Minimalism is a new trend that has taken Americans by storm. Minimalists live with the bare essentials in a small space or home. Some people are even giving up their things and choosing to live in “tiny homes”, keeping their living quarters neat and simple. 

If you are like me, minimalism won’t work for you or your family. No matter how hard I try, I keep finding stuff I want to buy and keep. 

Do you have a junk drawer like I do? How does all of that stuff accumulate so quickly? And what is really in there anyway?

In all honesty, I may suffer from a small case of hoarding. I like stuff. And if I find something I like, I will probably buy multiples of it.

I like to keep things that make me happy. I never throw away birthday cards, letters, or pictures. Those things hold memories and sentimental value for me, so I refuse the give them up. If the item has a special memory attached to it, I am more than likely not going to throw it away.

Over time, having some stuff becomes having a lot of stuff. Because we are a military family, we move often. Every couple of years we pack up and move to another place, and each time I am always forced to sort through and organize my things. For this reason, I have become more mindful of what I hold on to and what I am willing to get rid of.

There is a difference between trash and clutter. Get rid of the junk and organize what is left.

Before you start throwing things away, start by de-cluttering your space. Look through each room of the house and evaluate the things you are considering getting rid of. If some things are salvageable, you can give them away or donate them. There are always local elementary schools, shelters, and thrift stores looking for second-hand items and donations. 

If there are some things that are in great condition, consider selling them on eBay for a cash return. All other things should just go in the trash. You would be surprised at the amount of clutter that is sitting in your home and office that you can get rid of.

What is old to you may become someone else’s brand new.

Things to Throw Away

The Random and Unnecessary Clutter

1. Scratched CDs
2. Old cell phones accessories
3. Broken hangers
4. Broken porcelain and other knick knacks
5. Pens low on ink
6. Remotes that have no purpose
7. Expired vitamins
8. Unusable cables and wires
9. Worn and ripped towel
10. Broken kitchen appliances
11. Puzzles with missing pieces
12. Outdated electronics
13. Gifts you don’t love
14. Old unused batteries
15. Take-out menus you never use
16. Empty pens
17. Half-finished projects
18. Cords that don’t belong to anything you currently own
19. Old party supplies
20. Miscellaneous ribbons or string
21. Keys that you don’t know what they go to
22. Scissors that don’t cut
23. Phone books
24. Broken garden ornaments
25. Home decor items that no longer fit your home decor

Paper

1. Old ticket stubs
2. Old receipts
3. Old magazines and catalogs
4. Old newspapers
5. Junk Mail
6. Old letters
7. Bills, taxes, paperwork that is 7+ years old
8. Paychecks older than 2 years
9. Unneeded notebooks and folders
10. Old calendars
11. Expired coupons
12. Wrapping paper scraps
13. Neighborhood flyers
14. School notices and flyers

In Your Closet

1. Items with a permanent stain
2. Items that you haven’t worn in the past 2 years
3. Old undergarments that have holes in them or lost their shape
4. Clothes that are 2 sizes or more too small
5. Single earring missing it’s match
6. Rusted jewelry and hair accessories
7. Jewelry with broken clasps
8. Watches that no longer work
9. Shoes that don’t fit
10. Old perfumes and lotions
11. Extra buttons
12. Belts that no longer fit
13. Purses you never use
14. Hangers from the dry cleaners
15. Stockings with runs in them
16. Socks with holes
17. Old wallets
18. Old shoe boxes

Makeup

1. Eyeshadow that is more than 2 years old
2. Nail polish that is more than 1 year old
3. Mascara that is more than 3 months old
4. Foundation that is more than 1 year old
5. Lipstick that is more than 2 years old
6. Powder that is more than 2 years old
7. Lip gloss that is more than 1 year old
8. Half-used chapstick containers
9. Dried up nail polish

Click here to read How to Check the Expiration Date of Your Makeup

In the Bathroom

1. Old towels
2. Expired toiletries
3. Worn-out bathmats
4. Old air fresheners
5. Expired medication
6. Old toothbrushes (more than 3+ months old)
7. Broken combs
8. Bad hairbrushes
9. Blunt razors
10. Electric razors without the chargers
11. Moldy bath toys
12. Raggedy towels

In the Kitchen

1. Spices more than 2+ years old (Spices don’t spoil but they lose their potency)
2. Cooking utensils that you have multiples of
3. Expired food, sauces, and creams
4. Empty (or almost empty) bottles
5. Snacks your kids and pets won’t eat
6. Extra coffee mugs
7. Random Tupperware with no tops
8. Cleaning rags (you only need to keep a few)
9. Old plastic shopping bags (my local elementary school collects these)
10. Old calendars
11. Old recipe books
12. Old candles and matches
13. Phone books
14. Dull knives
15. Unidentified frozen objects
16. Gloves with holes in them
17. Cheap pans that stick and burn when you use them

Kids Stuff

1. Recalled baby items (car seats, cribs, etc.)
2. Old broken toys
3. Toys the kids have outgrown
4. Broken crayons
5. Stuffed animals
6. Old artwork
7. Old paint
8. Games with missing pieces
9. Dried out markers
10. Baby items you won’t use again

What do you need to get rid of? Share in the comments below.