What Is It Costing You To Keep Too Much Stuff?

March 27, 2025

Whether you’re on a tight budget now, you’ve experienced being very poor at a time in your life, you’ve experienced generational trauma about money, you’ve spent good hard-earned money on something, or you’re a naturally frugal person, decluttering always brings up thoughts about how much things cost. You may feel guilty for wasting money on something, or you may not want to let something go for fear of having to buy it again. Some people hold onto too much stuff because they don’t think they can afford to buy it again (or they don’t want to). These are all very valid concerns. It can be really hard to know if you’ll need something. And deep down, even if you know there is a 99.9% chance you will never need something again, if you don’t think you can afford to buy it again, you may decide to hold on to it. You may think that choosing to keep things you know you don’t need is inconsequential. But is it really worth it?

Your Bank of Stuff

The majority of the things you have in your house probably have a lot of value to you, because they are psychologically serving as money in the bank for you. These could be materials that you could turn into beautiful art. They could be figurines or fancy dishware that you figure you could sell on eBay if times get really tight. Or maybe you’re hanging on to to things to have a yard sale one of these days. Maybe you have building supplies that will come in really handy for your next home project. Or perhaps you have a collection of emergency supplies, just in case. (I sincerely hope everyone has at least some water stashed away for emergencies).

I’m not a minimalist. I’m someone who always likes to be prepared and have the necessary supplies, keeping a certain amount of stuff makes a lot of sense to me. I love to have a good stash of wood scraps and cardboard to reach for when I’m doing an art project. I know how nice it is to finally be able to use a piece of fabric I’ve been saving for several years. I love to be able to reference a book that I haven’t needed in a decade. The problem is, when your bank of stuff is too full, it is much more of a liability than an asset.

What It’s Costing You

Banks charge fees when accounts aren’t managed well. If your home is your “bank of stuff”, think of excess clutter as overdraft fees. You’re paying in stress, lost time, and even in real dollars! You may think that choosing to keep things you know you don’t need is inconsequential. But is it really worth it? Here’s what your clutter is costing you:

-Storage fees. Logically, if you calculate the cost of your mortgage/rent/tax payments/ and/or other home expenses, and divide by the square feet of your home, you can calculate how much it costs you to keep certain things. Multiply this by how many years to see the long-term cost. Or maybe your stuff has outgrown your home and now you’re renting space at an off-site storage unit.

-Replacement costs. You may be paying to replace items you already have, but can’t find. Or maybe you’re having to pay late fees on bills because they are lost in the clutter.

-Mental and emotional frustration for not being able to find the stuff you need. You may experience stress, anxiety, overwhelm, depression, guilt, regret, or other emotions that prevent you from being truly content. This could cause any number of health issues!

-An inability to relax and focus- or a tendency to disassociate and not be able to live in the present.

-Mild allergens from dust and mold which could eventually turn into severe respiratory issues. You may also experience other health issues because you can’t cook healthy food because your kitchen is too full. Or you may experience health issues because your body is mirroring the clogged passageways of your home.

-Lowered self-esteem because you’re surrounded by too much stuff. This may result in limiting beliefs about what you deserve, which will certainly affect your earning potential.

-You may feel trapped in a large home when in reality you really would prefer to live somewhere smaller (and less expensive).

-Loneliness because you isolate yourself from other humans due to embarrassment about your stuff. This may result in over-shopping, over-eating, or over-indulging in other ways, all of which will cost you.

-Tripping hazards.

-Fire hazards and blocked exits.

-No safe entry in case paramedics need to come.

-Having too much stuff may be stealing your joy.

All of these costs are absolutely priceless. When you’re weighing weather or not to keep things, instead of thinking about how much something cost, or how much it would cost to buy it again, you’ve got to also calculate the bigger picture cost.

Refilling Your Bank

Instead of thinking about what you might lose, consider what you might gain—more space, mental clarity, and financial freedom. Letting things go from your home can actually improve your metaphorical financial portfolio of your bank of stuff. Letting things go can result in improved mental, emotional, and physical benefits! The key is to go at the pace that is right for you. You may experience some regret. You may give something away and then realize you need it later. You may have to buy something again. This is all part of the process. You’ll make mistakes, but the cost of these mistakes is extremely minor compared to the overall gains you will experience when you can balance your assets. Decluttering isn’t about loss- it’s about reclaiming your space, time, and peace of mind. What’s one item you’re holding onto out of financial fear that you could let go of today?