Ever buy a brand new car? Do you know how much value your car LOSES once you drive it off the lot? A new car loses 19 percent of its value in the first year. Ironically, a car doesn’t lose anywhere near the value of the items you purchase for your home, wardrobe or your workshop.
It’s true, albeit on a smaller scale. But think about those things lying around your house unused. Like the blouse you purchased a few years ago for $20. It was a great deal then. Even though you have only worn it once or twice, do you think you get somebody to buy it for $16? $10? Even $5? Considering the time and energy it takes to sell an item like that, most people would probably just donate it.
Most people who have issues with clutter and impulse buying could do this in any room of the house. Go to the kitchen and you’ll see that juicer that was part of your New Year’s resolution to be healthier. You haven’t had a smoothie since February of that year.
Now, let’s visit the kids’ rooms or play areas outside. See any toys they never use? It’s probably easier to pinpoint the ones they do, right? Do you think you could hold a yard sale today and get 80 percent of the value of these things?
You may be saying a lot of those toys were gifts and didn’t cost anything. True, but I’ll bet somebody paid for those gifts. Maybe your parents or even grandparents. Do they have money to spare in their retirement years?
When you start to equate clutter with money, it becomes a deeper issue. Yes, you spent money on items you don’t use. You probably can’t get more than 10 percent of that money back. What’s really troubling is if you think about what you could have done with the money had you not purchased the items you didn’t need in the first place.
People often dream of talking exotic trips, yet they never seem to have enough time or money to do it. Imagine every time you felt an impulse to buy something you put that money into a separate bank account or even a jar in your cabinet. How long would it be until you could pay for that dream trip?
Just for fun, go into your closet with a calculator and scan the items you never wear and then come up with a ballpark estimate on the cost. Are you closer to your dream trip? Let’s keep going.
What about gifts for the children? Which do you think the kids would prefer from their grandparents: the latest video game and toys that they will soon tire of or outgrow or a day/night at Great Wolf Lodge. Which do you think they would remember at their high school or college graduation as they look back at their childhood?
We invest in things to make us happy momentarily at best. The reality is the things that truly last and retain full value are our memories.
A day with your grandparents at a water park while all of you are young enough to do it and enjoy it is priceless. So is a dream trip to an island or even domestic destination like the Grand Canyon. Clothes, gadgets, and toys do not bring anywhere near the joy and value of these types of memories.
Ironically, even a new car will provide memories. And even though it doesn’t retain its initial sticker price, you will still drive it and get use out of it for years. You can’t really say that for many of the other things you buy and look what’s it’s truly costing you.
If you would like some help in cutting back on the clutter/spending, give me a call.
