One of the most effective ways to prevent clutter is to keep unnecessary items out of your home in the first place. If unneeded things don’t make their way into your home, they can never turn into clutter. This little tip will not only help you stay organized, but it will save you some money, too.

With spring in the air, it’s a good time to keep this tip in mind, especially if you’ve grown bored of your winter wardrobe and you’re ready for something fresh. Those spring catalogs with all the cute short-sleeved tops, skirts, and sandals may have you thinking it time to do some shopping, but before you shop in the stores or online, shop your closet first.

Closet

If you put your spring and summer clothes into storage, pull out the bins and go through your clothes. Try items on. What fits? What makes you feel good? Which items are you ready to say goodbye to? After you’ve gone through and shopped your closet, make a list of items you need to round-out your spring wardrobe. Then, with your list in hand, head out to the stores. By knowing what you need you’ll be far less likely to bring home items you don’t need—things that ultimately would have become closet clutter!

By the way, if you’d like more simple and practical ideas to declutter and organize your closet, check out my online class. For less than the cost of a new pair of shoes, you can learn how to organize your closet so it’s filled with clothes you love, organized in a way that works for you.