Free Declutter Your Life: Reduce Stress, Increase Productivity, and Enjoy Your Clutter-Free Life by Michelle Stewart Page B

but we still hold onto them.
    The trick with evaluating items like this is that you very well might have a use for them in the future. It would be a shame to toss out perfectly good and costly wood, and then realize you want to build a shelf. My husband’s family tells a story of how his father got so tired of the craft supply collection in their home that he went on a cleaning spree. As he swept random paper and other items into the garbage, he inadvertently tossed out a pair of real diamond earrings. They also tell a story about how my father-in-law hid all his baseball cards in a special location in his boyhood home. Years later his mother threw out a box of mint-condition and valuable cards because they looked like junk to her.
    It takes a well-disciplined mind to evaluate items in the clutter pile to determine if they truly have a future value or use. To keep yourself from going to either extreme, carefully consider each item with others in your home. Ask these questions:
Is there a concrete plan to use the item within the next six to twelve months?
Is the item in good working order?
Is the item of significant monetary value?
    If you can answer yes to at least two of the above questions, then the item may be worth storing. Otherwise, you should strongly consider getting rid of it. There are ways to decrease the struggle with getting rid of an item. I reduced the majority of my yarn stash by giving it to a young lady who was learning to crochet. She was delighted with the abundant yarn choice and quickly put almost all of it to use.
Sentimental Collections
    There are some things that are simply irreplaceable due to sentimental value. Old pictures capture favorite memories, family heirlooms harken back to our history and small mementos remind us of great events. It can be hard to get rid of sentimental items, so you may want to consider a more organized storage option. Pictures can be scanned into the computer and stored on an external hard drive. Not only will this reduce clutter, it will also preserve your memories in a safer manner.
    Collections and heirlooms can be kept in well-organized cabinets or spaced throughout the home as tasteful decorations. Remember what I said about my husband’s aunt? Because she is organized, her collections do not actually create clutter.
    When keeping things for their sentimental value, you do need to ensure that they are irreplaceable and really evoke personal emotions. Plastic souvenirs from your latest beach trip might not make the cut, but a small memento from your honeymoons is often worth keeping,
Monetary Value
    If you paid good money for an item, you may find it difficult to throw away even if you know you have no use for it. In cases like this, it is best to give the item to a friend, donate it for a tax break or sell it online or in a yard sale. It is much easier to part with such items when you are receiving some sort of value in return.

Declutter Your Home
    Once you take stock of your clutter situation and understand where your clutter is coming from, it is time to begin working on the problem. You have already learned that clutter takes on many forms and will differ from person to person. Almost everyone has some sort of clutter in their home, so this section provides a step-by-step look at decluttering your home.
Create a Plan
    Before you take action, you should create a plan. An organized approach to clearing clutter ensures that you do not make mistakes like tossing out diamond earrings. A plan also allows you to approach clutter in a systemic fashion that reduces feelings of anxiety. By tackling small sections of your home, you reduce burn out and create workable tasks that can be completed over time.
    Your plan should define the locations of clutter in your home, divide the work into smaller rooms or areas, and ensure that all necessary individuals participate in the work. Including your family in the plan creates a corporate environment that will make it more likely