Why Do I Feel Guilty Getting Rid of Exercise Equipment I Don't Use?
Ari Kimmelfeld on the Minimalist Moms Podcast: the two sources of guilt behind an unused treadmill, bike, or sauna, and what makes letting go easier.
Listen to the episode: Why You're Still Holding Onto That Treadmill (And What to Do About It) | Ari Kimmelfeld (EP434), Minimalist Moms Podcast with Diane Boden, aired February 3, 2026. Listen on Spotify.
Short answer: Ari Kimmelfeld sees two sources of guilt. You paid good money for it, and you know you should have let it go already because you are not using it. Selling it eases both: you get some of the value back, and someone else uses it for the reason you bought it.
Host Diane Boden asked this directly on episode 434 of the Minimalist Moms Podcast: "What are some of the things that people are telling you of why they feel guilty getting rid of things?"
What Ari said
I think the feeling of guilt comes from two main things. One, I think, is knowing that you paid good money for something... it was a $5,000 sauna, and I bought it, and I wanted to use it, and I did use it, but you really know that right now it's not getting the use. And so you also still feel bad about getting rid of it because you paid good money. And then the other thing I think is knowing that you should have done this already, and being honest with yourself: this is not something I'm currently using. And so you're grappling with these two things.
Ari Kimmelfeld on Minimalist Moms EP434, at 09:18
What makes it easier
You're not just getting rid of it, you're selling it, and obviously you're not going to get exactly what you paid for it. But giving some value alleviates a little bit of that guilt... the sauna is still useful to somebody that wants a great sauna or wants a good spin bike.
Ari Kimmelfeld on Minimalist Moms EP434, at 09:18
Somebody else is taking it, and they're going to be using it for the original intention and the purpose of why I bought it. I think that kind of helps.
Ari Kimmelfeld on Minimalist Moms EP434, at 09:18
It is not a character flaw
That mess is not attributable to your character or your habits... There are cycles, there are seasons, there are different transition points in life. People get new jobs, they have kids, priorities change.
Ari Kimmelfeld on Minimalist Moms EP434, at 12:16
If the equipment no longer fits your life, list it free on the treadmill, home gym, or sauna sell page. A crew picks it up and pays you at pickup.
Hear the full conversation in What About My Treadmill?: Ari Kimmelfeld on Minimalist Moms.
Related questions
Why do I feel guilty getting rid of exercise equipment I don't use?
Ari Kimmelfeld sees two sources of guilt. You paid good money for it, and you know you should have let it go already because you are not using it. Selling it eases both: you get some of the value back, and someone else uses it for the reason you bought it.
Is it a waste to sell fitness equipment for less than I paid?
You will not get back what you paid, Ari said, but getting some value back takes the edge off the guilt. The money you spent is already spent. Keeping the equipment does not recover it, and selling it keeps it in use.
Does holding onto unused equipment mean I failed?
No. Ari said clutter reflects transitions: new jobs, kids, and changing priorities. These shifts often happen faster than we learn to cope with them. It is circumstance, not character.
Thank you to Diane Boden for having Ari on Minimalist Moms Podcast. Quotes are from the episode, lightly edited for reading. Listen to the full conversation on Spotify.
More from Ari's podcast interviews: questions Ari answered on podcasts and every show he has been on.