Making decisions as to what to keep, what to donate, what to discard, what to shred, and what to recycle is probably going to be one of the hardest things you have to do. Lots of memories may be attached to your “things”, but if you are able to keep the bigger picture in mind, it may help. You are downsizing so you have less to take care of, and you want others to enjoy the things that you’ve enjoyed throughout the years. In addition, there may be things that are no longer useful, so getting rid of items like that is freeing as well (Do you really need your electric bills from 1990?).
Try asking yourself the following yes/no questions. If you can’t come up with a sound reason to keep your item, now is the time to part with it.
- Do I have a definitive use for the item, and am I even using it?
- When was the last time I used the item?
- Will the item fit into my new house?
- Does the item need to be repaired or is it totally broken?
- Does this item serve a worthwhile purpose in my life?
- Do I need to keep the item for legal purposes
- Do I love the item?
TIP
Be patient. It took you how long to accumulate everything?
If in doubt, keep it or take a picture of the item.
You are allowed to change your mind.
There are many resources out there to help you make these decisions and to make this transition as smooth and as easy as possible. The fourth and final article will be the benefits of downsizing.
BB’s Clutter Solutions is located in Cherry Hill, NJ and serves New Jersey (north and south), Philadelphia and its Pennsylvania suburbs, and New York City. Contact information: www.bb-clutter-solutions.com, info@bb-clutter-solutions.com, 856-912-0077.
