The True Cost of Clutter
We all love our stuff. It’s normal to get a twinge of delight when we own a great pair of jeans or buy a cute water bottle. It doesn’t even matter if we already own 30 pairs of jeans and 10 water bottles. Having things makes us happy whether we need them or not. Or maybe we have been holding on to an item for years just in case we need it one day. Saving things is good, right? Buying bulk is smart, right? Keeping things is helpful, right?
Not necessarily. When we are not using or enjoying the things we have, those items create more negatives than positives. They start to cost us in ways we don’t realize. Here are a few of the unseen prices we often pay for keeping clutter in our homes.
Clutter costs money. We pay to have somewhere for our things. Nearly 40% of Americans pay for storage outside their homes. These storage units (or extra square footage in your home) costs hundreds of dollars each month. If we have a lot of toys, we usually dedicate a whole room in our house just for toys (who doesn’t love a great playroom). Or if you have a lot of blankets and linens, you’ve got to use up shelf space to store them. We also spend money maintaining our stuff (more clothes means your spending more on laundry). And don’t forget all the money we spend replacing items we can’t find. Some experts estimate Americans spend billions on replacement costs each year! How much money are you spending because you have so much stuff?
If we had less stuff, we would have more money!
Clutter costs time. When we have a lot of clutter in our homes, we spend a lot of time taking care of it, putting it away, looking for it etc. When our closets are full, it takes more time to get dressed each morning. If our bathroom closet is packed, we spend extra time digging through the mess to find that extra bottle of shampoo. Think about it. How much time do you spend looking for things? How many loads of laundry do you really want to do each week?
If we had less stuff, we would have more time.
Clutter costs us mentally. I know we can all relate. Clutter is overwhelming. When our counters are covered in piles of paper or our bedrooms are so full we can’t see the carpet, we feel out of control. We cannot enjoy what we have when we have too much. This is the biggest feedback I get as a professional organizer. My clients always tell me about their sense of relief when we’ve decluttered. They feel a sense of peace and control come back into their lives. This is true no matter the size of the project. Even one organized drawer can make a difference in your mood. Who doesn’t want more calm in their life?
If we had less stuff, we would have more peace.
Clutter costs us opportunities. When we hold onto our stuff with clenched fists, we are passing up the chance to help others. There may be a pet shelter nearby desperate for towels and bedding while your linen closet is stuffed to the brim. Or a women’s shelter who could really use all that toothpaste. Holding on to items limits your opportunity to help others. Giving things away allows you to give much needed help AND it gives you back your space. It’s a win-win.
If we had less stuff, we could help others more.
So, the next time you see that cute new water bottle, or you look at your overstuffed closet, pause for a moment. Stop and think about the unseen price these items will cost you. Is it worth your precious time, money, and peace? Odds are, the answer will be no. And if the answer if yes, go ahead and keep it knowing you are willing to pay that price.