Marilyn Bohn | Creative Organizer

Back in July of 2005 I found this Quiz on unclutter.com by Donna Smallin from Organizing Plain & Simple. It is worth taking a look at and using when you are in a quandary of what to do when organizing. These are the very questions I ask my clients when I am working with them organizing their homes.

A Quick Quiz: Keep Or Toss?

If you’re undecided about what to do with a particular item, it’s probably something you could give away, throw away or sell, but you just can’t bring yourself to do it. Ask yourself the following questions:

• Have I used this item in the past year? Yes/No
• Will it be needed on a definite date in the future? Yes/No
• Do I love it? Yes/No
• Does this item serve a worthwhile purpose in my life? Yes/No
• Is it more important to me to keep this item than to have the space it occupies? Yes/No
• Has anyone else in my home used it in the past year? Yes/No
• Does someone in my household love it? Yes/No
• Would it be difficult or expensive for me to get another one? Yes/No

Scoring: There is no right or wrong answers, but a “Yes” answer to any one of the above questions provides a sound reason to keep that item. If you answer “No” to every question, toss it.

I hope you find this quiz useful when you are making the decision to toss, donate, recycle, or to keep.