End Clutter Accumulation: 100 Things To Do Instead Of Shopping

Last updated on August 17th, 2019 at 03:40 am

You worked so hard to shrink those piles of clutter, don’t re-clutter! Use this list of 100 things to do instead of shopping as a way to end clutter accumulation in your home. Every time you get tempted to fill spare time with shopping, look at this list and do something on it instead.

I made a printable version of this list that you can download for free when you subscribe to my weekly newsletter.

(Links in this post are affiliate links. I will be compensated when you make a purchase by clicking those links. See my disclosure page for more information)

End Clutter Accumulation: 100 Things To Do Instead Of Shopping

Me and my redhead runner! I love running way more than shopping! 

Get Some Exercise

1. Take a hike

2. Go on a bike ride

3. Take a class

4. Go for a walk

5. Borrow some equipment and try something new

Every month my husband and I plan a date day! Spending money doing things together is so much more fun than spending money on things that become clutter.

Plan Something

6. Plan a trip

7.  Write out a plan for a new stream of income

At a loss for ideas? Check out this list of 19 Ways To Make Money Using Your Smartphone

8. Write a bucket list for the next season, year, five years

9. Plan a home renovation

Here are the ways my husband and I save money on home renovations 

10. Create several menu plans and corresponding grocery lists

This eBook has excellent menu planning advice

11. Create a personalized cleaning routine you can stick to

I LOVED the cleaning routine advice found in this book

12. Create more printable plans that can save you time and prevent decision fatigue by automating as much of daily life as possible.

This past Christmas we hosted a cookie decorating party for the two-year-olds in our Sunday School class and their families. We had so much fun!

Spend Time With Someone

13. Skype, Facetime or Zoom with a long distance friend

14. Meet Someone for coffee

I use gift cards earned from InstaGC to fund my Starbucks habit

15. Exercise with someone

16. Complete a project with a friend or your spouse

17. Open up your house to others. Have people over for dinner, dessert, a movie, coffee–the ideas are endless.

Complete A Project

18. Make a list of all the projects you already have all the supplies for and then finish them

I love reading magazines and I get all mine for free (more on how below). However, I give myself strict rules–no keeping back issues and when I get behind more than one issue, I have to toss all but the current one in the recycling bin. Of course, since I get them for free, I don’t feel guilty doing this.

Read Something

19.Read a book

If you like Christian fiction or non-fiction, you are going to want to sign up for MyReadersRewards where you can earn a free paperback book each month just by doing a few simple tasks.

20. Read a magazine

I get all my magazines for no money out of pocket through RecycleBank. It doesn’t take long to earn enough points for a year-long subscription to magazines like Real Simple, Better Homes & Gardens, and Country Living.

Listen To Something

21. Listen to an audiobook

Did you know that audible offers a free two month trial?

22. Listen to your favorite music

23. Listen to a podcast

Watch Something

24. Watch a movie

25. Watch a series

26. Watch another person’s life unfold on YouTube

Learn Something

27. Learn a new skill

Sign up for a free 7-day trial of Craftsy Unlimited and learn a new craft for free.

28. Improve skills you already have

29. Study the classics

Clean Something

30. A room in the house

31. Detail clean your car

32. Tidy up the yard

I finally took some time a while ago to update most of my social media profile pictures

Organize Something

33. Create a capsule wardrobe for the current season

34. Organize your kitchen cupboards into zones. Coffee stuff in one area, spices in another, etc.

35. Clean out your computer

36.  Get rid of junk photos off your phone and your computer

37. Update your social media profiles

38. Empty your email box

Create Something

39. Bake

Not a great baker, but love eating the goodies? Try my 5 no-bake recipes that require minimal cooking skills.

40. Cook

41. Art

42. Crafts

43. Write A Book

I wrote a book on Thrifty Living.

44. Create A Digital Product

Facebook Market Place is an excellent way to make money from your clutter.

Sell Something

45. Furniture

46. Hobby items

47. Clothing

48. Art and crafts

49. Throw A Yard Sale

Here are all my tips for throwing your best yard sale yet!

One of my favorite games is battleship.  Click here for a list of board games our family loves 

Play Something

50. Board games

51. Cards

52. Sports

53. Download a few game apps to your phone

This recipe for Lavender Coconut Body Cream is so simple to make and really soothes dry skin.

Treat Yourself To At Home Spa Treatments

54. Bubble bath

55. Manicure and/or Pedicure

56. DIY facemask

57. Foot soak, scrub and moisturize

58. Watch makeup tutorials on YouTube and try a new look using cosmetics you own

59. Watch hair tutorials on YouTube and try a new look using hair supplies you own

This winter my husband and I had a “tourist in your own town” date day and tried out a locally owned restaurant. 

Be A Tourist In Your Own Town

60. Attend a local festival

61. Sign up for a local 5k and train for it using the couch to 5K app

62. Visit a local park and enjoy its services

63. Visit your local library and borrow a book, audiobook, DVD, etc.

64. Go to local museums

65. Go to local art galleries

Here are 7 ideas for swap item parties that you can throw with your friends.Remember to take only items you need and donate the leftovers to charity. That makes these parties clutter free for everyone.

Do Something Green

66. Upcycle an item

67. Host a swap party

68. Look up DIY green cleaner recipes and try one that uses ingredients you have on hand

It really doesn’t take much to lift the spirits of the people you encounter in your daily life–here are 7 simple ways.

Touch A Heart

69. Write an old-fashioned snail mail letter of thanks and send it

70. Send someone an encouraging text

71. Volunteer for a local cause

72. Bake up a double batch of cookies and give half of  them to a neighbor

73. Send an email to your favorite blogger full of reasons why you love their blog

74. Spend a few minutes leaving comments on social media posts of those you follow that don’t seem to be getting much love.

Enjoy The Simple Things

75. Take a nap

76. Get up and dance to your favorite music

77. Grab a cup of coffee, find a place to curl up and just do nothing

78. Sing along to your favorite song as loud as your lungs allow

79. Build a fort, even if you don’t have little ones to play in it with you

80. Turn off the lights, light some candles and contemplate life

81. Get out the photos and have fun remembering when

82. People watch

83. Write a gratitude list

Fix It

84. Change the light bulbs

85. Mend the clothing

86. Grease the squeak

87. Tighten that screw

88. Touch up that paint

Almost every budget can be improved upon–here is how to audit yours.

Improve Your Financial Future

89. Make a budget or revise the one you have

90. Set a savings goal

91. Think of ways to generate more income

Here is a list of ways you can use your laptop to make income from home.

92.  Sign up for point reward programs where you can earn points for doing things you already do online and cash them in for gift cards

Here is a list of 15 different websites and apps that you can use to earn gift cards.

93. Download and start using these money saving apps when you buy groceries

Here are 6 apps that will save you money on your groceries.

94. Perform an expense audit

Here are tips on how to tune up your budget.

Binge

95. Watch an entire season of  a TV series in a weekend using Netflix, Amazon Prime, or Hulu

Did you know you can get a free 30 day trial of Amazon Prime, which includes Amazon Prime Video?

96. Go to the library and get out an entire book series and read for hours each day until it is done

97. Pick a podcast and download the whole series to your phone (or as much as possible at one time) and see how many walks, runs, etc. it takes you to finish it all

98. Pick one recipe book out of your collection and make a new recipe from it every week until you reach the last one

99.  Watch the entire archives of your favorite YouTuber over the course of a few days, weeks, or months

Just the other month I went through my wardrobe and found an entire box of stuff to giveaway. 

Because This List Wouldn’t Be Complete Without Adding This

100. Declutter deeper

Since this is a post about how to stay clutter free, it wouldn’t be complete without adding to it the free pursuit of tossing more stuff.  Life changes, and therefore your needs for specific items change too. Always be actively re-evaluating everything you own.

For more decluttering tips and support, join the Snail Pace Decluttering Facebook group. 

Need decluttering help? Check out these posts

• 52 Weeks To A Simplified Home: A Realistic Decluttering Plan For Busy Families
• How To Start Decluttering When You Feel Overwhelmed
• How To Declutter Even When You Don’t Feel Like It