Avoiding The Two For One Pitfall
Brought to you by Joan Kosmachuk, Professional Organizer
and Personal Life Coach

“It’s possible to own too much. A man with one watch knows what time it is; a man with two watches is never quite sure.” Lee Segall

It’s that time of year when the wedding invitations hit our mailboxes and most of us will find ourselves attending at least one bridal shower or purchasing one wedding gift over the next few months.

As the last gift is unwrapped, the happy newlyweds will be faced with a key decision. Will they get caught in the “2 for 1 pitfall” or not? No, I’m not talking about the spiritual analogy of two lives joining to become one, I’m talking about duplicate household items.

Whether it’s dealing with duplicate wedding gifts or combining the collective goods of two separate households into one, newlyweds all across the country will be faced with a challenging decision. Will they keep 2 identical items when 1 would be ample for the needs of their household?

But even for those of us who have many anniversaries under our belts or who live alone, the two for one pitfall can be a key cause of household clutter. The following questions will help you identify the ways you too may get caught in the for the 2 for 1 pitfall:

• How often do you find yourself purchasing two items in a 2 for 1 sale when you really only intended to buy one of them?
  
  
• Have you ever purchased a “replacement” for an item but then kept the original as well?
  
  
• Have you ever bought a newer version of an item without retiring the old version?
  
  
• Do you have a “good” vs. “everyday” set of dishes, silverware or linens but never use the “good” set?
  
  
• Have you ever purchased an item you already own because you forgot you had it or didn’t know where to find it?
  
  
• Do you find yourself taking “still good” items offered by family and friends because you don’t want to turn down a good thing even though you already have the item at home?
  
  
• Do you routinely hoard duplicate items “just in case” the first one wears out?
  
  
• How many duplicate items do you have in your home right now?
  

Identifying the source(s) of a double life is only half the battle. Next comes the question of what to do with all the “extra” items you’ve accumulated over the years and how to keep from future duplication? Here are a few suggestions for eliminating the 2 for 1 items in your life:

• Return unused items with receipts to the store for a refund or store credit.
  
  
• Re-gift new items to others.
  
  
• Donate your new or gently used duplicates to those in need. Ask your local charity, church group or community supports for individuals or agencies that need of your extras.
  
  
• Recycle or trash any item you replace that you cannot give to others (i.e. stained or worn clothing and linens, dust or mold covered decorative items, broken items).
  
  
• Keep an inventory of all current household items to avoid unintentional duplication. This will be a helpful list for your house insurance policy as well.
  
  
• Learn to say “no” to offers of items you already have unless you need a replacement.
  
  
• If you end up with duplicate items because of a sale or promotion, immediately pass the second item on to someone else.

Simplicity is making the journey of this life with just baggage enough.” Unknown

If you need help getting out of the 2 for 1 pitfall, consider enlisting the help of a professional organizer. To hire the services of Joan Kosmachuk, please email your request to info@simpleeffects.com or call 617-784-0707.

If you found the information in this newsletter to be of value to you, please feel free to forward it to your friends and colleagues; you'll be helping them organize their lives.