What to Do When You Want to Downsize Your Stuff

When you decide to downsize your belongings, you don’t want to make your decisions about what goes or what stays lightly. You don’t want to regret getting rid of something. It might not be replaceable or you might not have the money to replace it. As a result, it’s better to regret not giving something away because you always can later. As a result, if you’re ambivalent about giving something away, it might be best to wait. This is where a Colorado Springs storage unit can come in so handy. Store what you don’t have room for and decide later what you want to keep.

Here are a few other useful tips for getting rid of your belongings:

• You will likely have to make some sacrifices or adaptation. For example, if there is some kiddie artwork that your kids don’t want anymore, you can decide whether to recycle it or make an album out of it. Something as precious as family heirlooms may be tougher though if, for example, your mother was into costume jewelry and you’re not. You can either give them to a loved one, donate, or sell them.
• Remember that you can back up your family or valuable photos thanks to the digital age. Before this was the case, personal photos were irreplaceable and every attempt was made to keep them around until the person died. If they happened to be thrown away or destroyed, that was the end of it. Today, that’s only so if you don’t back them up. If you want to get rid of the hard copies, you can scan and save them over and over again.
• If your cell phone or computer has quit on you and the latter is not worth attempting to resell, you can recycle them. There are several organizations such as Cell Phones for Soldiers or domestic violence organizations that take old cell phones. Best Buy can help you get rid of your old computers.
• If you live in a house or know someone who does and is okay with it, you can have a garage or yard sale. However, garage and yard sales are usually favorable during the warmer seasons. If a garage or yard sale is not an option for you, you can donate to a thrift store like Goodwill, a homeless organization, or even an organization for homeless pets.
• You can also sell on sites like Craigslist, eBay, or Amazon. Be especially cautious with Craigslist as it’s full of a lot of scams these days. You can also watch Facebook sell and trade groups and see if that could be an option for you.
• If you have hardcopy books that you no longer want, you can sell them to a store like Half Price Books, donate them to a library, a school, a thrift store, or to soldiers.
• If you have clothes that no longer fit you or are no longer your style, you can donate them to thrift stores or to bins such as Big Brothers Big Sisters or Planet Aide. If they’re old or beyond repair and you’re not into remaking them, instead of sending them to the landfill, you can recycle them in a bin specifically designed to take old and rundown clothes.
• Finally, if you have some furniture to get rid of, you can donate it to a used furniture store or to an organization like Habitat for Humanity.

Getting rid of stuff can feel like a relief and can be a motivator for living a more fit life. When it comes to what to keep and not to keep, the only one you’re competing against is yourself and maybe your family. If you just have a roommate, chances are they probably won’t care as much though. You can always offer what you’re giving away to them.

Getting rid of unwanted items is probably going to involve a lot of clean up and a process that will last for at least a day or two. However, the end result will be well worth it. It may even mean the difference between preserving your and your home’s health.