Things to Declutter Before Birthdays and Holidays
Make sure you have the space for new gifts and food and spices haven’t expired.
Birthdays and holidays can be stressful with all the things you need to do to prepare. Decluttering these items in advance will help you be prepared and give you one less thing to do later, besides creating space for the new gifts coming in.
In this article:
Pare Down Decorations
When you pull out your birthday or holiday decorations, go through them and remove any damaged items or anything you don’t use.
Then take a critical eye at whether you have accumulated too many and should simplify your collection. Decorations can be fun, but they can make a space feel chaotic if there’s too many, especially if they don’t match.
Remember to leave room for new decorations, such as an annual keepsake ornament or decorations in the theme of whatever your kid is into this year.
Afterwards, before packing things away, take another go at decluttering. Was there anything you didn’t use? Did anything break? Have your kids moved on to something new?
Donate Clothing + Toys
To make space for new gifts, declutter clothing, toys, and any other category you expect to get gifts in. Start with clothing because it’s usually pretty obvious what needs to go. If it doesn’t fit anymore, it’s torn or stained, or if it doesn’t get worn then put it in the donate bag. Rule of thumb, if you wouldn’t want to run into your ex in it, toss it. Then move on to more difficult categories like toys.
When decluttering your children’s things, try to avoid doing it for them unless they are super young. When they’re super young, you can try hiding things away that you think they don’t use anymore, and if they don’t miss it, donate it. As they get older, get them involved in the process and decision-making. After a certain age, they should take all responsibility for what stays and what goes.
Explain that you’re doing it to make room for all the new things. During the holidays, you can talk about how it’s better to donate beforehand so gifts are available for low-income families to purchase. Ask them questions like do they use it anymore, or when was the last time they used it. Do they think some other child would make better use of it, or would they like to see another child have fun playing with it.
Focus on what motivates them. My niece recently decluttered her toys before the holidays. She was motivated by the kids who lost their toys in the California fires and others in need.
If you or your kids don’t make much progress, try again afterwards when you can see everything you have after all the new gifts and decorations. Sometimes it’s difficult to trust the promise of new things to come, especially if you’re an overlooked parent at the holidays.
Related Freebie: 10 National Charities that Pick Up Donations
Prep for Meals by Trashing Expired Food
To make sure you’re prepared for the birthday or holiday meal, go through your food, including spices, condiments, oils and vinegars, cooking wines, etc., and remove anything that has expired. Pay special attention to things you only use in special occasion recipes. Don’t forget to smell old spices to see if they still have their kick. Grab your reading glasses or a magnifying glass for the tiny expiration dates.
Make note of anything you need to replace, and use the First In, First Out Organizing Method by placing the remaining food in chronological order of expiration date to reduce the chance of things going bad again. When you purchase new food, place them in the back so they’re used last.
If you don’t check for expired food in advance of your meal, you could be running around last minute trying to replace things. Or at the very least, be stuck with bland spices and a bland dish. And added bonus, you’ll have more room for the food you buy for the birthday or holiday feast.
Extra Credit: Remove Expired Items from the Rest of the House
After your special event, use this decluttering momentum by repeating the above process to cull expired pet food and treats, makeup and skin care products, prescriptions and supplements, cold medicines, coupons and sales ads, and warranties. Old medicine can make you sick, and old makeup and skin care products can cause rashes or infections. At the end of the process, you'll have a lot more room in your cabinets.
Let me know if I can help,
Diane
