Clutterbug’s Excuse Almanac

I can’t get rid of that because...

• I might need it someday.

• There’s an article I have to read in that (magazine or news paper).

• It’ll be worth money someday.

• It will come back in style if I wait long enough.

• It was a gift.

• I paid good money for it.

• As soon as I lose twenty pounds, I’ll be able to wear it again.

• It’s still perfectly good.

• It doesn’t belong to me; it belongs to (fill in the blank).

• I inherited it.

• It just needs to be fixed and it will be good as new.

• They don’t make things like that anymore.

• I’m saving it for ______ (fill in the blank with some mythical day or event).

• It would cost a fortune to replace.

• It brings back memories.

Armed with any or all of the excuses found in the Almanac, the clutterbug handles clutter by saying, “I’ll just put it over here for now.”



Before you know it, “for now” turns into forever, and it becomes obvious that something must be done to regain control of the clutter.

This guide will help you help yourself, whether your clutter problem is small or of magnificent proportions. It helps you decide what to get rid of and gives you storage ideas for what’s left. Finally, it gives you lots of common sense advice and practical tips that will help you keep clutter under control in the future.

You can apply the clutter control techniques in this guide to your home or office. If you have a home-based office, this guide will help you maximize and organize the limited space you have available for all of your activities.

But first things first. Start by dealing with the excuses:

I might need it someday. This is like putting a bet down in Las Vegas. You might need it someday — then again you might not.



How long have you been playing this hand? If you still haven’t needed it, it’s time to cash in your chips and quit this game.

There’s an article I have to read in that. There’s very little in life that you really have to do. Since you obviously can’t do, see, taste, read, or have it all, perhaps you can start accepting that fact by letting go of some of those articles now.

It will be worth money someday. Yeah, but are you going to see the day? And while we’re on the subject, how much is it costing you to store in the meantime?

It will come back in style if I wait long enough. Oh, puleaze! Even if it does come back in style, it will be in a slightly different cut and fabric, and you’ll still look a little nerdy around the edges.

It was a gift. It’s the thought that counts. So give it as a gift to someone else (like charity).

I paid good money for it. Whose fault is that? Just because you made one stupid mistake doesn’t mean you should make another mistake by keeping the first mistake.

As soon as I lose twenty pounds, I’ll be able to wear it again. By that time, this rag will be totally out of style.

It’s still perfectly good. If it’s still so dad-gummed good, how come you never use it?

It doesn’t belong to me; it belongs to ___________. So call up ______ and tell them you are moving their stuff to outside storage and having the bill sent to them. This goes for your college-aged son’s stuff as well as the load of stuff you promised to keep temporarily for the neighbor who moved last year. What are you, a moving and storage company?

I inherited it. Oh. Time to let someone else inherit it from you now, before you die.

It just needs to be fixed and it will be good as new. Send it out to be fixed.

They don’t make things like that anymore. And for good reason: Nobody in their right mind would have one. Besides, it doesn’t matter how well-made it's if you never use it.

I’m saving it for _________ (fill in that special day or event that may never happen — like that garage sale you’ve been talking about forever). It’s been five years and that day still hasn’t rolled around. What year do you anticipate this happening?

It would cost a fortune to replace. I know. Just think of all the money you’ll save by dumping it and not replacing it with any thing.

It brings back memories. Old tax returns bring back memories too. How many memories do you need, for Pete’s sake?

So much for excuses. Or, put another way, so much for procrastinator poppycock. Now here are some Seven Clutter Warranties.

Seven Clutter Warranties