How to know what to pitch, what to keep

[Molly]

I am in the middle of a major decluttering project. We will be moving to a smaller house in the next few years, and I have been recovering from an injury, so while I'm housebound, it's a good time to declutter.

I don't get too attached to stuff, and the rule of thumb is if you haven't used something in a year or so, it's probably safe to pitch. However, I've found out that I may not have touched something in years, and the day after I pitch/donate it, I find I need it.

It absolutely kills me to have to go and buy something that I already had and gave up. Yet most things I get rid of, I never have a need for again.

There is probably no foolproof way to know, but does anyone have any good decluttering tips to prevent this?

[Fawn]

I have two tips for someone wanting to declutter who is afraid that they will need what they have gotten rid of:

1) Put the stuff that you have not used in a year in boxes with a future date (say six to twelve months) in the future. You should probably also list what is in the box on the outside if you do this with alot of boxes. If you have not gotten into the box to retrieve something by the date on the box, it is OK to sell/donate, etc.

2) Redefine what is a "need." As a minimalist, I live without many, many items that others consider a need.

Really, if you haven't used it in a year, it is not part of your life now.*

*common sense exceptions apply: maternity clothing, baby items if you plan to have another child, emergency supplies.

If you no longer use something (hobbies change, career has moved on, children grown) and a need for that item returns in your life, it's not hard to replace stuff. There's Goodwill, Craiglist, internet stores, the mall.

I own less that 100 personal items and less than 270 items that I share with my children....and the only item I have repurchase was a corkscrew, when I decided I was NOT done drinking wine. :|(

[Lainey]

There's also some great decluttering books out there. Peter Walsh who's appeared on Oprah has written some. See what's at your library, and what makes the most sense for your household.

[try2bfrugal]

I try to think about how much it is worth to me to not live in clutter, spend less time on organizing and cleaning and be able to find things better. That may not have a written price tag on it but it is worth a lot to me to try to live more like that.

There have been very, very few things I have regretted giving away over the years compared to how many I was glad to get out of the house. I also try to give most of the stuff away to charity so I think of the donations as charitable contributions. Even if I have to replace a set of wine glasses I though I'd never need, overall I am usually still glad I gave away bags and bags of stuff over the past few years. If I hadn't my house would be even more cluttered than it is.

[pony mom]

I recently read the great book Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui, which is less about Feng Shui and more about why we keep things. I saved a few highlights to get me motivated:

Clutter is: things you no longer use, unwanted gifts, things you don't like, things that need fixing or inherited clutter.

Does it lift your energy when you think about it or look at it? Do you absolutely love it? Is it genuinely useful?

It's safe to let it go--there are no wrong choices. Love and fear cannot exist in the same space, so everything you hold on to through fear is blocking having more love in your life. (Fear, as in afraid to let it go because you'll need it someday.) Fear stops you from being who you truly are and from doing what you came here to do. Clutter clearing brings you greater clarity about your life purpose.

All a bit woo-woo but it's a different way of looking at stuff. I need to read this as I still keep a pair of dressy black shoes that are my only dressy pair but kill my feet. Haven't used them in 6 years, for a wedding, and most of the time they were off my feet, under the table.

[Molly]

Great suggestions everyone! Thanks!