You Don’t Need the Value Pack

As I’ve continued to declutter my rooms, I keep on coming up against a newly identified nemesis: the Value Pack.

You know the value pack. It draws you in. Sitting sedately next to the one or two pack, the unit price flashes its low, low price per unit compared to the unit price for the more reasonable size. Do you need it? Will you use it?

Maybe those questions haunt you and you waver, ambivalent. Or maybe you reach out and grab it, without a second thought. More is better, right?

But is it? Is more always better? I no longer think so. Even though each purchase doesn’t take up much physical room, it all adds up.

When I open a bin or a drawer and see things I have had for years and have barely used, it makes me feel sad. What started out being a frugal idea of the lower unit price just sort of weighs on me.

I used to try to “make the right choice” when considering large sizes or value packs, based on frugality. Now, I know that saving money is not the only reason to consider. The calm feeling I get when I don’t have bins with unneeded items is really nice.

For a little laugh, here are some of the things I’ve found as I declutter:

• Felt pads for furniture. I ended up using about a fourth of the pack.
• Latex triangle makeup sponges. And I rarely wear makeup, these ended up lasting forever.
• Pads of scrapbook papers.
• Two packs of greeting cards.
• Socks.
• More socks!
• Index cards. In multiple colors. Oh, so many, many index cards.
• Post-It Notes, Pens, Hanging Files, and Folders.
• Picture hangers. Packs of Nails and other hardware.

Sometimes the value pack is worth it, sometimes it isn’t.