The Retirement Newsletter: Sixty-plus tips to help you declutter — part 2 of 2

Issue Number: 168 (21) — more tips on how to tackle decluttering in your retirement

Photo by Author — hints of autumn?

Welcome

Welcome to issue 168 (21), where I conclude my sixty-plus tips on decluttering.

Last week — Sixty-plus tips to help you declutter — part 1 of 2 — I looked at three of the nine types of decluttering:

• Physical Decluttering

• Digital Decluttering

• Mental Decluttering

And I viewed these three as the big three — the must-dos of my decluttering.

This week, I am looking at:

• Emotional Decluttering

• Financial Decluttering

• Time Decluttering

• Social Decluttering

• Spiritual Decluttering

• Environmental Decluttering

Decluttering

So, to continue:

4. Emotional Decluttering

This can be viewed as part of Mental Decluttering, and I have not fully engaged with this type of decluttering. The following comes from mainly what I have read about decluttering.

Forgiveness:

1. Reflect on Past Grievances: Identify and acknowledge past hurts. I have tried this, and it doesn’t do much for me.

2. Practice Forgiveness: Use techniques like writing a forgiveness letter (you don’t have to send it). I have certainly not tried this.

3. Focus on the Present: Concentrate on current and future positive experiences. This is certainly something I am doing.

Healthy Relationships:

Again, I have not fully engaged with this as part of my decluttering.

1. Evaluate Relationships: Assess which relationships are positive and which are toxic.

2. Set Boundaries: Establish clear boundaries with those who drain your energy.

3. Invest in Positive Connections: Spend more time with supportive and uplifting people.

5. Financial Decluttering

I have spent some time working on financial decluttering. It’s an important task, and I did most of this before I retired; hence, it was not part of my ‘big three’.

Budgeting:

1. Track Expenses: I am using an app to track my budget, which is not giving me as much insight as I had hoped. However, it may be more useful when I complete my first year of retirement and the fluctuations in spending across the year are smoothed out.

2. Set Financial Goals: I have defined short and long-term financial goals. However, these are still heavily influenced by being in ’saving’ mode. I will say more about this in a later newsletter.

3. Review Regularly: The articles I have read about budgeting stress the importance of regularly reviewing and adjusting your budget. I'm doing this, but it is tricky with my month-by-month variations in spending.

Simplifying Accounts:

1. Consolidate Accounts: I have combined multiple bank accounts and credit cards, which makes my banking much easier.

2. Automate Payments (Direct Debits) : We regularly do this in the UK, and I have included it here, as several pieces I read on financial decluttering suggested automatic payments. You should look into it if you haven’t set up automatic payments — a great time saver.

3. Review Subscriptions: I have cancelled numerous unnecessary subscriptions and memberships. I regularly review them.

Decluttering Debt:

I was lucky in that I have carried no debt into retirement. However, several pieces I read talked about decluttering debt, and the advice can be summarised as follows:

1. List Your Debts: Write down all your debts, including interest rates and minimum payments.

2. Create a Payment Plan: Use methods like the snowball or avalanche to pay off debts.

3. Seek Professional Help: Consult a financial advisor if needed.

6. Time Decluttering

This was an essential step in decluttering — time decluttering. Again, I did this before I retired; it would have been in my “top three” if I hadn’t.

Scheduling:

1. Prioritise Tasks: Use a to-do list to prioritise important tasks. Tick, done.

2. Time Blocking: Allocate specific time blocks for different activities. Tick, done.

3. Avoid Multitasking: Focus on one task at a time for better efficiency. This one was mentioned in several decluttering articles. I can see the argument for not multitasking, but at the same time, I can see an argument for bringing tasks together. For example, group all the tasks you must do in town together and make one trip instead of several.

Reducing Commitments:

Again, this is important:

1. Learn to Say No: Politely decline non-essential requests or invitations. Done and doing.

2. Delegate Tasks: Delegate tasks when possible to free up your time. This only works if you have someone you can delegate the task to!

3. Evaluate Commitments: Regularly assess your commitments and let go of those that no longer serve you. This is good advice, and I have followed it.

Productivity Tools:

1. Use Apps: Use productivity apps to help you. Tick, done.

2. Set Reminders: Use reminders to keep track of deadlines and appointments. Yes, I am doing that.

3. Review and Adjust: Regularly review your productivity strategies and make necessary adjustments. Again, this is something I am doing.

7. Social Decluttering

I see an overlap between social decluttering and Mental and Emotional decluttering. They all appear to be interlinked. However, several things I have read seem to separate them and stress the importance of social decluttering.

Evaluating Social Circles:

I have always done this, but it can be a worthwhile exercise.

1. Identify Key Relationships: Focus on relationships that bring joy and support.

2. Limit Toxic Interactions: Reduce time spent with people who drain your energy.

3. Seek New Connections: Join clubs or groups that align with your interests to meet new people. This can be particularly important as we age and is something I’m looking into doing.

Quality over Quantity:

1. Deepen Existing Relationships: Spend quality time with close friends and family.

2. Be Present: Practice active listening and be fully present in conversations.

3. Plan Meaningful Activities: Organise activities that foster deeper connections.

8. Spiritual Decluttering

We are now into the home stretch, and number 8 is Spiritual Decluttering. Again, this is an area I have not focussed on.

Practices and Rituals:

1. Daily Routine: Incorporate spiritual practices like meditation, prayer, or yoga into your daily routine.

2. Create a Sacred Space: Designate a space in your home for spiritual practices.

3. Read Inspirational Materials: Read books or listen to podcasts that inspire and uplift you.

I have done none of the above three.

Aligning Values:

1. Reflect on Values: Regularly reflect on your core values and beliefs.

2. Make Value-Based Decisions: Ensure your actions and decisions align with your values.

3. Seek Guidance: Consult spiritual or philosophical mentors for guidance.

I have reflected, and I like to think I make value-based decisions. However, I have not sought guidance other than to discuss issues with friends.

9. Environmental Decluttering

Finally, the environment.

Eco-friendly Practices:

1. Reduce Waste: Practice recycling, composting, and reducing single-use items. This, for me, is a work in progress.

2. Sustainable Purchases: Choose eco-friendly products and support sustainable brands. Also, a work in progress.

3. Energy Efficiency: Implement energy-saving practices at home. This I have done. I installed a smart heating system two years ago, and it has been great. The house feels warmer in winter, and I have been saving money.

Minimalist Living:

1. Adopt a Minimalist Mindset: Focus on quality over quantity and the essentials in life. This is another work in progress and is central to my decluttering.

2. Declutter Regularly: Periodically review and declutter your belongings. This one is ongoing.

3. Simplify Decor: Opt for simple, functional, and aesthetically pleasing decor. Again, something I am working on.

So, that is over sixty tips on decluttering.

How is your decluttering going? Have you got any additional great tips? Please let me know in the comments.

This week in the Retirement Hustle

This week in The Retirement Side Hustle Newsletter, I discussed How much money I made in July 2024 through my various side hustles.

This was my third financial report on my retirement side hustles, and it revealed an interesting and telling story. It is worth a watch.

The Retirement Side Hustle Newsletter is subscription-based. However, each video comes with a free minute or so that allows you to confirm the content, and if you take out a free subscription, you get full access to one edition.

Travel — Nostalgia Corner

This week, it is back on the temple trail in Angkor Archaeological Park, Cambodia:

• Cambodia — Day 3: Preah Khan (ប្រាសាទព្រះខ័ន), Angkor Archaeological Park, Angkor, Cambodia — part 1 of 2 — Back on the road. Day 3 of exploring the temples in Angkor Archaeological Park.

• Cambodia — Day 3: Preah Khan (ប្រាសាទព្រះខ័ន), Angkor Archaeological Park, Angkor, Cambodia — part 2 of 2

• Cambodia — Day 3: Preah Ko (ប្រាសាទព្រះគោ), Angkor Archaeological Park, Angkor, Cambodia — And the rain continued!

• Cambodia — Day 3: Bakong Temple (បាគង), Angkor Archaeological Park, Angkor, Cambodia — Another temple.

• Cambodia — Day 3: Lolei (ប្រាសាទលលៃ), Angkor Archaeological Park, Angkor, Cambodia — Temple number 10.

After my tenth temple of the trip, I was just about ‘templed out’. However, I did find that I enjoyed the smaller temples more than the larger, well-known temples, such as Angkor Wat.

Next week, some more on my time in Siem Reap.

Next week

Next week, in issue 169 (22), a summary of my adventures in decluttering.

Thanks

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Until next time,

Nick

PS: If you would like to contribute a story, give advice, or provide anything else to the newsletter, please get in touch.

Please note: I am not a financial advisor. When I write about money and financial matters, I base my opinions on what I have read over the years about money and retirement preparation. IT IS NOT FINANCIAL ADVICE.