Practice Clutter Portion Control on Black Friday!

We are fast approaching the busiest shopping season, starting this Friday! Are you going to bring home gifts for your loved ones, or more "stuff" that will clog up your home? Do you need to participate at all?

In the weight loss world, one of the best tricks to lose weight is to pay attention to portion control. Is a serving really half a cup, but you're eating a whole cup? You can cut your calorie intake drastically by paying attention to portions. Clutter calories are no different! If you come home from the store with less, you have less clutter to deal with later.

Remember when shopping that people make their life's work figuring out how to sell to you, and they are very clever.  Here are some of the purchasing traps that make you buy more than you intended:

• The "one in every color" trap: Make sure you're not being impulsive…will you use them all?
• The "collect them all!" trap: Will you really use and enjoy "the whole set?"
• The "free gift with purchase" trap: Do you need to spend more than you planned to get the free gift? Could you get the equivalent of the free item another way and just buy it alone?
• The "bigger is better" trap: Do you really need the jumbo size or the bundled package of six when you just wanted to buy one?
• The "free shipping" trap: If you only spend a few more dollars, you'll be eligible for free shipping, so you start searching for something else to buy– is this valid logic?  Only if you think of something else you truly needed and intended to buy.
• The "it's on sale" trap: Remember, it doesn't matter if it's a bargain if you did not intend to buy it in the first place.

Good Clutter Portion Control Practices:

• Make a list of what you need to buy and stick to it.
• Shop well before closing time so you won't feel pressured.
• Shop with a friend who can help you curb your clutter appetite when you lose perspective.
• Get our FREE Clutter Prevention Wallet Reminder Sleeves at www.clutterdiet.com/freetips. These printable downloaded sleeves hold your favorite debit or credit card and display the five most important questions you should ask before buying anything!

Happy Thanksgiving, and may your shopping be efficient! Share your favorite shopping tips in the comments.

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