Waste Not, Want Not

We often have the mindset of "Waste not, want not," which is usually an admirable mantra.  It was definitely important during the Great Depression when food and supplies were scarce.  I remember my grandmother keeping three leftover green beans in a tupperware container in the refrigerator.  We used to tease behind her back.  Later, I realized she was a product of the Great Depression and they just learned to never waste any food.

It's different now.  Lori Morerro, of The Clutter Diet book and online program, ends all of her Youtube videos with "May you always be grateful for having more than enough."  We DO have more than we need.  For most of us, we cling to the waste not, want not for little reason.  Of course, we don't want to waste money or food if we can help it, but clutter is different.  If you're hanging onto things in your home that take up living space just because you might need them someday, it's OK to let them go.  In our culture, it's relatively easy to buy another someday, rent, or borrow the thing.  Is it more wasteful to let it sit gathering dust or to let it go?  I would advocate donating.  It's not wasting it if someone can actually use it.  It's wasteful to hoard items you don't use, in my opinion.