A minimalist approach to year end: decluttering my house

As the year draws to a close, one ritual I enjoy is a thorough declutter — deep-cleaning the house and letting go of things I no longer use.

Deep cleaning isn’t just sweeping floors or dusting shelves; it’s about identifying items that no longer serve a purpose and deciding whether to repair them (if they are broken), sell them if they still hold value, donate them to someone who will use them, or discard them if they’re beyond repair.

This year I donated countless pieces of clothing — T‑shirts, jeans, jackets, and shoes — to people who will put them to good use. In my view, there’s no point in profiting from people in need of clothes. I also disposed of worn-out items: mismatched socks, socks with holes, and T‑shirts that had become rags. If you wouldn’t wear something yourself, it’s probably not worth donating.

I also made a little money selling an old Logitech C920 webcam I no longer used, and I have another listing for a Raspberry Pi Model 3B that I hope will be sold by next year. Rather than spending that money on day-to-day expenses, I’ll use it to buy shares — a small investment in my future self and a quiet act of gratitude.

The end result is a lighter start to the year: you keep only what you truly use and need, reducing the number of possessions you own and the mental overhead of maintaining them.