Stuff doesn\u2019t just take up space though; it\u2019s also worth a lot of money. In that same study, we found that the UK\u2019s clutter is worth a whopping \u00a37.2 billion! <\/b><\/p>\n
That might explain why people across the nation are slowly but surely turning to decluttering, the process of getting rid of your unwanted stuff and hopefully turning it into cash.<\/p>\n
Decluttering is pretty simple and hugely rewarding, but it\u2019s not as simple as just picking up a few bits and flogging them at the market. It takes patience and quite a lot of effort too, which is why we\u2019ve come up with these handy tips to help you!<\/p>\n
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Set specific goals<\/b><\/h3>\n
Like we said before, decluttering requires more thought than just mindlessly walking around and occasionally chucking something away.<\/p>\n
Before you sit down, think about why<\/i> you want to declutter and how<\/i>you\u2019re going to achieve those goals. If you want to own less stuff, think about what specifically you want to get rid of and how you\u2019re going to do it. For example, you could write \u201d\u02dcMy CD collection is out of control and I don\u2019t listen to most of it, so I\u2019m going to go through and sell CDs to musicMagpie\u2019.<\/p>\n
The key to effective goal setting is to be realistic. Your goals need to be specific and achievable; \u201d\u02dctidying my whole house by tomorrow\u2019 is neither, whereas \u201d\u02dcreorganise the living room by March\u2019 is.<\/p>\n
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Break it up<\/b><\/h3>\n
Don\u2019t force yourself through an entire day of decluttering. No-one has the energy, even tidying-up addicts who\u2019ve drank 8 cups of coffee and a couple of Red Bulls.<\/p>\n
Instead, take your tasks and assign some time for them across a week, month, or even year. When you\u2019re actually decluttering, work in half hour bursts and take regular breaks to keep yourself focused and relaxed.<\/p>\n
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Get inspired<\/b><\/h3>\n
There are loads of great books and blogs on decluttering out there, and reading them can teach you new techniques, change the way you think about decluttering or even just give you a bit of encouragement from someone who\u2019s been through it before.<\/p>\n
Before you declutter, sit down and read for half an hour. You\u2019ll feel more motivated for it!<\/p>\n
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Be realistic<\/b><\/h3>\n
Your home is never going to look like an IKEA showroom, so don\u2019t worry if you\u2019re not living in a minimalistic utopia after you\u2019ve got rid of everything you don\u2019t want.<\/p>\n
A better barometer for success is how happy you feel after you\u2019ve decluttered. If you\u2019re satisfied with the stuff you own and you like how your home looks, you\u2019re all good.<\/p>\n
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Make it as enjoyable as possible<\/b><\/h3>\n
Decluttering can be fun, but not as fun as binging on a boxset or going out or one of the many, many other distractions modern life offers.<\/p>\n
The easiest way to win the battle against procrastination is to make your decluttering efforts as enjoyable as possible. Stick on some music, make up a game, put someone on loudspeaker and have a chat – use your imagination!<\/p>\n
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Make time<\/b><\/h3>\n
Like that drink you\u2019ve been meaning to go for with that friend you last saw a couple of years ago, decluttering can become one of those things you\u2019ll say you do but never actually get round to.<\/p>\n
The solution is to get out a calendar and dedicate a couple of days to decluttering. Don\u2019t cancel them unless it\u2019s an emergency or something that can\u2019t be done at another time!<\/p>\n
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Decide what you\u2019re going to do with your clutter<\/b><\/h3>\n
So you\u2019ve decided to get rid of a load of stuff\u201d\u00a6 then what?<\/p>\n
If it\u2019s totally useless, recycle it. If it\u2019s something someone else could make use of, like old clothes, donate them. Or, if it\u2019s something you can sell for cash like a mobile phone or games console (hint hint), sell them for fast cash!<\/p>\n
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Question everything you own<\/b><\/h3>\n
Marie Kondo, the bestselling author of The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up<\/i>, suggests getting rid of anything that doesn\u2019t \u201cspark joy\u201d\u009d.<\/p>\n
To figure out what doesn\u2019t \u201d\u02dcspark joy\u2019, Kondo suggests<\/a> picking it up an item and \u201cholding it firmly in both hands as if communing with it\u201d\u009d, which should lead to \u201c…a little thrill, as if the cells in your body are slowly rising\u201d\u009d. If it doesn\u2019t, off it goes.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re more practical than emotional, go through everything you own and question how much you really need it instead.<\/p>\n Decluttering isn\u2019t a one-off task that magically makes your house tidy forever. You have to keep it up (although it\u2019s much easier after the initial sessions) so every month, go through your home and review your possessions.<\/p>\n Are you planning to declutter in 2017? Find out how much your stuff is worth as you go with the musicMagpie app, which turns your phone into a handy barcode scanner! Simply scan your stuff for an instant price.<\/p>\n Download the musicMagpie app on iTunes<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Download the musicMagpie app on Android<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Wondering “how can I sell my phone<\/a> for cash?” Look no further than musicMagpie! We’ll give you an instant valuation sell your iPhone<\/a>, CDs, DVDs, Games, Books and Tech by clicking below. Why wouldn\u2019t you?<\/p>\n
\nMaintain<\/b><\/h3>\n
\n![\"Start](\"http:\/\/192.168.3.178\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/startselling.jpg\")
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![\"SHOP](\"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/SHOP-NOW.png\")
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