Most of us have a little clutter here and there and a good chunk of these people that have clutter in their lives have more than just a little. The National Association for Professional Organizers found that over a third of their readers were being overwhelmed by their clutter and most of them had no idea where to begin with their cleaning.
Only 10% of their readers said that their homes are clutter-free. Crazy! How is this affecting us? In so many ways! Clutter adds stress to our life and it takes us much longer to get anything done. There are so, so, so many benefits to decluttering and tidying up your home, even if it’s tough to start.
A few benefits of decluttering:
- You will have less to clean: cleaning is already a chore, but having to clean around item after item after item? Having tons of items, everywhere, makes cleaning much more stressful and it takes a lot longer!
- Less to organize: Finding things suddenly becomes easier. Things don’t just “disappear” anymore. You can actually move around your home and enjoy the space, instead of moving around things that are in the way.
- Less stress: Looking around at the clutter is a stress-inducing sight once your home becomes cluttered enough. Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to look around and see a home you love?
- Less debt: Spending less time shopping for material possessions and adding to the clutter means that your wallet and bank accounts remain fuller, your credit card statements are lower, and your home doesn’t get filled with costly things you don’t need.
- More financial freedom: Most American households live paycheck to paycheck. Decluttering, paired with minimalism, will help you build up savings to keep yourself protected in case of unexpected emergencies.
The funny thing is that the list does not end here. There are many benefits to decluttering and those are just a few!
If you want to get started on your journey of decluttering, here are a few ways to get started:
What You Need vs. What You Want
If you are ready to really declutter and get serious about this process, you have to focus on what you need in your home and in your life. That means knowing what you want and what you need. Spend some time thinking about the things that are most important to you. What makes you happy? What gets you going each day? WHO is important? Think about those things!
Declutter Room By Room
Once you figure out what you need and what has to go, create a task list and then go room by room - tackling it all over time so that you do not get overwhelmed. Start with the room that makes you the most stressed out. Maybe this is your garage, your guest bedroom, or a closet. No matter what it is, get it out of the way first so that you will immediately feel relieved and you will be excited to continue freeing up space within your home!
Can You Make Extra Money?
Last but not least, as you are going through each room, figure out if you can sell any of it. For example, some high quality clothes can be sold, kids books and toys can be sold, old kitchen appliances can be sold, and valuables can also be sold. Not sure how to make the most bang for your buck? With valuables, I’ve got you! Let me give you an example: if you found a valuable watch in your decluttering experience and want to sell it, you can sell Rolex watch in Atlanta at Chapes-JPL.
They have been in business since 1980, buying valuables and also offering affordable asset loans on jewelry, gold, diamonds, watches, and more at very low interest rates and fair market values. They have some of the lowest rates in the industry and typically pay 2-3 times more than their competitors, so when you sell to them, you will make the most bang for your buck, for sure. If you are looking into an asset loan instead of completely selling your item, they strictly work on collateral so they do not require credit checks, job verification, or references. You are typically able to leave with the money you need in 15 minutes, which I think is neat.
How have you declutter your life recently? I’d love to hear all about it!
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