Welcome to Be Your Own Date - a space dedicated to all things self-care and wellbeing. If you haven’t already done so, I encourage you to take a look at my other posts; I hope you’ll like them and find them useful too! I am building a collection of thoughtful articles, tips and resources to uplift you and get you thinking.

This is the last post in a two-part series on the benefits of decluttering. In this post, I share why it’s also important to declutter to help organise your wardrobe, donate the things that you no longer use, or make extra money! Writing this has been particularly fun, as it brings together my passion for personal finance and personal style. So, if you are interested in a simple way to boost your income, whilst building a collection of timeless fashion staples, keep reading until the very end to discover my top 10 capsule wardrobe essentials.

Why not take a look at the first post in this series too, where I explore how taking the time to declutter can be a useful way to promote self-care? 

I would absolutely love to hear your thoughts and feedback, so be sure to leave a comment below and connect with me on your socials. 

The multiple benefits of decluttering your personal space 

As someone who enjoys the process of organising my personal space, as much as the outcome, it gives me great pleasure to share this post with you. Not to mention the fact that I also get to encourage you (and myself) to consider ways to make more money in an efficient way, which can help motivate us to keep our space tidy - or at least tidy-ish!

There is something very reassuring and satisfying about making a plan and executing it, no matter how big or small the task at hand. Sometimes, we complete tasks in one go and sometimes it takes a few attempts to get things sorted. You will usually find that my home is pretty tidy - this is of course subjective, ha! Yet there are times, especially when I have a lot of things on my mind or am feeling a little stressed, that things can get messy. Does that ring true with you too? That’s why I find being intentional in taking the time to declutter my space can be therapeutic and make me feel good too. And let’s face it, sometimes we tidy up to procrastinate and avoid another task that needs doing, but at least the outcome is useful and easy on the eye! So, decluttering can certainly be an effective way to practice self-care, whether you live in a small space or are fortunate enough to live somewhere more roomy. I hope that you have read my other post in this series where I write about the relationship between decluttering and self-care in more detail.

As an aside, I LOVE watching YouTube videos on interior design and architecture in small spaces around the world. I find it ever so relaxing to watch them and always come away with new ideas, especially around creativity, functionality and sustainability, which might be applied to my own home. New Too Small is definitely one of my favourite channels…

Creative Small Spaces | Video by Never Too Small in London, England on YouTube 

How to declutter your personal space to make extra money

Once you have had the chance to tidy your space and possibly experience the sheer glee of finally finding that thing that you have been looking for, but couldn’t place for ages, what will you do with the things that you no longer use or need? Sharing items with loved ones or your local charity shop is certainly a great start, but how about having a go at selling some of these items too.

Make money online (and offline)

Our ways of living (and working) have certainly shifted over the past few years and the opportunity to make some extra money from the comfort of your own home has become increasingly appealing. The great thing about decluttering is that you can sell the items that you no longer use online and there are many options for you to choose from. I use eBay because I find it quick and easy to list items, to be shared with a wide audience. This post is not sponsored, but it totally should be, right?! Choose the platform that you feel most comfortable with and keep your listings and descriptions about what you are selling honest and detailed for a smooth experience. 

I really want to encourage you to use the items that you already have to make extra money, which should come in very handy when buying gifts for others all year round (birthdays, anniversaries, religious celebrations etc or simply treating yourself). Or perhaps use the extra money to save in pursuit of your personal and professional goals, as well as grow your emergency fund. Have a read, bookmark and share my Saving Checklist for more information. And why not click the ‘Finance’ category from the navigation menu at the top of my Blog page, to discover all my posts related to financial wellbeing if you would like to read more on this subject?!

If the thought of making extra money online is not really your thing, consider selling your unused items at your local car boot sale or clothes exchange, where you can receive cash or vouchers to spend in-store in return.

Tip: Stay focused on selling your items, rather than buying more items. The aim of this exercise is to make some extra money and maintain that beautifully decluttered space that you have been working on. Just sayin’. 

Get started…

Take a step to start making extra money today, whether online or offline. All you need to get started is your mobile phone to take photos, write descriptions and share your listings, paired with a decent internet connection and your favourite brew. You got this! 

A nice place to start when you decide to declutter is your wardrobe, so that's where I will focus the rest of this post. I’m talking about all your clothes, shoes and accessories that come together to reflect your personal style. However, my top tips can, of course, apply to items of furniture, tech or anything that you think someone else might find useful or draw some pleasure from. Preparation is key. So, before decluttering your wardrobe, it is helpful to make some space for 4 piles: 

1. save

2. store

3. donate

4. sell

You may only wish to remove some of your items temporarily and store them safely in your home or elsewhere if you don’t have the space. Furthermore, if you have the room, you may consider hosting your space for storage, which is doubly rewarding in helping someone in your community as well as earning a little extra money. M8share is an online marketplace, where you can do just that, alongside listing or booking rooms, parking spaces and other services. It’s a user-friendly platform that I support and wholeheartedly believe in, connecting people and their spaces with simplicity.

10 capsule wardrobe essentials 

To help keep you focused, prioritise the staple items to save (and possibly invest in) to build your very own capsule collection - the wardrobe staples that will carry you through all the seasons. In particular, pieces that are classic, sustainable, timeless and will look and feel just as good in a few years from now. These capsule wardrobe items will enable you to mix and match to create outfits for a variety of occasions that can be styled in many different ways. Consider opting for fabrics that are breathable and long-lasting when cared for properly, like cotton, silk and linen.  

Tip: If you haven’t used an item of clothing in over a year, reconsider whether you actually need it.

From head to toe, here are my top ten picks to build a capsule wardrobe:

1. Scarf - the ultimate accessory, which can be worn in so many ways. Go bold to brighten up any outfit, like the nautical theme in my photo above.

2. Waterproof jacket - a necessity in the UK!

3. Cashmere sweater or cardi - keep warm and you’ll need fewer layers with this gorgeous fabric. They don’t come cheap, so check out the sales and charity shops for future bargains.

4. Cotton t-shirt in a neutral colour - I like grey, navy and white, or give me a nautical stripe (horizontal, not vertical) and I’m sold!

5. Pair of jeans - you can always dress up or down. My absolute FAVOURITE!

6. Blazer - takes you from work to play, super handy when you want to smarten up an outfit.

7. Wrap dress/tailored trousers - the one piece that you can always rely on.

8. Smart top/shirt - spruce up any outfit - a pop of colour will uplift you too!

9. Smart shoes/boots - “these boots were made for walking…”

10. Trainers - neutral and smart enough for a variety of occasions. You only really need one pair, if only! 👀

If you have enjoyed reading this post, you might also like How to Look Good on a Budget. Discover more of my top style secrets.

So there you have it…decluttering your personal space and organising your wardrobe can be extremely rewarding. Not only does it enable you to practice self-care, but you also have the opportunity to give back to your local community and boost your financial wellbeing.

Tell me, what are your thoughts on decluttering to help organise your wardrobe and make extra money? Let me know in the Comments section below and connect with me on your socials.

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Be kind to yourself. Be Your Own Date.

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Disclaimer: I want you to feel better about your finances, but I am not a Financial Adviser. The content of this blog is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.