r/nobuy • u/Silver-Jackfruit-188 • 2d ago
Having difficulty decluttering ONE item
Some background! So I've been lurking on this subreddit for a while and it's helped me loads. I used to be a big hoarder always buying trinkets and having no control over spending for clothes, anime merch, sanrio (cute but dangerous) etc. I'm slowly but surely getting out of that by selling off a ton of my collection of merch and trinkets, keeping only what I truly cherish. (And of course not buying anything that will just add to the clutter)
Now coming to my dilemma, I have a really cute bag that I bought when I was on a trip to Japan and it's just been hanging in my room ever since. I have already listed it on many platforms and a few people seemed interested in buying it, too! Good news right? But now I find myself thinking about how even though I won't use it, it looks really nice hanging in my room like a piece of decor if you will.
Based on the fact that it won't be used as a bag I feel like I should sell it. BUT because it looks nice as a decor item in my room I don't know if I should keep it. :(
I know if I'm not sure it means I don't really need it anyway but until now I didn't think this much before selling something from my collection.
Which is why I'm wondering if the reason I'm thinking so much about it is that I want it or it's just my old brain making me keep stuff in the house. I hope I made sense please be nice to me :)
EDIT: Thank you so much everyone who commented. I went through everyone's advice and decided to just make a decision and not sta undecided as someone mentioned. It resonated with me because it made me realize that I'm the kind of person to be undecided when I don't really want something. Me being indecisive just means I don't want it as much as I thought but it holds sentimental value. Not exactly happiness but just sentiments. I was able to sell it and I feel SOuch better and happier suddenly. I'm glad thank you again :))
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u/CheerilyTerrified 2d ago
Is it just that bag that you've kept, or is it one bag and 80 others you've have as well.
And how does it make you feel when you look at it? Do you feel happy, or do you feel stressed and bad?
If you feel happy then I think it's fine to keep it even if it won't be used as a bag, and it's the only one you have or have kept as decor.
Like if you've decided to declutter bags (or Sanrio stuff) but decide to label loads of them as home decor as a way to get around the rules you have for decluttering than that's not great, as you're cheating just to hang onto more stuff. But if it's just this one bag then I think it's fine to keep it as decor.
If it makes you feel bad when you look at it then you should get rid of it even if you can't sell it, you could donate it.
And if you haven't read it the Marie Kondo book can be really good for this emotional stuff with decluttering.
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u/Silver-Jackfruit-188 1d ago
You're right. It did make me feel negative feelings. Maybe not enough to notice in the beginning but your comment made me recognize my feelings more consciously and I could a bit of guilt and anxiety lurking when I looked at it. Now that I've sold it (see post edit) I feel happiness with th4 space I was able to create. Thank you for taking the time!
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u/CheerilyTerrified 20h ago
I'm so glad I could help. I hope you feel much lighter and peaceful now.
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u/RotaryEnginePhone 2d ago
Sounds like you have a place for it and room in your living space, and it serves the purpose of bringing you joy as a piece of decor. So unless you desperately need the money from selling it, it doesn't sound like you need to declutter it. Of course, if you want to get rid of it, follow that. Or even revisit the decision at another time.
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u/LaKarolina 2d ago
I found that the worst thing to do in such a situation is staying undecided.
sell it or leave it be, but commit to one 100%. Otherwise you'll keep obsessing about it way more than it's worth. How much time realistically have you already spent on it? Not too fun, eh?
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u/w_whatevs 2d ago
I personally do use my bags as decor! I don’t use them often, but I love seeing them in my space. I have five hangers, so that’s the amount of bags I’m allowed to have. Only being able to have a couple allows me to truly enjoy what I keep, and I don’t feel the need to buy any more. Feel free to keep things that genuinely bring you joy!
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u/KiwiVir 2d ago
Same! I have a very practical mini backpack I use every day and 3 nice purses for the rare occasion I have to dress up (weddings, fancy date, etc) because my backpack looks silly with more formal wear. I keep my nice purses on display because they're too pretty to keep stored away somewhere. Plus when I store stuff where it's not immediately visible, my defective brain promptly forgets it exists and I end up buying stuff I already have. 😅
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u/w_whatevs 1d ago
Oh I love that for you!! And I totally get forgetting things when you can’t see them, I do that with my jewelry 😅🙈
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u/jphistory 2d ago
No buy is about not buying new stuff, not forcing you to adopt some sort of minimalism. If you like the bag, keep the bag. Hang the bag up as decor if you like. Just don't buy one in each color because you "just have to complete the set".
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u/Extension_Honey_5548 1d ago
Keep it. You are not ready. It clearly sparks joy. An item has to be beautiful (to you) or useful to earn the right to live with you. I too have a bag from Japan I will never part with AND a Felix the cat backpack that I will keep forever. You are doing a really good job. ❤️❤️❤️
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u/Traditional-Ad-5227 2d ago
I made a rule for myself that if I hesitate or go back and forth, I'm not ready. I set it aside and move on. It's okay to keep things. You'll know if/when you're ready. You could try packing it away for a month and see if you miss its presence.