I've been a mini hoarder, and a maximalist. More was more. I admit it.
My parents love stuff, it's a part of my DNA. When I moved out I started collecting possessions. I might have had a bit of a shopping addiction and I lived in the middle of the city with shops everywhere. Over the course of ten years in the same apartment, I had gathered an unbelievable amount of crap.
Although my place always looked tidy and nice, my drawers, cabinets and basement was about to burst open. When I decided to become an Airbnb host, (that choice is the reason why I'm now moving across the world – read about it here), I had to go through all my stuff and clean up my place. Before I knew it, I had seven big trash bags with what could be considered garbage.
I gave five big boxes to charity and I made about 1500 USD from selling stuff on Finn.no, a web site equivalent to Craigslist.
Just LEGO of all your crap!
When I cleaned and prepared the apartment for my first guest, I started liking the new look of the place. I removed all unnecessary nicknack. I got such a kick from all the cleaning that I decided to read books on minimalist living and a simpler life. The books really inspired me and I started experimenting with the thought of ridding myself of almost everything. I felt free! In the middle of all this I decided to move to Australia. That decision made me get rid of even more stuff.
"What are those?!"
I have always been a bit OCD, and I like to organize and clean. But I did have way too much stuff going on. In all aspects of my life. All my life I've been an extreme person, when I do something I go all in. Some may say this is too extreme, and I get it, it's not for everyone. But for me it's been life changing.
If you're looking to improve, simplify and declutter your life, here’s what I recommend:
Start small
If you have a lot of stuff, it’s smart to start by getting rid of one thing each day.
Organize
Everything needs a place. The more organized stuff is, the easier it is to find it when you need it. I eat healthier when my fridge is organized, I am more efficient when my desk is clean.
One is enough
You should never have more than one of the same item. I had two pizza cutters. WHY? (Yes, I'm screaming.) When would I ever need to cut two pizzas at the same time? It’s time to chuck your stuff’s evil twin. You don’t need it.
I might need it some day
This is the most hoarding thing I ever hear. If you haven’t used it the last year, you will probably never use it. If you really need something, borrow it from a neighbor, get creative or find a way to survive without it.
But it was very expensive….
The Armani jacket you bought in 1993 is not cool anymore, but you use it as a dust collector in the back of your closet. Try selling it on Craigslist if it is something you think would be valuable, or let it go.
Tidy Tuesday
Choose one day of the week, and just clean and tidy up on that day. Every week. Make it more fun by playing your favorite music while you’re at it.
Downsize
Reduce your debt, reduce your commitments and subscriptions. This equals less bills, less time wasted and less concerns about money. I canceled my cable TV, my Norwegian Sumo account, my Netflix and got rid of my magazine subscription. The only thing I couldn't let go of was my beloved Spotify account. I also wanted to sell my apartment and buy something that was just one third of the size, but as I said, I'm moving away from Norway instead.
Gifts
When a friend asked me what I wanted for my birthday, I said I wanted a Spotify giftcard. I got ten of them, and now I’m not paying for my Spotify. Best gift ever! I also got an e-book for my Kindle recently.
Get a Kindle
I have all my books inside my Kindle now. The books are gone, the bookshelf is gone, and I made some money by selling them. I like books as decor, but they just had to go. I kept about 4 out of 58 books.
One in – one out
A rule I've lived by for many years. If I buy or receive and item, I go home and throw out the duplicate. If I buy a pair of socks, I throw out an old pair.
Vacuum storage bags
I’m basically in a relationship with them. If you never had one, Ebay is your friend.
