THE HIGH COST OF CLUTTER (PART 3) by David LeGrand

This subject is presented in three parts:

1. Why we are clutter-bugs. (Two weeks ago)
2. Why it costs us so much. (Last week)
3. How to deal with it.          (This week)

It’s Time for Action

These five test questions will help to decide what goes and what stays:

How does it make me feel?

1. Why have it if I feel guilty, sad, depressed, frustrated, angry?
2. When was the last time I used it or appreciated it?
3. Do I really want or need it?
4. Will it hinder or help me From moving on?
5. What is the worst possible result if I toss it?

If I can live without it, it goes.

Aslett’s Four Boxes when you start sorting

Now the real action begins.

Get four large boxes and label them as follows and set aside some time when you will allow no interruptions and sort items in each box as to your preference.

1. Junk: Throw it away now
2. Charity or eBay: Give it away now or sell it on eBay
3. Sort: Will sort, then arrange or file soon
4. Withdrawal: Will decide later

Throw it away now

Have a big trash can handle, and once you pitch it, leave it in there! Get over the idea you might need it later. Even if you do, Lowes or someone else has another one. Now get in the habit of throwing away things immediately instead of storing them. One in and one out goes for catalogs, magazines, toys, tooth brushes, credit cards, etc.

Give it away now or sell it on Ebay

“But it has value” you say. Well then sell it on eBay or CraigsList. The year I started Du-Junking, I sold $15,000 worth of stuff on eBay. Anything will sell on eBay.

Goodwill or the Rescue Mission can always use more stuff to help others. If you are reading this article, you are probably making plenty of money; it’s time to “give back.”

Will sort, then arrange or file soon

If you get distracted arranging and filing things as you go, you will not get much de-junking done. Put them in this box and write in your planner when you will process them later. When you do, much of them will probably go in the first box.

Will decide later

If you put a lot of stuff in this box, you are not getting it! You have been deciding later all your life. So quit procrastinating and start pitching stuff in the first three boxes.

Later is NOW.

ARE YOU A CLUTTER MONKEY?

When hunters discovered how greedy and possessive monkeys are, they took coconuts, made a hole in each of them, added bait, tied them to a tree and went home. The next morning they would return to find dozens of monkeys with their little hands stuck in the coconuts. You see, the hole was big enough to slide your hand in, but not big enough to pull out the clinched fist hanging on to the bait.

The monkeys all jumped and screamed and struggled to get free, but unwilling to release the bait, they were caught!

Why didn’t the stupid monkeys let go of the stuff and run away? To hang on meant the stewpot, but the thrill of possession overruled all risk and reason.

We wouldn’t be so stupid, would we?

“Getting rid of clutter out of your life will rid you of more discouragement, tiredness and boredom than anything else you can do.”

Ecclesiastes 3:1-6

¹To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose

under the heaven:

⁶A time to get, and a time to lose;

a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

Heb. 12:1-2

¹Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a

cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin

which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the

  race that is set before us,

²Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the

joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the

shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.