Sifting Through Wants and Needs

This issue of what is a want, versus what is a need has been on my mind quite a bit lately.

About a month ago, the bank once more restarted foreclosure proceedings (this whole situation has stalled a few times for reasons unknown…not that I’m complaining). The prospect of downsizing has been about as stressful as the years of paycuts and rising expenses.

There are three big issues I’m facing with downsizing:

1. When you live in a big old farmhouse, everyone you know thinks you’re a salvation army drop off center and/or a free storage unit. I don’t even recognize some of the junk I’ve been selling, donating, selling for scrap metal, and chucking. I think my inlaws decluttered their house by emptying large amounts of it into my house. For the life of me, I’m not sure how a couple of non-golfers like us came to have so many golf clubs, or how we came to have 97 three ring binders.

2. When you are crafty and great at upcycling various found treasures, you usually have more than a sane amount of said treasures laying around. Being a part time art teacher, there’s also paraphernalia for that occupation. Having a home business also apparently takes up (tax deductible) space.

3. When you have five teenagers, that also poses some issues of stuff-i-tis.

Most of this month, I’ve been decluttering and holding yard sales, and listing on Half.com and Ebay.com. I’ve also made several runs to area thrift stores to donate.

I asked some friends for help in getting rid of “stuff”. I received two great pieces of advice:

1. If it serves no purpose in your life and you don’t love it, get rid of it.

(this can be a bit harder if it is someone else’s…ha ha…)

2. When shopping, if it takes you longer than 3 seconds to decide if you need it, then you probably don’t.

What are some of your favorite tips for clearing out the extras and downsizing your life?