Chances are, at some time you’ve wished that you could do like Mary Poppins and clean you space with the snap of a finger. Haven’t we all… So yes, your space could probably be tidier. But how exactly do you go about ‘de-cluttering’?
Papers
There are some things that you definitely need to keep. This includes now and in the future.
- School certificates
- Pay slips
- Bank statements
- Passport
- Birth certificate
- Driving licence
- Bonds or other financial investments in your name
- Paying-in books
- Inoculation records
- NHS card
- Your National Insurance Number
- Training certificates
- Prescriptions and eye test records
- Young Scot NEC Card
You’ve probably got better things to do than file all these neatly, but what about getting a big ring binder and just sticking everything in there? Then at least it’s all in one place if you ever need it.
You can also get files if you’re really organised, and then just stick everything in the right pocket. If those sound too complicated, get a nice box and put all your important things in there. Done!
Memories
Growing up, and especially in school, you collect lots of things that remind you of your friends, holidays, special occasions, and so on. Ticket stubs, wrist bands, and photos remind you of priceless memories, but what do you do when they start taking over your space?
Nobody’s ever really sure what to do with photos of an ex. Maybe you feel you should save them, or maybe you want to attack them with scissors. The rules you use to decide whether to keep it or burn it are the same as you should use for all the stuff you collect over the years. Can’t decide whether to keep it or chuck it? Here are some questions to get you filling up those bin bags!
- Does looking at it make you happy?
- Is it irreplaceable?
- Would someone else (a friend, family member, or charity shop?) appreciate it more than you do?
- Does it take up a lot of space?
- Can it be stored in a better way or place?
Wardrobes
This can be a real nightmare to sort out but we recommend doing at least one big sort every year and being ruthless. Number one rule for clothes: if you’ve not worn it in a year, you’re probably not going to!
Pack all the shoes, bags, belts, jeans, and tops into bags and take them to a charity shop. Or, you might be able to sell some things to friends, on ebay, at car-boot, garage and jumble sales, or through second-hand shops too if you need the extra cash. Then, make a promise that you won’t let your wardrobe get in a state again!
Top tips to avoid wardrobe chaos
- Only buy things that fit, and preferably ones that go with the rest of your clothes or that you can wear more than once.
- Shop in charity shops to save money, or swap with a friend.
- Work on the idea of one in, one out: if you buy something new, get rid of something old to make space in your wardrobe.
Finally, pick a system that works for you. Want everything arranged by colour? Or prefer to have your trousers in one place and your shirts in the other? Whatever works for you is fine, just be consistent.
Other tips for general de-cluttering
- Try keeping a small address book, rather than keeping loads of little pieces of paper with contact information
- Clip just the articles you want to keep rather than hanging on to a whole newspaper or magazine
- Have a drawer or box for ‘important things’ like your passport and national insurance number, and another one for ‘memorabilia’ where you can dump your cards, photos, letters, and little things that are important.
- Sort photos, programmes, and cards into a scrapbook rather than just leaving them lying about.
- You can get big, plastic boxes that slide under your bed and are great for storing winter clothes in the summer, or summer clothes in the winter.
- Put hooks on a wall or in your closet or wardrobe doors to hang belts and jewellery, or hoodies.
- Put a small bookcase in your closet for storing your shoes, rather than leaving them in a pile on the floor.
- If you’re really organised, keep your shoes in the box that they came in. Take photos of the shoes, and stick the photo on the outside of the box so that you know what’s inside.
- Use a friend who will give you an honest opinion of what looks good and what doesn’t.
Swap shops...organise a swap shop with your friends, everyone brings something and hopefully leaves with something new! Check your local notice boards to see if there are any existing swap shops in your area, some community centres or cafes and the like may have already started regular swaps.
Social