8 Things You Can Buy that Don’t Cause Clutter!

Decluttering our homes is something I'm really passionate about (obviously, LOL!).  But something we don't always think about is how to maintain that.  Probably the most important piece of keeping your home decluttered is being super careful about what you bring back in!  We still want to treat ourselves sometimes, though, ya know?!?  Just because we don't want to buy a bunch of “stuff” to store in our homes doesn't mean we can't buy other things to make ourselves feel good or treat ourselves!  Keep reading or watch the video for 8 of my favorite non-clutter things to buy for yourself or gift to others!

1.  Experiences

This idea isn't a new one, but I couldn't not mention it because it really is a great idea!  Experiences give you memories, time with those you love.  That lasts forever, without a single thing to store!!!  Here are some of my best ideas for experiences:

• Travel– could be something expensive or just a day or weekend trip.
• Parks, hikes, walks– this doesn't have to cost a thing!
• Restaurants– who doesn't love to eat at a great restaurant they might not always treat themselves to?
• Movie, show, or play
• Zoos, museums
• Berry farms, orchards, or a flower farm– I know I've mentioned this before, but the flower farm was one of my favorite experiences.  It's so beautiful there, you get to take home flowers with you!

2.  Flowers

You can buy yourself or someone else flowers so inexpensively.  You can always spend a bunch if you want, but every grocery store has flowers for lower prices.  Trader Joe's has a great, inexpensive flower section if you live near one of those.  Flowers can be such a wonderful pick-me-up and make you smile every time you see them.  Plus, they are literally going to die, and you will have to toss them out.  They aren't meant to be permanent– just a temporary thing of beauty!

3.  Kindle or Audiobooks

If you're really on a budget, this can be totally free by using library apps like Libby or Hoopla.  I almost always have an audiobook going while I'm doing chores, so it doesn't seem like much of a treat.  However, if you just sit still and listen or read, or maybe do this while taking a bubble bath or relaxing on an outdoor swing, it totally becomes a treat!

4.  Online learning subscriptions or courses

Maybe I'm just a little nerdy, but I just love taking online courses and learning new skills!  You could look at sites like Udemy or Skillshare, and sometimes I'm super interested in courses I hadn't even thought of before!

I particularly love taking courses that will help me use up stuff I already have.  If I've bought craft supplies for something but have just been too intimidated to start, taking a course can sometimes give me the push I need.  Then I'm using up stuff I already have, so win-win!

5.  GOHQ Insiders

I have to list this because people tell us every day how much it is helping them.  There are tons of tools and inspiration here, and you absolutely deserve a home that gives you peace!  A home that is your happy place and your retreat is totally possible for you, and it's definitely one of the best gifts you can give yourself!

GOHQ Insiders is an online community with tons of support and resources for you as you get your home and your life organized.  Insiders have access to tons of printables, monthly planning sessions and challenges, and it's basically a road map to finally getting yourself organized for good!  Go here to see what it's all about!

6.  Consumables

This can be anything that is meant to be used up:

• Food, chocolate, candy
• Bath products
• Candles

One caveat here– actually USE it, LOL!!  How many times do we get a candle or lotion that we just love, and we “save” it for a special occasion?  I have done that SO often, and then sometimes it expires or dries up, and then I have to toss it without ever having really used it!

We deserve to use nice things every day, so this is your encouragement to actually start using the good stuff!  You're worth it!

7.  Spa Treatments

These can make great gifts or treats for ourselves.  Massages or facials are so relaxing.  Or my favorite is getting my nails done.  It still feels so luxurious to me, and then it makes me happy seeing my pretty nails over the next couple of weeks!

8.  House Cleaning

This always felt so extravagant to me.  And sometimes I still feel a little bit of nagging guilt if I have my house cleaned by someone else, but hear me out.  For us, it costs less to have someone else do the few nagging cleaning tasks that I hate than it does to take my family of four to Chick-Fil-A!

It can be such a treat to have someone else give your house the occasional deep clean or to do a few tasks that you just hate doing.  Plus, it's all done at once, and then you have a sparkling home!  If I set out to do deep cleaning, it can literally take me weeks.  By the time it's all done, it's dirty again where i started, LOL!

House cleaning is a great treat to yourself or an out-of-the-box idea as a gift for someone else.

After decluttering, it can be so easy to fill our homes back up with new stuff, so we have to be really intentional about what we bring in.  That doesn't mean we can't still buy stuff for ourselves or treat ourselves…but it helps when we think differently than we used to!  What are your ideas for non-clutter things to treat yourself?

Organization that sticks for busy, happy lives.