Prepping for travel often includes buying things you need: an international wall adapter, a tent, packing cubes, puffy jackets, or beach dresses. And while many of these items can continue to have a purpose after your trip, others end up collecting dust.
When it comes to decluttering, it’s important to be honest with yourself about where you are in life. Were you an avid camper ten years ago, but now you’re more of a homebody? Did you buy a ski outfit for a trip to Mt. Hood, just to learn that skiing is not for you?
When an item is no longer serving you, and you don’t foresee it serving you in the future, it’s time to pass it along to someone else who will use it and love it.
Clothes
Clothes may be one of the easiest places to start when it comes to decluttering—not because it’s easy to choose what to give up necessarily, but because the change is tangible. Picking through items one by one and sorting them into different piles can make a big dent in the haphazard mess of a closet bursting at the seams.
For clothes, start by making four piles: keep, donate, sell, and toss (or upcycle if you’re willing to get crafty). That ski jacket that you’re not ever going to use again as a beach-loving Floridian? Or that old pair of skinny jeans that are not your style anymore? It might be time to donate, sell, or swap if they’re in good condition.
Gear
Depending on the type of travel adventure you like to embark on, it might be time to consider decluttering your gear closet. Outdoor recreation sports often require specific gear—ropes and harnesses for rock climbing, paddles and life vests for kayaking, bike racks for mountain biking. If these sports don’t call to you anymore, it might be time to pass gear along to another.
For gear that is in good working condition, try selling it on online marketplaces. Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist are common options for local trading. If you’re an REI Co-op member, you can return your purchase to the store, where it will join the REI Garage Sale area for used gear. If you’re not a member, try selling it to an outdoor consignment shop. The shop will take a percentage, but you won’t have to deal with the stress of selling it yourself.
Timing is an important part of selling gear since lots of outdoor sports are tied to the seasons. For instance, in states that get snow, mountain biking peaks during summer months when the trails have dried. Don’t try to sell your bike in December—it will take much longer to get a bite.
Travel Souvenirs & Home Decor
One of the fun things about traveling is getting souvenirs and home goods to remember the trip. Souvenirs can be cute knick knacks, a bottle of regional wine, shoes, earrings—anything under the sun, really.
When decluttering these items, similar rules apply: Does this item still bring me joy? Does it still serve a need or want in my home? Or is it taking up space and doesn’t belong anymore?
Lots of travel souvenirs and home goods are cute in the moment, but if you’ve walked into any Goodwill, you’ve probably seen the rows of kitschy knick knacks from bygone vacations. While thrifters will often walk out with functional items—like glassware and clothes—many souvenir décor items may gather dust on secondhand store shelves.
For items you already own, try to find a home for them by passing them along to other people in your life. Does your uncle or nephew really like birds? They could be a good candidate for that bird tchotchke from that vacation five years ago.
If you’re tired of looking at your souvenirs on a shelf and can’t bring yourself to declutter, try giving them new life as something else. Perhaps your uncle or nephew has enough bird knick knacks already. Can you add a little string and make that small bird tchotchke into a Christmas tree decoration? Getting creative can help declutter your shelf without ridding you of that precious memory.
Additionally, if you have a crafty disposition, try reworking that souvenir blanket into a new item. Not only will you have a one-of-a-kind dress, shirt, or purse, you’ll be creating new memories out of something old. Let your imagination run wild!
Save Yourself the Heartache: Not Buying is a Sustainable Act
It’s easy to fall into the trap of buy, buy, buy—especially when we are on the vacation high. But what’s better for the planet, your wallet, and eventually your heart when it comes to decluttering down the line is to simply not purchase unnecessary items. You love it because it is cute right now, but will you love it later when you return home? Is this purchase an impulse, or do you foresee it being a long-term joy?
When purchasing, the rule of thumb is to buy only what you love or what will have a function in your home. If you have an eclectic interior design style, then purchasing wall art or unique bookends are a great addition to your home. If you’re more of a minimalist, then perhaps these aren’t for you—but a hand-carved Swiss army knife might be!
Taking a breath and asking yourself if you really want it, is a healthy act. Because if it is an impulse purchase, you are saving yourself the eventual heartache of decluttering later.
