The 'life-changing' tip that helped 'hoarder in training' finally declutter her wardrobe

Decluttering the home can be hugely challenging, especially if particular beliefs about your belongings are holding you back.

That has been the case for Amber Guttilla who revealed the tip that helped stop her being overwhelmed by clutter.

In a TikTok video she explained that feeling like she was wasting money stopped her from getting rid of things like clothes.

Watch the video above.

"The advice that really helped me go from 'hoarder in training' to 'I'm actually pretty good at getting rid of [stuff] now is... the idea that a lot of times we don't want to get rid of something because we feel like 'Oh it's a waste of money because I didn't get as much use out of it as I thought I was going to get'," she said.

"Or at least if you're like me that's how I feel; the sunk cost fallacy – I spent money on it and therefore I should keep it to try and get more wear out of it or more use out of it."

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Guttila explained she came across the advice on TikTok that the money was wasted long ago when you bought the thing you're holding onto.

This means that the things you want to declutter are just taking up space.

"I was so like, they're right... That little tiny piece of advice has helped me get rid of clothes and shoes and just any type of thing so much easier."

The advice proved helpful for a lot of people who watched the TikTYok.

"Seriously, it did something to my brain in such a duh way and I love it," one said.

"This has healed something in me," a woman commented.

"Girl I needed this so much!!! Two trash bags full now!!! Thank you!!!" wrote a TikToker.

"'The money is already spent'… it's very true and it helps so much but almost to a fault for me. I need to be more mindful about what I'm spending the money on," another wrote.

Others revealed there's another belief holding them back.

"My fear isn't that I wasted money now it's that if I get rid of it and then need or want it again in five years I'll waste the money a second time," one said.

"This is the one for me. 'What if I need it later'," a woman wrote.

There are two good hacks for combating this, including the $30 rule.

The rule is if the item you don't use but fear you might need later costs less than $30 to replace then get rid of it.

If it will be expensive to replace or that hack doesn't work for you try putting the item into a bag with the date in six or 12 month's time on it. Then if that item has still not been used in your chosen timeframe get rid of it because you've proved you're not likely to need it.

For some, it's the guilt and concern for the environment over sending items to landfill.

"My problem is I don't want to contribute to destroying the environment by throwing things away," one said.

The main suggestion others gave was to try giving it away through a local No Buy Facebook group.

Other options are to donate to a second-hand store or retailers that collect old clothes and toys or look online for recycling initiatives that take various items like fabric, mattresses and paint cans.

Unfortunately for some items it's likely landfill is where they'll end up.

"Someone said to me 'it's going to the land fill anyway eventually'. Whether you pass it on to re-sale or what have you, it's going there anyway. You are just prolonging the process by keeping it – but your home is not a landfill," a woman said.

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