Take an inventory of everything you own
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Does taking an inventory of all your stuff sound like a daunting task? If yes, then you have too much stuff! After all, what you have after the purging process is what is important to you. If it is important to you, it is worth documenting. If you don't feel it is worth documenting, then take another look at it.
TACTIC: Make an inventory of everything you own.
Use paper index cards or a computer spreadsheet to take an inventory of all of your stuff. For each item, list this information:
- its common name (as you refer to it);
- a more complete description (brand name, model number and serial number if it has one);
- the amount of money you paid for it (estimate the cost if it was a gift or you can't remember the original price); and
- the date and store where you bought it (again estimate if you don't know or remember).
Put down a question mark for information you don't know.
You can write out a group card for small items of the same type. For example, just make out one card for your socks, or a single card describing your knifes, forks, and spoons.
TACTIC: Use your stuff inventory to identify items you don't want or need.
If the work of writing down the inventory information for any item seems like too much of a hassle, this is a sign you probably don't need or want the item.
After stating your dreams ("Live Your Dream"), you can rank items in your inventory based on how much they support your goals.
For example:
0 = no support
1 = least support
2 = little support
3 = some support
4 = good support
5 = strongest support
This ranking can help you decide which items to keep and which you can discard in situations where you need to pare down on your stuff.
TACTIC: The stuff inventory is an important record that you should store carefully.
Store a copy of your stuff inventory outside of your home in a safe deposit box or with a trusted friend. This could help you with insurance claims.
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