Choose essentials and invest in good buys.
As we usher in the new year, it’s time to contemplate once again on our personal resolutions for 2019. Apart from trying out a new health regimen or looking for ways to be more financially secure, why don’t you also try clearing up your home? You can even make this goal a family project to make things a tad easier.
Here are some of the things you can do to start the upcoming year with less mess.
1 Select your must-haves
Sort through your clothes and pile them into three categories: essential, seasonal and dispensable. You can also do this with your utensils, shoes and other things that pile up. If you can’t decide where to put a particular item, try it on or use it once to help you think.
2 Throw away expired goods
Go through your fridge and throw away items past the expiry date. You’ll be surprised how much space you’ll free up by getting rid of items you can’t really use anymore.
3 Eliminate duplicates
Sort clothes and eliminate duplicates.
While it might seem a good idea to have 10 hairbrushes at your vanity desk, why don’t you select just a few key pieces to keep on the table? You can put these away for later use.
4 Sell, donate and discard items
Hold a garage sale or post photos of your pre-loved items to sell online. You can probably earn as much as P20,000 just by getting rid of items you don’t need. Or you can choose to pave your way to heaven in the afterlife by donating these items.
5 Start recycling
Put two or three trash bins together and sort them into biodegradable, nonbiodegradable and recyclable items. By doing this, you’ll actually be able to manage the smelly garbage and sell the recyclable items.
6 Assign chores
Let your family pitch in the effort by giving them small tasks to do every day. While complaints might be unavoidable at the start, these tasks will eventually become an unnoticeable routine.
7 Shop wisely
When buying a new item, ask yourself three things: do I really need or want this? Where can I place this object at home? Can this last me in the long run? Put the item down if it fails this simple test.
8 Add storage
Your home can never have too much storage space. If you have limited floor space, look up and install shelves overhead. It might also be wise to consider building a shed or renting storage space if needed.
9 Budget for home improvements
If you’ve mastered budgeting through last year’s resolutions, apply it on your home. You’ll always be prepared for any damages during rainy season and you’ll be able to fix that squeaky door in no time.
10 Maintain the routine
Once you’ve started decluttering your home, keep up the good work. Adapt your newfound habits to your routine and maintain a minimal lifestyle. By starting 2019 off with a more organized home, you’ll be ready to face the new year with less stress and more space.
(Sources: houselogic.com, housebeautiful.com, familyhandyman.com, Krizjohn Rosales via pexels.com)