I love decluttering. There’s just something about clearing out the things you no longer use that makes a home feel lighter, calmer, and easier to live in.
But decluttering also gives me a little wake-up call when it comes to my spending habits.
Every time I find something I bought because I thought I would use it, only to discover that it has been sitting untouched for months (or years!), I’m reminded that spending less isn’t just about finding a good deal. It’s also about buying fewer things that don't add value to my life in the first place.
That’s one of the biggest lessons decluttering has taught me: a bargain isn't a bargain if you don't actually use it.
If you want a more peaceful home and a reminder to be more intentional about what you buy, this list of 31 things to declutter is a great place to start.
You don't have to tackle everything at once. Pick five things and spend 15 minutes getting rid of them. Or challenge yourself to work through the entire list over the course of a month.
And don't be surprised if you find even more things to declutter once you get going. One cleared out drawer has a funny way of making you notice the next one!
31 things to declutter:
1. Expired or Unused Makeup
Go through your makeup bag and get rid of products that are old, dried out, or that you simply never use. If you haven't reached for that eyeshadow in years, you're probably not suddenly going to start wearing it.
2. Old VHS Tapes, DVDs and Other Media
If you have a collection of movies or shows you never watch anymore, ask yourself whether you really need to keep them. Some may be worth digitizing (like old photos) or passing along, while others can simply go.
3. Old Cell Phones and Electronics
That drawer full of old phones, chargers and outdated gadgets doesn't need to stay there forever. Look into your local electronics recycling program to dispose of unwanted electronics responsibly.
4. Expired or Very Old Spices
Open your spice cupboard and check what you actually use. If you have three jars of the same spice, or one that has been sitting there for years, it's time for a little clean up. Here's an article with details about how long spices last.
5. Broken Electronics
Have you been keeping a broken DVD player, stereo, appliance or gadget because you might fix it someday?
If "someday" has been several years, it's probably time to let it go. Recycle electronics according to your local guidelines.
6. Worn Out Bras and Underwear
Some things simply reach the end of their useful life. If they're stretched out, damaged or uncomfortable, they don't need to take up valuable drawer space.
7. Excess Reusable Bags
Reusable shopping bags are handy, but have you noticed how easy it is to accumulate far more than you need? Keep the number you realistically use and pass along the extras where possible.
8. Ragged Towels and Washcloths
Keep a few old towels for cleaning, pets or messy jobs, but you probably don't need a giant stash. Cut up what can be used as cleaning rags and let the rest go.
9. Clothes That Don't Fit
Your closet doesn't need to be a storage unit for every size you've ever worn. If something no longer fits and you don't realistically plan to wear it, consider donating or selling it.
Six wooden spoons? Three can openers? A kitchen gadget you bought for one recipe and haven't touched since?
Pull everything out of the drawer and keep the things you actually use.
11. Books You Won't Read Again
Books can be difficult to declutter, especially when we feel like we're supposed to keep them forever.
If you've read it and know you won't read it again, or you didn't enjoy it in the first place, consider passing it along to someone who will.
12. Single Earrings
If you've been holding onto one lonely earring for years, waiting for its missing partner to magically appear, it's probably safe to let it go.
13. Single Socks
Check your odd-sock collection. Match up what you can and give yourself permission to get rid of the socks whose partners have mysteriously disappeared.
14. Unloved Toys
Kids don't need to keep every toy they've ever owned. Broken, outgrown and forgotten toys can be donated, recycled or discarded as appropriate. It's time to let other kids enjoy them now!
15. Unused Sports Equipment
Sports equipment can take up a lot of space. If your child has outgrown their skates, hockey gear or soccer equipment, or you've discovered that a particular sport wasn't for them, sell or donate what you no longer need. Same goes for any sports equipment you won't use anymore.
16. Things That Belong to Someone Else
Do you have a pile of borrowed books, casserole dishes, containers or other items that belong to friends and family?
Return them! You'll clear out your home and make someone happy to have their items back all at the same time.
17. Old Paperwork
Go through your filing cabinet, desk drawers and paper piles. Shred documents you no longer need and recycle unnecessary junk mail and paper clutter.
Just be sure to check current document retention recommendations before getting rid of anything important.
18. Mismatched Food Storage Containers
You know the cupboard: containers without lids, lids without containers and approximately 47 tiny containers you never use.
Match everything up and get rid of the orphans. It's also time to donate the containers you never use.
19. Old or Unused Linens
Sheets that don't fit any of your beds, worn out pillowcases and too many blankets can quietly take over a linen closet.
Keep what you actually use and let the rest go.
20. Blurry or Duplicate Photos
If you have boxes of printed photos, go through them and remove the blurry, badly exposed or duplicate pictures.
You don't need five nearly identical photos of the same birthday cake.
21. Empty Ink Cartridges
If you've been saving empty ink cartridges with the intention of recycling them, now is a good time to finally deal with the pile. Check local recycling programs or retailers that accept them.
22. Freezer Food You Won't Eat
Take a look inside your freezer. If something is freezer-burned, unappealing, spoiled or has been sitting there so long that nobody remembers what it is, it's time to clean it out.
A less crowded freezer also makes it much easier to see what you already have.
23. Dried Out Pens
Grab a piece of scrap paper and test your pens. Toss the ones that don't work, leak or just don't write nicely.
You'll be amazed at how satisfying a tidy pen cup can be.
24. Manuals You Can Easily Find Online
You probably don't need a drawer stuffed with instruction manuals anymore. For many products, the manufacturer's website has the manual available online.
Keep anything important that isn't easily replaceable, but consider recycling the rest.
25. Spare Change
Check the couch cushions, junk drawers, laundry room and that random dish where everyone dumps their coins.
Gather it all together and put it toward something useful. Your savings, a specific goal or even a little treat.
26. Craft Supplies You Aren't Going to Use
Craft supplies add up quickly! Go through your stash and be honest about what you're actually going to use.
If you've been saving something for a project you've been "meaning to do" for five years, it may be time to pass it along to someone who will enjoy it.
27. Leftover Paint
Do you have cans of paint sitting in the garage from projects you finished years ago?
Keep a small, clearly labelled amount for necessary touch-ups if appropriate, but get rid of old or unwanted paint through your local household hazardous waste or paint recycling program. I've also had great success giving away paint I won't use in my local Buy Nothing Facebook Group!
28. Unused Personal Care Products
Check your bathroom cabinets for old lotions, perfumes, hair products and toiletries you don't like or never use.
If you've been avoiding it for months because you don't actually like the product, that's a pretty good sign that you don't need to keep it.
29. Loyalty and Rewards Cards
Clean out your wallet and phone. Remove expired loyalty cards, empty gift cards and memberships you no longer use.
If a store has moved its rewards program to an app, you may be able to get rid of the physical card entirely.
30. Old or Unused Pet Toys
Your pets probably have favourites too! Toss toys that are damaged or unsafe and donate or pass along anything that's in good condition but never gets played with.
31. Boxes
If you're keeping a giant pile of boxes "just in case," take a good look at how many you actually need.
Keep a reasonable number of useful shipping or moving boxes and recycle the rest. You'll be surprised how much space this can free up.
A Little Decluttering Can Make a Big Difference
You don't need to declutter your entire house in one weekend to make a difference.
Start with one drawer. One shelf. One cupboard. Pick a few things to declutter and see how much lighter the space feels afterward.
And here's the part I love most: decluttering can change the way you shop.
When you see how many things you bought that you didn't use, love or need, it becomes a lot easier to pause before buying something new.
Instead of asking, "Is this a good deal?" you might start asking, "Do I actually need this?"
That little question can save you a surprising amount of money over time.
What things to declutter would you add to this list? And what's the first thing you're going to tackle?
Back to School Tips: A Simple Plan for Saving Money, Meals & Mornings
If your summer has looked anything like ours with late nights, slow mornings and days with absolutely no schedule, then the thought of school starting again might bring up two very different feelings.
Excitement... and a tiny bit of panic.
Going from lazy summer mornings to lunches, backpacks, homework and somewhere you need to be by 8am can be a bit of an adjustment. And honestly, I've always found the transition back to school a little difficult myself.
Over the years, I've learned that the best way to make the transition easier is to do a little planning before the first day arrives.
My back to school plan focuses on three things:
Shopping
Meals
Organization
Taking care of these three areas ahead of time means fewer frantic mornings, fewer unnecessary purchases and a whole lot less “Where is my...?” once school gets underway.
So, let's get ready for back to school!
Back to School Shopping Tips
One of my favourite back to school traditions started when my oldest first began school. We would have a special date together to shop for her school things.
I loved having that one-on-one time with her, and it turned something that could have felt like a chore into something we both looked forward to.
But there is one rule I always try to follow: We shop with a plan.
It is incredibly easy to walk into a store and start grabbing things because they're cute, on sale or look like something your child might need.
And before you know it, you've spent a small fortune on clothes and supplies that weren't actually necessary.
Here's what works for us:
Take a clothing inventory
This sounds like a big job, but it took us less than 10 minutes.
I pulled out everything in my daughter's closet and dresser, including socks and underwear, and we went through it one item at a time.
Her job was simply to say yes or no.
Anything she said no to was either donated or put aside for her younger sister.
Once we knew what she actually liked and would wear, I could see what she was missing.
And do you know what she actually needed that year?
An indoor pair of shoes and a sweater.
That's it!
I also like to buy one special outfit for the first day of school and sometimes a fun accessory. It's a little tradition that makes the first day feel special without turning back to school shopping into a whole brand new wardrobe.
Shop your home before you shop the store
Before buying school supplies, take a look around your house.
You may already have notebooks, pencils, pencil crayons, lunch containers, water bottles, backpacks or other supplies that can be used again.
This is one of my favourite frugal habits: use what you already have before buying something new.
Once you've figured out what you already own, make a list of what's actually needed. Then shop that list, and only that list.
Compare prices on school supplies
School supplies can add up quickly, especially when you're buying for multiple children.
Depending on what you need, check places like the dollar store, Walmart, Staples and Amazon before you buy.
Don't assume the cheapest looking store will always have the best price. (ahem, I'm looking at you Dollarama.) A quick comparison can sometimes save you more than you expect.
And if saving time is more important to you than shopping in person, online shopping can be a great option. You can get everything on your list in one order and have it delivered to your door or arrange for store pickup.
The goal isn't necessarily to find the cheapest possible version of everything.
It's to avoid spending money on things you don't actually need.
Back to School Meal Planning Tips
Meals are probably one of my biggest sources of stress during the school year. (If I'm being honest, all year long actually!)
What's for breakfast?
What am I putting in lunches?
What's for dinner?
So, rather than trying to figure everything out every morning, I like to create a simple plan ahead of time.
Create a breakfast menu
My kids have never been particularly good at answering the question, “What do you want for breakfast?”
So instead of asking, I decide.
I create a simple weekly breakfast menu that stays the same from week to week.
For example:
Monday: Muffins and fruit
Tuesday: Pancakes or waffles
Wednesday: Toast and fruit
Thursday: Eggs and toast
Friday: Cereal and fruit
It doesn't have to be fancy. In fact, the simpler the better.
Having a predictable breakfast menu means I know what groceries to buy, the kids know what to expect and I don't have to come up with five different breakfast ideas before I've even had my coffee.
Make lunches easier
I also like to think ahead about school lunches.
You don't necessarily need to prepare five completely different lunches every week. Create a list of foods your kids will actually eat and rotate them.
Having a few reliable lunch options on hand makes those mornings much easier.
And if you have older kids, get them involved. Even if they're only responsible for putting their lunch into their backpack, that's one less thing for you to remember.
Back to School Organization Tips
A little organization before the first day can make a surprisingly big difference once school starts.
Create a simple morning routine
Rushed, hectic mornings are definitely not my favourite.
Unfortunately, they happen more often than I'd like to admit.
I've found that both of my kids do much better when they have a simple morning routine written down. Instead of constantly asking, “Did you do this?” or “Are you ready yet?”, they can simply work their way through the list.
Our routine looks like this:
Get up
Get dressed
Eat breakfast
Pack lunch
Brush teeth and hair
Put on backpack and shoes
Head out the door
A visual routine can be especially helpful for kids who have trouble remembering what comes next.
Choose outfits ahead of time
One thing that worked incredibly well for us was setting aside outfits for the entire week.
I would put together five or seven complete outfits so there was no morning debate about what to wear.
This was especially helpful for my child who tends to shut down when faced with too many choices.
It also made mornings faster because we weren't standing in front of the closet trying to put together an outfit at 7:30 in the morning.
Now that my kids are older, they pick what they're wearing the next day, the night before at bedtime.
Label school belongings
With the amount of money we spend on school supplies, clothing, lunch containers and other things, losing something is frustrating.
Labels can make it much easier for lost items to find their way home.
We have used Mabel's Labels for years and have always found them helpful. I put labels on everything from clothing to water bottles and lunch containers.
It's a small step that can potentially save you from replacing things that simply 'wandered off'.
Do a little now to make September easier
You don't have to completely transform your home or spend weeks preparing for the school year.
A little planning goes a long way.
Take a quick inventory of clothing. Make a list before you shop. Use what you already have. Create a simple breakfast menu. Write down the morning routine. Pick out outfits ahead of time.
None of these things are particularly complicated, but together they can make the transition from summer to school feel much smoother.
And perhaps my favourite part? A little planning can save both time and money.
That's a pretty good way to start a new school year.
I'd love to hear from you! What are your favourite back to school tips and tricks? Leave them in the comments!
Can you believe we have reached the last day in the No Spend Declutter Challenge? It's so hard to believe we've been working away for nearly a month! I still have areas of my house that need some fine tuning, but overall, I'm quite happy! I think I brought in 5 boxes/bags to the second hand store.
One thing I wish I would have been better at, is using stuff we already have in our pantry and freezer. I feel like I still spent the same amount on groceries as I do every month.
Day 18 Declutter Task:
We're going to close out the month with something that I like to do about once a month or so. A digital declutter. This is when I go though my email accounts and delete emails I no longer need. Unsubscribe from newsletters that don't interest me any longer. Unfollow social media accounts and delete photos off my phone and computer that are no longer needed.
It's sort of a mindless task, but feels so good to have only the stuff you need and the stuff you love in the end!
How often do you do a digital declutter?
Day 18 No Spend Task:
Remember when a couple of weeks ago, our task was to create "wants" list? Well, today, we're going to revisit that list.
When you revisit your list, cross off the things you realize you no longer want. With the items that are still on the list, I want to encourage you to try buying used, borrowing from friends or family, or asking in a local Buy Nothing Facebook group.
I know you will will feel just as satisfied with those options when you receive the items you want!
I'd love to know, after nearly an entire month of not spending unnecessarily, how many things do you no longer want or need?
Thank you so much for joining me this month! I'd love to hear your thoughts!
I will also be posting random progress reports throughout the challenge over at Instagram! Follow me on Instagram @simplyfrugal and use the hashtag #nospenddeclutter to get updates and see what others are up to during the challenge!
If you do not use social media, I would love to read your comments on each task, right here, below each challenge post on SimplyFrugal.ca!
Today, we're going to tackle our desk areas. Now this year, things might look different than normal. You may be using a table as a make shift desk for school or work at home. So I guess you can tidy up the spot you call a work area!
In our home, I have a desk, but the girls are the ones who use it right now for making crafts and colouring. (We are fortunate to have in-class school!) My husband also has a desk that tends to get cluttered up with toys because it’s in our basement where most of the toys are. So today, I’ll tidy them up and make sure all the random items are in their proper place.
Day 17 No Spend Task:
Well, once again, we're going to intentionally not spend money on unnecessary things! But we are almost finished! Have you noticed a big change in your mindset? Are you less tempted to purchase random items now?
I will also be posting random progress reports throughout the challenge over at Instagram! Follow me on Instagram @simplyfrugal and use the hashtag #nospenddeclutter to get updates and see what others are up to during the challenge!
If you do not use social media, I would love to read your comments on each task, right here, below each challenge post on SimplyFrugal.ca!
Today, we're going to declutter and organize our craft/hobby supplies. While we don’t have a dedicated craft room, I still find it very helpful to occasionally go through our craft supplies! I seem to have bins all over the house. I’ll be sorting through my daughters’ craft supplies too. Actually, mainly their supplies. I'm still trying to figure out what my hobby is. 😛
When we moved into our house almost four years ago (!!), we purchased a few of these ALEX drawer units from IKEA. My husband created a desk out of them by placing a piece of pine board overtop. It has been the most wonderful set up for the girls!
Here are some links to great craft organization tips that I thought you might enjoy:
Once again today, we're going to keep it simple, and not spend money on anything unnecessary. What did you do yesterday for your self care? I ended up with an hour to myself so I forced myself to not do any chores and read a book!
I will also be posting random progress reports throughout the challenge over at Instagram! Follow me on Instagram @simplyfrugal and use the hashtag #nospenddeclutter to get updates and see what others are up to during the challenge!
If you do not use social media, I would love to read your comments on each task, right here, below each challenge post on SimplyFrugal.ca!
Today we're going to start a task that I dread. Filing paper. I'm not sure why I don't like it so much, because when I do take the time to to it, it really doesn't take that long. Once it's done I'm always left feeling satisfied too! I just don't know...
I think it was about a year ago that I overhauled our filing system and I'm really liking it! If you are in need of some filing system inspiration, here are some great links:
Do you have a system that works well for you? Care to share your tips in the comments?
Day 15 No Spend Task:
I definitely think it's time for some intentional self-care, don't you think? If you can't find time today, make some time this week! Here are some ideas for self care that you may enjoy:
Journaling
Reading
At home pedicure
Facial masks: Clay, Avocado, egg whites, or oatmeal made into a paste
I will also be posting random progress reports throughout the challenge over at Instagram! Follow me on Instagram @simplyfrugal and use the hashtag #nospenddeclutter to get updates and see what others are up to during the challenge!
If you do not use social media, I would love to read your comments on each task, right here, below each challenge post on SimplyFrugal.ca!
