nesting

1. Anything an ex gave you.
It’s time to start fresh with each other. Love the teddy bear your ex-boyfriend won for you at the local fair? Give it one last squeeze, then bid it adieu.

2. Things from another decade.
Acid wash jeans. Anything with shoulder pads. Tie-dye t-shirts. You get the drill.

3. Bridesmaid dresses you will never wear again.
You might still be pouting about the money you had to fork over for your bestie’s wedding, but if you haven’t worn a dress for more than a year, it’s time to give it the old heave-ho. Remember: The walk-in closet isn’t just for you any more.

4. International arsenal of magnets.
A lobster from your road trip to Nova Scotia, a yellow taxi cab from that weekend getaway to NYC: Magnets may seem little, but they add a ton of clutter to a space. Repeat: A clutter-free fridge is a happy fridge; a happy fridge means a happy relationship. (Need more help decluttering? Find helpful tips here.)

5. Sports memorabilia.
Hoarding the big foam finger you sported when your team got the winning point will not bring back the team’s glory days (or your youth). Players move on; so should you.

6. Video games.
Seen The Break-Up? Vince Vaughn’s Gary gets the boot for his lazy ways, which include a relationship with his gaming system that overshadows that with his girlfriend. Replace Grand Theft Auto with snuggle time to ensure you’re not demoted to cold nights on the couch.

7. Your stash of fashion magazines.
It all started with your subscription to Teen, and you never looked back. Unless it’s an absolute must-keep issue, remember that the Earth is your friend, and all that paper would make a cozy companion for your recycling bin.

8. Your flea-market finds.
Sometimes you can find real treasures at the local thrift shop or garage sale, but often times another person’s junk is well, just junk. Review that mismatched armchair and foot rest with critical, objective eyes. If it won’t add true appeal to your new place in the real-estate sense of the word, it’s time to let go.

9. Your overflowing yet still undervalued baseball card collection.
You collected, you clung, you clinched no money. Release these cards to their destiny–the local pawn shop–and say hello to adulthood.

10. Ratty alma mater duds.
They were there for you during rough times: Cramming for finals, working on a doomed essay the night before it was due, dealing with the anxiety of being a new grad without a job. But let’s face it: Nobody wants to see you in tattered sweats and tees, no matter how much they love you. Treat these like a garden salad and toss!

As featured in 2life Magazine: