Shoes are sneaky. I counted mine yesterday thinking I had 12 pair. And that seems like a lot! But I knew that today’s post would create an opportunity to downsize. Friends….I am doing this challenge with you!
Today, I started counting and found MORE, a total of 18 pairs in fact. I forgot my golf shoes, snow boots, hiking boots and a few others that were hidden in the garage. So, 18 pairs of shoes is DEFINITELY too many.
Looking through the boxes, there were 3 pair intended for warm weather. But I had not worn them in over a year. High quality and barely worn, but clearly not meant to go with my wardrobe.
I’ve looked at these very boxes for several years…stowed nicely on the top shelf of the closet. My closet is not stuffed. There’s plenty of room, but I’m still passing them on. Why?
Because when we hold onto things that we are not using, we prevent them from going to someone who can use them. Perhaps even someone who really needs them. Downsizing isn’t just about being more organized, it’s about being generous with the excess we have. No one needs 18 pairs of shoes. I don’t need 15 either. I may want them, but needs are quite different.
Today, as you look at your shoes, be honest about what you wear and what you really need.
Decluttering Challenge Day 19
- Collect and Count – Gather your shoes in one room. Check the closets and garage…hunt them down! They are hiding from you. Line them up by color and style. Count how many you own. Now, figure out how many will easily fit in your closet. Make this your initial downsizing goal.
- Try Them On – Yes, every single pair. 🙂 Consider these questions: Are they comfortable enough to wear for several hours? Any duplicates or similar pairs? How often do you wear each pair? Has your office dress code changed? Made a career change with new wardrobe requirements? Which ones did you wear frequently last season?
- Toss/Donate/Sell – In this order….throw out the ones that have lived a good life. Worn out shoes are a terrible donation. Don’t do it. Donate good condition dress shoes to organizations like Dress for Success or a local donation center. Lastly, sell online or at a yard sale but set a deadline. Your time is too valuable to spend it managing yard sales. Strive to make better buying choices going forward.
How many pairs of shoes did you find? How many do you own now?
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