Get Organized Mission #4: Forgo The Freebies

Get Organized Mission #4: Forego the FreebiesWelcome to Mission #4 of our 52 Get Organized Missions.

If you’ve got your finances sorted now after completing our previous mission (Get Organized Mission #3: Organize Your Bills) then you’ll be happy with this week’s change of pace.

This week’s task involves a mindset shift.

Our aim is to raise the barrier for accepting into your life a source of mental and physical clutter for many people – the ‘freebie’.

Your challenge this week is to spend your 30 minutes:

  1. Learning how to distinguish the freebies that add to your life in net terms
  2. Deciding to say NO to all the others.

Remember – you only have to spend 30 minutes to complete the basic mission. If you want to go further check out the Extended Organizing Mission Options below.

Ready?

Get Organized Mission #4: Forgo The Freebies

One of the fundamentals of the Get Organized Wizard philosophy is:

The less of anything you have, the easier it is to get organized and stay organized.

The problem with freebies is that although they may not cost you money, they always cost you in other ways, including time, added clutter and greater barriers to personal organization. Occasionally a freebie is worth the cost; most often it’s not.

Your mission this week is to adjust your mindset so that before you accept any freebie into your busy life, you ask yourself four questions:

Q1: How much money must I spend to get the freebie?

  • Do I have to buy particular items or spend a certain amount to ‘qualify’ for the freebie?
  • Is the qualifying purchase something I need?
  • Is the qualifying purchase worth the price independently of the freebie?

Case Study:

  • Don’t spend $100 on beauty products you don’t need to get a free $60 lipstick, if all you really want is the $60 free lipstick.
  • Do simply buy and enjoy the $60 lipstick!

Q2: How much time must I spend to use the freebie?

  • Do I have to read it, assemble it, learn how to use it, invest time to get value from it?
  • How much benefit can I expect from investing that time?
  • Is the benefit worth the time?

Case Study:

  • Don’t pick up the magazine at the gym or department store just because it’s free if the information quality is poor or the articles are disguised advertorials. It will waste your precious time.
  • Do borrow or buy a good book or magazine if you want quality information.

Q3: How much mental clutter will the freebie create?

  • Will I feel pressured to use the freebie once I have it, even if it’s not something I’m immediately focused on?
  • Will it add an item I don’t genuinely care about to my mental to-do list?
  • Is the benefit of having the freebie worth the mental clutter?

Case Study:

  • Don’t sign up for newsletters in exchange for free e-books, reports or PDFs on topics that aren’t already top-of-mind for you. Keep your focus on what’s important now to save yourself distraction and concentrate your precious mental energy.
  • Do search – and pay, if necessary – for highly relevant, good quality information when you’re ready to use it. It will be worth it in terms of saved mental energy.

Q4: How much physical clutter will the freebie create?

  • Will I need to store the freebie?
  • Will it create visual clutter in my home, office or life?
  • Is the benefit of having the freebie worth the physical and visual clutter?

Case Study:

  • Don’t accept your friend’s discarded 237-piece Lladro collection just because ‘it would be a shame to let it go’. Unless you will use/love/enjoy it, it’s cluttro.
  • Do let someone else with a yen for Lladro enjoy it, and fill your life with only things that you love.

Dos & Don’ts

  • Don’t fret over losing out on stuff. Take a look around – you probably already have more stuff than you can use, read, slather on your face, or enjoy. More will come.
  • Do enjoy the feeling of freedom and clarity you get from saying no to things that don’t earn their place in your life.

Extended Organizing Mission Options

Want to go beyond this 30-minute organizing mission?

  • You can apply these principles to things on sale, too. Compare the sale price with the total cost:
    TOTAL COST = MONEY COST + TIME COST + MENTAL CLUTTER COST + PHYSICAL CLUTTER COST.
  • If you have kids, this is an excellent mission to discuss with them. In this age of excess, teaching children to assess the value of things means equipping them with a useful skill.
  • If you have a cache of free stuff languishing in drawers, the garage or your hard drive, why not take this opportunity to let it go. Create some extra time, space and clarity for yourself.

Ready, Set, Go!

Remember – move quickly, act fast, don’t overthink.

Before You Go – Please Check In

You’re now accountable to your organizing mission-mates! Once you’ve completed this week’s Get Organized Mission please add a comment to let us know you’ve done your assignment and you’re keeping your commitment.
(Click ‘Comment’ at the very top of this post or scroll down to the bottom. Depending on how you’re viewing this post, one of those options will be available for you.)

And see you back here next week!

Update

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Click here to sign up for 52 Organizing Missions.

Image by koka_sexton

Michele | Get Organized Gal

Michele is into writing, books, simplicity, love, TV, productivity, and staying thin in a world of chocolate.

120 thoughts on “Get Organized Mission #4: Forgo The Freebies”

  2. Amy says:

    This is an interesting mission. At first, I didn’t think it pertained to me. But then I got to thinking. My mom is really one to get something because it was free or really cheap. She then passes the stuff on to me. I have tried to say to say no. I have discovered it is easier to take the stuff and then either toss it or donate it when I get home. Unfortunately, it has taken quite awhile to figure it out.

  3. Brenda says:

    I love to “just say ‘no'” but how do you deal with a spouse and/or kids who are pack rats and have a hard time passing up a “good deal”?

  4. geraldine says:

    Yes was tempted with a spend $70 on makeup and skin care to get $130 free.
    Said NO and feel great as the $70 is still in my bank account.
    I have so many samples at home of skin care and such that I dont need to purchase for a good 6 months I reckon.
    Keep the missions rolling.

  5. Deb says:

    I really dove into this one. My mother inlaw is always bringing free stuff that someone may need some day. I sorted out a pile of clothes that she had brought for the kids, that they will not wear and donated them. I also cleaned out the cupboard of all of the free/reduced items that she thought someone might need (she could not pass up). Who needs 30 boxes of mac and cheese. I donated these to the local food pantry.

  6. tammy says:

    Today, I cleaned out a lot of Happy Meal toys that I have been letting collect in a box and gave them away. I also had a lot of extra yarn from knitting that went out the door also. Every day a little more. It feels good.

  8. Michele Connolly says:

    Hi Paulie,

    It’s true you might need it one day – and then you can go buy it.

    In the meantime, live a lovely, uncluttered life!

    You’ll probably save money in net terms, when you consider the storage, stress management and relationship therapy costs you’ll avoid. 😉

    M

  9. Belinda says:

    I have to say that I was a “freebie” addict and it was getting to the point where my 5 year old was following in my footsteps (monkey see, monkey do!)
    I realised that I was collecting all this junk just because it was free (and I just might need it one day).
    Now I say NO MORE!

  10. Paulie says:

    OooooooooH! ! this is hard – I’m such a squirrel – and I was brought up by parents/grandparents who went through the fepression, and whose motto was KEEP IT!

    I’ve managed the other missions though, and will get through this one – wish me luck!

  11. Minima says:

    At first I thought – ‘I don’t do this. Doesn’t apply. Not me.’ – then I really looked around at the ‘because it was cheap’ items, the sale items still with labels and the ‘two-fers’ I bought just because….

    So, I’ve moved a lot of the items to the front to get used up next before I spend money on fresh; others have gone in the charity bag and I’ve binned complete tat.

    If I don’t need it, like it or gain anything from having it – than I’ll pass in future!

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  15. Melissa says:

    I just found your blog through alltop and I am hooked! I plan to jump in and catch up on the missions. I’m really enjoying reading through your archives!

  16. Tonia says:

    I love decluttering & organising…I have to with four children,husband & pets..so easy to feel overwhelmed with the chaos.
    Loving your tips, especially the one about collecting free e-books of which I’m guilty. Of course I then clutter up my pc folder and don’t get around to reading them all! So I shall use my 30mins to delete those unnecessary!

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