Feel Guilty Getting Rid of Stuff? Don't.

Often we feel guilt about getting rid of things that are still useful, especially if we paid a lot of money for them. However, if the possessions you have accumulated over the years have not brought the happiness and fulfillment you desired, it is time to make a change.

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Recent videos:

How To Craft A Life You Don't Need to Escape From

What is Rational Minimalism?

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Most popular videos:

7 Daily Habits for a Clutter-Free Home: Declutter for Good

Top 10 Things to Declutter Right Now

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You can read more tips in my book, The Minimalist Home.

Read hundreds of articles on decluttering and owning less on the Becoming Minimalist blog.

Find Becoming Minimalist on Facebook, and Joshua Becker on Instagram and Twitter

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#personalfinance #minimalism #becomingminimalist

[lindaharris]

These are the things I tell myself.
1. Hanging on to these items doesn't bring back the money
2. If I donate them, it's like donating money, especially if I donate them to causes I believe in.
3. Someone else will enjoy these items.

[mariafromgermany]

I'm at a point where I would be willing to throw everything out and start from scratch. I want to cry every time I realise just how much I own, even after I got rid of about 60% of my things - I was a hoarder. It takes so much of my energy just to OWN these things, I don't even know how that works but it does and it's destroying me. I already feel so much better about my home, but I'm still not there and it's because I kept so much just because I feel guilty. Because I wasted money on it, or someone else did as a gift. I really need to get rid of those things.

[janefarrer]

I am at a point of my life that I want to get rid of as much as possible and live as simple as possible.

[lw]

No long intros, no rambling about who you are, no irrelevant boring details about stuff I don’t want to hear. You get to the specific issue and don’t waste anytime . My kind of video

[jenwhyte]

I recently gave away all my Pandora Jewellery away to co workers who I knew would appreciate it more than I. It was sitting in a box at home for months. The girls who received it were overwhelmed and almost couldn't accept such an expensive gift. I don't feel guilty for getting rid of them. I'm more careful with how I spend my money these last few months. I've saved so much money.

[joemama]

Donating and gifting is a big coping mechanism. The guilt was alleviated for me knowing that the items could make someone else happy.

[Tipperary]

Yep, my lesson has been to steer clear of yard sales, eBay and Goodwill. More waste + danger of re-accumulating. Run!

[meredithmilstead]

This is timely. I recently sold something on Poshmark for less than half what I paid, even though the item was basically brand new. It hurt. But I had to remind myself that 1)getting SOME money back was better than the item sitting around unused, and 2)I shouldn’t have made that purchase to begin with. 😂

[djf]

Unless you never used what you bought, it is not money wasted. If the item filled a role, even for a short while, or gave you some joy, you don't have to feel like you wasted your funds. Don't give life to your inanimate objects. Just be thankful for it's service to you and remove it without guilt.

[holisticchrissy]

It was the hardest when my ten year old decluttered. She was so ready and excited to get rid of stuff...a lot of stuff. Toys, legos, so much stuff that I had spent money on. I realized she was moving into a new phase, she was ready to clear out. So we went through it all and I’m so glad we did. It was a hard process for me more so than for her, but now our home is so much more clean and organized.
It took my ten year old to teach me to let go and realize a clear home is more important than hanging on...

[Grace]

My son, the accountant, taught me the “sunk cost” principle. Life changing.

[BarbiesWorld]

I have just started to downsize my house & I am having a hard time getting rid of things that I worked so hard to get. I have become a hoarder as well. It's not as bad as a TV show. No garbage, no dead critters. I didn't have much as a kid, so I keep everything that's important to me. My therapist said that hoarding is a symptom of depression, anxiety and PTSD. I have chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia as well. I have been on a long roller coaster ride for many years. I hired a cleaning service to help out, & she has been a godsend. I am moving in the fall to be closer to family, so I'm hoping to turn things around.

[Dulce-cmkx]

I am decluttering and minimizing as I listen to you. I am literally listening to this video over and over like a maniac. Full blast!!!
You inyect me with the courage to do this.
I don't want no more material possessions. I am tired of possesions. I am giving it away. Throwing it away.
I want it out of my house!!!
I AM DONE!!!! 🙏🙌

[CaseyBurnsInvesting]

Can’t reach our new destination staring in the rear view mirror. Look out the windshield all 🧘🏾‍♂️

[Yasmin-jnrb]

An armchair and a big bookshelf broke in my home recently. This forced me to repurpose and move around my existing pieces of furniture. I decluttered and got rid of many items, more than I had in recent months! After the decluttering, I felt good about what I had done and my home is more spacious than ever! It also made me realise that I never needed so many pieces of furniture in the first place and the lack of space was causing me to also have more mental clutter! Glad I got rid of the unwanted items!

[TheMcChelle]

Love your videos; they are short and to the point. I get tired of people nattering on about so many things before they get to the point! This is like a bite-sized sermon, which I need. :-)

[lizbee]

I was quite amused when I read a quote from the novelist Bill Bryson. He said when his parents got to retirement age they started to get rid of everything they had worked hard for all their lives. It's a bit ironic is it not? 🤔🤔🙏🙏

[anitastocker]

Thank you for being so intentional when speaking. .. it gives me time to process before moving forward. ..thank you for taking the time to bring home your point. ...

[jeannedigennaro]

I agree 100% with this message. When it comes to “stuff”, less is more. I used to have a treadmill, Nordic Track, and Total Gym. Wasn’t using them much, they took up too much space, so I got rid of them and now just use free weights, a yoga mat, and go for walks.

[valerierogers]

We acquire easier than reselling an item, if that's even possible. Leave it behind, give away. The money is gone, not important anyway. New outlook leads to new life, which is priceless.