Space Bandits

Do cramped spaces and rooms cause you stress? Would you like some more space to move around in and not feel so claustrophobic? Okay Then! Here are 5 common space bandits that can take your space captive. Fight back now, and get that space back!

1. Clothes
If you're like most people, the clothes you wear on a day-to-day basis come from a mere 20 percent of the clothes in your closet. In other words, 80 percent of those clothes are just taking up space and never worn. Go through your closet and remove jeans, sweaters, blouses, skirts, dresses, shoes and coats that you never wear. Donate them today.* Your closet will be ready to store any outfits you feel wonderful wearing, and you'll be helping out someone who could be making use of those unused garments.

2. Appliances
Bread makers, juicers, griddles, mixers and other similar appliances are wonderful--if you use them. However, if you have some, or all, of these appliances, and you haven't used them in, conservatively speaking, a year, chances are, they'll never be used in your lifetime. Say goodbye to them today, and you'll be freeing up cabinet and counter space. If you have an annual yard sale, promise to put them in the sale and make a few bucks.

3. Magazines
Do you keep every single magazine that enters your home? If you do, you most likely have piles of them self-multiplying throughout your home or office. Go through your magazines and cut out and file the articles or recipes, etc. that most interest you. No sense in keeping the entire magazine, once you've read through it and have chosen those pages that you'd like to keep for future reference. Since magazines are 80% advertisements, and unless you absolutely love ads, they are pure clutter.

4. Mementos
While it's fine to keep some very meaningful things stashed away in a mementos box, if you've accumulated more than one or two boxes of these treasures, you may be going a bit overboard. Being sentimental is wonderful, but not when it's at the expense of your living space, storage space and peace of mind. Go through these boxes of stuff from time to time, and weed out the things that no longer have significant meaning to you. Commit to 1-2 boxes at the most, and you'll have lots of memories to look back on in the future, and lots of new space now!

If you just can't bring yourself to get rid of any of them, because they hold cherished memories, do this -- take a photograph of the item. Save the photo and give away the item. A digital photo is best. It collects digital dust only.

5. Furniture
Is your home or apartment filled to the max with furniture you never use? Perhaps it was passed down from a loved one? Or maybe you recently made a move to a smaller place, but brought all of your big furniture with you. If it's not functional or you truly don't have the space for it, consider letting go. Imagine all the free space you'll have when it's gone.

Place a classified ad in your local newspaper, Craig's List or even eBay. You can specify local pickup only for items listed on eBay and eBay gets over 9 million shoppers a day.

*Please don't donate clothes that are worn out, stained or in need of repair. Throw them in the trash or see if there is a rag recycling center near you. Charities are overwhelmed with donated clothing. If it's not perfect they send it to a recycler. In fact, about 70% of all donated clothing ends up going to a recycler.

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