In your quest to declutter, sometimes a good interrogation is in order. If you caught a trespasser on your property, you’d likely question their presence—why not do the same for your stuff? That way, you can determine whether it truly belongs in your household, or needs to be escorted off the premises.

To that end, here are twenty questions to ask of your clutter:

1. What are you? Let’s face it—if you have to ask, the item under scrutiny should already be halfway out the door. It might sound like a ridiculous question, but I’d wager that most of us have plenty of unidentifiable bits and bobs in our junk drawers and garages.

2. How did you get here? Determine whether you invited the item into your life (by purchasing it), or if it snuck in by some other means—like in the form of a gift, freebie, or heirloom. If you didn’t intentionally acquire it, you may have little incentive to keep it.

3. What do you do? If the answer is “not much,” it may be time to give it the boot. You don’t need any freeloaders in your household. Things that perform more than one function, on the other hand, get extra points for versatility.

4. When did I last use you? Good answers: a few hours ago, yesterday, last week. Bad answers: sometime in the 1990s, when my grown children were babies, I haven’t the slightest idea.

5. When will I use you again? Good answer: soon. Bad answer: perhaps in some as-yet-undetermined situation in the unforeseeable future.

6. Would I miss you (or even notice) if you were gone? If its absence would be a non-issue, you might as well send it on its way.

7. Do you have a twin (or close cousin)? Space is at a premium in our minimalist homes; there’s no sense in keeping duplicates, or two things that do the same job.

8. Could I re-acquire you if necessary? This question may spare those out-of-print books, but can effectively eliminate those seldom-used, might-need-it items that can be picked up easily and inexpensively if the need arises.

9. Can someone else make better use of you? Instead of hoarding stuff you might need someday, give it to someone who needs it now.

10. Are you more trouble than you’re worth? If something takes up too much of your time, money, or energy (like for maintenance, repairs, and insurance), it may bring you much relief to let it go.

11. Do you belong to my fantasy self? Sometimes, the only use an item gets is in your daydreams (of being a socialite, world traveler, high-powered executive, etc.). Release it, and make space for your real life instead.

12. Are you valuable? If a little-used item can bring a nice chunk of change, consider selling it on eBay, Craigslist, or in a consignment shop. The money may do you more good than a dust-gathering object. Conversely, if it has no value or use, don’t feel compelled to provide it a home.

13. Would I rather have the space you take up? Every item you own takes away a little bit of your space. Decide what’s more valuable to you, the stuff or the space it occupies.

14. Can I return you? If a spontaneous shopping spree left you with some ill-considered purchases, see if you can take them back. Many stores offer generous return policies (sometimes several months) on unused, unworn, or unopened merchandise.

15. Are you a stand-in for a memory? Our memories don’t need physical objects to contain them. Things can be broken, tarnished, or taken away—yet our memories live on in our minds.

16. Can you be digitized? Turning your music, movies, books, photos, and documents into intangible bits and bytes can free up a significant amount of space.

17. Can you be miniaturized? This is a great question for those hard-to-part-with heirlooms. If the purpose of something is to evoke memories, consider if the same memories can be evoked by a smaller piece (like a single square from a quilt, or one plate from a set of china).

18. Did I forget I owned you? If so, feel free to declutter it without regrets. Chances are, you’ll just as likely forget about it once it’s gone.

19. Do you belong to someone else? If so, and they’re a member of your household, turn it over to them for action (keeping or purging, putting it in the proper place). If it belongs to someone external (a friend, a neighbor, a grown child), make arrangements for its return.

20. Do you make me smile? An item may fail all your other criteria (practicality, versatility, etc.)—but if its presence truly brings you joy (the lei from your honeymoon, your child’s first drawing), it has a rightful place in your household. If it doesn’t bring a smile to your face, make room for something that does.

{If you’d like to learn more about minimalist living, please consider reading my book, The Joy of Less, A Minimalist Living Guide, or subscribing to my RSS feed.}

Related posts:

1. Declutter Your Fantasy Self
2. Decluttering and Emergency Kits
3. How to Win the War on Clutter

(Photo: creepyhalloweenimages)

We all have some clutter skeletons in our closets—purchases and behaviors that have junked up our homes, emptied our bank accounts, and perhaps even chained us to an unsatisfying work-spend treadmill.

And despite our best intentions, some of these demons continue to haunt us, sucking the space from our homes, the money from our wallets, and the joy from our lives.

In the spirit of Halloween, I propose an exorcism: let’s call out each of these clutter ghosts in turn, and banish them once and for all!

Novelty. If you find yourself idly browsing retail websites, paging through catalogs, stopping by the mall every weekend, or otherwise looking for things “to want,” the ghost of novelty may be haunting you. We all know, however, that the rush from acquiring a shiny new item is usually short-lived—and often followed by buyer’s remorse. Instead of shopping for entertainment, read a good book, go to the park, or have coffee with a friend.

Excess. Blame this demon for your overflowing closets, shelves, and kitchen drawers. Sometimes we go overboard in acquiring certain items—as if one more pair of shoes, or electronic gadget, will make our lives complete. The best way to exorcise this one is to consolidate and make an inventory of your “problem” categories; discovering just how many t-shirts or DVDs you own can be downright scary, and inspire a major decluttering session!

Sentiment. This ghost keeps us holding on to things we don’t want in the name of “memories.” We feel that if we let go of the object in question, the person, place, or occasion associated with it will vanish forever from our thoughts. We have to remember that our memories don’t reside in that thing, but in our minds—which is a much better place for them, as they can never be tarnished, stolen, or taken away.

Guilt. The ghost of guilt sure is a scary one! It keeps our attics stuffed with unloved heirlooms, our closets with unworn clothes, and our drawers with unwanted gifts. This monster can take several forms: guilt over failing to preserve our family history, wasting money on an impulse purchase, or getting rid of presents from loved ones. How to exorcise it? Realize that letting these things out into the world, where they’ll be loved and appreciated, can do more good than hoarding them away.

Laziness. Does the thought of your clutter keep you glued to the couch? Ignore this ghoul, and your problem will become all the more terrifying. The solution: don’t feel you have to tackle everything at once. Start small—a One-a-Day Declutter takes little effort, but can be incredibly effective.

Fear. Ah, the ghost of just-in-case and might-need-it! Think about all those things you’re squirreling away because you’re afraid they’ll be useful someday (even though you haven’t used, looked at, or even thought about them for years). Ponder what’s the worst that can happen if you don’t have that item on hand. You’ll likely conclude that it’s far from the end of the world, and hardly worth hoarding a hundred items in the slim chance you might need one of them.

Insecurity. If you’re buying stuff to show your “status,” or in an effort to keep up with the Joneses, you may be possessed by the ghost of insecurity. Always ask “why?” before you buy something—is it because you really need it? Or because you think it’s a symbol of your success, or similar to what your peers or neighbors have? Foil this demon, and free yourself of conspicuous consumption.

So while the kids are trick-or-treating this weekend, keep an eye out for ghouls and goblins of the clutter kind. The sooner you recognize them, the sooner you can dispel them—and the less frightening it’ll be to open your drawers, your closets, and your bank statement! 

Is a particular clutter ghoul haunting you? Let’s do some ghost-busting in the Comments!

{If you’d like to learn more about minimalist living, please consider reading my book, The Joy of Less, A Minimalist Living Guide, or subscribing to my RSS feed.}

Related posts:

1. Minimalism Around the World: Danshari
2. No Regrets
3. Minimalist Living: One In, One Out

(Photo: ibm4381)

I’ve been decluttering for a long time now, and have pared down my possessions to quite a minimal level. Consequently, people often ask me if I’ve ever regretted getting rid of certain items. Surely, in over ten years, there must be something I wish I hadn’t purged.

It may seem unbelievable, but to be perfectly honest, I have no regrets. I can’t think of a single thing that I long to have back in my life. I don’t miss any of the clothes, the books, the heirlooms, the tchotchkes, the shoes, the handbags, or the kitchen gadgets I decided I could live without.

Perhaps I just have a short memory. Maybe if I had photographed each castoff, I’d look back through the memories and wax nostalgic about a long-lost sweater or hastily-decluttered pasta pot. I highly doubt it, though. If these things truly had a special place in my life, the least I’d be able to do is remember them!

One of the biggest barriers to decluttering is the nagging feeling that you’ll regret giving something away. Take heart in the fact that the odds are pretty slim. Chances are, you’ll forget about that item pretty quickly once it leaves your premises. I’d have a hard time listing what I decluttered last year, let alone five or ten years ago.

And in the off-chance that you do, what’s the worst that’ll happen? You’ll have to go out and buy another? Sometimes that’s not such a bad thing. Recently, I’ve been toying with the idea of buying a digitizing (drawing) tablet, so that I can illustrate my future books. Several years ago, I owned (and decluttered) one—but no, I’m not pining for the old thing. I know that even if I had it, the technology has advanced to such an extent that I’d probably find it inadequate anyway. Even if it were sitting here next to me, I’d be browsing the internet for one with better features than my 5+ year-old model. And it certainly wouldn’t have been worth dragging around with me (or storing) all these years in the interim.

Still finding it hard to let go? Here are some tips on minimizing regrets:

1. Photograph sentimental items. In the fog of nostalgia, sometimes we remember objects as nicer than they actually were. A digital pic can be a great reminder that that velvet Elvis was no masterpiece. Photos also make great substitutes for such items—a snapshot of your aunt’s snowglobe collection brings back the same memories as having them displayed across your mantel (or packed away in your attic!).

2. Consider technology. Are you saving that old cell phone, monitor, or digital camera in case your new one bites the dust? At that point, will it really be up-to-snuff (or even functional)? Perhaps it would be better for someone else to use it now, and you can acquire a new and improved model when you need a replacement. I know I certainly wouldn’t replace a defunct laser printer with a dot matrix from the garage.

3. Do a trial separation. Box up questionable items for six months (or even a year, if it makes you feel better). If you haven’t missed them in that time frame, you probably won’t miss them at all. Consider donating the contents, unopened, so you won’t need to go through a new round of deliberation.

4. Get some money for it. Whether it’s a tech gadget you no longer use, a designer outfit that no longer fits, or a piece of jewelry that’s no longer your taste, sell it. That way, you can use the proceeds towards a (new and better) replacement if the need arises in the future.

5. Do good with your clutter. Donate your castoffs to someone in need. You’ll be much less likely to regret purging something if it’s brought joy or assistance to another person.

6. Value your space. Sure, if you get rid of 100 items, you might find need for one of them down the road. But look at all that glorious space you’ve enjoyed in the meantime! Much better to acquire that one replacement when needed, than keep drawers and closets stuffed with scores of “just in cases.”

7. Put it in perspective. Do you rue the day you decluttered your apple corer? It’s really not the end of the world. Go out and buy a new one—and think of the new appreciation you’ll have for the value it adds to your life.

So, what about you: do you have any decluttering regrets? Or do you find that once something’s out of sight, it’s also out of mind? Please share your experiences in the Comments!

{If you’d like to learn more about minimalist living, please consider reading my book, The Joy of Less, A Minimalist Living Guide, or subscribing to my RSS feed.}

Related posts:

1. Minimalist Makeover: Lea Ann’s Closet
2. Minimalist Makeover: Beth’s Closet and Kitchen
3. Minimalist Living: One In, One Out

After I graduated from college, I inherited a beautiful set of china from my grandmother. My fantasy self—the one who planned to throw fabulous dinner parties in her English manor house—was elated to own twelve place settings of vintage tableware. My real self, however—the one who carefully wrapped every dinner plate, salad plate, dessert plate, bowl, cup, and saucer during each move—became decidedly less enthusiastic about it over time.

After going through the painstaking process of packing and unpacking it at least four times (and constantly worrying about breaking an irreplaceable piece), I’d had enough. I finally gave the whole set to a less nomadic family member, and breathed a huge sigh of relief. The irony: despite all the effort I put into preserving it, I’d used it on only one or two “special” occasions.

My dinnerware today is much simpler: four glass plates and two glass bowls, pictured above. Sure, it may not be as elegant—but it’s inexpensive, lightweight, and causes me not a whit of worry. The last time I moved, I didn’t even bother to wrap it up. Should I break a piece, I can simply nip on down to my local Ikea and pick up another ($0.99 in US, £0.70 in UK). And should I someday decide that transporting it is a hassle, I can donate it to a charity shop (or give it away on Freecycle), and spend about $6 to replace it at my new destination.

What about entertaining? So far, it hasn’t been a problem. We rarely have more than two guests for dinner, and if multiple courses are involved, I wash the plates in between. The very few times I’ve been short on tableware—like when I hosted Thanksgiving dinner—I’ve simply borrowed from friends and family. No one ever seemed put out by my request, but rather happy to contribute to the occasion. (I think the pooling of resources can enhance the warmth of a gathering, much like a potluck dinner!)

Certainly, I can’t guarantee that I’ll have the right plate (or enough plates) to accommodate every possible culinary situation. But that’s okay by me: what I have fits my current lifestyle, and when it comes to dinnerware, I’m perfectly content to “live on the edge.”

And though my grandmother’s set was lovely, I personally like the simplicity and versatility of plain glass. It blends with a variety of décor, is appropriate for any occasion, and most importantly, calls attention not to itself, but to its contents. For in the end, it’s what’s on the plate that really matters anyway!

(This post is part of my “100 Possessions” series, in which I explain why each item I own deserves a place in my minimalist life.)

{If you’d like to learn more about minimalist living, please consider reading my book, The Joy of Less, A Minimalist Living Guide, or subscribing to my RSS feed.}

Related posts:

1. 100 Possessions: Glass Tumblers
2. Smitten: The Cupboard-Less Kitchen
3. What’s in a Minimalist Kitchen?

(Photo: TANAKA Juuyoh)

When I first started writing about minimalism, I thought of clutter and overconsumption as primarily an American problem. However, from the emails and comments I received, I soon learned that many in the UK and Europe were struggling with similar issues.

Still, I considered it mainly an affliction of the Western world, and never imagined decluttering would have much relevance in the Far East (which has a long cultural heritage of simplicity and restraint).

However, according to an article by Michael Hoffman in The Japan Times Online, there’s a new trend sweeping Japan: danshari.

Kanjiclinic.com included the word in its “2010 New Words” list, and defined it as follows:

断捨離 Danshari – “de-clutter.”
The three kanji in this compound mean “refuse – throw away – separate.”
Self-help author Hideko Yamashita, drawing on yoga philosophy, promotes a three-step system for de-cluttering one’s life (both physical and mental) in Japan:
1) refuse to bring unnecessary new possessions into your life;
2) throw away existing clutter in your living space; and
3) separate from a desire for material possessions.

I love it! One beautiful little word to sum up so many of the concepts we talk about here. Let’s break it down into its components:

断 dan – to refuse
This part is about being a good gatekeeper, and stopping the inflow of stuff into your home. How to put this into action?
* Practice minsumerism
* Seek alternatives to gifts
* Eliminate your junk mail
* Refuse freebies
* Engage in consumer disobedience

捨 sha – to throw away
Here we get down to the brass tacks of decluttering: eliminating all unnecessary items from your life. Some ways to do this:
* Purge at least one item each day
* Let go of heirlooms and sentimental stuff
* Pare down your wardrobe
* Streamline your kitchen
* Donate your castoffs to charity

離 ri – to separate
The final part involves cultivating a sense of nonattachment to your possessions. To achieve this, try the following:
* Break up with your stuff
* Realize you are not what you own
* Embrace the concept of enough
* Cherish space over stuff
* Live like a butterfly

Dan-sha-ri, dan-sha-ri, dan-sha-ri–it’s quite poetic, isn’t it? I think it would make the perfect chant while cleaning out a closet, or passing up an impulse purchase.

Anyway, it’s encouraging to see minimalism rising in popularity in the East, as well as the West. According to Hoffman’s article, books and seminars on the subject are quite popular in Japan, as people seek freedom from consumerism and the clutter that accompanies it. He quotes Yamashita:

What’s more important, my life or my things? “Things” are not necessarily inimical to “life” — or are they, when they’re not life-enhancing? Ask yourself this, she says: “Does my present self need my present possessions?” If not, why can’t I ditch the possessions, all that stuff accumulated over years and still accumulating? What binds me to them? Is it that “things” have the upper hand over “life”?

Danshari refers not just to physical clutter, but also to mental and emotional clutter. It holds the promise that once you’ve disposed of the excess and the unnecessary, you’ll have the space, time, and freedom to live more fully.

Hoffman cites its conceptual ties to a traditional Japanese virtue called wabi, which is defined beautifully by Zen master Daisetsu T. Suzuki (1871-1966):

“Wabi is to be satisfied with a little hut, a room of two or three tatami mats . . . and with a dish of vegetables picked in the neighboring fields, and perhaps to be listening to the pattering of a gentle spring rainfall. . . .”

(Ah, so peaceful and serene…I can’t imagine a lovelier way to describe the simple life.)

I’m thrilled that the idea of living with less is spreading throughout the world, and fascinated to hear how the concepts of minimalism and decluttering are taking form in various countries and cultures. I’d love it if some of our Japanese readers can elaborate on danshari, and other international readers on similar movements/trends in their own countries. Please share with us in the Comments!

{If you’d like to learn more about minimalist living, please consider reading my book, The Joy of Less, A Minimalist Living Guide, or subscribing to my RSS feed.}

Related posts:

1. Exorcise Your Clutter Ghosts
2. Minimalist Makeover: Beth’s Closet and Kitchen
3. Minimalist Living: One In, One Out

Happy to visit castles, rather than live in one!

Once upon a time (a long time ago), I had a fantasy self. She was an aficionado of antique chandeliers, vintage beaded dresses, fine china, and silver tea sets; I think she fancied one day she would marry a prince and live out her days in a British castle or manor house.

Charming as she was, after dragging her stuff thousands of miles in a cross-country move, I had to kick her out. And it’s a good thing I did—because even though I eventually married a prince (metaphorically) and moved to England (literally), my 400-square-foot flat would have never accommodated her lavish accoutrements.

Ironically enough, decluttering my fantasy self gave me the freedom and resources to turn my dreams into reality.

Do you have a fantasy self? And if so, how much of your clutter belongs to it?

All too often, we hold on to stuff because it represents who we think we should be, rather than who we are. Sometimes our fantasy selves are meant to impress others; sometimes they’re relics of our past; sometimes they’re fantasies about our future.

Whatever the case, it’s important to remember: acquiring stuff for your fantasy self doesn’t make it a reality. Most of the time, it only leads to a lot of “nice” clutter you never actually use.

Is your fantasy self…

* A culinary diva who has the pots, pans, gadgets, and gizmos to whip up any dish or confection under the sun…
when your real self would rather order takeout?

* A socialite with a closet full of cocktail dresses, with shoes and bags to match…
when the social event of your week is going to the coffee shop?

* A fitness guru with a treadmill, yoga mat, Pilates equipment, and a wardrobe of exercise clothes…
when the most rigorous workout you’ve had lately is taking the stairs?

* An all-star athlete with a garage full of sports gear…
when you’re more likely to catch a game on TV?

* A knitter/sewer/scrapbooker/woodworker extraordinaire with enough supplies to fill a craft store…
when you rarely ever complete a project?

* A DIYer with a workbench stocked with equipment and tools…
when you usually call a handyman if something breaks?

* A globetrotter with premium luggage and travel gear…
when you’d rather curl up on the couch and watch a Rick Steve’s DVD?

* A bigwig executive with expensive suits, silk ties, and luxury watches…
when you wear khakis and a polo shirt to work?

* A cello virtuoso with a library of sheet music…
when you haven’t picked up the instrument since high school?

* The trusted keeper of your family’s history and heirlooms…
when you’d prefer to shove those dusty boxes of junk in the attic?

Storing our fantasy selves’ stuff isn’t fair to our real selves—not only does it make us feel like failures, it takes away the space and time we could devote to uncovering our true passions and potential.

So as you’re decluttering, give the boot to your fantasy self and all its accessories—it’s not giving up on your dreams, it’s making way for real ones!

Are you dealing with your fantasy self’s clutter? Tell us about it in the Comments.

{If you’d like to learn more about minimalist living, please consider reading my book, The Joy of Less, A Minimalist Living Guide, or subscribing to my RSS feed.}

Related posts:

1. Minimalist Makeover: Lea Ann’s Closet
2. Minimalist Makeover: Beth’s Closet and Kitchen
3. Minimalist Living: One In, One Out

Price: $0.99

A little while ago, a reader suggested I publish a “Miss Minimalist” collection of articles on Kindle (thank you, Sara!). Her logic: readers browsing Amazon for books on minimalism might never trip across my blog, and even those that do might prefer reading the articles in book format.

Why hadn’t I thought of that? As I’ve mentioned before, I love to write, but am not a very good salesperson or marketer. Thankfully, I have wonderful readers to give me a kick in the pants.

So I’ve done just that—I’ve gathered together sixty of my favorite blog posts, and bundled them into a $0.99 Kindle book:

Miss Minimalist: Inspiration to Downsize, Declutter, and Simplify

(No need to have a Kindle, by the way: Simply download one of the free Kindle apps from Amazon’s website, and you can read it on your PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Blackberry, Android, or Windows phone.)

Here’s my dilemma: with millions of titles on Amazon, a new book is virtually invisible until people buy it. Once it has some sales, it starts to pop up on various pages (like where it says “Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought…”), enabling more people to discover it.

So that’s why I’m taking a deep breath, going against every grain of my nature, and asking you for help today.

If you enjoy my blog, I hope you’ll consider buying this Kindle ebook. The obvious question: if you can read all this on my website, what’s the point?

1. Convenience. To have a collection of articles that reads like a book, rather than clicking through the archives.

2. Posterity. To be able to enjoy these writings in the future, even if my blog disappears into a black hole someday.

3. Sharing. To gift or lend it to friends and family you’re encouraging to simplify (who may be more inclined to read a book than a blog).

4. Outreach. To spread the word about minimalist living, and attract more people to our little community here. (On Amazon, more sales means more visibility.)

5. Support. To help me introduce more people to The Joy of Less, and continue writing on this topic.

Rest assured, this is no grand moneymaking scheme; I’ll make about 30 cents for every copy sold. I’m simply trying to increase my visibility on Amazon, and provide you with something of value in the process.

That said, I’m going to put every penny of sales over the next four days into a giveaway: I would like to thank each of you who buys Miss Minimalist by entering you in a drawing for The Joy of Less.

Simply forward your Amazon receipt to me at ag8 AT missminimalist.com. Each email receipt will count as an entry (if you buy or gift multiple copies, send along all the receipts—there’s no limit to the number of entries per person). And don’t worry—the receipts don’t include any sensitive information like credit card details. You’re even welcome to delete out your name and address, if you wish; just make sure I have an email address at which to contact you!

I’ll give away one copy of The Joy of Less for every 25 entries. (If I get 50 entries, I’ll give away 2 copies; if 75, then 3; and so on…) That’s a 1 in 25 chance of winning—not bad, considering my previous giveaways had 300+ entries.

I’ll keep the giveaway open until this Friday, June 10, 5pm EDT. As always, I’ll choose the winners using the random number generator at Random.org. Winners can choose between a signed print copy or Kindle version.

Okay, a big thanks to all of you for reading and considering this. Believe me, if I could hole up in a cave and write all day—and never give a thought to sales or marketing—I’d do so in a heartbeat. And if someday I don’t need an income (LOL), that’s exactly what I’ll do. In the meantime, however, I have to make some kind of promotional effort to avoid drowning in obscurity.

Therefore, I pray that nobody’s offended by this request—and hope that some of you will choose to purchase my Miss Minimalist collection and participate in the giveaway. Either way, know that I appreciate all of you, and the support you’ve given me, immensely; I couldn’t imagine a more fabulous group of readers!

Related posts:

1. Minimalist Makeover: Lea Ann’s Closet
2. Minimalist Makeover: Beth’s Closet and Kitchen
3. Minimalist Living: One In, One Out

(Photo: puuikibeach)

I often receive emails from people who want to pare down, but are frustrated with their partner’s/children’s/parent’s/family’s reluctance to get on board. They feel that no matter how much of their own stuff they purge, they’ll always be tripping over, shoving aside, or otherwise dealing with someone else’s clutter.

I have to admit, that’s a tough situation. Unfortunately, begging, pleading, evangelizing, or threatening can have the opposite effect—and result in making them more determined to hang on to their stuff.

Don’t despair! Your words may fall on deaf ears, but there’s a few things you can do to (gently) prod those clutterbugs in the right direction:

1. Designate clutter-free zones. Declare that all public and family spaces (living room, dining room, kitchen) will henceforth be clutter-free areas; it’s a great way to confine clutter to its owner’s personal space. If any wayward items land in these zones, return them immediately to their owner. Better yet, let your family know that anything left behind will be considered a voluntary “donation” to the Goodwill.

2. Set limits. Introduce your family to the concept of limits. Whether it’s your child’s toybox, your teenager’s closet, or your spouse’s craft room/workshop, explain that they’re welcome to fill it to the brim; but once it starts overflowing, they’ll have to purge some of the old before adding anything new.

3. Set an example. The most persuasive argument for decluttering is a clean and serene space. Once your family sees your pared-down cupboards, your roomy closet, or your minimal workspace, they may very well be inspired to follow suit!

4. Make it a game. Plan a Family Decluttering Day, and introduce a little healthy competition. Task each member of the household with purging their own things, and declare the person with the biggest pile of castoffs the decluttering champion. (Add a special prize—like letting the winner pick a movie or restaurant to celebrate—for more incentive.)

5. Make it charitable. Find a local charity in need of clothes, toys, games, books, etc.—and ask family members if they have anything to spare for those in need. An opportunity to help others can be a wonderful catalyst for decluttering.

6. Make it profitable. If you have the time and inclination, offer to help family members sell their castoffs on eBay. You may be able to take a shortcut with young children, by “buying” their stuff from them (say for $1 per toy or game), and donating their rejects to charity.

7. Make them clean. Cleaning around stuff makes housekeeping a hundred times harder. Ask your spouse or child to do a top-to-bottom scrub of a room, drawer, or closet—including taking everything out to reach every nook and cranny. Chances are good that some of the “junk” might not make it back in!

Are you struggling with OPC? Or have you found a great way to get your spouse or kids on the minimalist path? Let’s get a support group going in the Comments!

Related posts:

1. Declutter Your Fantasy Self
2. Decluttering and Emergency Kits
3. How to Win the War on Clutter

Red Cross emergency kit

Those who’ve read my book know I’m not a big fan of owning duplicates. In fact, I usually recommend rounding up those “understudies” and donating them to someone who will actually use them. My logic: what’s the point of having two or three of something, when one will do just fine?

Recently, however, Ariel emailed me with another idea: stash them in an emergency kit. In light of the earthquake in Japan, the recent tornadoes in the South, and the current flooding along the Mississippi, I think this makes a lot of sense.

Ariel wrote:

I had some thoughts I hope you will share with your readers. As a volunteer with the American Red Cross, I recently attended a conference for agency cooperation during a disaster in the San Francisco Bay Area (most likely The Big One Earthquake!). It was all about emergency preparedness; on an individual level, this means having fully-stocked emergency kits at home. In the event of a natural disaster, citizens should have about 3 days’ worth of supplies to allow emergency responders time to get to them. In the Bay Area, which relies on many bridges (and areas like New Orleans, where Katrina flooding impeded mobilisation), we’re advised to keep ourselves going for about 3 WEEKS. That was my little public service announcement, but ANYWAY, I was thinking about finally getting around to making an emergency kit, and groaning as I remembered things I donated as part of minimalising my house, that I now want back: the 3 can openers, the brand-new bag of cotton balls (could be used in first aid), the winter clothes, etc. I wanted to let your readers know that emergency preparedness kits are a great alternative to donating while decluttering; it saves you all that money of buying materials to keep on hand. Thanks for letting me share!

What a brilliant idea! After receiving this, I surfed on over to RedCross.org to see what’s recommended for a basic emergency kit. Here’s the list, reprinted from their website:

• Water—one gallon per person, per day (3­day supply for evacuation, 2­week supply for home)
• Food—non­perishable, easy­to­prepare items (3­day supply for evacuation, 2­week supply for home)
• Flashlight
• Battery­powered or hand­crank radio (NOAA Weather Radio, if possible)
• Extra batteries
• First aid kit
• Medications (7­day supply) and medical items
• Multi­purpose tool
• Sanitation and personal hygiene items
• Copies of personal documents (medication list and pertinent medical information, proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies)
• Cell phone with chargers
• Family and emergency contact information
• Extra cash
• Emergency blanket
• Map(s) of the area

Consider the needs of all family members and add supplies to your kit. Suggested items to help meet additional needs are:

• Medical supplies (hearing aids with extra batteries, glasses, contact lenses, syringes, cane)
• Baby supplies (bottles, formula, baby food, diapers)
• Games and activities for children
• Pet supplies (collar, leash, ID, food, carrier, bowl)
• Two­way radios
• Extra set of car keys and house keys
• Manual can opener

Additional supplies to keep at home or in your kit based on the types of disasters common to your area:

• Whistle
• N95 or surgical masks
• Matches
• Rain gear
• Towels
• Work gloves
• Tools/supplies for securing your home
• Extra clothing, hat and sturdy shoes
• Plastic sheeting

Ariel’s absolutely right: an emergency bag is the perfect place to pack that extra can opener, pair of glasses, toiletries, flashlight, or change of clothes you may otherwise have decluttered.

I first wrote about this topic over a year ago (Minimalist Seeks Survivalist), and to be honest, I’m still failing miserably on this front. With regards to the list above, the only things I have “ready to go” are a whistle, a cell phone, a very rudimentary first aid kit (bandaids, antibiotic ointment, ibuprofen, antacids, and antidiarrheals), my travel bag of toiletries, a few granola bars, some water purification tablets, a rain poncho, a travel roll of duct tape, and one of those silver emergency “blankets” that folds up to the size of a slim wallet. I could also grab a can opener and a bit of food from the kitchen. (I’d meant to buy a Swiss Army knife, but still haven’t done so!)

I’ve been living in hotels and sublets for the past three months, so haven’t stocked up to “shelter in place”—I don’t want to drag around bottled water and canned goods each time I move. In the event of a disaster, then, I’d have no choice but to hit the road. At least most of my stuff (clothing, shoes, paperwork) is permanently packed in my duffel bag; if need be, I could evacuate, with everything I own, in a matter of minutes.

That said, once I’m more permanently settled, I fully intend to put together a more comprehensive stash of supplies. As a minimalist, I usually send all those “might need its” and “just in cases” off to the Goodwill or other charity shops. In this case, however, I think that certain “might need its” are worth saving—because they might end up saving your life!

Does anyone else have tips on putting together a “minimalist-friendly” emergency kit?

{If you’d like to learn more about minimalist living, please consider reading my book, The Joy of Less, A Minimalist Living Guide, or subscribing to my RSS feed.}

Related posts:

1. Minimalist Makeover: Lea Ann’s Closet
2. Minimalist Makeover: Beth’s Closet and Kitchen
3. Minimalist Living: One In, One Out