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5 Things I Kept for YEARS “Just in Case”

Tracy Lynn - Declutter in Minutes

4,942 views

Have you ever kept something for years because you might need it again someday?

I used to be really good at this. Clothes I didn’t even like, kitchen gadgets that didn’t work quite as well as I hoped, mason jars from my canning days, gift bags I was definitely going to reuse…and let’s not forget those lonely socks waiting years for their missing partner to come home. 😂

But after downsizing, I started to notice how much all of that “just in case” stuff was getting in the way of the things I actually use. In this video, I’m sharing 5 things I no longer keep just in case, what I do instead, and the two simple questions I now ask when I’m worried I might need something again.

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🥣 MY MASON JAR STORAGE
I still use mason jars all the time for things like soup, gravy, and other leftovers. I just don't keep dozens and dozens of them anymore!

Mason jars reusable lids I use:
https://link.amazon/B02Rjo7xx

Mason jar storage/organizer:
https://link.amazon/B0eqVn91p

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

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👋 Hi, I'm Tracy Lynn.
After moving from our longtime family home into a smaller empty-nester home, I realized something important:
Decluttering wasn't enough.

I didn't just need less stuff.

I needed a home that actually fit the life I'm living NOW.

That's how Right-Sized Living was born.

Here, we focus on creating homes that are easier to manage, calmer to live in, and that fit the life we're living now — without perfection, pressure, or organizing for Instagram.

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#RightSizedLiving #Downsizing #Decluttering

19 Comments

@DeclutterinMinutes Creator 1 day ago Pinned

What are YOU still keeping “just in case”? 😂 Tell me below!
🎁 Grab my FREE Right-Sized Living Guide here:
https://declutterinminutes.com/YTguide 💛

@Kirkyjo 21 hours ago

I’ve been hanging onto this beautiful black dress that is 2 sizes too small. But, just a few days ago, I loaned it to my neighbor who had nothing to wear to her husband’s funeral. So… it came in handy and I’m also losing weight. Down 15 pounds so far 😉

@margaretlake 19 hours ago

There were two boxes in the top of my closet. One was marked dolls and one was marked Can't bear to part with . That box was my kid's clothes I had a sentimental attachment to though I hadn't looked at it since I packed it away. What was I going to do with it? Even my grandkids are grown. More on that later.

The doll box held my beloved Ginny doll from the 50s. But I decided I would pick out a few seasonal outfits and display her. Disaster! Her arms were broken off and her hair was half gone. All but one of the clothes that my grandmother had crocheted were stained and sad. The funeral is this weekend. 😢

But I had decided that since the other box was right beside the doll box, I was ready to let go of that. Imagine my shock when I opened the box and it was filled with my clothes! Then i realized it was an unmarked box and i had probably packed it up with clothes that no longer fit. Well, I actually lost a lot of weight and I may be lucky enough to refresh my wardrobe at no cost to me. In the meantime, I'm on the hunt for the box that I couldn't bear to part with because I'm ready to part with it.

Oh and I have one of those tiny wafflle/pancake makers and i do use it. It's the "right size" for this time in my life. ❤🎉❤

@janetmiller3239 1 day ago

I use those lonely socks to dust my stuff! Then I toss into that trash! Doesn't take long to run out! Love your videos!❤

@lucybanderson5818 12 hours ago

When you mentioned "gift bag" I got a flashback. My mum (84 years old) just recently decluttered her gift bags. She asked me if I wanted some of them. But even though I knew I`ve had enough of them at home, I took about half of them (10 bags in various sizes). It sounds silly at first, however I know that I am able to dump them eventually in my trash can which is something my mum would never do. It was already a big step for her to declutter and being able to "donate" them to her daughter.

@PaulFleming-q5k 18 hours ago

I love your simple way of explaining things.

@sparkey2675 22 hours ago

I grew up in a home where every shelf in a closet, every drawer in a dresser, every cabinet in the pantry were stuffed full, FULL! So many things had to be moved to get something out. So many things went “missing” until they were unearthed when looking for something else. And while I purged my belongings several times earlier in life, I developed the habit of keeping too much anyway. Now I inherited my mother’s belongings and I have my owned combined. My biggest challenge is clothes but also I feel challenged to take out things I knew she cherished as mementos. I have to regularly remind myself that she has moved on and her mementos can too. It’s def a process.

@kimesch9698 1 day ago

I offered my mason jars to my nephew for his outdoor wedding. I told them not to return them. Feel free to give them away with the flowers at the end of the reception. Got rid of lots that way!😊

@cstedtler4964 23 hours ago

I had a leopard print blouse that i like wearing. The Print + the material felt good. Took space on a hanger after it did not fit + was out of style . Kept looking at it. To wear it was gone, the texture of feel still there. ... What to do. i ended up with a sizzor +sewing by hand 2 simple seems a cover for a throw pillow. Opening it with the front buttons to remove. Reached that process by seeing shirt collections made into blankets. My lightbulb for that one item. My Blouse I could not let go was with me a few more years till final Good Bye.

@lisaware9697 1 day ago (edited)

Coats! I grew up in NY but have lived in AR for over 40 years. We do have cold winters here, but I've kept coats and bought more...while typically layer clothes with cardigans when it's cold out.😖
Craft supplies! I reminisce about years past when I felt more needed and productive, so getting rid of these feels like erasing my value as a person. I've purged some of this and it's so freeing, but need to keep up the momentum.

Aspirational clutter, I guess is my struggle?

Thank you for your videos! ❤️

@ennyts3660 1 day ago

Great video, good tips!!!

@gentlejules7255 23 hours ago

I saved my three Hypes for you. Curious if you can see who Hypes your videos. I was getting ready to donate a Mickey Mouse single pancake maker and my 20 year old son recognized it and let’s just say I didn’t donate it and I have been making Mickey head shape pancakes for weeks now. Lol Have a wonderful weekend. 😊

@vernakittleson6904 1 day ago

I just gave my flannel lined jeans too!

@thebestwillow 21 hours ago

Heh, if I lived near you, I'd take that fluorescent teal sweater off your hands! Always a teal day in my life!

@jane4657 1 hour ago

Yes. That tiny waffle is the bomb perfect diet size and cooks fast would have bought off you for Sunday waffle am

@karendouglass4669 22 hours ago

It's a good time of year for me to pass on w coats I gave been keeping for far too long.

@marilynbaton4391 21 hours ago

Haha. My husband has a mini waffle maker and he uses it everyday. Someone will love having it 😂❤

@jane4657 1 hour ago

Oh your such a great motivator. T shirts from 2020 why never wear and so on and so on so for me need cash hope they do make me money my NEW ONE thanks to you ok nobody take then off to donation they go