Does Purging Help with Spending?

While I'm at home, I've made a list of things I'd like to check off my to-do list. Some seem too big to start, others are just plain overwhelming, and a few manage to fall into both categories.

One task that checks both boxes is purging my apartment.

I've looked at the clutter in certain areas of my home and the bags of papers waiting to be shredded. Unfortunately, neither task inspires much creativity or enthusiasm. And because purging doesn't come with a deadline, you guessed it—it's been sitting on my to-do list for quite some time, continuously pushed aside for more pressing or interesting things.

Sometimes I wish I had a blank slate so I could create my own little show called Big City, Small Town Feel. I would design the ultimate stay-at-home vacation apartment, filled with comfort and warmth.

But that's a conversation for another day. Let me poke that daydream cloud away for now.

Back to reality. How do I begin this big, overwhelming task?

Sometimes you just have to start with bite-sized progress.

And that's exactly what I decided to do.

With the holidays approaching, I figured the kitchen would be a great place to start.

The One-or-Two-Item Challenge

What made this project manageable was agreeing to purge a certain number of items each day until I completed the mission.

In my case, the bar was set very low. Just one or two items a day.

And so began my purging story.

I started with a kitchen drawer. Easy peasy! And surprisingly, it really was.

I removed all the canned and dry goods, wiped down the drawer, and began looking for things that didn't belong there.

First discovery: an old instruction manual for a can opener that was no longer needed.

Success!

I thought to myself, I could stop right now and still be in a good place.

But hey, why not go for the gold and find one more thing?

Within seconds, I found some old restaurant menus we no longer needed.

This was going great! Two items down. Mission accomplished.

Except for one small detail.

I had emptied the entire drawer onto my countertop.

Now I had to put everything back.

Since the items were already out, I figured I might as well check their expiration dates.

And there it was. My first aha moment.

Several items were well past their dates, taking up valuable space and serving absolutely no purpose.

Out came my Target bag. You know the one I'm talking about. That extremely fashionable bag you see someone carrying whenever you glance in just about any direction.

Before I knew it, I had filled an entire bag!

In my head, I jokingly thought, Well, I won't have to purge anything else for a week. I've hit the jackpot!

I put the remaining items back in the drawer and called it a day.

The Discovery That Wasn't So Exciting

That evening, I thought about how great it felt to finally start purging.

But then another thought crossed my mind.

I had just thrown away money on food we never ate.

Suddenly, my successful purge didn't feel quite as victorious.

The following day, I could have given myself a pass. After all, I had exceeded my goal.

But I decided to tackle the upper kitchen cabinets.

I live in an apartment with high ceilings, so out came the ladder.

I started checking the canned goods and seasonings on the first shelf, and to my surprise, there were far too many items past their dates.

With the sink directly below, I began placing everything I was discarding in it while organizing what remained.

Then came the second shelf.

I had to stretch to reach the items tucked all the way in the back. And once again, I discovered more outdated food than I expected.

Before long, both sides of my sink, along with the rim, were covered with canned goods and seasonings I had decided to discard.

Talk about disappointing!

Don't get me wrong. I've discovered expired canned goods before. But I genuinely thought I had learned from those earlier mistakes, like remembering to move older items toward the front.

Apparently, there were still a few lessons waiting for me on those shelves.

When Good Intentions Go South

This experience taught me a few things, none of which had anything to do with my dreamy mood board of a cozy apartment.

Instead, it had everything to do with good intentions gone south.

You know those delicious-looking meals you see in magazines or watch an influencer prepare?

You think, That looks amazing! I'm definitely making that.

So you buy the ingredients, bring them home, put them away, and somehow never find the time—or enthusiasm—to actually prepare the meal.

How many of those good intentions ended up in my Target bag?

And more importantly, how much money went right along with them?

For myself, the reality is that I would love to be the Martha Stewart of Michelle's kitchen.

Unfortunately, I only seem to put on that apron once a year—Thanksgiving!

And when I do, I go all out.

My entire apartment fills with those classic holiday aromas that bring a sense of warmth, comfort, and love. I put my heart into every dish, and for that one day, I genuinely enjoy the labor of the culinary arts.

But the other 364 days of the year?

I'm not quite that fancy.

And that's okay.

What I'm learning is that I need to be realistic about what I'm prepared to do, how I want to spend my time, and where my passions truly lie.

Right now, cooking isn't at the top of that list.

A Full Pantry Doesn't Always Mean a Useful Pantry

I'm not going to lie. Seeing full kitchen cupboards gives me a sense of comfort.

There's something reassuring about knowing food is available.

But how comforting is a full pantry if the food inside isn't being used?

That was one of my biggest realizations.

Being intentional with money also means being intentional with time.

Before purchasing ingredients for another wonderful meal idea, I need to ask myself a few questions.

Will I realistically make this meal?

Do I have the time and desire to prepare it?

Do I already have ingredients at home that I could use instead?

These questions are just as important as asking whether I have the money to buy the ingredients.

It's not about micromanaging every decision. It's about recognizing patterns.

And sometimes, a good purge brings those patterns right out into the open.

I've mentioned in previous blogs that cooking has been one of my biggest struggles during this transition to living on less.

Convenience sometimes wins, and that can mean fast food or spending more than I intended on a quick meal.

I know meal planning and prepping can be beneficial in so many ways, financially and otherwise.

But there's one important catch.

The ingredients actually have to make it out of the pantry and onto the dinner table!

So, Can Purging Help with Spending?

I think it absolutely can.

And probably in more ways than I originally imagined.

For now, though, I'm sticking with what I'm discovering in my kitchen.

One approach I'm considering is to stop automatically adding more food to my cupboards before taking inventory of what's already there.

Instead of buying another spice, package of meat, or ingredient for a new recipe, I want to see how many meals I can create using what I already have.

Maybe I have enough ingredients for ten meals. Why not work through some of those before adding more?

Once I'm down to ingredients for about five meals, perhaps that's the time to consider bringing something new into the mix.

It's a small adjustment, but one that could help me reduce waste, save money, and make better use of what's already in my home.

And isn't that part of what The Income Reset is all about?

Not simply spending less but learning to recognize where our money goes and whether our habits still make sense for the lives we're living today.

A Few Questions I'm Taking Away From My Pantry Purge

As I continue working through my kitchen, these are some things I'll be asking myself:

1. Did I buy something in bulk that I probably shouldn't have?

2. Did I check the expiration or best-by date before purchasing it?

3. Am I keeping older items toward the front so they get used first?

4. Did I realistically plan to prepare the meal I was buying ingredients for?

I started this project hoping to create a more spacious, comfortable home.

I didn't expect my kitchen cabinets to give me a lesson in spending.

And while I still have plenty of purging left to do, I'm beginning to see that clearing out unnecessary things can sometimes make room for more than just extra space.

It can make room for better habits, more intentional decisions, and perhaps a little more money staying in our pockets.

One or two items a day. That's where I started.

And who knows? Maybe one day I'll finally have that cozy Big City, Small Town Feel apartment I've been daydreaming about.

For now, I'll settle for a little more room in my kitchen cabinets and fewer surprises in my Target bag!

Now I'd love to hear from you.

Have you ever started cleaning or decluttering and discovered something that made you rethink your spending habits?

Or do you have a pantry full of good intentions waiting to become dinner?

I'd love to hear what your own purging adventures have taught you!