The Clutter Clinic

In April 2003...

Jo asked "I hoard magazines and newspapers because I don't have the time to go through them and clip the articles I want to keep. It feels like they are taking over my home. Can you help?"

Sue answers: This is a very common problem Jo. Basically you have 2 choices:

1. Recycle the whole lot today. Don't worry about reading them. The newspapers are old news and new magazines are coming out every month.

2. If number 1 sends you into a panic then choose a more gentle strategy.

• First don't buy any more until you've got through the backlog.
• Decide what kind of articles you want to keep - recipes, travel, information on mortgages.
• Buy folders to keep the information in, so you can file it immediately
• Set a time limit - say a month ahead and if you haven't gone through all of them by then, let them go.
• In future only buy and subscribe to as many magazines and papers as you have time to read

Good luck with it

Sue

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