Sometimes we DO regret decluttering items. Here are ten things that Redditors wished they hadn’t gotten rid of.
10 things minimalists regretted decluttering.
Not every decluttered item sits well with the spirit. Sometimes, it’s a bummer!
1. That box of screws
My box of screws is never leaving the house, personally.
2. Plant friends
Plants can be complicated things to declutter! Here’s a guide all about how and when to declutter plants.
3. Electric kettle
There’s an oddly high amount of people regretting getting rid of their electric kettles… Maybe you should hold onto yours.
4. Cables
Here’s a hack for clearing cables without the post-declut clarity regrets: If you think you’ll never use it again, only keep one of that type.
5. Older tech
Personally, I love to keep older tech around! My caveat is that I HAVE to use it regularly to justify keeping it.
I’m a big fan of physical media, so I have my record player (I only keep the records I like to listen to), a not-smart TV (I hate how glitchy new TVs are), my old PC for gaming (I have a MacBook for daily use), and my X-Box (both for gaming and for playing DVDs, of which I have many).
That doesn’t sound very minimalist, right?
Not for everyone! But everything I keep, I love and use. That’s what minimalism is for me. Don’t feel like you have to fit yourself into a certain box to enjoy the benefits of minimalism.
6. Art supplies
Art supplies and hobby items are a tough thing to declutter, and sometimes the regret hits hard. There’s definitely a balance to strike here. Check out this post on decluttering the craft room to learn some tips and tricks for finding that balance.
7. “Young” clothes
Clothes have no age! Wear what you want!
8. Salad spinner
Here’s my advice on salad spinners: If you have one that you don’t use, start using it! We all need to up our leafy green intake, so start now, or toss the spinner.
9. Coffee pot
10. Learning materials
Not all regrets are a negative thing. Like the person above is talking about–sometimes we have to get rid of the excess to truly have the energy and focus to utilize the things we’ve gotten rid of! A little ironic, I know, but try to keep an open mind about wherever your decluttering journey takes you.
How to avoid decluttering regret.
The fact is, sometimes we will regret decluttering something. It’s kind of an inevitable part of the process. BUT, just because we regret it doesn’t mean we have to buy a replacement, and it doesn’t mean we were wrong to declutter it initially.
Minimalism is all about freeing yourself of burdens and getting closer to the life you want to live. Maybe you will miss something, but think of the overall impact–your life is lighter.
But here are a few things you can do to feel a little better about it.
1. Keep a reasonable store
Keeping extra things you might repurpose later can be a tricky line to toe. It’s easy to go from “let me save a few containers just in case” to “my whole pantry is overflowing with empty plastic tubs”.
One way to keep this balance is to assign a particular area to that item. I save old yogurt containers to reuse, but I have one little shelf to keep them on. If I fill it up, I stop collecting. I haven’t filled it up yet, because I use them for a lot of things, but it’s a good way to keep myself in check and not go overboard!
2. Emergency kits
To feel safe while decluttering, you might intentionally keep emergency kits. This might be a first aid box, a go bag, or an emergency kit in your car.
If you’re someone who likes to store food or household products in bulk, be sure you’re only saving things you ACTUALLY use, and don’t forget to rotate items regularly so you don’t have stuff going bad on the shelves.
3. Use a “maybe” box
If you’re worried about decluttering a particular item, try a test run. Put it out of sight or box it up, then revisit it a few months later. Did you think about it? Did you need it? If not, you can feel more confident in your decision to pass it on.
