All the Fixins

I love getting a new item of clothing or a piece of furniture. But it seems like every new item now comes with little extras: extra buttons, extra screws, extra parts. For me, it turns the joy of purchasing a new item into a real chore, as I am now tasked with finding a place to put all of these little bibs and bobs. 

I recommend one of two choices: either get rid of them or have one bin labeled “spare parts” kept in a garage or shed. I personally choose the former. Please don’t judge me, but it is so rare that I would ever even use these spare parts that having them take up any space in my very small home is not worth it to me. 

If you do keep a “spare parts” bin, then before you throw each item in, label them so you know which item they go with. A piece of masking tape with the word “Black Jacket” wrapped around the little plastic baggie with one button in it will enable you to easily find it when you need it. In addition, if and when you no longer have that black jacket, you can declutter the bin easily by getting rid of the buggers you no longer need.