The holidays are typically a time when we accumulate new belongings we have received as gifts, so why not go ahead and get rid of some old things you aren’t using anymore and try to donate or sell. This way you can make space for new things to be put away and you won’t feel overwhelmed by the amount of stuff making its way into your home.
- Kitchen Items
As you start to stock up on supplies for baking delicious treats and cooking Christmas dinners, look at your pantry and see if there are any non-perishables you have no intention of using that could be donated to a local food pantry. This is a lovely way to de-clutter your kitchen and contribute to the community. Just make sure to check that they have not reached their expiration date before you donate.
This would also be a great time to take inventory of your dishes and other cooking utensils and see if they have even been used in the past year. If the answer is no, it might be a good time to try to sell or donate. You never know who might in the market for a used crock pot or that extra knife set, and there are several great resources for selling used items.
- Clothing and Toys
If you know that you or your children are likely to get new clothing items or toys as gifts, set aside some time to go through closets and dressers and de-clutter anything that doesn’t fit properly, hasn’t been used or worn, or is not in great condition. Unless you have something with a lot of value that is worth selling, your best option for getting rid of these items would be to donate them to a local thrift shop. There are some places that will even pick these items up for you If you call and ahead and schedule an appointment.
- Holiday Décor
As you start setting up holiday decorations, there may be unusable or broken items such as Christmas tree lights or other things that probably need to be tossed out. You might also be tempted to purchase new décor for the season, and in that case try to keep in the mind the “one in, one out” rule. For every new item you bring into your home, try to remove at least one item. This will ensure you are not overwhelmed trying to find storage for everything at the end of the season.
Check back later in the week for our next post on 3 Simple Ways to Make Your Home Smell Amazing!