Don't you ever worry that you threw away something you really needed?

**MomToTwoBoys** · 07-02-2008, 11:50 AM

It is by far one of my biggest obstacles with throwing away anything. What if I need it down the road? I've been in a position before where I didn't think I needed something, chucked it into the trash, and then a month or two down the road it really was needed after all. Since I started saving things (like old tin cans to pour grease into, toilet paper rolls for bunching up excess cords, etc) it has me thinking about when I go through everything to either keep or throw away. I don't want our house turning into this huge storage bin but at the same time, I want to keep things around in case I need them. DH has always been a minimalist with things and I'm the opposite; a complete packrat whose obsession with keeping things spans over a decade or more! I never kept boxes either until somehow MIL hammered it into my brain that I may need those in case of either a) the item needing to be returned, b) something to put gifts in to make them easier to wrap or c) needing to move.

How do you manage to sort through and discard things without the fear of needing them down the road?

**AmyBoz** · 07-02-2008, 12:16 PM

Here's how I manage this:

I only throw away/freecycle/sell things that haven't been used in a very long time; like 6 months. The truth is, if it hasn't been used in that long, then you really don't need it and most likely won't need it down the road.

When I used to have knick-knacks (which I no longer do), my criteria for keeping them was, Does it bring me joy to look at this, and When I clean this, do I do so lovingly as if I were caring for something that was alive, or is it a chore? If the answers to these questions were negative, out it went. Again, do you really NEED knick-knacks and collectibles? Uh...no.

Hope this helped!

**suki** · 07-02-2008, 12:20 PM

My mom is a major clutter-bug, saver. I grew up in a home filled with "stuff" and I can't live like that. I keep what I use, not what I might use. I regularly go through drawers, cabinets and closets and remove unused items. I might save something "just in case" for a little while, but if I haven't used it in short order... it's gone.

I've rarely regretted throwing anything away.

**tbs727** · 07-02-2008, 01:08 PM

When it comes to toilet paper rolls, jars, etc. just remember that for as long as you continue to use TP, there will be more rolls. That means you don't need to hang on to very many. I agree with the 6 month rule. If you don't use it in that amount of time, you probably won't use it. If you freecycle everything that you haven't used in the last 6 months, then need one thing that you gave away, you're still benefiting by not having all the other junk in your house. I hope that makes sense.

**geckoace** · 07-02-2008, 03:11 PM

occasionally i miss something, but every year i find myself "needing" less and less so now i dont save TP rolls we keep 1 large metal coffee can for grease and just eat less greasy food than we used to so it takes about a year to fill it up.
most containers i just recycle, i dont keep boxes for anything except our current cell phone, my DH keeps the boxes for his game systems for about a year after purchase then we chuck em.

my experience has been that once you start decluttering and really seeing the difference it makes in your mental wellbeing you find yourself wanting to do with less

**The Muse** · 07-02-2008, 03:24 PM

My philosophy is if I'm not using it and haven't used it, I probably won't use it. When I get to the "probably won't use it" stage, I throw it out, sell it, or give it away.

I can honestly say I've never regretted throwing something out. I love living clutter free.

**freyadog** · 07-02-2008, 08:30 PM

Nope 'cause dh won't let me throw anything away. If I throw it in the trash he digs it back out so why bother.

**Palooka** · 07-02-2008, 11:56 PM

Nope, I have never regreted giving/throwing anything away. I hate clutter and like a simple life. I grew up in a clutter home.

If I really need something it will come back around.

**IntlMom** · 07-03-2008, 12:58 AM

Originally Posted by The Muse

My philosophy is if I'm not using it and haven't used it, I probably won't use it. When I get to the "probably won't use it" stage, I throw it out, sell it, or give it away.

I can honestly say I've never regretted throwing something out. I love living clutter free.

This is me too!! My kids may often regret me getting rid of something....but I never have!

**baronmom** · 07-03-2008, 08:10 AM

I threw a $20 bill away once by mistake. It was left in a birthday card. I can honestly say I really could have used that $20 at the time. I was not a happy camper. LOL

**missyali** · 07-03-2008, 09:42 AM

Originally Posted by IntlMom

This is me too!! My kids may often regret me getting rid of something....but I never have!

I used to get upset that I may need it. I cried as a child when my parents sold their cars.... Since I have gotten older and have to do the lion's share of the cleaning, less is best in my opinion (although you wouldn't know that looking at my house ~ it's a work in progress)