Peter Walsh, the
‘get your whole
life organised
guy’, is an Aussie
currently based
in Los Angeles.- bargain shopping
the five types of clutter
The final instalment of Peter’s series concerns
possibly the most difficult form of clutter of all to
conquer. Who can resist a great deal, or three?
But you’ve come this far. Don’t let it all slip away
WORDS PETER WALSHQ
Hi Peter,
I have a problem. I love to shop and
I’m really good at it. I love the search
for a bargain and the thrill of the buy, and I’ve
saved a lot of money over the years. But my
house is lling up, including with things that
I plan to use one day but don’t have room for.
What should I do? Jane, Cheltenham, VicA
Shopping is fun! Actually, it’s more
than just fun. Shopping a sale can
be a smart thing to do, as long as
you’re shopping for something you and your
family need now or in the very near future.
Shopping for things that you imagine you
will need some time in the next few months
or years is where I draw the line.
Jane, your house needs to breathe. If it’s
weighed down by excess that you don’t need,
like bargain-priced bottles of pasta sauce or
can’t-pass-up specials, you may be denying
yourself room to grow in your home. Here’s
how to deal with ‘Bargain Shopping Clutter’.- Price isn’t everything. We love to buy on
sale and do it for a sense of control. Are you
the type who thinks if you buy extra boxes of
sale pasta now, you’ll save money in the long
run, because the family will surely use it one
day? We crave that feeling of preparedness.
It is smart to some degree, but it can get you
in trouble if there’s too much of it. As I always
tell clients – if the price is the best thing about
an item, don’t buy it. Ever! We’re also made to
believe that if we buy the right thing, we’ll be
closer to the elusive ‘happiness’ we seek. This
is especially strong when we’re told that we’d
be silly to not buy it and miss a deal. - Break the chain. Look at why and when
you shop. For many, shopping is recreational,
and often people do it because they’re bored.
Spending an afternoon in air-conditioned
comfort seems free, and the promise of
seeing new things can be hard to pass up.
Sound like you? Instead, think about the
hobbies you’ve always wanted to take up
and enrich your life that way, rather than
accumulating more stuf. These small steps
can change your attitude quickly. - You can’t buy happiness. Have you
ever gone shopping and not seen the
‘SALE’ signs? Realise that if you miss today’s
stocktake sale, end-of-season sale, going-out-
of-business sale or too-good-to-pass-up sale,
there will be another one very soon. Retailers
will tell you that you’re smart if you buy their
stuf – and especially smart if you do it while
it’s on sale. They go to great lengths to
ensure you ‘happily’ give them your money
for that latest item. But ultimately, shopping
won’t make you happy – and you’re smarter
than the stores. Concentrate on what you
can do to improve your life and your
happiness. You don’t need to buy something
to feel good about yourself. Turn into the
person who feels sorry for those friends who
can’t help themselves and buy way more
things than they need. You’re no longer
that person. Your days of shopping for
shopping’s sake are over.
“
THE
SHORT
ANSWER
”
If going to the mall is dificult
to avoid, try this trick: leave
your purse or wallet in your
car’s boot. Sometimes we
buy things because, in that
moment, the deal seems too
good to resist. Take a moment
to breathe and think, then
see if that item is something
you truly need. By thinking
about a purchase, you create
a moment of reflection that
will allow you to ponder
your motives and whether
the item really is a bargain.Peter’s latest book, Let It Go ($39.99, Rodale), is out now. Visit peterwalshdesign.com.130 / Inside Out
INSIDE renovation
PHOTOGRAPHY: TOM FERGUSON. DESIGN: FEARNS STUDIO, FEARNS.COM.AU