How do you know when you have too much stuff?
14 May 2019
Bec and Tara don't really like using the words "right" or "wrong" when talking about the volume of people's belongings. Everyone is so different - we all have different sized homes, different personalities in our household and different tolerance levels for clutter.
A better way to describe volume levels is to call them "helpful" or "unhelpful".
In this week's episode Bec and Tara discuss how to work out if you have unhelpful or helpful volumes of belongings, so that you can make some changes that make your life safer and happier!
Show Notes:
What is helpful?
Allows you to feel comfortable at home
Doesn’t cause waste
Doesn’t cost more than you can afford
Doesn’t damage any property
Doesn’t cause safety hazard (trips, falls, mould, rodents)
Doesn’t cause family conflict
What is unhelpful?
When you don’t want to be at home
When you don't feel comfortable inviting people over
When you buy duplicates because you can’t find your stuff
Wasting time searching for things you know are in your house somewhere
Causes stress or anxiety
If you don't care about your stuff. People with fewer possessions take greater care of what they have
When you need to rent space off-site to store household belongings
How can we maintain a helpful volume?
Container Concept: Use natural limits to determine how much stuff you can have.
Set boundaries or rules for acquisition
'One in one out'
Only replace items as they wear-out or break
Declutter regularly
Keep a box or bag for items to go as you handle them
Make a time to revisit your decluttering - spring time for clothing, long weekends for the garage etc
Declutter before you move - always!