This is part of my series on Decluttering Mental Models.

I love Marie Kondō’s approach to decluttering, where I hold each item and ask, “Does this spark joy?” But I’ve noticed that it doesn’t work perfectly for all types of belongings. Sometimes I get rid of stuff that will be useful later. Other times I keep duplicates of things simply because they spark joy.

So, in addition to asking if something sparks joy, I recommend asking yourself these six questions:

Question #1: How much money do you have?

If you have to re-buy something in a year, will you have enough money to do so? You should declutter things that bring no joy but consider how hard it will be to repurchase them. Spatulas cost very little to replace, but KitchenAid mixers cost a lot.

(Some decluttering experts scoff at this, but a chunk of America lives in poverty.)

Question 2: Is this item useful?

None of my pots and pans spark joy but having basic cooking supplies is incredibly useful. So I keep enough of them to meet my basic needs.

Same story with tax records, printer paper, lip balm, and emergency preparedness supplies. Honestly, none of my flashlights or spare batteries spark joy, but they’re handy when there’s no power for many hours. (This has happened to me multiple times in the past few years.)

Question 3: How hard is it to replace this?

Family heirlooms are irreplaceable and may be worth keeping even though they don’t spark joy at this moment. Same story with yearbooks and mementos. Sometimes it’s best to hold onto these things in a “memory box.”

And if you’re worried about things becoming clutter, use the container strategy.

Question 4: Do you already have one of these?

Let’s say you love crushed red pepper flakes, and each of your five containers sparks joy. Or let’s say both copies of The Count of Monte Cristo spark joy. Do you really need to keep duplicate items? Probably not.

Question 5: Is this part of a hobby?

Let’s say that doing arts and crafts is a hobby of yours. It’s not necessary to hold every bead or cradle every popsicle stick and ask, “Does this spark joy?” (Besides, it would take forever!)

Instead, use the container strategy to place reasonable limits on stuff for your hobby.

Question 6: Would this item be helpful during a pandemic?

Roles of toilet paper don’t usually spark joy, but they’re helpful to have around when you’re stuck at home and the stores aren’t stocking them. Same story with masks, cold medicine, and hand sanitizer.

To be clear, I’m not suggesting you fill whole rooms with these things. But it would be wise to keep a few extras in a pantry or a closet.

More Decluttering Mental Models:

Top 10 Favorites

  1. How I answer the question: “What if I need this later?”
  2. “The Container strategy” will simplify your decluttering
  3. Selling clothes is for suckers (unless you earn $15/hour)
  4. Wait 48 hours before buying stuff
  5. 21 questions to ask before you buy
  6. The radical way to measure wealth, part 1 and part 2
  7. We’re trained to be dissatisfied with what we have (and how to fix this)
  8. Clear clutter by zoning your home
  9. How screen time kills your motivation to declutter
  10. Dear car dealers: I don't want a "free" T-shirt with your logo

Get started

  1. Clear clutter by zoning your home
  2. How I answer the question: “What if I need this later?”
  3. “The Container strategy” will simplify your decluttering
  4. Hold each item and ask, “Does this spark joy?”
  5. When the “Does this Spark Joy?” fails you, ask these 6 questions
  6. Create your “Discard by Feb. 2022” box
  7. Decluttering yearbooks? Ask these 8 questions first

Shopping

  1. 21 questions to ask before you buy
  2. Wait 48 hours before buying stuff - version 1 and version 2
  3. How a grocery shopping list saves me time, money, and pounds

Manage your clothes

  1. Selling clothes is for suckers (unless you can earn $15/hour)
  2. Dear Dude with too many T-shirts: no one wants to buy them—just recycle/trash them
  3. Don't be like my friend Giorgio with his 400 Hawaiian shirts
  4. None of my clothes "spark joy"—so what do i get rid of?

Happiness & satisfaction

  1. Limit pleasurable things so they don’t lose their novelty
  2. We’re trained to be dissatisfied with what we have (and how to fix this)
  3. Craving never stops and my potato chip addiction
  4. Reminder: happiness levels stay consistent

Get motivated

  1. Want to boost your motivation to declutter? Immerse yourself in decluttering videos, podcasts, & books!
  2. How screen time kills your motivation to declutter
  3. Imagine your ideal home… Imagine all the clutter is gone…
  4. Feeling unmotivated? Declutter with a 5-minute time box

Manage your money

  1. The radical way to measure wealth, part 1 and part 2
  2. Save money by controlling aspirational identities
  3. I wasted so much money starting projects (and how I fixed it)

Manage consumption spirals

  1. How consumption spirals work
  2. Buying a house led to an enormous consumption spiral
  3. How craving completeness drives my consumption

Shift your Paradigm

  1. Change your environment, change your consumption
  2. 3 thought experiments to adopt a decluttering mindset
  3. Your home is not a storage unit for other people's crap!
  4. Before you buy stuff, do this little mental exercise
  5. Less space, less stuff
  6. That’s right, you and I pay for the privilege of seeing viagra ads
  7. Your home is an expensive container for your stuff. What’s your cost per sqft?

Manage your emotions

  1. Can you tolerate boredom?
  2. Fill the void with a long term goal

Control the Clutter

  1. Dear car dealers: I don't want a "free" T-shirt with your logo