With Christmas just around the corner, you’re probably thinking about getting your home ready for the festive celebrations.
Putting up Christmas decorations can make you see your home in a completely different light. If it’s already cluttered, you might struggle to find space for your tree or wonder if you’ll have room for the presents you are likely to receive on the big day itself.
Here are some things which can help you reclaim some space and get ready for Christmas:
You may want to consider putting some of your furniture and belongings into storage to create more room at home for your Christmas decorations and any guests who may be visiting you. Andrew Porter Ltd has affordable and cost-effective storage and you will only pay for the length of time you need. All you need to do is give one week’s notice when you decide you no longer need your unit. If you book your space online now, you will also receive a 50 per cent discount on the first eight weeks. If you do rent a storage unit, you may also find it is a useful place to store your Christmas decorations and outdoor lights when the celebrations are over.
The run up to Christmas is a great time to take a look at your belongings and work out what you need and what you don’t. If you don’t use something and it isn’t adding value for your life, rehome it. This could mean donating it to a charity shop, selling it on an online marketplace or recycling it. If you have any coats or warm clothes you no longer want, check to see whether there is a homeless shelter in your area looking for donations.
One method for working out what to do with your items is to think about them as strangers, acquaintances or friends. Strangers are items you definitely don’t want or need, while acquaintances are things you think might be useful but don’t really use. Both strangers and acquaintances should be donated, recycled or sold. Only objects you use regularly or couldn’t imagine your life without should be seen as friends and they are the things you should keep.
If people ask you what kind of gifts you’d like for Christmas, think of things which won’t add to the clutter. Making a list of suggestions which you actually want or need will help you avoid having cupboards full of unwanted gifts in 2022. And if you’re buying for someone else, be mindful of the kind of gifts you are giving them. Food gifts, vouchers, tickets to events and experiences are good presents for people who are trying to avoid accumulating too much stuff.
One thing you are bound to be buying a lot of for Christmas is food. The last thing you need when you’re trying to find space for your turkey or a tin of Quality Street are piles of out of date food you’ll never get round for eating. Clear out your fridge and freezer and get rid of anything that is past its best. As a general rule, you shouldn’t keep anything in your freezer for more than three months and items in your fridge need to be disposed of once they are past their use by date. It is also a good idea to go through your kitchen cupboards and check the best before dates on any items. People often hold onto herbs and spices for longer than they should so check your spice rack – if you can no longer smell them, then throw them away.
Piles of paperwork can take up lots of space so consider switching to online statements if you can. Paper bank statements and utility bills only need to be kept for a year, unless you are self-employed and need to keep them as part of your tax return. After a year, you can dispose of these statements but it is a good idea to shred them to keep your information private. If you are self-employed, keep any paperwork for at least 22 months from the end of the tax year it relates to. If you are employed, you should keep pay slips and P45s for at least 22 months from the end of the tax year they relate to too. Insurance paperwork only needs to be kept for as long as it is active – once your policy has been renewed or replaced by alternative cover, you don’t need to keep paper records.
For more information on our flexible self store options, call 01257 482398 or click here to get in touch.
