When moving to a tiny home, space is at a bare premium. All those “things” I kept around and never used needed to get the heave-ho.

“Take only what you need to survive, Princess Vespa!” I kept reminding myself. But then I remembered that my name isn’t Vespa and I’m not a princess. Oh well.

When cleaning out, I did it in short bursts. When I got really discouraged, I watched the Best Damn Cleanup Motivational show in the world, ever. That got me juiced enough to dump stuff I was sure I really needed.

No, really. I need that.

Like in the show?

Yes, but this is different.

Really? Like how you yelled at the screen, “It is friggin busted and old, THROW IT OUT!” and they kept it anyway and you were like, “Ooohhh, dummy!”

Uh, yeah.

So…?

So, I’ll throw it out.

Good man.

Clothes

Yes, yes, of course donate them, even if it doesn’t matter. Remember, if you really, really, really, really need something you can always buy it again later. No, seriously.

• If you haven’t worn it in 6 months/a year, GONE.
• If it doesn’t fit — too big or too small, GONE. (Buy a new one when you’ve slimmed down/bulked up).
• If has holes, busted zippers, missing buttons or tears or seams are coming apart, GONE.
• If it has stains and has been sitting in the “I’ll fix it” pile for more than a month, GONE.

Books

I love books and I have a BAZILLION of them. So, this was hard. Here are the general rules I used. Some stuff I donated to the library (they hate me now), and other stuff I just recycled.

• If it is a school/college textbook, GONE. No, I don’t care; you can use the interwebs if you really want to look up how many electrons are in the outer orbit of Sodium.
• If it is ripped, missing cover, pages falling out, soaked with coffee, moldy, or otherwise damaged, GONE.
• If it is a technical book that is more than a year old IT IS OBSOLETE. GONE.
• If it is outdated (“How the economy will crash in 1985”), GONE.

Newspapers/Brochures/Flyers

Recycle them all, I’m not kidding. If you can’t be bothered to recycle them, then just landfill. You aren’t going to read those things you’ve been saving, ever.

Magazines

WTF? 99% are GONE. There better be a damn good reason to keep one, and consider keeping only the pages you need.

Organizing tubs/geegaws

You don’t need them. You’re going so small, you won’t have anything to organize.

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