CLUTTER!

5 Questions To Ask Yourself About Your Clutter
By Sarah Aguirre, About.com Guide

If you haven't used it in the last year, chances are your not going to in the next. Allow yourself to purge old items, interest, hobbies, and unfinished projects to allow room for the really important parts of your life.

2. Am I going to need this item on a specific date in the future?

If your best friend just set her wedding date for a couple of months away, it might be wise to keep your mint in the box punch bowl for future use. But if you are keeping a household full of furniture stacked in the garage for when your 5 year old daughter moves out on her own, it may be time to free up some space. If it doesn't have a definite date of use, the clutter isn't worth it.

3. Does this item have a legal or tax purpose?

Paper can be our worst clutter enemy and we often use the excuse of the legal and tax purposes associated with a thirty year collection of receipts. Go through your papers and keep only items that are really needed.

4. How hard would it be to replace this item again someday if I needed it?

If items are priceless emotionally or historically, they may not be the best items to toss. Consider how hard it would be to replace the item and get rid of things that are a dime a dozen.

5. In what way is this item making my life more purposeful or better?

If the items are not making you happier, healthier, or better, they are just taking up space and cluttering up your life. Removing these stacks and boxes of stuff will free up your home and your space.

Good questions!

I thought they were well worth sharing! I partially cleaned a closet this PM! Came in handy!

i am so trying to follow this in my head while i purge bedrooms and set them up... then i definately will be discovering and using these words followed by some nasty words when i hit the basement to organize... Octobers project!!

great questions! Makes me think about my stash....

You know I do purge a bit now and then, mostly pps. I have found with embellies that they do eventually get used, it may be 3 years from now but.... In fact, I had two tiny knit sweaters that someone gave me and I wondered how I would ever use them as they suggested kid to me and since I don't have kids.... Well I was delighted to pull one of those sweaters out the other day and use it in my Nika mini book. I bet I've had that embellie at least 3 years!!

Loving all these organization threads, Ali!

The sweater is on one of the pages in Nika's mini book that I did for Lois RAK/challenge. The sweater was the perfect embellie for the quote. Here it is: