When you have to move to new accommodation or get a paint job done in the house, do you feel that there are houses within your house? Whichever closet you open or whichever drawer you slide out, they are stuffed to the brim. You could actually furnish two more dwellings with the amount of things you possess. Well, don’t fret! Most of us get swept away by the tide of materialism. Just read on – help is at bay:
1. Label storage
If you want to find your stow-away, label it – be it cartons, bags, boxes, suitcases, etc. It could have a main heading, such as “winter-wear for kids” followed by maybe three or five names of clothing groups inside, for example: “sweaters, stockings, jackets.” Select the room you want to place the storage in and keep a diary or record of it room-wise. For example: “kid’s bedroom, box 1 – kid’s winter-wear.”
This might seem like a laborious job initially, but you will know exactly where to find stuff even months later. Believe me – it’s worth it, if you want to use your possessions timely!
2. Keep an inventory check
It is best to consciously observe the things we use the most and in what numbers. For example, if you have loads of outfits gracing your wardrobe, break them into such categories as casual wear, party wear, formal wear, etc., depending upon your real needs (not wants).
Anything beyond your actual need should be considered surplus. You may gift it or donate it to family, friends, servants or the less privileged around you every quarter or even on a monthly basis, if you can.
This assessment will help you keep an inventory check on your belongings. Try this formula for everything you own.
3. Try the one year retention plan
Sorting and deciding what to keep, what to chuck out and what to give away is a common challenge.
An effective method to resolve this issue is to follow the one year retention plan. Keep your stuff for one year. After that, carefully assess how many times you have used your belongings during that year. If it is frequent, clearly, you are in need of that particular stuff. But if it is seldom, you may reduce its numbers (e.g., crockery). In case you have one annual party every year, you can keep your favourite dinner set and donate the rest. When your party time arrives, order the extra dinnerware from outside. The cost of storage and maintenance of this stuff is greater than the cost of annual rental.
Similarly, this technique will help you identify the stuff you haven’t used at all and can easily part with.
4. Do not arrange for additional storage space
Believe it or not – not having a big storage space is actually a blessing! You will have all your possessions within sight and efficient usage. Most of the stuff lying in storerooms and warehouses just eats dust and cobwebs, until more room is needed for newer storage and, eventually, the older one is thrown out in a miserable condition.
Make a strict rule for yourself to keep in your closets and cupboards only what you can safely manage. No cellars, basements or store rooms needed.
5. Broken things are not a bad omen
It takes a great deal of sacrifice to part with our beloved possessions. But caution! This is a real Iman tester. As soon as we are afflicted with some material damage, Satan starts drilling into our head what a calamity has just occurred and spells dooms day!
If things break, just learn to say: “Inna lillah e wa inna ilaihi rajioon.” Allah (swt) had planned for this to happen. Look at it positively – one thing less to be accounted for before Allah (swt). Otherwise, after we die, lying in our graves, we will be held accountable for the tiniest spoon we own, while others would be merrily using all of that stuff we have left behind.
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