Why Are You Saving Stuff... "Just in Case?"

Let's be honest—we all have stuff. Drawers full of it. Closets packed with it. Shelves, cabinets, garages, attics, and basements overflowing with it.

But for some people, it's not just stuff. It's too much stuff. There are multiples of everything, and every item has the same explanation:

"I'm saving it... just in case."

Really?

Just in case what? Tell me—I want to know!

As a professional organizer, I hear those three words all the time.

"I'm keeping eight spatulas just in case I need them."

"I'm hanging onto three hand mixers because one might break."

"I have a dozen pairs of scissors because I like to have one in every room."

Let's think about that for a minute.

Are you really going to host a barbecue where you personally need eight spatulas at the same time? Are three mixers necessary unless you're planning to open a commercial bakery? And if you can't find one of the twelve pairs of scissors you own, is buying more really the solution—or is it a sign that your home needs better organization?

Then there are the sentimental "just in case" items.

You're saving boxes of baby clothes that have been packed away for twenty years because your child might have children someday. Never mind that they're now in college, have said they don't want kids, or would probably choose clothing styles that are very different from what was popular decades ago.

Or maybe you've saved every high school and college textbook, notebook, and paper because you earned an A+ and figure that one day someone might ask you about some random topic—and you'll be able to pull out that paper you wrote twenty or thirty years ago.

Here's a little reality check...

No one is coming over hoping to read your sophomore biology paper from 1989.

Our possessions often represent more than the items themselves. They hold memories, hopes, dreams, and sometimes even our identities. That's completely understandable. But it's important to ask whether you're keeping something because it truly adds value to your life—or because you're worried about a situation that is highly unlikely to happen.

Sometimes we're not saving the object.

We're saving the possibility.

The possibility that we'll need it.

The possibility that it will be useful.

The possibility that throwing it away would be a mistake.

The problem is that all of those "just in case" decisions add up. One extra spatula isn't a problem. Neither is one extra mixer. But hundreds of "just in case" items throughout your home create clutter, consume valuable storage space, and make it harder to find and enjoy the things you actually use.

Here's a question I often ask my clients:

If you didn't already own this item, would you go out and buy it today?

If the answer is no, that's worth paying attention to.

Another question:

If you needed this item six months or a year from now, how difficult—or expensive—would it be to replace?

If you can replace it for $20 or less, borrow it from a friend or neighbor, rent it, or pick one up at a local store, is it really worth dedicating precious space in your home to storing it "just in case"?

Every item you keep has a cost. Maybe not in dollars, but in space, time, energy, and peace of mind.

Your home should support the life you're living today, not the life you might live someday.

That doesn't mean you have to get rid of everything meaningful. Keep the treasures that truly bring you joy, remind you of special memories, or serve a real purpose. But challenge yourself to distinguish between what is genuinely valuable and what you're simply storing out of habit or fear.

The next time you find yourself saying, "I'm keeping this just in case," stop and ask yourself:

• Just in case...what?

• How likely is that scenario?

• Could I replace or borrow it if I actually needed it?

• Is this item earning the space it takes up in my home?

You may discover that the "just in case" you're preparing for never comes.

And the extra space, simplicity, and peace of mind you'll gain by letting go? That's something you can enjoy every single day.

Ready to Let Go of "Just in Case?"

Here's my challenge for you this week.

Choose one drawer. One cabinet. One shelf. One box in the garage.

As you go through it, ask yourself:

"Am I keeping this because I use it... or just in case?"

You may be surprised by how many things no longer serve a purpose in your life.

If you have organizing questions, I'd love to hear from you! Send me an email at kefconsulting@gmail.com. Whether you have a quick organizing question or need advice on where to begin, I'm always happy to help.

If you're feeling overwhelmed by your home—or simply don't know where to start—remember, you don't have to do it alone. I work with clients virtually all over the world, helping them create organized, functional spaces that fit their homes, lifestyles, and goals.

Imagine walking into your home and feeling calm instead of stressed. Imagine knowing exactly where everything is. Imagine opening a closet without things falling out, finding what you need in seconds, and finally feeling like your home is working for you instead of against you.

That's the power of getting organized.

Reach out today and discover how working with a Professional Organizer can help transform your home—and your life—from stressed and overwhelmed to calm, organized, and in control.

Remember...your home isn't a storage unit for "just in case." It's the place where you live your life today.

Give yourself the gift of more space, less stress, and the peace of knowing that what you keep is there because you use it, love it, or truly need it—not simply "just in case."

Less Clutter = Less Stress ^SM     in your home, your business and your life

Organizational Consulting Services

http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
...

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What to Do When You Want Something You Don’t Need

Whether it’s an expensive watch, a third dog, or a bear-skin rug, there’s a good chance you don’t really need it. You might want it desperately, but you certainly don’t need it. That doesn’t mean you can’t have it, but there’s a good chance you’d be better off without it. How can you know for sure?

Try these techniques to be clear on your needs versus your wants:

1. Wait. When you want something that you don’t really need, you’ll often find that the desire to own it will fade if you give it time. Whether it’s a puppy, a new car, or a banjo, you might find that you can live without it if you wait 30 days. See how you feel about it next month.
   
   
2. Remind yourself of why you don’t need it. Be logical with yourself. Maybe you don’t need a new car because your current car works just fine. Or, you don’t need a puppy because you already have a dog, a bird, and a tank full of fish.
   
   
3. List the disadvantages of acquiring it. What are the negatives of following through on your impulse?
   

●     For example, a new car is expensive, requires more expensive insurance, and you’ll be worried about someone scratching it. You’re also not sure about how much your boss likes you. It would be challenging to be stuck with a car payment without a job.

●     Talk yourself out of it.

4. Avoid buying anything that doesn’t fit into your life. If you live in an apartment and enjoy your peace and quiet, a noisy parrot doesn’t really fit into your life. Buying snowshoes doesn’t make a lot of sense in Florida. You don’t need the latest and greatest running shoes if you don’t run.
   
   
5. Buy one thing but get rid of two. If you’re going to buy something, at least make your life a little better by creating some extra space. For each thing you bring into your home, get rid of at least two. That way, you’re gaining ground.
   
   
6. Find a more suitable substitute. Why do you want to buy that particular item in the first place? Perhaps you want to buy a grand piano because you love the sound of a piano. However, you might not have the space and finances for an 8-foot long, $100,000 piano.
   

●     A small, less-expensive digital piano might be perfect for your situation.

●     A cat might be just as good and require less time and attention than a dog.

●     A Prius might make more sense than a Mercedes.

●     A sports package on your cable box could be a wiser decision than season tickets.

●     What benefits does your urge fulfill? Is there a better way to fulfill it?

7. Just say “No”. Just be strong and tell yourself, “No.” For some people, that’s all it takes. You know you don’t need to eat that doughnut, so don’t. Some people are better at telling themselves “no” than others.
   

●     Most of us are good, however, at telling ourselves that we’ll begin telling ourselves “no” tomorrow. Unfortunately, we continue telling ourselves that over and over.

8. Consider getting it. If we only acquired the things we truly needed, we’d have little more than bread, water, and a toilet. Obviously, there’s much more to life than the bare minimum. We need more. Just be choosy in what you decide to bring into your life.
   
   

Be careful giving in to your wants. You only have so much time, money, and space. Maximize their utility. Take note when you really want something. You might be leading yourself astray.

Less Clutter = Less Stress ^SM     in your home, your business and your life

Organizational Consulting Services

http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
.

Visit our Life & Business Coaching website:  North By Northwest

*** check out the Products tab for self-paced workshops, planners and more....

Organizing Your Purse (Briefcase / Backpack)....

You can admit it... your purse (or briefcase or backpack) is a bottomless pit. You throw things in there never to be seen again. We all do it...admit it!

Everything we have is important so we have to keep it. The problem is that we don't have an endless amount of space in our purse (briefcase or backpack).

There are a number of things that we could or should do on a regular basis. Clean it out! Take a few minutes, yes only a few and empty the entire thing. Shake out the dirt and bits and pieces of things that have accumulated on the bottom.

Separate everything into piles, just like in your home. Must keep, goes somewhere else, garbage.

All of those receipts that you just threw in there need to go into a file or somewhere else. It's a good idea to keep a small envelope in your purse just for receipts so that they don't end up all torn up or lost. When you buy something that you might need a receipt for (such as clothes that you might want to return or appliances....) put it into a receipt file. At least once a week go through that envelope and put the receipts in your permanent file or check it against your credit card statement and then toss it.

There are a number of great purse organizers in all sizes that have a lot of different sized pockets that let you keep your purse organized and clutter free. I have a number of them in different sizes that are great to use in all kinds of purses, briefcases, backpacks, luggage and more. Or you could just use Ziplock plastic bags for things like makeup and other small things that might get lost in your big purse.

Being able to find things quickly in your purse makes like so much easier. And you all know that by cleaning out your purse at least once a month you will lose a few extra pounds of weight that you really didn't want anyway!

Happy Organizing!

Organizational Consulting Services

www.organizationalconsultingservices.com

WHY WE KEEP THINGS

Having a clutter free house or life is not always easy. Sometimes even the most organized people keep things that they no longer need or things they have never used for various reasons. Reasons that don’t even make sense. Reasons that are not logical. Reasons that go back years.

We all do it. Some of us just don’t admit it. Some of us hide it deep in the back of the closet.

So why do we keep things we really don’t need or even want? For a variety of reason. Most of them emotional or psychological.

But things that we no longer want or need really is just clutter. So let it go. And let go of the guilt that goes along with it.

Why we keep things:

* My mother gave it to me (what if she asks about it?)
* My best friend gave it to me
* It was expensive
* I might need it …someday
* I’m saving it for my children (grandchildren)
* I promised that I would keep it forever
* I can use it for parts
* I’m losing weight and might wear it again
* It might come back in style
* I promised to keep it forever
* My husband gave it to me
* My wife gave it to me
* It has sentimental value (even thought it’s broken or ugly)
* I’m going to get around to reading it (magazines, books…)
* I’m going to make _________ out of it
* I’m going to have a garage sale
* I’m going to sell it on e-bay

“I’m going to” seems to be a theme.

You haven’t and are not going to.

So …… get rid of it!


Remember …… LESS CLUTTER = LESS STRESS (sm)


Organizational Consulting Services

http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/