I'd always justify keeping something when I'd do my spring cleaning. I'd say, "but I 'm sure I'll use it later." and surprise the next year I'd say the same think even though I never used it all that year.
I'm trying to improve, but it is hard to go against nature. I really believe that the collecting tendency or desire is genetic like so many other behaviors. I remember my Mom still had her old record collection in her bedroom. I can't remember her ever playing them when growing up.
Unfortunately if you have a lot of stuff, you need a house or room big enough to store it all. You also need the storage supplies (shelving, book cases, boxes, etc.) to put everything in. Additionally you need some kind of organizational system and labeling so when you actually need something you know where to find it or your spend hours or even days looking for it. How many middle class family garages are full of storage while the cars are parked on the street? That's serious clutter!
Unfortunately if you have a lot of stuff, you need a house or room big enough to store it all. You also need the storage supplies (shelving, book cases, boxes, etc.) to put everything in. Additionally you need some kind of organizational system and labeling so when you actually need something you know where to find it or your spend hours or even days looking for it. How many middle class family garages are full of storage while the cars are parked on the street? That's serious clutter!
Another thing I've learned about myself over the years is that I'm very much out-of-sight, out-of-mind. What I mean is that if something is stored in a box or some other container I can't look into without opening, I forget I have it. Perhaps I would have used it sometime during the year, but I didn't because at the time I had forgotten I had it.
Since I share an apartment, I try to keep most of my stuff in my bedroom. That means that I have my large plastic containers stacked and on top of other things. One container is on top of my file cabinet. Another box is on top of my armoire/wardrobe, and I have two stacks (3 and 2) along the back wall of my room.
I have my desk, a tall book case, and another piece of furniture (about the size of a dresser but with shelves instead of drawers) for storing stuff. Most, but not all of my clothes fit in my wardrobe when folded correctly. My wardrobe isn't very big. I have quite a few small boxes with CDs (games and backups)
When I moved in December 2011, I stared my efforts to remove the clutter. I realized that in just the last few years my collection of stuff had expanded out of control. I got rid of half my clothes (mostly worn out stuff) and at least half of my books.
I was quite proud of myself to have gotten rid of all that, but I still needed to rent a moving truck mostly for boxes of stuff. I really don't have that much furniture.
Now, only a few months later, I got the bug to remove more clutter. I guess you'd say that my clutter is pretty normal, but I'm in a small space so my room always looks like a mess.
This weekend I went through my file cabinet and got rid of some papers and at least one small box worth (probably 2) of stuff. There was an old wireless router, a bunch of cables, wires and adapters for only God knows what, and misc. stuff that I'll never use again like two checkbook holders. I haven't had checks for at least 5 years, but I brought the holders with me on the last two moves. No, they don't take up much room, but you could say that about a lot of stuff. Believe me, I've used that same excuse many times.
I then went on to boxes of stuff. In my CD boxes I found many old software application install CDs for some very old versions. I'll never use those again. The shoe box I keep them in was almost full. Now it is half empty!
One of my large plastic containers had my extra hanging folders for my file cabinet. With the extra room I got by throwing out the junk from the file cabinet, I found the space to keep the extra folder boxes in one of the drawers. Now that large plastic container is empty.
I found quite a few books that were out-of-date or warn out. They'll go in the trash if I can't find a way to recycle them. I decided to keep almost half of my books and now they are all on ONE shelf of my book case. Just last year they would have taken almost the entire bookcase.
I later went through my other boxes and shelves. I didn't do a 100% job, perhaps next weekend I'll finish, but I was able to put some tote bags of stuff that were on the floor on a shelf that was completely packed and disorganized.
I've rediscovered a few binders and notebooks that were almost unused or had stuff I don't want anymore so I got rid of what they contained. I just need to decide if I want to keep or give away the binders. Just a year or two ago I went to the store to buy a binder because I thought I didn't have any!
How does this incredibly long post relate to early retirement and financial independence? Well, if I had remembered that I had binders with junk in a box I could have saved the time and money I had spent on a new one.
Additionally, things that are improperly stored are more likely to wear out or break. Of course if things are packed away you lose time trying to find them if you even remember you had them at all. Time is money. If you are efficient, you get more done!
Most importantly, the less stuff you have, the less space you require to live. That means you could live in a smaller house or smaller apartment or share an apartment before all your clutter took up the extra room. If you want to go really extreme, share your bedroom with a friend that you can trust. The cost of bunk beds or a loft for one or both beds will probably be less than what you save in two months. Rent is the largest fixed monthly expense for most people. Save a lot of money by downsizing to a smaller home and put that money toward saving and debt reduction.
Even if you prefer living alone in a one bedroom apartment, you'll save more on moving costs (smaller truck), and you'll save time packing and unpacking.
No comments:
Post a Comment