Clutter Prevention

Preventing Clutter

Clutter prevention is a proactive method, not reactive. The idea is simple - 'stop clutter before it starts'. Here are three questions for you to ask and answer to help with your clutter prevention activities:

1) Am I going to use it?
Many a clutter pile began with an impulse buy. Perhaps you were enticed by an infomercial for a "I can't live without it" pasta cooker? Or, maybe you bought a new purse to match the new shoes you bought last month, but have never worn.

Before you buy anything that's not required to survive (food, for example), always ask yourself: a) will I honestly use it and, b) if you're honestly going to use it, how often? Will it be often enough to justify the space it's going to take up and the time it will take to keep it clean and organized?

The pasta cooker may be worth it if you use it once a week, or once every two weeks. But, if you're only going to use it once every few months, it's probably not worth the extra money, the extra space, and the extra time it's going to take away from you.

The same goes for the purse that matches the shoes. If you haven't worn the shoes in a month since you bought them, chances are the purse won't get used either. It's just going to be taking up space in your closet. You know, that closet you can't find anything in now. The closet you can't get the door closed because of the overflow.

Also, if you have well meaning friends or relatives who constantly pass things on to you that they no longer need or want, and that you don't need or want either, learn to politely say "No thanks." Suggest they donate it to their favorite charity.

2) Am I going to use it now, or in the near future?
Of course, if you have a lawn and you spend a lot of time mowing, and you need a new lawn mower, and you see a mower on sale in the winter--then, you might want to take advantage of purchasing that item while it's on sale.

However, don't buy stuff based on false reasoning, "I don't have a need right now, but it will come in handy when I do." If you can't or won't use it within a few days of getting it, it's not needed only wanted. distinguish between need and want before buying.

My friend, who rarely cooks and hates to cook, was planning to get a bread maker because I have one. Her reasoning was that if she has one, it might inspire her to cook and bake someday. She doesn't want to boil water for instant mash potatoes! Making bread is completely out of the realm of probability. I told her she could borrow mine when she became inspired to make her own bread. If she enjoyed it, then she should think about buying one. That was over two years ago. She has never asked to borrow my bread maker.

She saved money and the frustration of having an unused appliance by not buying a bread maker. It would have been in the way taking-up counter or cabinet space and gathering dust for years.

3) Where is it going to go?
On my last visit to Hobby Lobby--a wonderful store for finding decorative items--I came across a brass candle holder that I really liked. But before buying it, I asked myself "Where am I going to put it?" I decided it would look great next to a picture of my kids that sits on the fireplace mantel. I have always thought that there is something missing on the mantel. The candle holder is just the ticket to fill that hole.   

I found a wicker basket that I was thinking about buying, also. But when I asked myself, "Where is it going to go?", I could not come up with a spot off the top of my head. In the end, I bought the candle holder, but did not buy the basket. I've sinced looked for a place for the basket. But, I just can't make it work. I'm glad I didn't drag it home.

Make sure you have a clearly defined a "place/spot" for the item you're thinking about getting. Otherwise, you'll bring it home, put it someplace for now, and eventually it will end up in a pile of other stuff that doesn't have a useful spot.

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