The following is a guest post by Brooke McAlary of Slow Your Home.
“Bottom line is, if you do not use it or need it, it’s clutter, and it needs to go.” —Charisse Ward
When was the last time you were given something for free?
It may have been a gift with purchase, a deal sweetener, or an added bonus at no extra charge. You may not even be aware of it, but I can almost guarantee you’ve received at least one free item in the past 12 months. I know I have.
And aside from adding to our collection of Things We Didn’t Want or Need, what is the purpose of these freebies? They are designed to get us to buy.
More specifically, these giveaways are designed to rope us in to buying something we may or may not need, just so we can score a free doodad that we definitely do not need. They are designed to make us feel as though we’ve come out winning.
How often do you gratefully accept these freebies, only to toss them out months later because, strangely enough, it wasn’t what you were buying in the first place and, shockingly, you have no use for it?
Me too.
Recently I decluttered my bathroom cabinet. In there sat my well-used travel toiletries bag. Next to it were two brand new toiletry bags I’d been given as promotional offers. For free. Of course.
Needless to say, they were added to a box bound for the charity shop, but they left behind a sinking feeling. Donating these items and ridding myself of their burden will not help anything if I keep accepting the freebies.
Maybe you’ve seen these free offers before. Maybe you even have a few of them floating around your home. Maybe even more than a few:
- Beer glasses
- Key rings
- Pens
- Drink bottles
- T-shirts
- Hats
- Tote bags
You’ve probably been handed these free items at the checkout, or when redeeming a coupon. You may even use these items regularly.
So, what’s the harm?
The truth is, these items are not free.
There are, of course, the resources used in their production, money spent on the marketing campaigns and wages to pay those who sell the actual products you’re buying.
But there is also a major cost to you.
Sure, you paid no (extra) money for it and you may even make use of it. But did you need it in the first place? Was it necessary? Or is it simply contributing to the clutter that stresses you out?
At some point you will have to pick it up and decide where to store it or how to rid yourself of it. And to be honest, I think your time is more important than that. Your well-being is more important than that.
The status quo will not change and marketing campaigns will continue to include these freebies, unless we start sending the message that, “No, we don’t want this.”
So next time you’re offered something for free, try saying no. See how it feels.
That’s what I did recently when I was buying some make up, and the result was… interesting.
Shop Assistant: “And you get a really nice tote bag for free.”
Me: “Oh, no thanks. I don’t need another bag.”
Shop Assistant: “But…it’s free.”
Me: “Oh, I know. But I don’t need it. Thanks though.”
Shop Assistant: “But… it doesn’t cost you anything. I can give it to you right now. You could give it to someone for a gift. It’s actually really nice. And it’s free.”
Me: “Uh, no, thanks.”
Me: “Can I have my make-up now?”
Now, as I’m two years into my simple living journey, I have cleared out, decluttered, de-owned, sorted, donated, and thrown away thousands of items. And looking back, I find myself wishing I’d said no a heck of a lot more.
What are your thoughts on accepting freebies?
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Brooke McAlary is the founder of Slow Your Home and the creator of the helpful Slow Home BootCamp, where she helps others create the simpler life they want. Connect with her on Twitter.
Image: Vincepal
This not only applies to taking free things home from promotional offer, but from family and friends. My husband I both have parents who load us up on stuff that they can’t bear to throw away or donate everytime we visit. My own father has made me take home truck loads of items from the basement. I had to stop at a dumpster and unload before making the 14 hour trip back home. Please people, for goodness sake, stop trying to unload your unwanted stuff on family and friends!!!
I absolutely have to agree! To the point when I had to fly overseas to visit my parents in my Homeland Country; Australia to visit my mum who had Cancer with only months to live. She filled my suitcases up with her clothes, shoes and costum jewelry. All of which I didn’t need but given she wanted to clear out her wardrobe to avoid my dad having to undertake that task in a few months time. So I reluctantly agreed and accepted all of these unwanted / unneeded items! Only to push me into the Over Weight Luggage Fees B4 boarding the train to visit another family member! So I offloaded a heavy pair of shoes ( left them next to a trash can and said to attendant; I hope a Homeless person finds these :) which brought my luggage to a correct weight.
I’m sure a Charity Shop would have appreciated all of these items more! But thought it was the least I could do to please her at this last visit. To my surprise; upon my arrival these shoes were tied to my luggage by their shoelaces. I guess I had a kind Staff attendant:) ? However, upon arriving at my next family members home; I pulled everything out and let her choose any items B4 we drove the rest to the Charity Shop with the exception of 1 top and that pair of shoes. To which I never wore either yet it occupied my closset space for over 3 years until I donated them too! Imagine if I’d kept it all and then added to my other travel purchases; I’d have been digging deep in overweight luggage fees. So I’m glad I offloaded these items that filled a empty suitcase meant for my vacation purchases.
Following another recent overseas move; I took advantage of joining the Serious minimalistic club :). Within 1 month I’d Sold off everything I didn’t need or feel an attachment to and it had many positive results. Not only did these sales increase my Bank Account by £3,000.00, it reduced my relocation bill by £5,000.00, I’m now living surrounded by items which gives me a lot of pleasure :). I must admit; There was 2 items I regretted selling, 1 of which the buyer was happy to sell back to me at same price I sold it to him for and the other item my daughter will buy to gift me for my Birthday :). So I’d suggest you only part with items not bringing you positive feelings! The rest can go unless it’s filling a must have need in home! If you haven’t looked at it, used or worn it within 6 – 12 months then it’s unlikely you’ll miss it if it was gone! Another thing I now undertake since joining this minimalistic club is;
I only permit myself to bring into the house items if I can discard / take that same amount of item out of the house! Same goes for my clothing wardrobe. That way I don’t return to a house of stuff again. Live with only what you love is my new moto I’m now living and Boy does it feel and look great! Less is Best. You can’t miss what you can’t see; Try it; Who knows, you might actually learn to like it like me :)
It’s a good point but putting the stuff in the landfill isn’t the answer. Gets it out of your immediate vicinity but it’s still yours, its just rotting now over there in the dump.
We can only go forward though. When you donate, much goes to the landfill anyway. But we can go from here and think before we acquire things.😊
When my kids were young, they would receive lots of free small gifts from everywhere. As they started school, we decided to go through those bins that held them and clear them out. It opened up so much space in my kids small rooms. The key is going through and clearing out regularly. It’s not necessary to go through everything at one time. Creating a plan and pacing yourself will help keep you from feeling overwhelmed. Get rid of those small things is a great first project to start downsizing. Great post, thanks for sharing.
I take free things if I will actually use them. The best item I ever got for free was from my bank. I walked in one day and they were giving out free electric citrus juicers to new customers. I just said “Wow I could use one of those. Too bad I’m not a new customer”. The teller said here take one. I used that juicer for years until it died. I loved that juicer. They don’t sell that brand anymore so now I use my trusty fork. That said, I will turned down free “junk” every time. For me junk is anything I personally will not use. Also, if I take it and it sits for more than a month, I donate it. Sometimes I do make mistakes.
I agree. These items are not free. I don’t want anything I haven’t specifically gone out to buy. If I am not there to buy it, then I don’t need or want it. It is just more stuff for landfill. I find I only buy food these days. I rarely need or want anything else. It is so freeing and makes me really happy to be satisfied with what I have and to have given away about 70% of my possessions. The less I have, the happier I have become. Great post. Thanks for making us think about this!
I like to take these items (unless they are truly crap) and put them straight in my donation box. That way someone who needs it will likely eventually get it and it doesn’t really take me any extra time or effort.
I like that idea! The item already exists, so why not get it to someone who can use it who might not be able to get it otherwise?
I always take free canvas bags. They are great for loading up and giving away the items I’m letting go of. Nicer than handing off a wal mart sack.
We made a family rule after our massive moving purge (75% of our belongings are gone) not to accept free things whether it’s from a store, or a person looking to get rid of something. The exceptions are that it must be in good working order–not needing ANYTHING—and it must be something we were planning ahead to buy.
We had so much crap to get rid of that we never bought. We had lots of land and storage and become the drop off for everyone else. NO MORE!!!
My mom died and I got a lot of her stuff. I gave away her clothes and I have nearly everything else. My husband died and I still have tons of stuff. I have given away a lot including his clothes. It’s so hard to let go of things. Every part of the Bible that says not to store Up things where moths and dust corrupt and thieves break into steal…so even more in biblical times there must have been knick knacks
Unless you were planning to get one anyway, be cautious of cell phone company promotions
that offer free tablets with a phone purchase. The tablet may be free but if you accept it you usually will be paying for a contract on it, even f you never use it.
Why do detergent companies put in a plastic scoop..it irritates me no end..one free scoop is enough to last a lifetime…imagine the amount of plastic and also cost to the environment and consumer?
Buy liquid or make your own ;-)
There’s no hard and fast rules that you should take everything offered or refuse everything offered to you free. Growing up being offered anything for free put me in a dilemma as there was a double bind imposed on me. I was expected to refuse politely no matter how much I wanted the freebie on offer and then eventually capitulate. Now I live by different rules for my mind’s sake. Say yes when you mean yes and no when you mean no.
Free items also include those from info booths at health fairs, senior awareness fairs, and from casinos. The stress is dealing with the junk – pens, info flyers, bookmarks, pencils, hand sanitizes me, etc. “Free” gifts from casinos have a cost, our $$ we gamble with. The cost – bills that accumulate cause one can’t pay cause one spent all their $$ for a “free” casino gift. Plus the gas to get there. The family stress as well. It’s not worth it. And also, buffets. Why do people think it’s their right to sneak food out?! It’s not free for the taking?! Plus it’s embarrassing when you’re with those people who take.
I was happily reading this until you said you were buying makeup. Why do women feel they need to wear makeup? When will our culture get to a place where a woman can feel attractive without makeup? Men seem to get away with it. Also, makeup is WAY overpriced and often requires animal testing.
I don’t know if every woman feels that they “need” to wear make-up. Some women probably just prefer to wear it—as do some men.
That’s a whole Different Point but you are right that make-up is sooo overpriced.
I do look better with make up and I like to see myself in The Mirror looking good
We have become the dumping grounds for several family members who want to “bless” us with things they don’t want, but think we could use. The truth is one of two things: the items have sentimental value for them and they don’t want to throw them away, or they have an overarching packrat mentality, and while the items aren’t important to them, they just can’t bear to get rid of anything.
The problem is that while I would like to pass these items directly on to goodwill, my spouse also has this overarching packrat mentality and can’t bear to let anything go, whether it was “free” or we paid for it.
Do we use this, do we need this. Excellent questions. Time for some clandestine de-cluttering sessions.
I feel for you. I too have family members who gave me stuff because they couldn’t bear for it to go to strangers.
In one year I will be downsizing from an 850 sq. ft. house to a 11’6″ by 14′ room and a tiny bath. All my kitchen items will have to go as I will be sharing a kitchen. Furniture, linens, all the supplies one needs when running a household will have to be relinquished. So I will be boxing up things and donating them. Household cleaning supplies will be added to the established household inventory. As someone who loved domestic chores I know this will be hard but I will be grateful that people who love me want me in their lives and present, so the stuff I need to dispose of is just that – stuff. Stuff will never take the place of real people, with their love and presence.