haven’t used it by now, you’re probably not going to. Wheelbarrow those just-in-case items out of your life and stick to the must-haves.
4. The halfway house approach.
Still wondering how to declutter a house? Try the non-committal approach. Grab everything that’s not used regularly, pop the lot in boxes and stash it in the garage, a garden shed or a self-storage unit. It’s letting go without letting go. It’s a change-of-mind policy – for now.
Now, write a date on each box. If 12 months passes and you haven’t opened it, it’s a fair bet you don’t need what’s inside.
5. Clear out the financial clutter, too.
Clutter doesn’t just affect our physical lives. It can also be a drain on your financial wellbeing.
Take the time to do an audit of your bank accounts. Check out all the services you’re subscribed to. When was the last time you logged on to that streaming service or used that fitness app? Cancel or consolidate all the small transactions coming out each month.
Then, look at your home loan. It’s easy to select a loan that’s jam-packed with features because, heck, one day you might use the offset account or take a vacation from repayments.
But there’s a good chance you’re paying for features you don’t need. Sometimes it’s worth paring back your home loan to focus on what matters – a competitive rate without ongoing fees . Put those extra features in the skip and move on.
If you don’t know where to start with decluttering, you’re not alone. A sensible approach to clearing space and, yes, binning your old TV Hits mags will see you move to your new home without the excess baggage.
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This article is prepared based on general information. It does not take into account individual financial objectives or needs and is not financial product advice.