by Kate Holmes

A recent study came up with what, to me, is a call to action. The study said that the average American owns 52 things that, if they evaporated tomorrow, the owner wouldn't miss.

As a career consignment shopkeeper, that number doesn't shock me. In fact, I think it's probably low. Why we all (including this career consignment shopkeeper!) give house space and attention to possessions we don't care about is a bit of a mystery. So, like the good little mystery writer and researcher I am, I decided to de-clutter my life of 52 things in front of the camera. Maybe this will inspire you to do the same. Here goes:

Step 1: Clear the Decks.

I've cleaned off my drawing table in preparation to showing you all the stuff that I simply do not need in my life. I'm going to go through my house and let you watch as I realize I own a lot of things I don't need.

I will restrict myself to my personal stuff only. That's mainly because I have no kids at home and my main squeeze refuses to let me touch HIS stuff. 

I'm also going to NOT show you the electronics and the furniture I don't need. Let's just stick to home items and closet clutter, at least this time around.

Step 2: Run around like a madwoman.

The first place I started grabbing from was the china cabinet in the same room. In ten minutes, I piled up a set of rush placemats and another set of oh-so-tasteful plastic placemats. I also found 3, yes 3, hurricane lamps left over from a charity event I helped organize, and a glass ice bucket molded like an old oaken bucket...cute, but I can't recall the last time I needed an ice bucket. The fish tray's another "cute-but-never-used" item and the ornate wall shelf/bracket has been a decorative piece upside down in corners of many rooms over 25 years. Time to let someone else enjoy it.

Oh, and the purse: red and black wool. I love it, but I live in southern Florida, and there is not a season in the year when a wool handbag looks just right. (No, it wasn't actually in the china cabinet. It was in the back of my car 'cause I'd already decided to take it to the consignment shop.)
Count so far: 9 items in 10 minutes. Not bad. (I'm counting sets as one item.)

Step 3: Digging a (bit) deeper.

I'm already slowing down. I found a dozen feather-covered balls inside a decorative box and threw them into one of the hurricane lamps.

A pair of oblong Mid-Century bowls, a salsa bowl whose tortilla-chip plate is shattered history, and two hand-crafted bowls from an art fair are all I come up with on a second trip through the house. I'm getting worried: will I have 52 unnecessary things in my life to show you? Am I allowed to count the feather balls as 12 things?
Count so far: 13 items in 20 minutes. At this rate it'll take me all day to find 52.

Step 4: Raid the purse drawer. Always good for a laugh.

Okay, now we're cookin'. Rainbow stripe tote (I kept the purse and the cosmetic case that match.) The black patent bag from Saks Fifth Ave NWT. Four black vintage handbags (how many does one woman need?) and a yoga knapsack. I have never in my life taken yoga and ain't about to start.
Count so far: 20 items in 3 minutes. I'm on a roll here.

Step 5: Into the closets she goes.

Time to confront the closet. The cute chenille fairy-bunny-ballerina reminded me to be whimsical, but I've absorbed the lesson. Two sweaters, a jean skirt, 4 t-shirts. Satin mules worn to one wedding, ticking-stripe flats too uncomfortable to ever wear. Blue tote, straw tote, and (practically invisible in the photo) a wire-art shopping bag in honor of my past profession.

I passed the bookcase on the way, found 10 books that I should pass on so others can love them too, and the sea gull is another had-it-long-enough let-it-find-a-new-home sitaround.

Astute readers will notice the wool handbag's gone. My sister came by in the middle of all this and claimed it. In its place, she left a straw Stetson, brand-new, that she bought at a garage sale. Great, but way too big for anyone we know.
Count so far: 44 items. Will I make it? Sis and I adjourn for a little refreshment. This getting rid of stuff is hot work (and dusty, too, but that's another story.)

Step 6: Finally 52.

After our time out, Sis helps me tackle the jewelry box. Anything she says "I've never seen you wear this" goes in the pile. Sis knows her, or my, jewelry.

Stunningly, she fingers exactly 8 necklaces and bracelets (I am not letting her near my earring collection!)

And, drum roll please:
There's 52 things I own and do not use or enjoy.

It took some doing for me to get to 52. How about YOU?

That's it. You don't have to REcycle if you remember to PREcycle: really think about what material possessions enhance your life, and which just clutter it up.

Want to see what I did with the 52 Things after I collected them? Here's the REcycle list.

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