How Would My Life Be Different?

Sometimes going through your belongings is easy. That wrapper from the sucker your kid just popped in his mouth? Trash. That pair of jeans ripped in the wrong place? Trash. That outgrown toy? Donate. That book you won't read again? Donate.

Then there are things that are just a little more difficult to decide on. That teapot that your aunt gave you when you were ten years old? That perfume you love but haven't worn in six years? What about that outfit that was adorable on daughter when she was a toddler but now she is a teenager?

Each month I'm going to give you a question to help you think through whether or not you want to keep an item. There is no right or wrong answer. There is just your answer.

Have you heard of Sunk Cost Bias? Also called the sunk cost fallacy or sunk cost trap. According to the Cambridge online dictionary, sunk cost fallacy is

the idea that a company or organization is more likely to continue with a project if they have already invested a lot of money, time, or effort in it, even when continuing is not the best thing to do: Economists would point out that the sunk cost fallacy is irrational, and could be described as "throwing good money after bad".

Here’s how this relates to you and your home and your stuff. If you already own it, have spent money on it, have kept it around for a while, you are likely to make the irrational decision that that stuff needs to stay around. Yes, I said “need.” And I said “irrational.” An item does not need to stay in your home just because you bought it, just because it was useful at one time, just because you have had it for a long time, or just because it is in your home.

In order to help fight sunk cost bias, let’s ask “How would my life be different if this item was no longer in my home?”

Let’s walk through three examples.

Example 1: a travel bag
How would my life be different if this travel bag was no longer in my home? It was pretty expensive and I got good use out of it. It’s very pretty and is still in good condition. Well, I have 2 other travel bags that I use more that are also more versatile. I think my life would be just the same if I didn’t not have this travel bag in my home. In fact, if it was no longer here I could free up space in my closet so my life would be a little more free and peaceful.

Example 2: a vacuum
How would my life be different if this vacuum was no longer in my home? It was a big investment when I purchased it about ten years ago. It still works, mostly. I did lose a part but that doesn’t seem to make it function any worse. If it were not in my home, I wouldn’t have a way to clean my carpets. It is still in good condition so I will keep it.

Example 3: a porcelain duck
How would my life be different if this porcelain duck was no longer in my home? To be honest, I have no idea where it came from, have no memories with it, and didn’t even know it was in my house. I would not have even known it wasn’t here if someone took it without my knowing. My life would be better off it were not in my home because it would free up space.

In each of these examples your answers may be totally different. You may only have one travel bag that is in good condition and you use it frequently so you choose to keep it. You may have 3 vacuums and none of them work so you decided to get rid of all of them and buy one that does work. That porcelain duck may be a precious family heirloom.

The point of these declutter questions is to get you thinking and to get you to make decisions about your belongings. I have a few more coming in the next few month.