Beware of Free Stuff that Isn't Really Free

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If you want a simpler life, you need to learn that free stuff isn't free.


Think of all the swag out there:  mugs, pens, flash drives, tote bags, magnets, bottle openers, bumper stickers.... Your friend might offer you their unused bread machine.  You may get a tee shirt for participating in that charity Fun Run.  Or a co-worker gives you a Secret Santa gift.


It's a constant stream of new possessions.


free gift



Here's the problem.


What's the downside of freebies?  Aren't they a sign of generosity?  And isn't it just a little exciting to buy some (overpriced) makeup and get a cute little bag full of samples?


If the items add value to your life, maybe you can accept the kindness.  After all, why buy a bunch of new stuff when your sister offers you all the baby gear her youngest has outgrown?


But if it's stuff you don't need, it just winds up cluttering your home, office, or car.  And be honest – how often is a freebie something you've needed?  Most are cheap novelty items.  A lot are branded, so you become an advertisement for your insurance agent or whoever sponsored your most recent work conference.  And free "gifts with purchase" are simply designed to get you to buy more.


Just because something is on offer doesn't mean you have to take it, even when it's urged on you.  Even when others think it's odd that you're not grabbing all you can.  You're not a five-year-old at your friend's birthday party.


Free stuff isn't free:

  • It weighs you down and clutters your space.
  • It distracts you when you're looking for something else you actually need.
  • It requires a decision about where to store it or what to do with it.
  • It's not an expression of you or your values – in fact, it may be an ad or a bribe.
  • The production of all of these trinkets uses (wastes) a ton of resources.

Perhaps most importantly, saying yes to things you don't want or need sets a pattern for adding more stuff without thought.  Isn't that how your life got so cluttered in the first place?  If you want to prevent clutter from creeping in again, you have to become aware and intentional about acquiring something new.


So declutter all of that unneeded free stuff.  While you're at it, declutter any unused gifts, no matter who gave them to you.  Maybe someone else will be delighted to use them.


Why not start your decluttering journey with all of the freebies in your life?  Mentally and emotionally, the easiest things to remove are the things you didn't pay for or choose for yourself.





SIMPLE BEGINNINGS book
Look for my new e-book on Amazon, Simple Beginnings: 15 Tiny Steps Toward Minimalism.


* Thank you for supporting this blog with your purchases, which may earn me a small commission.


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