4 Rules for Decluttering as an Over-buyer
- McKenzie Perkins
- Jun 30, 2022
- 3 min read
Decluttering can be hard, especially when you're an over-buyer*. Over-buyers are essentially the opposite of a minimalist, a maximalist. They have an abundance of things that they may need but in reality, never get used. For example, you “need” the Halloween costume you wore 5 years ago that's sitting in a box somewhere in the garage because you might need a costume for a future Halloween party that doesn’t exist yet. Or, the 5 white t-shirts in your closet must be kept in case you decide to tie-dye some clothes one day. Does that sound like you? Here are some tips to help you part with the stuff you think you need.
Are you an...
Over-buyer
Under-buyer
A little bit of both
* Want to learn more about over and under buying? Check out Gretchen Rubin's book "Better Than Before" or take her quiz at gretchenrubin.com.
#1 Store it at the store
The first important step to decluttering your space is to stop adding more stuff. There's no need to purchase a yoga mat, yoga block, stretch bands and new yoga pants when you just decided your going to do yoga every morning. Let's be real, the chances of your excitement for yoga lasting more than a few weeks is pretty slim. But, if by some miracle the yoga phase sticks, all of the necessary supplies will be ready at the store when you need them. Over-buyers tend to be collectors of things which leads to cluttering their space and storage areas. STOP. BUYING. MORE. STUFF.
#2 Don't be tempted by a sale
A lot of people will buy decor and clothing during the off-season when they are on sale. This can be a huge danger to your decluttering process. Ask yourself- will I be using this item in the next 60 days, is this a rare item or something I won't be able to find when I need it (almost always no), will the item even be in style by the time I wear/use it?

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