If I had to choose between clutter I paid for and clutter I got for free, I’d choose the paid variety. You might be thinking that doesn’t make any sense, because “free” is exciting and “paying for things,” not so much.

But at least the clutter I paid for represents a series of decisions that once made sense to me. I chose to go to that store, and to pick up that item, and to carry it over to the register, and to swipe my card. It probably served a purpose at one time, provided I didn’t get it at the Target Dollar Spot.

With the promotional pen/mug/stress ball/ whatever, I was totally passive. I was handed an object that someone else picked out, and I just accepted it without a thought. Then that thing took up space in my house until I came to my senses trying to write with an underinked pen instead of the lovely Pilot G2 I purchased for myself.

Not to mention that those things are free because I’m paying for them with my attention. They’re promotional objects after all. I don’t want to surround myself with tiny advertisements, particularly for goods and services I don’t actually use.

Now, items offered to me for free now only make it home with me if I would have purchased them at a store, i.e. they actually satisfy a need.

Can coozies had been on my shopping list when the weather got warm enough for stoop sitting, and then I ended up getting some fun free ones at Artscape. They’re good quality and a pleasant blue and had they been on offer at the store if I had gone with my list, I would have purchased them.

Would I have purchased the neon pink slap bracelet offered to me by some bank at the Lantern Parade? Not a chance.

Next time someone offers you a tiny advertisement in the form of future clutter, you can graciously and firmly decline.