Getting organized routinely tops people's lists of things to do.

One of the obstacles of getting organized is sorting through belongings and identifying what to get rid of and what to keep. Uncertainty about what is worthy of donation or trash is a common problem that can create clutter. Asking several questions can help people decide what to toss and what to keep.

Is the item useful? People should consider whether they have used the item in the last month to 90 days or if they see themselves needing it in the next month. If not, this item likely can be put aside. An easy way to identify items that will not be useful is to check for duplicates or if anything is expired. Duplicate items can immediately be moved to the toss pile.

Why do you want this item? Consider each item and ask how it serves a purpose. If it looks great in the home or is a cherished memento, then it likely can be kept. But if the owner cannot say why he or she wants it, it needs to find a new home, particularly if the owner already has another item that serves the same purpose but may also have other uses.

Does it fit? One of the biggest culprits to clutter and overflowing closets is holding on to clothes with the hope that they will once again fit. Keeping a collection of multi-size shirts and pants with the intention of dropping or gaining weight so that they fit once more only leads to hangers and bins full of useless items. Although clothes can be expensive, if people fluctuate in weight, they may want to buy new clothes instead of wearing outdated styles. When assessing shoes, figure out which ones are uncomfortable or seldom used, such as a collection of sandals for someone who lives in a cold climate. Donate items in good condition.

Do you still care about collectibles? People often collect figurines, shot glasses, or other items through the years out of habit. Over time, items that once were popular fall out of favor. If someone's interest in porcelain pigs has waned, it may be time to clear out collectibles to make room for other items.

Are your paper files needed? Major financial records and business documents can be kept indefinitely, but other files likely can be shredded. The Internal Revenue Service generally has up to six years to audit a return, so it is helpful to keep tax returns and supporting documents for about seven years. Most people have pivoted to online bank statements and pay stubs, but the general consensus is to keep bank and credit card statements, pay stubs, paid medical bills, and such for a year before discarding them. Going digital by scanning files or documents and storing them securely might be an alternative to bulky files.

Getting organized means figuring out what to keep and what needs to go, a process that differs for each person.