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.

* 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?

#3 Everything has a place

If you find yourself staring at an item in the store wondering if you should take it home or not, try this. Do you know exactly where this thing will go when it enters your home? It can't be the catch-all desk or thrown in the depths of your closet. Your new purchase needs to have a specific place where it won't go unused or forgotten. If you can't picture where that cute Starbucks tumbler should go, it probably should stay at the store.

#4 Strategic purchasing

After decluttering and freeing up space, it's time to do some strategic purchasing. If you cleaned out your wardrobe and are left with one pair of jeans, go to the mall with the intention to only buy jeans. Don't be distracted by new arrivals or sale items. You have already decided you have enough shirts, hats, and shoes. You only need to fill in the gaps. Sometimes you'll find that you don't even have any gaps in your wardrobe. That means there is no need to go out and buy, you have everything you need. And remember, you can store it at the store.

Following these rules will be tough as it is in an over-buyer's nature to... well, overbuy. It takes being conscious of every purchase and making reasonable choices even when feeling tempted. Some tips commonly shared are grabbing a basket instead of a cart or setting an item down and walking away for a while to prevent buying impulsively. Those tricks may be somewhat helpful now, but in the long run, my four rules for over-buyers will surely break your habits, clear your clutter and give you peace of mind.