A recently released survey by Havas Worldwide (Marketing & Communications) found that over half of the ten thousand people they surveyed across the world believed they could live without most of the items they owned. Two thirds of the respondents said that they made it a point to rid themselves of un-needed possessions at least one time a year. What can you live without? All those kitchen gadgets? Cookbooks? Outdated clothing? All those lotions & potions you don’t use in your bathroom? Planters for the plants you plan to buy but don’t quite get to? Old magazines? Mismatched socks? Outdated printers and keyboards? The possibilities for paring down are endless. If you are ready to take the plunge and pare down, here are some tried and true questions to ask yourself as you go through the process ~
~When was the last time you used it?
~When will you (realistically) need it again?
~Why would you need it again?
~Who might ask for it?
~What would you need it for?
~Is it easily replaceable?
~What is the worst thing that would happen if you got rid of it?
~And, my favorite…Is it beautiful, useful or loved?