When I turned 60, I started thinking about everything I’d collected over the years. I had plenty of stuff sitting there that wasn’t adding any value to my daily life, so it was high time for a proper clear-out. Here’s a rundown of 10 items I finally said goodbye to. Boy, did it feel good.
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Expired Medicines
Going through my medicine cabinet felt like stepping into a time machine; I found cough syrup from 2010 and painkillers that expired years ago.
Clearing out these old meds helped me reclaim my space and make sure I only use what’s actually in-date. Now, I don’t have to rummage through old pills & blister packs to find what I actually need.
Clothes That No Longer Fit
My closet was an archive of my life from the last 20 years that included plenty of clothes that were too small and some that were too big. And some were just too 1990s.
They were crowding my wardrobe & that’s why donating them felt great. It cleared up a ton of space. Hopefully now, someone else will get to enjoy them, maybe even ironically.
Mismatched Tupperware
We all have lids that fit nothing and containers without lids; my kitchen was no different. It was a mess. Matching what I could and getting rid of the rest helped make my kitchen drawers a lot more manageable.
It means that cooking has become a lot easier since finding a container for leftovers is no longer a scavenger hunt.
Excess Kitchen Gadgets
Speaking of kitchens, I had a serious gadget addiction, with avocado slicers, cake mixers & banana hangers cluttering my kitchen drawers. Finally, I admitted that I didn’t use half of them and donated the lot to a thrift store.
It’s made my drawers so organized that I actually know what I have. Cooking doesn’t mean I have to sift through piles of tools.
Old Paint Cans
Those paint cans from a decade ago weren’t doing anything but taking up space in the garage. As such, I took them to a hazardous waste disposal site to make room for things I actually use, like my car. Honestly, it’s pretty nice not to have to work my way through an obstacle course just to park.
Craft Supplies I Never Used
I had all these materials for projects I was “definitely going to start soon.” Spoiler alert, I didn’t.
Donating these to a local arts program felt good because it created less clutter for me and gave other people a chance to get crafty. Plus, it’s nice knowing those supplies are actually getting some use.
Books I’ll Never Read Again
I’m an avid reader and getting older hasn’t changed that. But let’s be honest; there are only so many hours in a day so I passed on books I knew I wouldn’t read again to the local library. This way, I could lighten shelves while also brightening someone else’s day with some new reads. There’s no downside.
Jewelry I Never Wear
I sorted through my jewelry box and I found things I hadn’t worn in decades. So why did I still have them? Selling some & donating others gave me more space while also making me feel like I was unloading old burdens.
It’s quite refreshing not having to sift through a pile of baubles I no longer care about.
Holiday Decorations That No Longer Spark Joy
Let’s be honest; we all have bins full of holiday decorations we haven’t used in years. It makes a lot more sense to keep only the items that truly mean something and then donate the rest.
After all, if you spend less time digging through old decorations, you’ll have more time enjoying the season.
Unused Sporting Equipment
That dusty treadmill & the golf clubs I haven’t touched since the Bush administration? They were just taking up space in the garage.
So, I sold them online and to local sports consignment shops. It really felt great to reclaim that space. It’s made my garage look like a garage again instead of a used sporting goods store.
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