The Money Saving Secret of Decluttering

When we think about decluttering, we often think about the money we can make from selling things we no longer need. That can be a lovely bonus and it can be put towards something that you want and need.

However, there’s another way decluttering can save you money, and one that is often overlooked.

You might already own the things you keep buying.

How many times have you bought something, only to find out a few weeks later that you had one tucked away somewhere?

A spare phone charger. Another packet of batteries. Cleaning products. Toiletries. Kitchen gadgets. School supplies. Candles. Clothes. Craft supplies.

Sometimes, the problem isn’t that we don’t have enough.

It’s that we can’t find what we already have.

Decluttering is like shopping your own home

One of my favourite things about a good declutter is the moment you discover something you had completely forgotten about. I recently felt that I needed a nice black jumper to go to with my new trousers to attend a funeral. I have lost weight and so the faithful funeral clothes that I usually wear looked scruffy. I had been looking in charity shops and searching on line for 2 weeks to find a nice one at a decent price. Last week I swapped my summer clothes out of my wardrobe and put in my winter clothes. I was going through everything to declutter, and found a lovely black jumper that I had received last Christmas that had been too small. I had totally forgotten about it.

I did a happy dance as it felt like getting something for free. In a way, I was. Instead of going out and spending £5, £10, £20, or even more on something that I thought I needed, I can now use the item that was already sitting in my cupboard. That is money saved, and not spent.

Unlike selling something, I don’t need to photograph it, list it, negotiate with someone, walk to the post office, or arrange collection. I simply found it and used it.

The hidden cost of not knowing what you own

Clutter doesn’t just take up physical space. It can make it surprisingly difficult to keep track of our belongings.

When cupboards are crammed full, drawers are overflowing and things are stored in random places, it’s easy to forget what you already have.

If something runs out, we often automatically buy a replacement. We forget that we bought the 3 bottles of shampoo months ago when they were on special offer. They might have been tucked away as they wouldn’t fit in the bathroom cupboard.

You might buy another warm jumper because you forgot about the two hanging behind everything else in your wardrobe.

Perhaps you might order a new kitchen gadget because the one you already own is buried in a cupboard you haven’t opened properly for months.

The clutter can actually encourage spending.

Decluttering can change your shopping habits

Once you’ve decluttered and organised your home, something interesting happens. You actually become much more aware of what you own.

Instead of automatically thinking about buying something, you ask if you already have something, and it is easier to search the cupboards, look in the drawers, or check the shed or garage.

Create a “use what you have” box

One simple idea is to create a place for things you’ve discovered during your decluttering that you want to use before buying more. It could be a basket, cupboard shelf or simply a designated area. Put those forgotten items where you’ll actually see them.

Maybe it’s toiletries that need using, food you’ve forgotten about, craft supplies, stationery or cleaning products. Then, when you’re tempted to buy something new, check your collection first. It’s essentially a free shop in your own home.

There is also the money you make

Of course, decluttering can still put money back into your pocket. That dress you never wear might sell for £10. An unused appliance might bring in £30. I recently got £20 for a pile of children’s toys that my grandson had grown out of.

Individually, these amounts might not seem huge. But they can quickly add up. There is also something satisfying about turning things you no longer use into money that can actually be useful.

However, I think the money that we don’t spend can be just as valuable. It soon adds up. I bet over the last year decluttering has saved me £75 to £100 by finding things I already had duplicates of, or things I needed but I didn’t realise I already had.  A cake board for my dad’s birthday cake, for example.  I didn’t earn that money, but I kept it and didn’t spend it. Often, not spending money is just as powerful as making it.

Decluttering isn’t about getting rid of everything

You don’t need to become a minimalist or live with empty wardrobes and cupboards to declutter, or get rid of half of your possessions.  Decluttering is simply about knowing what you have, and making sure the things you own are useful, loved or needed.

When you can see what you have, you are less likely to duplicate it. If everything has a home, you are more likely to find it. When you know what you already own, you’re less likely to buy something you don’t need.

Before you buy it, look for it

The next time you’re about to add something to your basket, pause for a moment and ask yourself:

“Could I already own this?”

Check your home and have a look. You might find exactly what you were about to buy. That little discovery could save you money again and again. Decluttering isn’t just about creating a tidier home or making money from the things you sell.

Sometimes, the biggest financial benefit is discovering that you don’t need to buy anything at all.

Your home might already be full of things you have already paid for.

So, if you have not had a declutter recently, why not spend these long winter months decluttering, and find what you already have. It might be time to go shopping there first.

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