When people talk about reducing the amount of “stuff” that they have, they often don’t mention (or include) the boxes and boxes of holiday items that they pull out each year. However, the emotional baggage of stuff can be most heavy when it comes to holiday items. And, almost more importantly, those boxes and boxes of holiday memorabilia, decorations and kitsch tend to get larger and larger with time. It’s a fine line between wanting to hold on to meaningful holiday items and just holding on to emotional weight and unnecessary “stuff.” This year, when you take out your boxes of holiday decorations and memorabilia, take some time to reduce holiday stuff in your home. Here are some tips on how to decide how much is enough.

Start by Just Getting Rid of Anything That’s Broken or That You Haven’t Used in Several Years

In our house, we did a holiday stuff purge last year. The first surprise to me, as a young professional on the Postconsumers marketing team, was how many items in our holiday boxes were simply broken – and had been for years. Because you’re not looking at your holiday stuff all year long, it’s very easy to just overlook a broken item in the packing or unpacking process and leave it sitting in your box or storage container. Take the time this year to get rid of actively broken things. You may be surprised how quickly that reduces your clutter.

Secondly, use the same rule that you’d use with clothing. If an item hasn’t made it out of the box and into your home or yard in a year or two, then it’s probably time to donate it or get rid of it. There’s a reason, even if you feel emotionally attached to it, that you didn’t take the item out.

Holiday Memories are a  Powerful Thing – That is NOT Dependent on Your Stuff

One of the biggest reasons that people keep holiday items long past their effective use date is the memory or memories associated with them. Decorations that were made by or played with by your family’s children, mementos of holiday trips, items that have been used at various times in your life that remind you of things. It’s absolutely and one hundred percent healthy to keep some items that are mentally or emotionally important to you – but it’s equally important to remember that your holiday memories aren’t manifested in the things that you own. You don’t need fifty holiday decorations from your child’s first year in order to remember what that year was like. You don’t need the dress that you wore five years ago to a holiday party that’s out of fashion, out of your size range and that you only keep hold of to hold onto the memory of the event. You can hold onto memories just fine without tons of “things”. Separate out what items will keep your memories truly alive from what items you hold on to just because you have an idea of a memory attached to them.

What’s a Family Heirloom and What’s Not?

It’s also perfectly acceptable to hold on to things because you want to pass them along in the family, but ask yourself two questions first. Are these items that my family actually wants and will anybody really use them later? If the answer is no, then there’s no reason to be holding on to them.

Being Responsible About a Holiday Stuff Purge

Finally, if you are going to get rid of excess holiday stuff, remember to be responsible about it. Many items that you’re getting rid of can be donated rather than added to landfill. Also, many items that you’re getting rid of may have electrical components. It’s important to find appropriate electrical waste deposit sites for those rather than have them simply end up adding to global pollution and even human rights violations.

Have another tip on how to effectively complete a holiday stuff purge? Comment or like us on Facebook and tell us about it.

Need more assistance in learning to let go of the consumer media’s impact on your life, take control of your finances and find the satisfaction of enough for today? The Get Satisfied Interactive Handbook is a 30-minute web course that walks you through a series of specific questions and then presents a personalized how-to plan for becoming a postconsumer. Launch your evaluation for free right now.

 

Photo via Flickr Creative Commons: dogteaknit