Why Decluttering Prevents Shopping
Clutter and shopping go hand-in-hand. Of course, the more we shop, the more clutter we collect. However, I’ve found that it works the other way too. It may not be intuitive but I believe decluttering has prevented me from spending for several reasons.
Decluttering is tiring
Decluttering takes time. And while the buzz of emptying a drawer can be fun, it kills an afternoon while filling me with regrets of purchasing. Once I decide what to get rid of, I need to consider how to get rid of it. The trash is a last resort. I try to find it home first, either selling it, giving it to a friend, or listing it for free on Facebook. If that doesn’t work, I’ll donate it if it’s in good enough shape. That’s a lot of consideration. This long process is better for the environment but is a pain, so I don’t want to go through it again. That’s enough motivation to not buy more junk.
It feels good to not have clutter
It feels great to only have simple, calming spaces. I really cherish the environment I’ve built. I’m not interested in reversing that. While new makeup may make me feel good in the moment, my teeny tiny makeup bag makes me feel even better. When I go to purchase something, I consider how it may encroach on the space I’ve worked so hard to create, and then I often decide it isn’t worth having.
It becomes easier to identify what I actually want
After months of giving/throwing away things I’ve spent my hard-earned money on, I’ve become even more aware of what I’ve kept. I can close my eyes and picture every single thing in my closet, under my bed, and on my bookshelf. I spend a lot of time with all the stuff I have because I have less of it, which means I know what I want and what I don’t.
In conclusion
Decluttering is not the only solution necessary to stop shopping. If we want to curb our spending, we need to go deeper and find the why behind that decision. I just think decluttering can help us embrace that why.
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