The True Cost of Ownership: But what if I NEEEED it one day?
And it's super expensive to replace...
We have an occasional series here at Your House Machine about hidden costs: The True Cost of Ownership. Humans have so many blind spots, so many cognitive biases, and are so skillfully marketed to in our Capitalist society. It’s a recipe for unintentional overconsumption. In the past we’ve covered the True Cost of Free Stuff and the True Cost of Luxury Items.
Let’s kick things off with a reader question.
Q: I moved into my house with great systems five years ago, and it’s time to review and tweak and declutter the inevitable slide. My question is about this question “yes but IF I do this thing again, this stuff will be vital”. I have a beautifully complete box of cake decorating supplies, and very occasionally make a spectacular layer cake, but definitely not often enough to warrant keeping the stuff. I have a CPAP machine I no longer need, but what if I need it again in the future? Those things are $5000! And on and on. I feel happy and relieved to move stuff on from the category “stuff from a chapter that is no longer current”, but what about the stuff where the chapter could return? And it would be expensive if it did? Or the stuff would make life way easier if it did? - Katie
A: I spend a lot of time reminding people that decluttering is the only non-negotiable part of home organization. Getting rid of things is both hard and essential.
As a rule of thumb, my advice is to get rid of things you haven’t used in the past year/season (see: the 90/90 rule). The pain of continuing to store something with the related mental load, space and energy requirement, is generally less than the monetary cost of *possibly* replacing it in X years’ time.
To nerd out for a second:
True Cost = (Probability of needing it * cost of acquisition) - (time+energy+space required to store item)
It’s ok to skip that equation.
The main point is that either the cost of replacing the item AND/OR the likelihood of needing to replace it needs to be pretty high to justify keeping something.
(I don’t focus on the cost of storage size because I find the cost of storing stuff is always higher than people estimate.)
Our reader gave one example of a $5,000 CPAP machine1. That’s definitely something I’d carefully consider before tossing out. Only our fair reader knows the likelihood of needing it again, but the cost sure of replacement sure is high.
Another common example is baby equipment for families that aren’t done—or aren't sure if they’re done—having babies. People usually keep all their baby gear till they’re totally done, but the stuff takes up serious space (don’t even get me started on baby equipment clutter…). The pain is real!
Only you know how heavily to weight the cost (monetary and otherwise) and likelihood of needing a replacement.
But let’s assume some of these items are worth holding on to. You’re not done yet!
The next task is to reduce the cost of storage as much as possible. Storage can be a slippery slope indeed so proceed with extreme caution.
Clutter begets clutter, so hanging on to one unused item can quickly turn into hanging onto 10 unused items. And once it’s a pile, it’s easier to just stick it in the back of a deep closet and not to look at it. And then you’ll have created the dreaded storage black hole.
Some tips to keep mindful retention from turning into a black hole of regret:
Keep the item in a visible, well lit, clean part of your home. Black holes thrive in dark, dusty areas.
Label when you stored it, and even note down a date when you’d like to dispose of it if it hasn’t been used. Example: “Stored 5/2025. Dispose of by 5/2028.”
Go through your storage areas regularly and re-evaluate what’s there. Life and needs change all the time.
Your Turn
Would you keep the items the reader asked about? What are the things you agonize over? Share anything I missed in the comments!
A Note
I love reader questions because they make me think about my systems as applied to someone else’s quandary. I never would’ve written about mail clutter or laundry systems (for instance) had readers not asked me to help.
You can message me anytime with your questions, and as always I’m available for a Zoom or in-person (in Portland) organizing sesh.
Google’s definition: A continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine is a medical device that delivers pressurized air through a mask worn during sleep to prevent the collapse of the airway and improve breathing during sleep
I’ve had similar conversations with a decluttering client who has hoarding disorder and a shopping addiction (Not that holding onto something important and expensive makes you a hoarder!). She also has extra CPAP machines as backups and all sorts of extra tubes, etc, some of which she ordered during one of my appointments. My questions about needing an entire 2nd or 3rd machine vs just some of the parts didn’t help. Obviously her situation is different, given the disorder and past trauma she is working through.
But I’ve also had lots of conversations about small kitchen appliances. The panini press plus Foreman style grill, Instant Pot, Vitamix plus Bullet plus multiple sizes of food processor, toaster oven, air fryer, etc all living in one kitchen. All collecting dust and filling cabinets to the brim. And I work predominantly with single midlife and more mature women. And most of them have indicated they don’t cook a lot.
I think holding onto things like this is really twofold: the money spent and the fantasy self the objects represent. I’ve certainly struggled with this myself. You want to be someone who frequently cooks for dinner parties with friends or who bakes for the office friends or who knits for the homeless or whatever it is. So we hold onto these things but really these items just bully us about the money wasted and the hobbies never picked up.
Thanks so much for answering my question, Rebecca. The CPAP is on its way out! I hadn’t thought about the technology becoming obsolete, and everyone is right that medical equipment should be moved on to those who need it in the present. I have been ramping up my decluttering fervour and finding it easier to make the call to let go of old possible selves the more decisions I make in that direction. The cake decorating stuff remains all emotional for me, in a way the CPAP isn’t, so I am going to do the date thing you suggest: a post-it with a deadline. That feels good and calming. 😌 Thanks again!