OK, I'll admit it; I love getting rid of things. A couple of weeks ago I was sitting in my office and suddenly had the urge to purge. I filled four bags with papers, notes and other things that weren't serving my needs.

The reason I love getting rid of things is because of the space I discover. It’s not only physical space I discover but also space in my mind. I get energized and become more creative.

What I've learned through my work with my clients is that I'm not the only one who gets a rush when space is created but sometimes it’s hard to figure out what you can let go of.

When my clients and I talk about getting organized and decluttering the key question that we try to answer is: "What do I get by keeping the object i.e.: what's the value?" versus "What does it cost me to keep it?"

What you get, the value or benefit, is often measured in terms of usefulness, sentimental value and beauty. Cost is generally measured in terms of time, space and money.

Here is a list of seven things that generally cost more to keep then the value they give you in return.

Things that you have printed off the internet that you've been meaning to read. They take up physical space and often weigh heavily on your mind because you haven't read them. The really good news is that should you need any of this information in the future you can reprint it.

Old, travel size, half used bottles of shampoos, lotions, soaps, cosmetics, etc., that you simply don't use. These items take up valuable cabinet and counter space. It is true that some of the products may still be good and someone else could use them but unless you are using the products you are not getting any value from them and neither is anyone else. Give them away or throw them away and benefit from all of the found space.