Over the years, I've talked to a lot of people who say they have nice clothes they love but don't wear anymore.
But here's my question: If something is so important to you, don't you think you should wear it?
We are a society that likes to collect things, and since the Great Depression, we have a tendency to keep everything we think has monetary value, even if it doesn't.
For example, a pretty dress or nice suit you bought ten years ago sold for a lot of money.
And the problem is that you haven't worn it in nine years, because it went out of style, like most clothes do.
Could it be cool again one day? Maybe. Styles do come back.
But that doesn't mean you should keep things you don't use "just in case."
You think it's a waste of money because you spent "good" money on it. But ask yourself: Is it making you money if it's just sitting in the back of your closet collecting dust?
Is it giving you anything? Do you get any use out of keeping old clothes?
Now, ask yourself one more question: Will you be better off if you get rid of it and give it to charity?
You will, of course!
What are they?
More room to store the clothes you're going to wear (we only wear 50 percent of the clothes we own, by the way.)
I might even tell you to buy a new outfit for every three to five you get rid of.
What is it for?
People feel good when they get new clothes. I don't think you should buy new clothes just to buy new clothes and waste your money. But you have to agree that it feels good to put on a new pair of pants that make us look better.
The thing is, you did pay for the things that are taking up space.
But if you keep something you don't wear or use anymore, you'll end up with more stuff and less storage space that you could use for something else.
Here's what you should do right now with items (they don't have to be clothes) you're keeping because you paid good money for them.
- Write in the left column the things you can't seem to get rid of. Write "why I'm keeping this item" in the middle column and "what I'll get out of getting rid of this item" in the third column.
- Get a sheet of paper and divide it into three columns.
- Find ten things you own for only one reason: because you paid for them.
I think the right column will have a lot more than the middle column.
Be clear about both.
If you can honestly come up with more reasons why you should keep it, and they are good, valid reasons, you might not want to get rid of it.
But I'm pretty sure that won't happen.
