Product samples, conference swag, promotional goodies, office freebies – we are constantly being bombarded with free stuff. I don’t know about you, but rarely are these giveaways anything I need, use or want. How many branded pens does one person really need!?
But there is something deep inside us that loves to find a deal (sample sale anyone?), and what’s a better deal than free? We take home that free tote bag/stress ball/coffee cup and these things become clutter.
Clutter that we have to store and clean and eventually figure out how to give away. Clutter that stresses us out. Self-help guru Gretchen Rubin explains, “something free can end up costing a lot of time, energy and space.” We’re all familiar with the saying “there’s no free lunch,” and I’m here to tell you that there’s also no free stuff!
So what’s the solution? Not taking it in the first place! Or if that’s not possible, discreetly leaving it behind or returning it to the sample pile. Obviously there are a few exceptions to this. When I was given an adorable reusable bottle the same week mine had been badly dented, I kept that because I needed a new one. Or when the Charlotte Tilbury salesperson asked me if I’d like a sample of Magic Cream, I snapped that up because I knew I’d use it on an upcoming girls weekend. If you need, use or want an item, then of course you should keep it, but try to stick by the rule of one in one out, like I did with my bottle. Good gate-keeping up front will save you from having to declutter later.
If your home is already filled to the brim with free stuff, get rid of it and then revel in the sense of well-being you feel. Bring in a professional organizer if you need help, but as the popular organizers behind The Home Edit insist, “don’t double down on the mistake by keeping it.”
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