Ever since Marie Kondo decided to change lives with her cleaning method, everyone has an interest in getting rid of their stuff. While her method is very effective, there are other creative ways to get rid of your stuff. Furthermore, there are even clever ways to dispose of it after you’ve cleared it out of your house.
Creative Ways to Get Rid of Your Stuff
The Trash Bag Method
This one is pretty easy. Simply grab a trash bag and see how quickly you can fill it. You can easily use this method when it comes to junk around the house.
12-12-12 Challenge
Challenge your spouse or partner to see who can get rid of 12 items in your home first to donate, throw away, or put back where they belong. This is a great way to quickly tidy up any space while also having fun.
Project 333
This project was developed by Courtney Carver and is an effective way to get rid of some stuff. The idea is to only wear 33 items of clothing over the course of three months. This can be done in any season and it is a great addition to your downsizing toolbelt as wardrobes often take up a lot of space in the home.
The Hanger Method
This one requires a bit of work at the onset if you aren’t already in the habit of hanging your clothes one way. In this method, hang all your clothes facing the same direction. When you wear one item, hang it back up facing the other direction. Whatever you have left facing the wrong way after a month you may no longer need.
The obvious exception to this rule is seasonal clothing. So, be sure to do this for every season over the course of a year. This can drastically reduce the amount of clothing you keep around the house.
The Box Method
This one is simple. Just set up four boxes labeled trash, donate/sell, keep, and undecided. Pick one room in your home, or even a small area in a room, and go through your items, placing each in one of the four boxes. Before you know it, you’ll have your area cleared of clutter.
Set a Timer
This one is exactly what it sounds like. Simply set a timer, say for five minutes, and see how much stuff you can select for decluttering. Though five minutes may not seem like much at the onset, you’ll be surprised by how many things you can get rid of in that amount of time.
Make it a Social Event
There are many people who have difficulty getting their environment clean. Sometimes, just the thought of cleaning everything is just too overwhelming. That is when it is time to call in reinforcements.
If you don’t want your friends to see your messy home, it could be a good idea to plan a party or dinner to force yourself to at least clear the areas in which you plan on entertaining. Give yourself a reasonable amount of time and break down each room into simpler tasks. You’ll be decluttered before you know it.
30-Days to Minimalism
It’s exactly what it sounds like, become a minimalist in 30 days. This one is a little like a game and has become fairly popular on certain social media platforms.
Pick a month to start, preferably one with 30 days, and begin by giving away the same number of things that correspond to the date. So, on day one you only need to donate or get rid of one thing. But by day 25, you will get rid of 25 things. This one can get pretty hard the further into it you get, so doing a little prep might not be a bad idea. You could also invite a friend to do the challenge with you for support.
Creative Ideas for Getting Rid of Your Stuff
Now that you know how to get rid of your stuff, what creative ways can you use to actually rid yourself of it? Throwing things away can be easy, but it fills up your trash can pretty quickly and is not the most environmentally-friendly way to solve your problem. So, here are a few creative ways to ditch those unwanted items.
Donate It
The easiest way to rid yourself of unwanted belongings is to drop them off at a local second-hand shop or charity. There are many national chains that you can use depending on your region. The main contenders are Goodwill and the Salvation Army.
Sell it in Online Classifieds
The internet is a great resource for selling and buying things. Craigslist and eBay are both great for local selling and trading.
Try Online Marketplaces
Similar to eBay, there are many online marketplaces to sell your things. The primary contender of these is Facebook Marketplace. This goes for mobile, as well, so try garage sale apps in iTunes or the Google Play Store.
Hold a Garage Sale
This one is a classic for a reason. Is the online marketplace not for you? Then throw a good ol’ fashioned yard sale. Here are a few quick tips to ensure its a success:
- The bigger the sale, the better the draw
- Promote your garage sale on social media and in local businesses
- Play music while people shop so they aren’t looking in silence (this makes some people uneasy)
- Use brightly colored price tags so shoppers can find them easily
- Offer last-minute deals or discounts on bulk items (like the entire box)
- Donate unsold items so they don’t just end up back in your home
Ready to begin downsizing? Here is the best FREE starter’s guide to beginning your downsizing journey. Click the icon below to download your FREE copy to Unlock the Power to Declutter: The Definitive Guide on How to Start.
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