Most of us like the idea of being prepared, and keeping spares can feel like a great way to do this. A spare light bulb in the drawer, an extra toothbrush in the bathroom, a back-up phone charger in case the first one breaks. But what happens when one spare becomes five, and your cupboards are overflowing with “just in case” items you haven’t touched in years?
The truth is, you rarely need multiple spares. When did you last wear out your spare set of bed sheets, or reach for that second spare kettle you’ve been storing “just in case”? In most cases, the item you’re holding onto as a potential replacement is unlikely ever to be used. By the time you need it, technology may have changed, your taste may have shifted, or you’ll have forgotten you even had it.
Why you might keep too many ‘spares’
I’ve seen time and again that the reason people keep spares is less about practicality and more about psychology. Many of us grew up with messages of scarcity – “waste not, want not” or “make do and mend.” Parents and grandparents who lived through hardship taught us to hold on tight to what we had. Others of us learned from our own past experiences of lack. Perhaps there was a time when money was short, or when something really did run out at the worst possible moment. That fear embeds itself, and we keep spares to protect ourselves from feeling it again.
Sometimes keeping spares is about control – the comfort of feeling prepared in an uncertain world. At other times, it’s simply habit. Buying in bulk, accepting freebies, or keeping every spare screw from flat-pack furniture can quickly build up. Before long, the “safety net” becomes a burden, filling cupboards and weighing on the mind.
Breaking the cycle
I strongly encourage you to ask yourself: do I really need more than one spare? One extra of an essential item may be sensible, but beyond that, you’re not keeping spares – you’re storing clutter. Every item takes up not just physical space but also mental energy. Each one is a small decision deferred, a reminder of a past scarcity or an imagined future emergency.
Here’s another way to look at it: what if you trusted that you – or even life itself – will provide what you need, when you need it? Most of us live in a world of abundance, where items can be replaced quickly and easily. By keeping too many spares, you may be sending yourself the message that you can’t rely on life to support you. By letting go, you practise a different message: that you’re resourceful, adaptable, and able to meet your needs as they arise.
For me, this is about more than decluttering cupboards. It’s about shifting from scarcity to trust – trusting yourself, the systems around you, and even the flow of life. Letting go of excess spares doesn’t mean being reckless or unprepared. It means creating space for something far more valuable than a drawer full of “just in case”: clarity, calm, and freedom.