020 - But it cost money!

Decluttering Untangled with Heather Tingle : How to declutter when you're overwhelmed, ADHD or Autistic

Summary

In this episode, Heather Tingle discusses the common belief that holding onto items because they cost money is a valid reason. She introduces the concept of the sunk cost fallacy and explains that the money spent on an item is gone once it is purchased. Heather emphasises the importance of detaching emotional value from an item and recognising that its worth may have changed over time. She advises listeners to research the actual selling prices of similar items to determine their true value. Heather also encourages donating items to charity instead of dealing with the stress of selling them. Finally, she highlights the financial and emotional costs of living with clutter and urges listeners to consider the true cost of keeping unnecessary items.
Takeaways

• The sunk cost fallacy leads us to believe that because something cost money, it is still valuable. However, once the money is spent, it is gone, and the item's worth may have changed.
• Emotional attachment to an item can make us believe it is worth more than it actually is. It is important to detach ourselves from the idea that an item's value is determined by our personal connection to it.
• To determine the true value of an item, research its selling prices on platforms like eBay. Look at completed and sold listings to get an accurate understanding of what similar items are actually selling for.
• Donating items to charity can be a more fulfilling and stress-free way to let go of things we believe are valuable. It allows us to see the impact our donation can make and avoids the devaluation and haggling that can come with selling.
• Living with clutter can have significant financial costs, such as fines for not being organised, paying for replacements due to breakage, and higher expenses due to disorganisation. Consider the true cost of keeping unnecessary items.

Chapters

00:00
Introduction

00:54
The Sunk Cost Fallacy

03:32
Knowing the Real Value

04:59
Donating to Charity

06:56
Pricing to Sell

07:27
The Cost of Keeping Clutter

07:57
Conclusion
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