365 Less Things

Reducing our stuff one day at a time.

Day 244 Cindy’s take on avoiding decluttering

by

Recluttering

A Guest Post by Cindy Bogard

It’s bound to happen sometime; you’re going to have to break down and buy something. Before you do, consider these factors:

  1. Do I need it?
  2. Do I want it?
  3. Did I come into the store looking for this item, or did it just catch my eye?
  4. Would I be criticized if my spouse or family members knew that I had purchased this?
  5. Can I afford it? If I cannot pay for it now, should I buy it?
  6. Can I wait a week and see if I still believe I need to buy this?
  7. I am buying it “just to try it”? If I am, is there some other way that I could try it first?
  8. Can I borrow it or rent it instead?
  9. Can I buy it used?
  10. Can I share the purchase of this item with someone else? (Lawn tools, exercise equipment, a bicycle, or magazine subscriptions all fall into this category.)
  11. Have I researched this purchase? Is this item durable and does it do the things I want?
  12. Will this item be easy use, maintain, and keep organized? Does this item perform more than one function?
  13. Do I have something at home that will perform the same function? Will it replace one or more other things that I already have? Am I willing to move those other things along? Do I truly need to replace those things?
  14. Do I have a place to store this item? Do I know that it fits?
  15. Is it in a color or style that I will continue to enjoy? Does it fit with my décor or the other things in my wardrobe?
  16. What is it made of? Where was it made? Are the components healthy for me and the environment? Is it labeled for recycling? Is it made of recycled parts?
  17. Can I sell it when I no longer want it?

ITEM 244 OF 365 LESS THINGS

These are almost too cute to part with
2 x Daffy

Comments

  2. I believe that very top line should read “Day 244: Cindy’s Take on Avoiding REcluttering” (not decluttering).

  3. I ask myself many of these questions before purchasing, but it’s so nice having a written list to think through before buying something. Thanks, Cindy.

  4. this should be a weekly reminder! its fantastic! I will so bookmark this to keep myself reminded once in a while to go through the list again…

    I just had after my ascetic november a little shopping rush. And I bought some new fancy underwear (no, I cant buy that used) and disney movies (I searched, but I wanted DVDs and they do not exist used…). I got a bit carried away with the disney movies and bought one more that I actually didnt intend to buy, because it was a bargain. BUT: if I feel like I’ve seen it enough times, I will give it away to friends, friends children, or the library, etc…