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Do you have "Just In Case" syndrome?

  • Mar 6, 2020
  • 2 min read

Updated: Mar 23

Lots of people I work with struggle to let things go “just in case” they are needed in the future. It's not surprising given that many of us were brought up by parents who subscribed to the "make do and mend" mentality.


I'm all for living a sustainable life and will always reuse or recycle items if they have a purpose but I try not to hang on to things that I'm not realistically going to use. For many people "just in case" is an excuse for not letting go of things.


If you're finding yourself a bit overwhelmed by the clutter in your home I'd recommend working through the following questions as they may help you to decide to let some of those things go.


1) HOW LIKELY is it that you’ll actually use the item - be honest.


2) WHEN was the last time you used it - are you really going to need it again.


3) How BIG is it - if it’s bulky, getting in the way & your clutter is annoying you - you see where I’m going with this.


4) How EASY would it be to find a REPLACEMENT if you needed it in the future.


5) How much would it COST to replace - if it’s cheap then why keep.


6) Is it PERISHABLE, does it have a SHELF LIFE - think paint pots, ingredients used for a recipe a year ago.


7) How much value do you put on the SPACE it’s taking up.


If you decide it’s something that still fits in your life then store it with similar items so you know where to find it - you don’t want to end up buying it again if you’ve kept it!



Contact Sue for more information about decluttering and organising your home using the KonMari Method:


m: 07740 782575


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Hi I'm Sue

Sue Spencer KonMari Consultant

Thanks for stopping by my tidy corner of the internet! For the past eight years, I’ve helped busy families and downsizers create homes that feel lighter and easier to live in - removing those everyday “speed bumps” that get in the way of life.

I’m a UK-based Professional Organiser and Master KonMari Consultant, trained by Marie Kondo’s team. Through this blog and my in-home sessions, I share what actually works in real homes - not perfection, but practical, sustainable change.

Ready to make your space work better for you? Let’s chat...

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