Declutter your home for a stress free life

Shopping and buying things is a natural trend for all of us irrespective of the economy. Regardless the size of the family and house, we all face a ‘lack of space’ and ‘stuffed closets’ condition. Decluttering helps create more space and gives a chance to shop again!

Kitchen, living room, bed room, kids room, bath room, storage area, garage, and all the rooms in a house need decluttering every year. If you can clear up twice a year you are lucky. Here are some tips for decluttering your home.

  • Clear the closets of any unwanted clothes which you have not worn in the past year
  • Work with your kids and throw away the toys which they don’t need
  • Clear the kitchen cabinets for any unused or unwanted utensils or old pans
  • Clear all the cabinets for expired medications, groceries, or cleaning supplies
  • Shop for closet oranizers in the departmental stores which give extra space
  • Shelfing in the storage area helps to organize better
  • Refrain yourself from buying any new item unless you decide an existing similar item to throw away
  • Do not buy an electronic item or gadget which you do not need right away
  • Avoid buying items just because they are ‘cheaper’
  • Throw away worn out or old footwear which you cannot use any further

Finally, last but not least, in order to maintain your decluttered home, it is better to set up ground rules for all the family members. Hope that they all follow them. 🙂

If you can sort out the waste to give to charity it is good. Yard sale or Garage sale offer some cash for your unused items. I found the red boxes at the gas stations useful to give away old clothes and footwear. Goodwill or Salvation Army are also good places to donate.

Particularly during the holiday season, or when you expect guests, or when a new baby is arriving, or you are moving decluttering is another good reason for a peaceful life and mind. 🙂

Cannot stop shopping? Buy used..

Recent studies show that in the past year, new product sales have increased by 2 per cent. Whereas used product sales increased by 35 per cent. Despite the recession, people cannot stop holiday shopping. So, it is better to buy used products instead of shedding money on brand new ones when you can get away with the used ones.

Used Products

Garage sales, yard sales, flea market, Craigslist, Goodwill store, friends and family are some of the sources for buying used products. Or, you can buy used products online at eBay, Amazon, Meritline or similar websites. Some products such as jewelery, work-out equipment, musical instruments, seasonal clothing, and musical CDs and games are better to buy used. Some of these products may not lose their value over time and some may require prior testing before we buy.


Most people buy bigger items such as furniture, cars, kitchen accessories, laundry equipment from used dealers. You may have to pay some money for minor repairs or modifications. Yet, some products have longer life and do not change much over a period of time. Sometimes it may be riskier to buy used sophisticated electronic equipment.

Holiday Shopping

During the holidays, it is becoming mandatory to shop and buy cloths and gifts. While we may not compromise on some items such as gifts, it is better to postpone until Thanksgiving when our stores will be raining discounts, offers and coupons. Further, it is suggested to set aside some amount monthly for buying gifts and other items planned.

Some stores have an option of accumulating points or amount or offer interest free credit. If you have enough time it is always better to approach a retail outlet for better deals and products. Sometimes we even end up buying the product we already have!

Overall, it is becoming increasingly prominent to curb the urge to stop spending and think ahead before buying anything new. 🙂