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I used to keep everything when I was younger. Even in college I think I had the biggest wardrobe out of my roommates; I had clothes spilling out of the closet and stuffed under my bed in a fabric under-the-bed box. I deluded myself into thinking that I needed everything *just in case* of a special event, or I could use it when the weather changes, or that it would come back in style (because “hey, I have great taste and it’ll work again”)
Nope. Didn’t happen. That special event came and went, I didn’t wear that ‘X’ that next season and regretfully ‘X’ never came back in style.
Then I graduated. After securing my first job, I moved to an apartment with a HUGE walk-in closet and simultaneously discovered the joy of thrifting. I hoarded basics tees and tanks like a madwoman. Everything was so cheap! If a shirt was less than $5, you bet I bought it!!! I moved once again to a smaller 1 bedroom apartment. I started selling and donating my clothes and shoes. It was quite painful at first… I spent so much money (and not to mention, time) amassing such a huge amount of clothes, shoes and bags and it was finally time to let them go.
I found this quote from Life at Home in the Twenty-First Century hit this on the mark:
The inflow of objects is relentless. The outflow is not. We don’t have rituals, mechanisms, for getting rid of stuff.
At the moment I don’t have rituals to get rid of things. When the purging mood strikes me I get a garbage bag together and unload as much stuff as I possibly can. If I am unsure of something, I usually put it back until I’m finally sure.
Purging my closet is actually getting to be quite a high for me now… Now I’m actively looking for things to let go of and I have yet to recall an item that I regret donating or selling to a consignment store. (I guess a bad memory is good for this)
When I drop off a big bag to the thrift store I feel like a load has been lifted off my shoulders. Yesterday I went through my closet and gave 1/4 of it away to my sister. Woo!! I feel great.
I’m not sure I can be a complete minimalist but this is really growing on me.
How often do you purge your closet? Do you think you could be a ‘minimalist?’
♥ E&I
I’m definitely getting better about letting go of things. I challenge myself to see what else I can get rid of. There will always be something better out there and I see no point in keeping something that doesn’t make me feel as great. My parents are immigrants and so they are used to collecting things and saving them just in case. As a result, I never really formed the habit of editing my belongings growing up. The behavior is something I had to learn on my own.
Timing is so funny! I have been focused this week on reading about minimalist lifestyles because I am feeling overwhelmed by my stuff. I have started a box of items to donate. It’s not easy for me, but I’m hoping I will get better at it the more I do it.
I’m getting better about letting go of things as well. I have a few moments when I think I might keep something but then think “who am I kidding?” Before moving to Atlanta last year, I got rid of so much stuff, and space is quite a premium here. I just cleaned out my closet last night and got rid of even more. It’s very liberating.
Like you, I started purging after university when I moved into an apartment with a shoebox size closet. I started out purging once every 6 months, then eventually once a year. Now I just purge when I feel the need to. I find the more I do it, the more orderly everything feels, and the better I feel. That being said, after years of purging and a couple years of heavy debt reduction my wardrobe is now in need of regrouping. I’ve started giving my closet the critical eye and filling in the holes.
The purging happens every time I move. That’s my ritual
i think i’m a minimalist compared to other ppl, but my friends say i’m not. HAHAHAH.
My dad is a total minimalist and it sure does not run in the family! I am a collector! I try to be good and sell and donate, but shoot, let’s face it, I’ve got a ton of stuff, especially clothes and shoes!
I just figured out that I am a minimalist too! I recently went through my overflowing closet by an urging from my husband. I probably got rid of half of my clothing and have a completely new vision and goal for shopping in the future. And you are right about the weight coming off your shoulders – I have never felt so amazing & inspired while picking out my outfits each morning!
Here is the post if you are interested in reading it: http://goodlifeforless.blogspot.com/2012/07/how-to-organize-your-closet-in.html
I’m with you, girl. Purging my closet feels so good, whether it’s to sell, donate, or give to my friends. I’d LIKE to think of myself as a minimalist, but clearly, I’m not.. my wardrobe increases almost monthly.
People probably think I shop a lot (well technically, I do), but I return more than half the things I buy. I’m getting a lot better at returning things after evaluating them at home, but I should really improve on deciding what to keep while I’m AT the store (or on the site) rather than waste my time returning things.
Comparatively I’m not a minimalist but I have a top level of tolerance for how much Stuff I can be surrounded by before I feel stifled so I do go through my closet and shelves and other storage areas every so often and clean and in the process, pick through to see if I need to purge anything. It’s spiritually freeing, I guess