
Illinois Peeps: 18 Things We Need to Purge From Our Lives in 2025
This list of "must purge" things is a tough pill to swallow but the benefits are real. Not one side effect so far. I'm going to keep going, join me. You have nothing to lose but some extra unnecessary weight in your life.
I'll admit that this list inspired me. I didn't write it but I'm trying to live it, and it's worth sharing. Reading it hit me in some good places and the purging has felt amazing. In the last 7 months I've even lost almost 50 pounds and almost completely reversed my type 2 diabetes. I know these 18 other areas I threw some attention to helped me reach those health goals.
18 Things We Need to Purge From Our Lives
1. Clothes You Haven't Worn in a Year
If it's been gathering dust in your closet longer than your kids have been alive, it's time to say goodbye. No, that sequin jacket isn't making a comeback. Neither are those skinny jeans, dude.
2. Expired Makeup and Skincare
Unless you’re aiming for a rash to match your foundation, toss that crusty mascara and decade-old moisturizer.
3. Broken Gadgets Collecting Dust
That flip phone from 2004 isn’t retro—it’s sad. If it doesn’t work, recycle it. Your garage will thank you. I keep telling myself these things and yet my garage is overstuffed with broken gadgets.
4. Extra Cables You Don’t Need
"Do you even know what these cords go to?" My wife has asked me that question more than once. "Unless you’re planning to build a cable museum, out they go." that's also an exact quote.

5. Books You’ll Never Reread
If the bookshelf is leaning like Pisa, maybe parting with that self-help book you ignored is a good idea.
6. Old Receipts and Paper
Stop stuffing things in "that drawer", celebrate by shredding the evidence.
7. Shoes That Hurt Your Feet
If your footwear doubles as a torture device, it’s time to walk them straight to the donation bin.
8. Kitchen Gadgets You Never Use
Do you really need an avocado slicer, a cherry pitter, and a banana bunker? Spoiler: you don’t. They all lived in my home way too long.
9. Worn-Out Towels and Sheets
If your towels could double as loofahs and your sheets are more threadbare than a ghost costume, it’s time to upgrade.
10. Outdated Magazines
No one needs a 2007 Better Homes & Gardens guide to DIY wallpaper. Let it go.
11. Toys Your Kids Outgrew
Your garage doesn’t need to be a shrine to Little Tikes. Send those toys to a better place—like someone else’s clutter. I actually wasn't sad when I (I mean we)... parted with the drivable Barbie jeep.
12. Décor That Feels Outdated
Let’s be honest: if Joanna Gaines didn’t design it, it probably doesn’t belong on your wall in 2025.
13. Junk Emails Cluttering Your Inbox
Unless you’re hoarding newsletters for the nostalgia, hit unsubscribe and declutter your digital life. Gmail is never subtle about this subject.
14. Apps You Never Open
If your phone storage is 99% Candy Crush and forgotten meditation apps, it’s time for a digital detox.
15. Duplicate or Blurry Photos
Your cloud doesn’t need 43 identical shots of your lunch or blurry concert pics from 2015. Delete, delete, delete.
16. Subscriptions You Don’t Need
Are you even watching half of the 17 streaming services you’re paying for? Didn’t think so.
17. Old Files You Forgot About
Unless you’re crafting a time capsule, those ancient Word docs and embarrassing PowerPoints can go.
18. Negative Relationships
The ultimate decluttering move: cutting ties with people who drain your energy. Life’s too short for bad vibes. Protect your JOY the most in this area.
18 reasons to purge, declutter, and make room for all the inevitable junk 2025 will bring. Go forth and conquer that garage.
Rare (and Creepy) Toys Found In Abandoned Illinois Mansion
Gallery Credit: Steve Shannon