By Jill Roberts / March 5, 2019
When I left my career nearly two years ago, one of the tasks I turned my attention to was reorganizing our house. I prefer to live in a space with simplicity and order; but in the chaos of growing children and a demanding profession I had lost the battle with staying organized. Every room, closet, and cabinet had become a flooded harbor of crap.
As I tackled organizing, the donation and junk pile grew, and I became disgusted by how frivolous I had become with money. I was ashamed by the unnecessary items I’d purchased over the years without considering their long-term benefit and usefulness. Even more shameful, was my lack of care for items that were once an important purchase. I developed a mentality that it was easier to replace something, rather than take the time to mend, fix, or even care for it.
Since then, I’ve made an effort to become a more mindful shopper, and it’s made a difference on both my wallet and closet space. Once I started to consider these questions before stepping into a store or making a purchase, it became easier to identify stuff I didn’t need:
Do I have a reason to shop? The first habit I broke was to stop going into stores to simply browse or kill time between my kids’ pick up and drop offs. Now, I consider if there is anything I actually need before I head into a store. If there isn’t, I’ll find another way to use my time.
Am I replacing an item I already own that still has a useful life? Many items that made my donation pile, like kitchen gadgets, home goods, and even some electronics, still had a useful life but were replaced for a newer, shinier model. Sometimes the benefits of a newer model are worthy of a purchase, but sometimes they’re just shinier.
Did I need it before I found it on clearance? A bargain is only a bargain if it’s something I had previously been looking for. Otherwise, I’m being enticed to spend money on something I’ve been okay living without.
Clothes are a bit of an exception; especially since I like to keep my wardrobe fresh, but there are now two rules I follow: If I can’t think of anything I already own to pair it with, or an upcoming occasion to wear it to, I don’t buy it. Even then, if I don’t immediately wear it within the next week or two, I return it.
Will it simply take up space on a wall or shelf? Over the years as our living space expanded, I would purchase meaningless items from home good stores to fill spaces on a wall or shelf. Over time, many of those items have gotten replaced by more meaningful artifacts. I’ve since learned to appreciate an empty wall or shelf as a vacancy for a future memory.
Will it improve or enhance something I’m already in the habit of doing? I’ve made many purchases for things in hopes that the investment would ignite my fire to start an activity or develop a healthy habit. The purchase may have inspired for the first few uses, but then it ended up taking space in a drawer, cabinet, or closet.
I’ve learned that even if my intentions are good, I can’t purchase motivation. If I’m genuinely eager and committed to start something, I’ll use whatever is available to get started. My rule now, I only invest in something for a hobby or activity if it’s upgrading or enhancing an activity I’ve already committed to doing.
How likely is it that I’ll use the item more than once? I’ve donated countless items over the years that I purchased because it was something convenient or nice to for an occassion, but then had a quick retirement. Now I consider the long-term usefulness of an item.
If it’s unlikely that I’ll use it again, I’ll make do without it, or look into renting or borrowing. Even if it’s an affordable purchase, small purchases add up over time, and become part of the clutter, or worse, the landfill.
Should I invest a little more money and upgrade to a better-quality item? I especially consider this question when I’m purchasing shoes or furniture. If it’s a classic style that’s going to be a staple in my closet or house, it’s totally worth making an investment and purchasing a quality product.
If I can’t afford a new quality piece of furniture, refinishing an older piece that’s already withstood the test of use and time is preferable over purchasing something new but of poorer quality. In my experience, if I buy quality, not only does it last, but I value it more.