30 Comments

Also thank you for specifying that donated items should be in good shape and clean! It bugs me to no end when I see people donating items on buy nothing groups that are disgusting or broken. Don’t donate garbage!!

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Agree, thanks for this callout Anna! Remake wrote an article about what happens to unusable items that are donated to charity (What Happens to the Clothing Goodwill Can’t Resell?) with some helpful guidelines for donating.

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You're so welcome Soph! x

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You’ve just stopped me from selling my Sophie Hulme bag - thank you for doing the Lord’s work x

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HA! Hold on to that damn thing!!!

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This describes a lot of what I have been doing over the years! I find this time around my struggle has been: time. With a young child that (wonderfully) sucks up my energy, it’s hard to prioritize this decluttering. Also, my weight has changed so much in the last two years that I’m so hesitant to rid myself of things 🥲

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I feel you on this one. It's strictly a post-7pm activity for me! x

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Every single time I see this color-coded chart, my OCD makes me fall a little deeper in love with you! hahaha. Saving this one to share with my subscribers, specifically for the last part because I get asked for tips to sell all the time!! Happy New Year lovely!! Xx

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Thank you so much for reposting Liza! It means a lot! x

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This is inspiring! As a long time Anna viewer and blog reader decades ago, I miss this content! Glad I got to read this. 😊

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Aw thank you Pearl!! x

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I feel like I start every comment with 'I love this!' but I do!!

This is something I struggle with, because of my ND brain, I tend to go at it like a madwoman and then regret donating things that I find out I wanted. I now have a space in my spare room that is designated 'think about it' space so I am not so quick to donate. It gives me breathing space.

Since following you, my style has changed dramatically and I am in a happy place now with what I know I like to wear, so the whole decluttering is becoming easier. I now buy better pieces that fit my style and they then last longer.

Bag decluttering is hard though - they're my weakness!

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Oh Sarah I love this!! So glad that you've found the newsletter helpful. A 'think about it' space is SUCH a good idea! x

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HNY Anna! So happy to see this pop up in my inbox! Love the point about a piece having a story and sentimental value. I haven’t considered this in my clean outs and you know what I can totally relate to letting go of something and then regretting it because of the story behind it. Taken note! ❣️

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Happy New Year Emily! Wonderful to be back x

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PLEASE come to my house and get my life organized 😂 you are so very smart to remind us all to hold on to some sentimental items because my heart has BROKEN when I think about the things I’ve consigned that I want back.

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Let's hold space for the ones that got away 🥲

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Wooohhoooo Anna’s back! HNY 😘

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I'm back!! Right back at you Morgan x

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Yes, I've been having withdrawals... ;)

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This was so helpful and I love the idea of keeping things with a story, since I really agree — they make you, you! When you say you keep your wardrobe around the 200 piece mark, I'm curious if that includes jewelry, accessories, practical items like winter boots, etc. I was so surprised to learn I had over 200 pieces (all in) when I started Indyxing since I have a pretty small closet space!

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Great advice with an actual plan thank you

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Just finished my declutter! Inspired by you. THANK YOU. we have very different styles (me: casual, quirky, "Sex Education"!) But I love your wisdom and everything you write! I've even got Notion!

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This closely aligns with the way I clean out closets for people. I always have them set aside a box for archive items, those items that you want to keep forever, but will never wear and are just taking up space, for example, a parent’s sweater or your high school jacket. I resell in person, through closet sales-my next one is in February, excited!

Excellent article, Anna! 💕 your closet is lovely, although I see so much space to put things, ha ha ha ha.😁

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I can be a hard-core declutter and I like the line you’re walking here. It feels so well thought out to avoid regrets and also to avoid repopulating a now empty closet. Thank you so much for this!

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Hi Anna, I was wondering whether I should subscribe to your Substack. I read your free posts with interest.

I currently feel in a style rut inspite of an enormous wardrobe and would appreciate some advice. However, I am 67 and am not sure you would be able to help. Should I take the plunge???

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