Use the Magic Number Technique to Accomplish Decluttering and Downsizing Goals

Tidying up your home could be as easy as one, two, three when you use the magic number technique to downsize your stuff. If you can do simple addition and multiplication, you can use this method to help when it comes to decluttering and downsizing.

Want to know what to do with your stuff now that you’ve downsized? Here are our tips and tricks for downsizing in retirement.

The Magic Number Technique

The magic number technique is a simple method for downsizing your stuff. It is a number you determine before downsizing or decluttering and use it when it comes to going through your belongings. The number may be different for different items, but the important thing is to know it before you start. This technique was made popular by TikTokers Bonnie and Lily @littlehomeorganized. 

Calculating Your Magic Number

The key to this technique is coming up with the magic number. This is the number of items you actually want to have in your home by item category. Categories could be things like towels, cups, blankets, etc. To determine this number, you will figure out how many items you will need for each member of your household and then multiply that by the number of people. For example:

If you are trying to figure out how many blankets you should have, determine how many each person in your household needs. Say each person needs a blanket on their bed, an extra one for when that one is dirty, and a throw blanket to use around the house when it is chilly. For one person, that means your magic number for blankets is three. Then you multiply that times one person, which equals three.

3 x 1 = 3

Let’s say you are retired and live with your spouse with no children living at home and you want to determine how many cups you need in the cupboard. You want one in the cupboard, one in the dishwasher, one travel mug, and two for guests. That gives you a magic number of five. Since you have a spouse, you will multiply that magic number by two for your household. Meaning the total number of cups to have in your cupboard is ten.

5 x 2 = 10

Why This Helps You Downsize and Declutter

The reason this is helpful for downsizing and decluttering is that the magic number will give you the number of items you need in your home before you start going through things. Once you begin the downsizing process, it can be easy to convince yourself that you need more than you do. But since you already have your number, it’s easier to stick to your guns and unburden yourself from the clutter. 

Looking to learn more about downsizing and decluttering your home? Click the icon below to download your FREE copy to Unlock the Power to Declutter: The Definitive Guide on How to Start so you can get cleaning!