It occurred to me recently that many people are constantly sabotaging their own decluttering efforts.

They are hauling garbags of ‘stuff’ to the op shop, filling the rubbish bin each week and trying to find time list items on eBay in a vain attempt to claw back some of the money they have spent on unwanted items.  Yet, these same people are often using every strategy possible to score a good deal on clothes, shoes, bedding, magazines, cosmetics and anything else that comes their way.  It is only a bargain if you truly need it.

I feel that cheap or bargain-priced items are the nemesis of decluttering and minimalism.  If you need to outlay a significant amount of money on an item you are more likely to stop and think twice about whether it is really worthy of a place in your home.

So, how do you resist the plethora of bargains?

• Unsubscribe from all of the emails from shops and shopping sites – this is a continuous process and you need to be vigilant
• Make sure you have a ‘No Junk Mail’ sticker on your letterbox
• Do not buy magazines
• Do not buy newspapers
• Limit viewing of commercial television
• Deactivate your eBay account
• Set financial goals that require you to limit your discretionary spending in order to achieve them
• Remember that shopping malls are not entertainment venues
• Take things to the op shop – do not bring more stuff home
• Shop with a list (and stick to it)
• Send someone else to do your essential shopping
• Buy 1 or 2 good quality items instead of 10 cheap versions – t-shirts are a perfect example

Do you have any other ideas for keeping the clutter at bay and the money in the wallet?