By Philippa Dobree-Carey, THE MAMAHOLIC
Every year I ask myself how to get even more organised.
My friends will sigh and roll their eyes when they read this, but here we are!
This year, I’m going to be less efficient.
How? By running down the stocks of things I buy “just in case”. The things I convince myself are practical, but that quietly gather dust or skulk silently instead of being used.
I’m choosing to use what I already own and let go of the items that take up space but add nothing to my life.
10 things I’ll STOP buying and START decluttering in 2026 I have split the article into 2 parts. You can read items 6-10 next week.
1. Candles I love but don’t burn
I love candles. I’m always searching for that perfect scent that lingers without being overwhelming. I have a whole drawer full of them that I’ve been saving for ‘special occasions’.
But what actually counts as a special occasion?
Your bestie popping in for a glass of wine?
A self-care Friday night when you have the house to yourself and you’ve ordered a takeaway?
The fancy dinner you keep meaning to host but haven’t actually scheduled since Covid struck?
Benefit : Sanity
Your home feels instantly cosier when you actually use the things you bought to make it cosy.
Action: Pick one and light it tonight. Prince William is not popping round any time soon.
2. Haircare products I’ll never finish
I’ve only got one head, yet somehow, I’ve accumulated enough bottles to treat every possible hair crisis. Frizz, volume, shine, ‘repair’, ‘miracle’, ‘rescue’... Most of them did absolutely nothing except take up space. But I’ve kept them anyway in case my fine hair suddenly develops its own volume and becomes frizzy instead.
Benefit: Dignity
The shower stops looking like a clearance bin.
Action: Keep the ones that work. Bin the rest.
3. Body products I avoid
Especially anything vanilla scented. They sit in my bedside drawer like guilty secrets, even though I know full well I’m never going to use them. Meanwhile, I’m walking around with heels that could strike a match and shins that could sand a wooden table.
Benefit: Relief
You stop pretending that you’re EVER going to moisturise nightly.
Action: Keep one you actually enjoy using. Let the rest go and take the guilt with them.
4. Skincare I Haven’t Finished
No more stockpiling moisturisers for a future version of me who apparently has ten faces. Or.. more realistically, extra chins! I’m done with the serums that expired before I even opened them.
Benefit: Restraint
You save money and free up shelf space.
Action: One in, one out. Finish what you have first.
5. Notebooks I keep buying for inspiration
I am a to-do list girl. Just ask my family! I love a new notebook and a fresh page of possibilities. I also own enough of them to write a multi‑volume memoir, complete with sequels, spin-offs and a prequel nobody asked for. And yet I keep buying more, as if the next one will actually get the list done.
Benefit: Closure
Finishing a notebook feels like an accomplishment.
Action: Pick one and fill it to the end before buying another.
Read part two next week to find out what the other 5 things Philippa is decluttering!
Before you go, I’d love to know where you see yourself in all this. Be honest — this is a judgement‑free zone (unless you’re hoarding 47 candles, in which case… we need to talk).
Author bio
Philippa Dobree-Carey Philippa Dobree‑Carey is a writer, award‑winning author, and safeguarding specialist who shares parenting tips, midlife meltdowns, and the mental load with sharp humour and practical clarity. She is the creator of The Mamaholic Monthly on Substack and the author of two guides: From High School to Uni and The Essential Job Search Guide for Students. Her work supports families through major life transitions with honesty, structure, and wit. Find her on Instagram @themamaholic.
