Use What You Have - A Way To Show Honor

If your anything like me, you have way to much stuff and yet at the same time- not enough. How is it- we have become this society that has more opportunities and choices for our entertainment, clothes, food, the list goes on. How is it we feel so deprived in our never ending amount of consumption?

Surprisingly, we all know that we don't need more stuff- especially to make ourselves happy. Yet, there is this weird urge to buy anything we see that we think will change our lives for the better in someway. We justify spending a few bucks on it, take it home and put it away.

But we never use it.

Until that day, we hire a professional organizer (such as myself) and that item that was once bought on sale, for a very specific purpose is found wrapped in its original packaging, price tag still on it. "Do you want this?" You'll ask me. And I'll take it off your hands either way because I don't want you to stress over owning something you don't need anymore. And I'll either use it myself, give it to someone I know who will use it or donate it. Either way, you don't need to worry about it anymore and it's finally no longer taking valuable real estate in your garage.

The problem was you didn't plan for it in the first place (impulse purchase) or you thought you needed it without considering other options, or maybe you did need it for a season, but that season is over.

So the question now becomes, “If I already own it, why am I not using it?”

How do we challenge ourselves with not buying non-essential items? It's most likely a habit you can't even recognize, or an addiction you cannot just stop straight away.

Regardless, there are some obvious positive consequences we receive when using what we have before deciding to buy anything else.

Such as:

• reduce clutter

• save money

• prevent waste

• become aware of consumption habits

So let's break this down into practical steps:

1. No-Buy or Low-Buy Period

Set up a certain amount of time to avoid purchasing items you DON'T need. I always suggest start small and then work your way up!

A) Choose a certain time-frame:

• 30 days

• 90 days

• 6 months

• 1 year

• Custom

B) Rules to follow:

• Only replacing necessities (toothpaste, groceries, etc.)

• No duplicate purchases

• No impulse shopping

2. Finish What You Started (Popularly know as: Project Pan)

Pretty simple (in theory of course) Finish what you started before moving on! This is how we organize our time as well. And if you are no longer interested in a certain item, then donate it to someone who would appreciate it (do toss out anything expired though)- all before starting the next!

Examples:

• finishing skincare

• finishing candles

• finishing pantry items

• finishing notebooks or craft supplies

You can track your progress visually by:

• marking containers

• photographing usage

• sharing updates online

This highlights how long your products realistically last.

3. Re-Shop Your Home (seriously)

Rediscover items you forgot you owned! Many times, we just need another look-see and discover we already had that belt in a red, and maroon, cherry, rose, blush, apple, scarlet.... you get the picture.

Activities can include:

• shopping your closet instead of buying clothes

• using decor stored in bins or hidden underneath your couch

• rotating seasonal items

• rediscovering unused kitchen gadgets (always super fun)

4. Repurpose Instead of Replace

Instead of buying organizing products, use existing items you already have more creatively.

Examples:

• shoe boxes as drawer organizers

• mason jars for pantry storage & label them

• baskets used in multiple rooms

• old furniture repurposed for storage

There are so many creative ways to use what you have. And by doing so we are honoring those items to its fullest potential. "This bike wants to be ridden, and if you don't ride it, you're killing its spirit! The bike is dying!" Ross says to Phoebe in "Friends" Season 7, episode 15 ("The One with Joey's New Brain") How true it really is though! Even though our physical items don't have life per say, they do have a purpose. We cannot expect more if we do not take care of what we current have. Its simple, and a great way to view how we really treat the things we buy.

Going over our budgets is another topic for another day, but you can imagine how well this aids in any budgeting system you may be working on. And I believe no matter how much money you're making, you should always be budgeting. Let's start here and now with what we purchase (or don't purchase) and honor what we currently have.