If ever two words could monopolize a month of weekends, they would be “downsizing” and “decluttering.” It can feel daunting, which is why it’s so easy to put off until next spring, or after the kids move out, or after you retire, or after that vacation…
The kicker is that decluttering doesn’t have to monopolize your free time, but it is better to start before it becomes an urgent need. Many of us plan to downsize in retirement, and a move is much easier if you’ve made a regular habit of sorting through what to keep, what to give to a loved one, and what to let go of. You also don’t have to go it alone. In fact, we’ve found this task is best handled when you tag-team it with family, even if the kids have moved out.
Keep reading for some helpful decluttering tips from our team.
Make a Manageable System
First, get strategic about how you want to cut the clutter. Set specific, bite-sized goals, like one room at a time, or even one closet at a time. One internet-famous cleaner even advocates for clearing out one four-by-four-foot section at a time, which can help an overwhelming space feel more manageable. It’s also incentivizing when you can easily see your progress. Set a deadline for yourself, such as going through one room per month.
Once you have the clutter corralled, make sure it gets all the way out of the house (instead of migrating to the garage until you forget what’s there and have to go through it all again). Try to work this into your weekly routine, so it’s easy to stay on top of. For Traci, that means keeping a “donate” pile next to the front door, where it’s easy to grab when a family member is headed out the door and driving past a local Goodwill. Delegation is always a win! This kind of system works especially well when you can fit it into a routine: if your Thursday grocery trip takes you past a donation center, Thursday becomes your donation day, plus a deadline to sort through items. A decluttering habit has a much bigger impact than a decluttering spree that you’ll just have to repeat next year.
Be Intentional About What–And How–You Give
Downsizing is much easier when you realize you don’t have to keep something simply to honor its memory. In fact, if you have items of sentimental value that you mean to pass on, you might find there’s more pleasure in giving them during your lifetime.
For Traci, a meaningful memory was her grandmother’s 90th birthday celebration. Her grandmother took the opportunity to gift a sentimental item to each of her 19 grandchildren, presenting them in front of the whole family along with the story of why she chose it for them. It was a beautiful way to pass down heirlooms with personal meaning, which are treasured and enjoyed. Traci’s family still talks about the impact of that experience.
We can draw a couple of lessons from the example set by Traci’s grandmother. First, focus on what would be meaningful to your family members, not just on what’s meaningful to you. Your china set may be beautiful, but it might not match someone else’s lifestyle or space. Gifting one teacup and saucer to the granddaughter you shared tea parties with may be a better way to celebrate your relationship.
Second, take advantage of family gatherings. If family is already gathered for the holidays or a special event, earmark some time to make an occasion out of it. Passing things down intentionally, instead of leaving a house or storage unit full of things for someone to sort through later, can turn “stuff” into something genuinely cherished.
For more ways to give with intention, read our blog on thoughtful downsizing.
Make it a Teachable Moment
Kids and teenagers can be some of your best decluttering partners, especially if there’s an incentive involved. Running a garage sale, sorting through old toys, or helping tackle a storage closet can be a great way for kids to earn some spending money while learning the value of letting go of things they’ve outgrown.
There’s also a nice lesson in generosity built into the process. Instead of just dropping items off at a charity shop, consider passing them along closer to home. Many apps and social media platforms make it easy to give outgrown or unused items to neighbors or families nearby. Shannon helped her son gift some outgrown toys to a younger boy in their neighborhood, and he got to see the excitement in person as their new owner came to take them home. This can feel especially rewarding around the holidays, when your belongings can help round out a Christmas list for a family in need.
A Few Practical Tips Along the Way
Ready to get started? Keep these decluttering tips in mind:
- Set a deadline that motivates you. Donating in November, ahead of the holidays, works well because charitable organizations often need higher inventory heading into Thanksgiving and peak holiday giving season.
- Keep giveaway piles separate from storage piles. Shannon learned the hard way that her “get rid of” and “put into winter storage” boxes look a little too similar, after a well-meaning family member donated all of her summer shoes by mistake!
- Cleaning through paperwork? Check our guide on what to keep and what to shred. Watch for renovation records while you’re at it. If you’ve made improvements to your home over the years, those receipts may be useful when it’s time to sell. They can potentially be added to your home’s cost basis, which may help reduce the capital gains you’d owe. It’s worth setting those documents aside for your tax preparer rather than shredding them.
Decluttering doesn’t have to be an overwhelming, all-or-nothing project. When you approach it with clear goals, a few helping hands, and a focus on what really matters, it becomes less of a time-consuming solo project and more like second nature. Being Smart About Money™ starts with building smart habits, including the things we choose to keep and the things we choose to let go.