If you’re a man north of 40, you have so much to be proud of. Maybe you're a community leader. Maybe you've secured the corner office. Or maybe you've committed to the most rewarding job of all: father. But whatever you are, we can definitely tell you one thing you shouldn't be: the proud owner of any of these totally meh items.
Why? It's simple. By 40, you've earned the right to treat yourself to the finer things—and that means purging all of the things in your life that are beneath you. Why have ancient ratty bath towels when you can when you can have super-soft swathes of comfort? Why hang college-era posters on your walls when that space could just as easily play home gorgeous pieces of art?
With that in mind, we've run down the 50 things you shouldn't have your home anymore, especially if you're 40 or over. If you find that you're hoarding any of these dusty goods, toss them—immediately—and make room for the better things.
1 | A Condiment Packet Drawer
When you're younger, and when money's a bit tighter, it's a smart idea to round up mounds of Taco Bell hot sauce and leftover ketchup packets. Once you're older than 40, though, it's time to consolidate. Anything you can take off a napkin stand at a fast food chain, you can find in a big bottle in a grocery store.
2 | An Empty Fridge
If you're single and your fridge is home to little more than old condiments, day-old takeout, and a few beers, that's a lame move. If you have a family and the same is true, that's an even lamer move. Either way, it's high time to start stocking your fridge seriously. Here's a good life rule: No matter what your situation, you should always be able to, at the very least, whip up a three-ingredient omelet at the drop of a hat.
3 | Square-Toe Shoes
It's the easiest fashion rule to stick to, and yet men—particularly men over 40—violate it with abandon: Don't wear square-toed shoes. Most square-toe shoes instantly make your outfit look boxy and outdated, but the worst offenders are those with so-called soft square toes. And don't just take it from us! Take it from the experts at Vogue, who described the look as "the embodiment of cluelessness and indecisiveness." Instead, pick up yourself a pair of nice, rounded Oxfords or brogues.
4 | Frozen Dinner
You don't need us to tell you that overly processed food wrecks your health and wreaks havoc on your waistline. So here's a simple tip to make sure you stay away from the stuff: Don't buy any food that comes frozen in a box.
5 | Instant Coffee
Fact: approximately 99.9999 percent of all adults live and die by coffee. Fact two: it takes just five extra minutes to grind beans and brew a fresh cup. Fact three: the aroma wafting off of recently ground coffee beans is heavenly, and the flavor notes in a fresh-brewed cup of coffee are far superior to anything that comes in a packet.
6 | Figurines In Boxes
There's no good reason to have any toys in the house unless A) you have kids, or B) they're the ones you played with as a child. And if you have them still in the box they came in, there's an even greater reason to purge them: money. These days, on eBay, retro Star Wars action figures sell for $75. If you have a few of those laying around the house, that's some serious cash!
7 | Soft Drinks
Dump out any sodas you have lurking in your fridge. Even if they are the "zero" or diet versions of your favorite soft drinks, there's no need to keep drinking them. In fact, recent research indicates that "zero" or diet version are no better for you than the real thing.
8 | Bar Décor
Neon bar signs are obnoxiously bright, dangerously flimsy, and clash with every other piece of décor in a given room. In the apartment of an early 20-something, they can give off a chic, laid-back, almost ironic vibe. In a 40-year-old man's pad? Well...
9 | Sports Trophies
No matter how well you dominated the gridiron or the debate podium, displaying such trophies front-and-center in your home can make people think you're dreaming of a long-lost era. Our advice? Put them in private office—or man-cave-type environment—where they can serve as a personal reminder of how awesome you can be.
10 | Fake Foliage
Of all of life's low-effort chores, few are lower effort than taking care of a houseplant. You water it a couple times a week and make sure it's relatively close to a window. Trust us: You can do it!
11 | Plastic Shelves
Rickety, cracked, and stained plastic shelving units you've been carting around across multiple moves are not a good look for an adult. Trash them, and instead pick up something made from solid wood that will last years, not particle board that will start crumbling in months. (Still, IKEA is A-okay in a pinch.)
12 | A Futon
It's the pinch hitter of furniture. Yes, it's a couch that you can technically sleep on—but you won't have the most comfortable sleep of your life, by any means. (A futon is also pretty bad at the "couch" thing, too.) Just trash the thing and get a real couch, along with a real bed (and frame).
13 | A Robust Shot Glass Collection
When you’re younger, putting together a quirky collection of shot glasses from various boozy vacations can be a fun hobby. But after 40, you've graduated to nice crystal tumblers on your bar cart.
14 | Threadbare Sheets and Towels
Hopefully you wash yourself regularly and getting enough sleep every night, but if you're engaging in such activities with ratty, thin, worn-to-death textiles, you're missing out on one of life's great and simple luxuries. Spend a few bucks and get some nice fluffy towels and decent, heavenly soft sheets.
15 | Clutter
Even if you're busy with your job and life and have kids running around, a good de-cluttering and winnowing out of unnecessary junk will make your life easier and your mind clearer.
16 | Sheets Used As Curtains
ShutterstockDrop a few bucks and pick up some nice curtains—or at least window shades—that are manufactured for the sole purpose of blocking light from coming through windows. Save the sheets for the mattress.
17 | A Beer Can or Bottle Collection
Beer is great, no doubt about it. But is keeping trash around your house going to impress anyone, besides the beer geeks that cherish rare and unusual beers? Sorry, but the answer is no. Toss your bottles after drinking—and then remember the brew fondly while drinking some new unique suds with friends.
