Getting rid of stuff
It’s helpful to have an exit strategy when trying to get rid of stuff. An exit strategy is a plan for removal. Include in your plan options for donation and recycling.
Tag Archive for: recycle
Declutter filter
When decluttering use the filter that an item needs to meet two out of the following 3 criteria – need, use, love.
- You need this item because it’s practical and helps make your life easier in some way. Examples are a functioning hair dyer, vacuum cleaner, and plunger.
- You use this item on a regular basis. Examples are shoes you wear a few times a week and electronics you use daily/weekly.
- You love this item. Examples are a quilt made by your sister and a painting you brought back from a vacation.
This filter helps make decisions on what’s worth keeping. If the criteria aren’t met, donate, recycle or give the item away.
Everything has potential
Potential usefulness is not the same as actual usefulness. It’s easy to hold on to things because they have potential, but it’s important to be honest with yourself about their true value. Ask yourself:
- How realistic is the potential of this item?
- What condition is it in?
- What is the likelihood that I’ll actually use it?
- Will I use it within the next 6 months?
- If it were damaged, would I replace it?
- Would someone else get more value from it than I do?
The world is full of items with potential, but if you’re not using or appreciating them, consider letting them go to someone who will.
Recycle more paper
It can be a struggle to determine whether to keep or recycle certain papers. So, I’ve devised a list of questions that will help you. Answer the following questions honestly and objectively. If your answer is no to 5 or more questions it’s time to recycle or shred that paper.
- Do you have a specific use for this paper?
- Does this paper hold current and up-to-date information?
- Did you request this information?
- Will this paper help you complete a project you’re working on now?
- Are there tax, legal, or insurance reasons to keep this paper?
- Is this information important to your life right now?
- Is this paper referred to often?
- Can this information be obtained elsewhere or again if needed?
- Would getting rid of this paper make your life more difficult?
Donate books
Books are a great donation and accepted at many resale shops, like Goodwill, Savers, and Salvation Army. 
Some libraries may take them to resell also, but I recommend calling before loading them into your car.
Depending on what type of books they are you can donate to senior centers, daycare centers, nursing homes, or hospitals, but again, call first to confirm their interest.
Here are three websites to check out:
More Than Words
One word of caution, no one really wants old text books or encyclopedias. An option is to offer them to theater companies who may like them for props.
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