13 Minimalist Habits | Decluttering Motivation You Can Start Today!

As we spend more time at home, minimalism is becoming quite a hot topic with people looking to declutter and downsize some of the stuff they have taking up room in their homes (and their heads).
So, in this video, Melissa Maker cuts the clutter and gives you some simple, yet workable minimalist habits to give you the decluttering motivation you need!
0:00 - Start
1:11 - Declutter Surfaces
2:02 - Buy Nothing Groups
3:16 - Create A Budget
4:50 - Collect Experiences
6:10 - Don't Make Consumption A Social Event
7:11 - DIY Cleaning Products
8:07 - High Volume Items
9:12 - Don't Second Guess Yourself
10:51 - 1 In = 2 Out
11:36 - Vote With Your Dollars
13:03 - Embrace Empty Space
13:49 - Quality, Not Quantity
15:05 - It's A Lifestyle
#Minimalist #Decluttering #Motivation
Makers Cleaning Cloths: bit.ly/makersclean
Subscribe for a Cleaner Life! bit.ly/CMSYT17
OTHER GREAT DECLUTTERING & MINIMALISM VIDEOS:
18 Minimalist Habits You Can Start Today: • 18 Minimalist Habits Y...
Decluttering Motivation When You're Stuck at Home: • Decluttering Motivatio...
10 Things To Toss: • 10 Things to Toss Toda...
** HOME PRODUCTS WE LOVE **
Dyson V11 Stick Vacuum: amzn.to/2Tea2ki
Enzyme Cleaner: amzn.to/2IbpLbF
Cleaning Caddy: amzn.to/2IiydKd
Spray Bottles: amzn.to/309RLpH
Pot & Pan Dish Scraper: amzn.to/2R2o5qB
Premium Microfiber Cloths: bit.ly/makersclean
Reusable Mesh Produce Bags: amzn.to/2t4dovu
Oxo Squeegee: amzn.to/2awGmbP
Portable Steamer: amzn.to/2QIX9wQ
SEE ALL OUR FAVORITES! bit.ly/cms-faves
** FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM! **
Clean My Space: bit.ly/CMSIG18
Melissa: bit.ly/MelissaMakerInsta
Chad: bit.ly/ChadReynoldsInsta
** START YOUR JOURNEY TO A CLEANER LIFE! **
KZbin: bit.ly/CMSYT17
Blog: bit.ly/CleanMySpaceBlog
Maker's Clean Microfiber Cloths: bit.ly/makersclean
Facebook: bit.ly/CleanMySpaceFB18
Melissa's Channel: bit.ly/MelissaMakerYT18
Chad's Channel: bit.ly/CheckYourLevelsYT
Questions? Comments?
We'd love to hear from you - say hello down below!

[@cleanmyspace]

CLEANING EXPERT: My Secret System to Cleaning Fast & Effectively: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iqKriWamicqFmsk

[@mrcausey]

Creating a budget is amazing. It is so freeing. I started budgeting seriously 30 months ago in order to pay off my debt. The discipline I developed became so contagious that I decided to lose 100 lbs, clean my space and begin to minimize things.

[@jesspascale]

Inspiring to hear 👏🏼

[@fionatan1503]

Wow.. Keep up the good work..yoi improve your life in many ways! What a great example

[@donnalawrence8593]

Congratulations! You are doing great!

[@gaeldamianakis1234]

Good for you

[@annegreen1512]

I love it I draw x amount out of the bank for food and that is it for the month . It makes me look for bargains and then I work meals around that . Also I’m working through using stuff I have in my cupboards fridge and freezer instead of keep buying more food !! I’m going to move onto the rest of my house and like you my weight !!

[@lisastevens3822]

Regarding minimalism, I was so grateful to my mom who decluttered her home in the last years of her life so that my sister and I were not overwhelmed with the task of dealing with all of her possessions while we were mourning her passing. I identify with your ideas about minimalism and am happily donating things I don’t need. 😊

[@effie5238]

My condolences to you on your mom's passing, but I think what she did was amazing. It's called Swedish death cleaning and many think it's a bit morbid but I think it's such a gift of love. To basically take the time to go through your things and decide what is 'worthy' of being passed on. What you want sb to have and what you don't want to burden sb with. Such a kind gesture.

[@acmulhern]

I will be doing this too. I come from a family of hoarding overconsumers and my parents and grandparents live in big but cramped homes full of junk. Grief is difficult enough without also having to also declutter your loved o e's stuff :(

[@effie5238]

@@acmulhern totally agree with you!

[@TheViewmaster1971]

That's what I'm working on as well. When my mother died we were overwhelmed with all her stuff, and I don't want my sister (or her family) to have to deal with that same thing when I'm gone. Thanks for your comment, and my condolences to you for your loss...

[@victorokponganam]

That’s fantastic

[@beverleysheridan7904]

My husband has always said ''never confuse spending money with having fun....'' So true....

[@houda567]

I'm overwhelmed by my family's stuff. I've started decluttering but it's a keep on going thing. It's never over. I will give myself a clean and decluttered bedroom for my birthday which happens to be tomorrow.

[@houda567]

@@stephaniwagner2425 Thank you Stephani!

[@houda567]

@Samantha Budhu Thank you very much Samantha! Have a good day!

[@beccismith4454]

My bedroom is definitely the most D cluttered room in my apartment! And when my bed is made and the clothes put away, it’s quite easy to have it looking clear and calm. That feels more challenging in the other rooms so far. Bath is quite decluttered as well, but I have no built-in cupboards and a lot of my things are visible... so it looks busier than it actually is I think. :-)

[@reggiehol7748]

Happy belated birthday!! Lol

[@pattitaylor7300]

I’m decluttering, have been for a year or so now. It takes so much work. But I’m also replacing. I’ve realized I have been using the same pots for 25 years and it’s time for an upgrade. And not just any pots but the kind that are pleasing to me. Changing out the mismatched items to get something that I really really like. It’s sort of my reward for doing the difficult work of letting go of so much. What remains is going to be items of value for me.

[@lolitalolipops4154]

When you go backpacking in Europe for ten weeks it really opens your eyes to what you really actually need

[@sjspaulding919]

Same thing when you go on a canoe trip for a couple of weeks in the wilderness.

[@lUhVrachiee]

I also grew up with the rule of “everything has a home” meaning every item in your house has someplace it belongs, whether that’s a drawer or cabinet or closet. don’t leave things just on the countertops or tables. that being said, being an adult in my own home i recognize the difficulty of keeping it that way! i try to at least set some time once a week to just pick up around the house and organize things.

[@fineur1]

Melissa, I think people would be surprised with how little they actually need to have in their home to live. Let me explain. For eight years my husband and I traveled with his job. We could be in a certain place for three months pack up and go to the next place. An apartment was provided for us by the company he worked for which was only equipped with basic furniture, pots, pans, and dining plates and utensils. That is all. All personal stuff we took had to fit in his truck and my car trunk. That included clothing, necessities and personal things we just couldn’t live without. I got to the point where aIso didn’t want to buy many things because then I had to pack it. I got very proficient at packing. I said all that to say we had what we needed and those things we really wanted and nothing else. We are in a permanent home now but I learned a very important lesson on how very little we really needed. So I became a minimalist out of necessity.

[@idrisabdulllah692]

lol I feel you. During college I only packed one carload for move-in and I stored those same boxes for move-out. I did buy some things for my apartment but nothing expensive and nothing that I didn't need. Also my bedroom in my shared apartment was 12x8 and all of my belongings were organized.

[@abdulwaheed-bh8zh]

That's awesome

[@carlatoppins8567]

@Mishah E, your comment serves as an inspiration for a pack-rat like me.👍😉:-)

[@vinods9120]

Gr8, I NV u, hope 1day I I’ll b like u

[@marinachoban2607]

Yes, I find that it takes moving many times to instill the minimal mentality into a person for good. So now I've decided I need to move out of my comfort zone and pack up! Even if it'll be just for a short time 😄

[@cactusrose9601]

While sitting in my house during the pandemic, I started realizing how cluttered and grubby my house was. I’ve spent the last 9 months decluttering and cleaning. I now take the time daily to show my house and furniture respect, hence, I’m respecting not only our stuff, but our family as well.

[@Jeannes1234]

This is something I wish I had done instead of cooking and baking.

[@carac3526]

Between Clean my Space and The Minimal Mom my house is going to be amazing by the time I’m done! Thanks for the tips!

[@timneymissy]

I have been with minimal mom for months and am just starting clean my house......

[@shaynana1251]

The secret slob is great too if anyone is interested in the flylady system

[@intentionallymade]

Haha yes same. Diane in Denmark is also my virtual cheerleader.

[@intentionallymade]

@@shaynana1251 her and Diane in Denmark collab a lot :)

[@Michelle-qw4pl]

@@stephaniwagner2425 aaaagreeee!!! 💖

[@anaiyashabbir4673]

I’m 10 years old, and I’m the most minimalistic person in my household. My dad told me to watch a vid about it, and it helped me even more!

[@Acinomnieves3]

I've learned to tell myself that everything we buy will leave our home in the trash or donated. Do I really love it or need it until then? It's helped a lot!

[@juliestam]

THIS! ⬆Has been my mantra for the last few years and it has cut our spending by thousands of dollars a year. Also, it cleared out a LOT of cupboard space. Still have a way to go though.

[@daisybuchanan5378]

Yes ! I imagine my kids clearing out my house. My mom has streamlined her home so much; it will not be a burden to take care of later. And the open space is so pleasant.

[@ilovegreen0150]

I recently started declutter and minimalism. Donated wedding and engagement presents we never used/sealed boxes & been married for 17 years 😍🙄

[@swisslions]

Quarantine has let me see the dirty spots in my house. I spent 4 days cleaning all the grout on my tiled floors. Such a difference.

[@Jessica_Jones]

I love the 3-things-on-a-surface rule! I've already cleared the bar-counter of our kitchen (after watching another video) and at first it was weird, but it really is so nice! Working from home all this time has actually allowed me to spend my work breaks tidying and purging (because that's what recharges me!), and I've been very grateful because normally I come home from work and I'm too tired to do anything. This way, I've been able to stare at my things all day and really evaluate what is and what is not worth looking at (or storing) in my house ☺

[@peachybuttercrunch4409]

need to do this! i am going to try

[@serenelysavage]

My husband of 28 years died in July. It has totally changed my mindset about what is important. I am not ready to go through our things yet, but I totally see myself living a minimalist lifestyle in the future.

[@stillersgirl]

I am so sorry for your loss. ❤️

[@serenelysavage]

@@stillersgirl 💞 Thank you.

[@Kwildcat13]

❤️

[@serenelysavage]

@@Kwildcat13 Back at ya'! Thank you.

[@CELERITAS-BONITAS]

It took my mom and I 3 years to be ready to go through my father's things.. Hope you don't rush yourself, that can be last to declutter.

[@larachristie4475]

Hey Melissa, I totally agree, I live in England and have really reconnected with my local shops. I feel it is helping the community and I am loving the interaction. Once you become a regular, you are like family and now every Saturday when I go to the fruit and veg shop, they ask about my family or how was your holiday. I am also more conscious of what I am buying, so we are spending less and the food tastes amazing as it is all local and fresh. Xx

[@sjspaulding919]

When I went away to university and was trying to "borrow" things from my parents' home to furnish an apartment, my father said that for every one thing I wanted, I had to take three things that he didn't want. A new concept - passive decluttering. I ended up with some very unusual items!

[@donnacave1172]

I’ve been practicing minimalism for about three years. I feel the less I have, the less I have to maintain, and the more energy I have to devote to other, more productive things. I still have things to get rid of, especially in the attic, but I’m at a point now where I don’t feel bad about bringing more things into the house, as I’m very mindful about what I buy. I’m lucky to live in an area where there are fantastic charity shops, and I can buy most of our clothes from there, thus saving money!

[@zook717]

Since Covid, I actually put my house on the market in mid July (it didn’t sell, it’s now off the market and I’ll try again in Jan), but getting the house ready to sell was so eye opening as to how much stuff I had that I didn’t want. Also, I moved a bunch of stuff to storage to prepare the house for showings. Being in storage for the past 3 months, has really shown me what I want and what I don’t actually miss. Yes, of course there are some things I miss that I want from storage, but I think there are a lot more items that I can get rid of once I clear out the storage unit and move.

[@Lisawhatshersname]

Yes, it shows how much we have when we move! You could take a weekend, or a few hours here and there, and clear the storage unit to price items to sell. (Or donate). Then you'd have more room for other things!

[@johnnwintertaulbee9435]

I have been fighting my own need for “stuff” for years. Recently, my husband and I began the process of getting our house ready to sell. We were pretty surprised by how much stuff we had collected over the span of our seven year of marriage and became determined to live a minimalist lifestyle. Every item in our home was touched by us and we went through the excruciating process of deciding what we would keep and what we would donate or trash. By July of this year, we had reduced our haul by 50%. Now the house is sold and we have officially moved out. We are in the process of building a home and are staying with relatives in the meantime. With a exception for five outfits, three pairs of shoes, and a coat for each of us, all of our belongings are packed away in our relatives basement. I thought for sure that we would miss having access to our belongings but , with exception for my favorite cooking pan, I have not missed any of our belongings. This includes the 10 bags of clothes that I have sitting in the basement. This time and separation from our belongings has only further pointed out to me how little I actually need. We have about a month and a half before will be able to move into our new home, I would like to spend that time further reducing our haul to what we actually need instead of what we thought we would need.

[@graceinguelph]

I'm on vacation this week and spending the time decluttering my whole 2 bedroom apartment.

[@GregStanton.]

I came across Clean My Space only 2 weeks ago, through seeing Chad on his podcast with Steve Ramsey. I love what you guys are doing. 2020 forced me to move home to my parents house. Started out iffy but turned out to be the breathe of fresh air I needed. My whole mentality on life has been changing and videos like these are helping massively. Coming back to my parents house, I came to realize that I had too much stuff. It was stressing me out knowing that I was contributing to a house that was already full of stuff to begin with. So downsizing and decluttering was the choice I made. And I am more than thrilled about how I feel. I'm very glad to have come to the clean my space family!

[@truthhammer4451]

Good Proverb: “We can’t manage what we can’t measure”. So - Only what I choose to measure can I choose to manage. Budgeting doesn’t keep me from overspending. Budgeting informs me (measures) that I am about to overspend. With that knowledge, I can now choose to mange my decision to spend and with a clearer picture of the consequences. I use this proverb in so many places my measuring. Behavior, success, failure, spiritual, and definitely in my business career.

[@victorokponganam]

That’s great advice 👍

[@SarahLizDoan]

Brilliant

[@Ruth-tu9mu]

I love my local Buy Nothing group! It's been a huge help with getting rid of some things I don't use, and I love that I can give things directly to my neighbors instead of a thrift store or a landfill.

[@katejohnson7019]

Thank you! This message is so important now and needs to be embraced by as many people as possible. The world cannot sustain our current consumerism

[@caitlin9823]

I’m feeling like I want to redo so many things in my home right now! When we moved in two years ago we took the cheaper route because of financial struggles, but now I see the value in quality!

[@RobinP556]

Over the last few months I’ve been decluttering my house and packing up things that I can donate and that I’m not using. I’m not a minimalist, but I made arrangements for a pickup next week and when they asked how many boxes of stuff I had I counted 21 large boxes! It’s pretty amazing and going to a good charity, one that supports veterans, and none of it is junk. It’s quite freeing.

[@kathrynstewart800]

Great video. For those of us “ senior citizens”, this idea is so helpful. Our homes and minds getting cluttered is a real obstacle.

[@pamelafrancis8131]

OMG magazines! I am exactly like you - print beats digital everytime.

[@nedithcasquete4448]

I feel that 2020 has helped me to reflect on my spending habits and how much time I used to keep up with what I already owned. I feel tired, heavy and overwhelmed. I just realized that the amount of things I have accumulated overtime are slowing me down. Thanks for creating this video.

[@lisakohler2263]

Melissa, I really appreciate the tone and delivery of your version of minimalism. As a serial clutterer, I've been trying to change and find a lot of info on the subject too preachy or condescending--or just impractical for me to apply to my situation. I appreciate you offering "entry level" advice!

[@erins3147]

Working from home long term, I was able to change my wardrobe to be more casual, but I’m being pretty minimal and intentional.

[@emanr7502]

I left this on in the background while decluttering my room and it's so funny how well timed the video was. As soon as the drawers were emptied I had the urge to fill it with other things, ofcourse right then and there she mentions not to do that in the video lol

[@MaritaCovarrubias01]

I’ve been declutter Ong for a few months now. Not shopping as much in 2020 has really allowed me to see I don’t need to constantly be consuming. I have everything I need and then some. It’s made me reflect on items, and just keep what I need.

[@shirinnajdi1951]

I decluttered my home during 2020. I think minimalism can contribute to more mindful living. You get to enjoy what you have rather than being overwhelmed with a lot of stuff. It was definitely essential for me during lock down since I had to improve my focus and concentration at home and owning less stuff was great in that regard.

[@gelwood99]

I bought your new Makers mop and watching this video I am eliminating all the other mops and items it will now replace. I am recovering from a total hip replacement and nothing points out how much "crap" you have while maneuvering around your home with a walker! More than half of my house is leaving when I can start walking without a cane. I love the new mop and how sturdy it is made! AWESOME! Thanks! 💞

[@singit3630]

Was watching you this morning while tossing/repurposing things. Feeling claustrophobic...need more free space. 😳 I'm over 'stuff'.

[@ElinaY]

Me too! A more decluttered space helps me feel so much more clam.

[@effie5238]

So agree. You spend years shopping for things you 'need' only to finally realise you don't really need all that stuff & that in reality, it's just become a burden!

[@singit3630]

@@effie5238 Nothing like remote working to see that clearly. Just stuff EVERYWHERE!🙄

[@MELINDASSIMPLEBLESSINGS]

Affects mood too

[@singit3630]

@@MELINDASSIMPLEBLESSINGS totally.

[@leahhayes8323]

I saved all my clothes from my 20s in the loft, bags of them because they were so beautiful 😍 my husband always moaned at me about this 😑 however my teenage daughter discovered them and is elated 🤩 she has a wardrobe for the next 10+ years haha! And is always getting compliments and asked where she buys her clothes 😁👍

[@Lisawhatshersname]

I did the same thing when I was 16! Beyond that I was too tall😁

[@davidlawson4281]

You may be the luckiest woman on earth, as vast majority of teen age girls would want nothing to do with mom’s 90s clothes.

[@stephaniesolis227]

Be careful clothes expire, it’s an actual thing

[@LightnessofJoy]

In the 90s when I was a teen I found my mom’s cool jackets, tops and skirts from the 70s (not the pants, though-too bell-bottomy). People would ask me where I bought them. I felt like I scored!

[@amylucier]

I loved this video! I have done spring and fall de cluttering since the pandemia. I have bought my own “on-the-go” silverware and straws; I have gotten reusable cotton napkins and stop using single use cups. My next phase is letting go of wrappers and single use plastic bags!

[@username00009]

How do you wash your silverware when you are on the go? Or do you have multiples in case you have a long day of being out and about?

[@guardself921]

I’ve been trying to be more minimal, as least minimal for me. I moved in 2019 which I gave away/donated a lot before and after the move. I followed does it spark joy. In April we had a fire. While there was probably more items I could saved. I really realized there was more items that sparked joy that I could live without after fire. Now I’m being cutthroat on other areas of the house that the fire didn’t affect to declutter.

[@dominiquetheeasyminimalist]

I loved this video! Minimalism is a journey and a mindset, not just a number of items and there are variations to it. I grabbed the one in - two out. Although I’ve already decluttered a whoooole lot over the last years, this ups it up a notch! Vote with your money is important in an intentional mindset as well. Yes please, more videos like this!

[@victorokponganam]

Hundred percent agree

[@MarielaMerino]

my channel is all about minimalism and intentional living. i hope you can check it out!

[@TheViewmaster1971]

I collected a lot of hand blown art glass over the years. Now I live in a smaller home and I've decided use a minimal amount of that glass to decorate with and the rest is going on eBay... which should give me plenty to do (while at home) over the next several months! Love your videos!!!

[@kan-zee]

*I have developed minimalism thinking towards my piles of stuff* .. ******************************************************************* Me = "thanks for Introducing me to Minimalism" _Melissa_ : *No problem! It's the least I could do* _😂🤣👍_ ********************************************** Q ~ What do they say about a minimalist's yard sale? ❓❓ A ~ _Not a whole lot.😂🤣👍_ ********************************************* Q ~ I'm starting a minimalist orchestra! A ~ _It's just like a regular orchestra but without the bells and whistles. 😂🤣👍_ ************************************************ *16:43** ...How has this year affected me?* I am broke as a joke.. 🤑🤑💲✅ ✅ I got me a new generator and other power inverters for the coming winter power outages..keep the freezer/fridge & appliances running. ✅Pets are stocked up with food for 2 seasons. ✅Bought up over 8 k in pantry food, for the upcoming food shortages & price hikes. ✅Got all my cleaning supplies stocked up to the max (over 2 k spent) ✅First Aid Gear is up to date ✅ Stored up 2x 55gallon barrels of water (need 2 more barrels) ✅ Beefed up my home security ✅ Vehicle maintenance is now up to date ..ready for a bug out, if necessary.

[@daisybuchanan5378]

Free Little Libraries are local book exchange boxes where you can donate books locally. Many communities have them.

[@senicanastasia]

I ABSOLUTELY avoided cleaning by finding some reason to leave the house. Since the pandemic, and not being able to run away from my mess, I've transformed my home. I have cleared out all the kids clothes I avoided going through, which were sitting in every room, in laundry baskets! I've finished projects galore, giving room to actually use our space. I didn't realize how beautiful my home really was because it was always clutter and impossible to get a handle on the mess. Granted, it didn't help that I had no floors for almost three years,so I actually couldn't put some things where they're supposed to go. But, getting a grip on the clutter, helped not having a complete house, not feel so bad. You, Cas from clutter bug, and Laura ( HTGYST), have saved me from myself! Can't thank you enough

[@laureln56]

The sad thing about all that is now that your house is wonderful no one can be invited over to see it and by the time the pandemic is over the house might revert back to the way it was and no one except those who read your comment will ever know how good it was! 😎

[@karinalemus2305]

I feel you! Just recently realized that I was always finding excuses to get out of the house( usually to buy more stuff) And the reason behind that was that my house was cluttered! Somehow I thought bringing more stuff into the house would make it look nice. I'm slowly starting to clear up my whole life and letting go of things that are just sitting in closets and just being a complete burden to me.

[@senicanastasia]

@@laureln56 Well, I'm still a messy person, so I have a ways to go, but I'm hoping getting a handle on the crazy clutter will help with that 😁. Also, I've realized I care more about being able to enjoy my beautiful home, for myself, more than I care about how anyone else feels about it 😉.

[@maryssa8593]

I’ve recently pared down my wardrobe maybe too much so I’m working on adding back in. Being mindful is definitely a muscle, it’s easy to get carried away all over again!! But I love all the advice in this video 😁

[@aerialkat]

Quite overwhelmed...wanting to minimize my belongings that I don’t need/use, but I am having a lot of trouble. Hoarding/placing too much value/sentimentality runs in the family. BTW it was really cool to hear that your mom gave you experiences that made you go out of your comfort zone growing up.

[@gailmiller7035]

In 2018 I moved out of a 2 bedroom home after 25 years, into 1 bedroom 1 bath and only a two small kitchen cabinets for my stuff. My goal was to rid of 95% of my stuff...I actually sold, donated, junked and gave away about 85%. One year later I moved again and rid about another 10%. Now here it is again, January is upon us. While I don't plan to move for another year to 18 months, It is definitely time for me to rid some more. My goal for this New Years Eve is to clean out my closet and bureau drawers. I have so many clothes and only wear few of them. Thank you for your valuable tips and Happy New Year!

[@maureenarmstrong3923]

Such a great episode, as always. Would LOVE for you to tackle the issue of digital clutter. Given that the “cloud” is really miles of coiled wire in the ocean, can you help with tips for maintaining a clean digital life and minimizing the amount of virtual junk we accumulate. Cheers.

[@username00009]

Isn’t the cloud the giant server farms that require a lot of electricity? 🤔The wire under the ocean allows us to have internet that connects continents.

[@UpFromUnder6]

I’ve been totally decluttering. and it feels great!

[@shelbylesinski9139]

My husbands wedding gift to me was a scuba lesson while on our honeymoon in st Thomas! After that I got hooked and became an open water diver as well ☺️ so cool!

[@jekalambert9412]

After 9 years of living like a nomad, including 3 trans-oceanic moves on a 4'x4'x7' pallet and 5 years of living out of a 6'x6' storage locker and the boxes that fit in the back of my hatchback car, I've started enjoying having stuff again. I realized during the nomad time that I'd parted with many things that I didn't use regularly, but that were missed on those occasions when I might have used them. I'm an artist and having those random things like lots of papers, pens, paints, textiles, etc. is actually very necessary for my creativity. My art studio is cluttered, but the rest of my house is pared down. I like this video because she says that minimalism is different for everyone. So right! One thing I do, is to buy pretty much everything from thrift shops and garage sales. I often find very high quality items for $100s of dollars less than the original price. I feel like I can afford to have a variety of stuff when I get it so cheaply and I don't have an emotional attachment to something because I spent a lot of money on it. That makes it easy for me to part with it if I find I don't like it or don't use it, and I do regularly pare down and donate back to the thrift shops so the stuff doesn't take over my space. I enjoyed this video a lot. Thanks for posting.

[@claimsandwarranties6121]

All I can think of is less less less.... I have never been one to have A LOT but I want even less. I feel overwhelmed much easier than ever before. Clearing out the bits and bobs has made exile soooo much more pleasurable. Laundry and pet grooming with cleaning has become therapeutic and not a chore. I ENJOY it when its less overwhelming. ~ Jennifer

[@Irene-gq4jr]

Collecting experiences is something I started doing years ago. It was my fiancé's birthday recently, I bought a modest gift and booked a surprise self-catering stay for us. He loved it. I asked him what gift did I get you 3 years ago - he couldn't remember and nor could I, but we remembered we'd gone out for a posh dinner. Give me happy memories over stuff any day.

[@mjbeauty13]

Yes, I would love to watch more content about upcycling! :)

[@Kelli.Hicks.5]

I'd really enjoy an upcycling video. I find the idea of it interesting, but I often get stuck in the action of it.

[@pangorban1]

Divorce is a massive declutterer! We went through 5 skips in clearing out the house, and a full house auction, before our final farewell. I went into my post-divorce home with little more than two suitcases. Every disposed object had a life experience attached to it, but nothing can take away what those objects meant to me. I am now very choosy about what I buy.

[@ambabishop2081]

Yes re consumption. I had this conversation with one of my teens, every time they are out with friends it’s linked to eating out or shopping. let’s save some money 🤗

[@CoffeeMugTwentyFive]

sometimes, I'll make a wishlist of things I want to buy; I'll hide it away for a week. When I return to that list I find that I just don't want certain items anymore.

[@sassysandie2865]

I put things in my Amazon basket and then delete or save for later. D0nt buy most of it.

[@pratibhabhoir8286]

@@sassysandie2865 even I do that

[@raemills3089]

Buy nothing groups : I got car Matt's for winter and west wing complete series (my favorite TV show which no longer streams where I am) for free. Huge wins that have brought value to me. I've also shared COUNTLESS kids things which is great, because they use something for like three weeks sometimes

[@minamckenzie4070]

For my 10th birthday I chose a trip to Yellowstone National Park with my parents. It was an AMAZING experience

[@awest1838]

Thank you for this video. Exactly the kick in the but that I needed to start that room of horror that I have in the basement. So many things that I just never use. Some are great memories but all of the others needs to get out! 😉

[@erins3147]

Love my buy-nothing group. Mostly for getting rid of stuff, but it’s helped me out for a couple items too.

[@shelliebean]

2020 has made me take more pleasure in what I own and change out things that are tied to hard memories. Honestly, this has been a very purchase-heavy year for me, buying things that make me happy, purchasing items that give me things to do other than just one more thing on Netflix (like crafting kits!), and purchasing items to reflect my personality now instead of having to always look at things that I associate with my husband (who I’m separated from). I make a lot of use of the Buy Nothing group in my area :) I will never be minimalistic, but this year has taught me to reserve my spending money for the items I truly want instead of just spending for fun.

[@miasverypretty]

It's difficult to get rid of stuff at the moment. I've just read that our local Freecycle has closed temporarily because of the health situation and charity shops are overwhelmed because everyone decluttered during lockdown. It's quite frustrating when you're ready to declutter.

[@GratefulDeb270]

Other options... I donated several boxes of art supplies to the boys & girls club and several sacks of linens & towels to the animal shelter. Lots of possibilities out there such as the domestic violence shelter, halfway house and more.

[@llchang1217]

Our local situation is similar. We put a tarp out front with all the things we were getting rid of this round. A couple “Free” signs and a post on social media and it was almost all gone in a few hours.

[@camm8832]

Try Poshmark for selling 🌞

[@xtineshay3080]

For years I've been living with only spending my money on experiences. So i subscribed, this is the first video I watched saying this for advice. Priceless

[@rachelpushie9713]

When the pandemic first forced us to stay home I decluttered tons of toys because the toys were all over the place! It made a huge difference to my stress levels :)

[@evam.2101]

thank you. love your channel. i will never be minimal but really trying. my son is aspergers and 31 at the time. he was a total hoarder collecter of stuff and switched to total minimal seriously. sleeps on a sleeping bag with pillow on floor. one closet and can pack everything he owns in a tote into his car. proud of him. i will get to that point. one day....lol. Im sick of the headaches and chaos. from paperwork to youtube subscription notifications. im going nuts. ive shut off and unsubscribed nonsense stuff. getting better at peace of mind. but long way to go. trying but its a slow long process. took years to get to my mess. i hate spending money but i have old slow growning mess. just stuff I picked up here and there. I have only a few boxes in a corner and some unused clothes and a drawer of alot of paperwork but I have to read it all to sort. its rough though.

[@donnalawrence8593]

Buy Local. Excellent . This can not be said enough. All great ideas. One in , two out. Everything is so true. Thank you.

[@laurahapp9840]

I have a lot of "stuff" in my home since we have lived here over 25 years! Your video was very helpful. I get attached to some things since I remember who gave them to me and they are difficult to part with. But I realized being stuck at home so how much better I feel with an uncluttered environment. It is also so much easier to clean the house with less stuff out! Thank you, Melissa, for your suggestions. I really enjoy your videos and am motivated to declutter!

[@tumblingrosesstudio]

On a mission this weekend to declutter some more!

[@singit3630]

Just watched your 59 declutter vid this morning! Lets go!!!

[@wendyodell356]

You always have such great Melissa. Thank you. I've boughten a few things to minimize, like in the kitchen for example. A few really good microwave bowls to replace all those junky plastic things. The goal is to start our decluttering as the summer starts to turn into fall. Good luck to me 🤷‍♀️🤦‍♀️💆‍♀️👩‍🦳

[@alexandrastevens8892]

In the last year we have had more clear outs than ever in our long relationship. Clothes, kitchen ware and bathroom items. The whole house has been decluttered, I love it, we have never been horders but as we have got older you start to look at what you have and like you said, quality over quantity. There's so many people starting out on there own so nothing goes to waste, I have passed so much to people who need it and feel like I have a new home. Finding your channel by accident is great, I just have to catch up, I wish you all a Happy Hopeful New Year from 🇬🇧

[@Trochesset]

Great video! I've been doing this for a couple of years and feel so good! Peaceful is how I would describe it. Less is so much more.

[@hamothemagnif8529]

Clean surfaces are are a breath of fresh air but they are so difficult to keep that way.

[@martha4136]

Love quality over quantity, so much better. Glad you included that.

[@lanaava]

I love the memories your mom gave you (hot air balloon and scuba dive) something I’ll apply to my own kids someday. Awesome idea!

[@ShalomSimplified]

Gifting expriences is good, but there is a place for things, if they are very meaningful and/or useful. I say this in particular as a former caregiver who worked with some Alzheimer's patients. Dementia in general is on the rise and, while we can all make lifestyle choices to minimize our risks, we also need to be aware that there is a very strong likelihood that either we or some of our friends will develop it eventually. Their memories will go, but they may be able to retain some of them longer if they have mementos to trigger those memories. On the upside, photos work really well for this, and even an old-school photo album will take less space than other stuff. So even if you are gifting experiences, be sure to take photos. Someone may need them someday.

[@HudsonValleyFamilyDoulas]

Totally decluttering ASAP! Love this video. Thank you!!!

[@gracevidz]

I’m trying to slim down on kids toys. More time spent picking up toys (my kids are young but do help where possible) means less time I get to spend on things that matter. Also thinking long and hard about what I buy, if it’s really needed, and what it’s replacing. I’ve realized I don’t need to buy the latest iPhone every 2 years or buy every kitchen gadget at Aldi 🤪

[@daisybuchanan5378]

I’ve bought and donated three houses worth of gadgets. Now I like to keep my kitchen like a vacation rental - just the basics. No stand mixer to lug out, no food processor. Just a good knife.

[@ElinaY]

I have been feeling overwhelmed because we have so much stuff and I really want to narrow down things I need but I have a hard time separating from items. These videos have helped me take these steps to declutter and let go .. so thank you!!

[@georgias9230]

Im still struggling to let things go :( dont know why its so hard....

[@monix3]

Maybe a tbought that can help you is ask yourself what would you bring in your brand new house and what would you leave behind, so you know it's gonna be there in the old house, but you don't want to bring it to the new house, if you think you wouldn't take it than you can probably decluter it. And also know that we will leave all the things behind us when we are gone. And someone else will have to do that for us. So why not declutter things.

[@monix3]

Oh and also taking photos of stuff we decluter helps a lot really. Try it.

[@ElinaY]

@@monix3 this is a great way to look at it I love that. I will start by sections in the house and use that thought process, very true

[@themississippimom885]

Thank you for your content. You always do a great job breaking down tasks & thoroughly explaining your methods. I binge watch regularly just wanted to say great job!

[@jessicaburns1391]

Vote with your dollars is definitely how I became a more conscious consumer

[@tslilbearshoppe9870]

Everyone calls it minimalism, I call it don't keep what you don't use and get rid of the clutter lol

[@marinachoban2607]

The question is How often you use it, and if that justifies keeping it... Like; I bought 4 different ball gowns and I wore one of them once. I'm still keeping them all because I love them and will wear them to other weddings even if it's just one every year. I like having the peace of mind that I don't have to go find a new dress every time. You may feel otherwise 🤷

[@joaquimrodriguez8961]

What's the point buying it then? It's dumb to buy something then turn around a donate it or discard.

[@tslilbearshoppe9870]

joaquim Rodriguez thats up to u

[@emmelia-6068]

@@joaquimrodriguez8961 ...maybe "dumb" is a harsh word to use? But I agree that the de-cluttering process has really made me stop and think BEFORE bringing anything new into our home. "Refuse" is one of the first steps to "less in the house." :-) Blessings on your day!

[@miranda7662]

When you mentioned budgeting, you made me think of another lady business owner like yourself, The Budget Mom. Her system for saving is great

[@jocbaker]

By following a zero based budget, I "spend" my money, by transferring it to a couple different saving types. It has helped so much with my goals.

[@ssimo00]

Really great to hear CMS talking about this. Fpr me, minimalism is something that it inclues also less waste. So for the much of my stuff, I prefer to wear it out or use it before thowing it away and then I really consider if I need to buy it again. 2020 really made me use a lot of those things that I do not want to own (since I am home so much). This year helped with keeping my house a bit less cluttered. Thanks for putting this message out there and any other messages about less waste would be great! 😻

[@Sunshine-fy4fz]

Love the one in, two out strategy to keeping your home in check!! Definitely going to start doing this immediately ; thanks for the updated tip.

[@pishhugo7038]

I'm from the Philippines. One thing that discourages me from throwing stuff away is bad public waste management. I feel bad about adding more stuff to landfills that aren't managed properly. This applies especially to packaging. If the box and bubble wrap still looks usable, I keep it as long as I can in storage spaces rarely accessed. Ugly boxes and paper waste go to the compost. For worn out clothes, I repurpose them as rags. Another thing about living 3rd world is that you can't afford quality items, and you mostly end up buying China if you want any stuff in your home at all. China goods are often bad quality, break easily, and needs replacing often - so definitely more trash in the long run. It's also difficult to throw something away immediately if you didn't like it, like the hair product example you mentioned. We just can't afford to live like that. We need to make the most of what we use our money on, so even if we don't like the item we'd still keep it "just in case". I guess what I'm saying is minimalism is a little more difficult in less developed countries because it requires a bit more budget and a lot more thought in making purchases.

[@colleenbeamer6403]

I don't know if 2020 has caused me to rethink what I have in my house. However, after watching some of your decluttering videos, I have been trying to get rid of many things that I've kept thinking "maybe I'll use them" and then, I don't. Two things in this video resonated with me. One was in the "Budgeting" part - like you, I've wasted money on food 'cause I've bought stuff thinking I'll make a recipe that I've wanted to try and then somehow, I never get around to it and the food goes in the garbage. The second was in the "High Volume" section. I have books galore - some I won't part with, but some I've read, won't read again and they're in boxes in the basement. I've recently been thinking about going through them and getting rid of them either by donating somewhere or taking them to a second had book store. Love your videos. They always give me food for thought and have helped in some way.

[@ksakagute]

I'm always positively amazed by your tips, they are non-obvious and always helpful!

[@aliburch4273]

"buy nothing" pages are actually Upcycling groups in my area. A local councilwoman introduced the concept of the term Upcycle (recycling up; giving away instead of throwing away), and I TOTALLY understand how easy it is to fall prey to these pages and clutter xD I love how helpful these tips and your videos are! With this whole pandemic situation, I'm finally tackling the disastrous mess that is my/his/our home... that I've been putting off for years. your videos are helping us chip away at those years of stressful mess

[@jessicafung7565]

Having been thinking about decluttering since stuff use to make me feel safe. I know stuff doesn’t make you safe it’s people and self care that comforts me now, hopefully get on minimalist one day!

[@saavyy]

Love your videos!!👏🏽✨

[@norayusulaiman923]

I going through this process for almost 2 years now, sometimes I feel a bit boring when we see the counter or place empty. So start putting life plants in my house. And it works for me.

[@Coffeecup.0110]

I’m now using a lot of your diy cleaners and I’m enjoying it. Thank you so much. 😊

[@heyBrownBerry]

This video was SO well done. Practical, but not preachy. Good examples. High quality editing, too to keep our interest. I did pick up what you put down. Thank you!