Distinguishing Between Want and Need

Recently part of our closet shelving fell down.  It could’ve been because of the person that patched it together and tried to make it work, or it could be a sign that we have too much stuff.  It’s probably due to both reasons.  Having all our clothes and shoes in piles in the spare bedroom (not where it should be!) puts things into perspective on what we have and what we really need.  Some items we haven’t touched in years. Some should probably be thrown out. A lot of things could be donated. How did we get into this situation, especially since I despise clutter? 

I thought we were doing pretty good at not buying things that we didn’t need since COVID happened and we weren’t spending as much time outside of the house.  We were more conscious than ever about what we were consuming. We are not impulse buyers.  We sleep on decisions for many nights and don’t have packages showing up on our doorstep daily.  This got me thinking about what we can do differently, especially with the holidays rolling around and the inevitable accumulation of more “stuff”. 

We decided to clean house.  Not just with our clothes and shoes, but also with the kids’ toys.  There are many needy families in our area that would benefit from our unused items.  We also decided that nothing new comes into the house without one thing leaving.  This can be done with anything – books, toys, clothes, etc.  We are trying to give experiences rather than things this Christmas, especially now that my kids are getting older and can be involved in different activities. 

The new closet is being professionally installed at the end of this month.  I’m sure it will be awesome.  Some things are worth spending the money on when you know you don’t have the time or expertise to do it right yourself. We are determined to keep the new closet organized and clutter-free along with the rest of the house by continuing our efforts to distinguish between what we want and what we need. 

Investment Advice offered through Great Valley Advisor Group, a Registered Investment Advisor. Great Valley Advisor Group and Haas Financial Group are separate entities. This is not intended to be used as tax or legal advice. Please consult a tax or legal professional for specific information and advice. 

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