It’s that time of year again: No Spend November. What began as a financial challenge encouraging participants to limit their purchases for one month to only the bare essentials has evolved into an important conversation about over-consumerism and its impact on both our wallets and our planet.
As No Spend November encourages us to cut back on purchases, it’s also the perfect time to take stock of what we already have—especially when it comes to our closets. If you’re serious about reducing excess and focusing on essentials, decluttering fits right in with the month’s goals. Clearing out those barely worn jackets and jeans that haven’t seen the light of day in years? That’s one step closer to living a less cluttered, more mindful life.
But there’s more to it than just freeing up space. Decluttering during No Spend November also addresses the environmental impact of over-consumption. Every time we donate our used clothes we are giving them a second life, lessening the amount of waste that ends up in landfills.
You’ve gone through your closet and gathered a pile of clothes ready for donation, but where do they go from there? You might be surprised to learn that only a fraction of donated clothing items make their way into local communities. And it’s not for lack of want—we simply donate significantly more used clothing than the market can absorb. Once thrift stores and charitable organizations have sorted through donations and selected the most in-demand pieces, the rest of the items make their way to companies that specialize in the export of used clothes, where they embark on the next phase of their journey: the global market.
In places like Africa, South America, and parts of Asia, second-hand clothing is a very hot commodity. To these communities, your clothing donations are not only providing an affordable alternative to buying new, but they are also creating thousands of local jobs. From sellers in local markets to small businesses built around sorting and distributing these garments, the ripple effect is significant. Your simple act of decluttering is contributing to an international cycle of fashion reuse for good.
If you’re ready to embrace No Spend November by cutting back on purchases and purging your wardrobe but not sure where to start, here are a few tips to help you declutter mindfully for the greatest impact.
Before diving headfirst into decluttering, take an inventory of what you have. You might even consider creating a simple spreadsheet detailing the items you own and how often you wear them to get a fuller picture of your wardrobe and habits so you don’t part with pieces that you truly love or need.
Once you’ve taken stock, it’s time to sort. Start by creating three piles: Keep, Maybe, and Donate. The Keep pile will include the items you wear regularly and truly enjoy. Think of the jeans that fit like a dream or that comfy sweater you can’t live without. The Maybe pile is for those pieces that give you pause—maybe they hold sentimental value, or maybe they don’t fit quite right but could again one day. And finally, the Donate pile. For right now this pile will include everything you’re ready to let go of but will be further refined next.
Once you’ve collected your donate pile, it’s time to give it another go-over. This step is optional; if you’re ready, simply bag everything for the donation bin. Otherwise, go through everything in the donate pile again and select any specific items you might want to gift to a friend or family. Those too-small name-brand jeans? Chances are you know someone who would love them.
For the rest, separate your donations into clothes that are still clean and in wearable condition, and those that are clean, but too damaged or stained to be worn again. Don’t worry, even unwearable items can be recycled and given a second life!
