01:07 29-11-2025

Declutter your home: how clutter quietly drains finances

Изображение сгенерировано нейросетью Dall-e

Psychologists reveal how clutter—from storage closets to old wallets—breeds stagnation and harms your finances. Learn ways to declutter and regain momentum.

A home can look inviting even if it hasn’t seen a deep clean in a while. Yet psychologists say clutter weighs on your finances more than it appears at first glance. Things that linger in closets for months, old just-in-case items, and piles of unused stuff create an atmosphere where money seems reluctant to stay.

Here’s a closer look at the household zones that most often turn into traps for your well-being—and why clearing them out matters.

Storage closets and balconies: the most treacherous corridors of the past

In a typical apartment, the storage room easily morphs into a museum of unfinished business. Old wallpaper, boxes, tools, things “for the country house”—they foster the feeling that nothing is moving. The balcony often becomes a second, larger version of the same.

Psychologists note that the fear of parting with what you don’t need is rooted in a fear of change. But it’s precisely these stockpiles that tend to slow progress. The more unused items around you, the heavier the atmosphere—at home and in your decision-making.

A practical fix is to sort everything into three baskets: sell, donate, toss. The rule “if you haven’t used it in a year, let it go” proves remarkably effective.

Objects with stagnant energy

Artificial flowers, dried arrangements, decorative wreaths may look pretty, but they’re static. They don’t change or grow—and don’t shake up the energy of a room. Live plants, on the other hand, bring a sense of renewal. That’s why psychologists advise choosing green companions that please the eye and act as quiet symbols of growth.

Other people’s belongings: the invisible freeloaders of your space

Left-behind jackets from friends, forgotten boxes from relatives, or a keepsake from an ex—all of it takes up room and creates an emotional backdrop you didn’t choose. Such items reflect unresolved issues and blurred boundaries. They literally keep someone else’s story parked in your home.

The remedy is simple: make a list, return things to their owners, and anything that can’t be returned should go to charity.

Empty and worn-out wallets

Financial psychology makes an obvious point: a wallet mirrors your relationship with money. A shabby, frayed accessory broadcasts a sense of lack. A few empty wallets tucked away in drawers become reminders of past chapters you’ve already closed. Replacing your wallet and keeping bills neat works at the level of habit—and gradually rewires how you handle expenses.

A vacuum bag that keeps “waiting its turn”

The dust in a vacuum isn’t just household waste; it signals something left unfinished. Cleaning was started but not completed. The longer old debris sits inside, the more it feeds a sense of stagnation. Emptying the bag right after you clean is a small, meaningful act that restores control over your space.

A wardrobe full of what you don’t wear

Dresses “for someday” and sweaters “that might come in handy” are a classic story. In practice, unworn clothes are a signal that the money spent on them is simply hanging in the closet. A wardrobe audit often brings back a sense of freedom—and can even put a little cash in your pocket if you sell what you don’t need.

Leftovers after a renovation: a symbol of unfinished business

Paint, tiles, strips of wallpaper—familiar to anyone who’s ever updated a home. We tend to keep them “just in case,” but more often they simply fill space and whisper of a job not quite finished. When a home is full of reminders of past projects, it’s harder to move forward. Closing those loops matters—for tidiness and for the inner feeling of completion.

Home as a mirror of your inner state

Clearing space isn’t just about cleaning in the usual sense. It’s a way to tidy your thoughts, lower anxiety, and create a place that welcomes the new—in work, relationships, and finances. The pattern is easy to spot: less clutter, more momentum.

Order at home starts with a single step: let go of what is no longer part of your life.