You’ll Re-Buy a Few Items Over Time, and That’s Ok

This is part of Stewie's Guide to Ruthlessly Declutter Your Clothes Today.

Can I tell you something about myself?

I love books. Always have. Over the years, I’ve bought hundreds of them—some carefully chosen, some impulse purchases, some that I fully intended to read but never did.

And, over the years, I’ve also donated hundreds of books.

I can count on one hand the number of books I later regretted giving away. Maybe three, at most. And you know what? I simply repurchased them. No big deal.

I used to worry about making the “wrong” decluttering decision as if I had to predict with perfect accuracy which books I’d definitely want in the future. But that’s impossible. None of us can predict exactly what we’ll want or need down the line.

So here’s what I’ve learned: When you declutter hundreds (or even thousands) of items, you might regret letting go of a few. You might even re-buy a couple. And that’s Ok.

It’s far better to occasionally re-buy something than to keep mountains of clutter that make your home feel overwhelming and unlivable.

The Strange Way Decluttering Saves Money

Here’s the part that surprised me: decluttering actually saved me money.

Before, I had so many books stacked on shelves, nightstands, and in random piles that I’d forget what I owned. More than once, I bought a second copy of a book I already had—not because I loved it so much, but because I couldn’t find the first one buried in the chaos.

Now? I know exactly what I have. I buy fewer books because my collection is intentional, not just a storage problem waiting to happen.

And it’s not just books.

This Applies to Clothes, Too

The same logic applies to decluttering clothes. If you get rid of hundreds of items, maybe—just maybe—you’ll end up re-buying a few down the road.

And that’s still a win.

Because in exchange, you gain a closet that isn’t bursting at the seams. You gain the ability to open a drawer and easily find what you need. You gain a home that feels lighter, calmer, easier to live in.

And that trade-off? It’s more than worth it.

So, if fear of regret is holding you back, let this be your permission: You don’t have to declutter perfectly. You just have to start.

Because creating a spacious, peaceful home is worth far more than holding on to hundreds (or thousands) of items.

Next steps…