It's All Too Much

This book by Peter Walsh is fantastic.  I am in the process of reading and implementing the practices right now.  Peter starts not with fancy organizing gizmos but with how and why the clutter has come about.  He tackles the problem of hoarding and clutter first from the psychological perspective then from the physical.  I highly recommend this book.

Conquering the Garage - Phase I

Well, I finally jumped into the task of cleaning the garage.  I had high hopes to get it all done in a weekend, so much for that.  However, I made a considerable dent in this overwhelming project.  I managed to sort, throw out, donate and organize ¾ of the area – yea me!!!

I went into this project with the idea that I was going to get rid of everything that I haven’t used in the past couple years.  Here is what I found:

• Stored items that belong to other people - my daughter moved out and left all her old clothing, furniture and other misc. items she no longer needs.  My daughter in law moved and stored boxes of clothes, shoes, purses (this is a fashionista, let me tell you), childhood memorabilia etc. .... why do we agree to keep things that belong to other people.  When we do this we are allowing them to infringe on our lives.  How fair is that?
• Items that “someone may need in the future” – old faucets, dishes, pots-n-pans, tools I don’t even know how to use, the kids old bikes, balls, ride on toys, party supplies and decorations.... why not give these things to someone that can actually use them today ... donate, give away, free yourself!! 
• Tubs of plastic bags .... why? This is sick.
• Old rugs and carpets ...... Yuk
• Bags upon bags of items that needed to be hauled off to the goodwill
• Lawn and garden items such as planters, soils, seeds, fertilizers, etc.... OK, these things can stay in the garage, but how about some order.

Heck, who needs fancy collections?  I’m a collector of STUFF!! 

I managed to donate two carloads of items to the Salvation Army, dropped those old plastic bags off to a plastic recycling bin, gave away some furniture (and it actually left that day - I didn't store it for them until they could pick it up).  I’m going to sell a few items on Craigslist. I organized the remaining items, threw away a ton of JUNK, and I feel great!!  I still have to go back and finish the job, but I can actually walk in there again.  It is an amazing feeling to take back some space. 

One Small Area at a Time - A Mother's Day Gift

Does your Mom have a clutter problem?  If so, Mother's Day may be a great opportunity to assist her with clearing some it away.  You don't have to do it all in one day.  Here are a few tips to help her get started and make it a great and productive day for all.

• Gather the children and have them help you clean one room of Mom's home. I guarantee that she will appreciate it more than the flowers you thought about getting her.
• Get Mom to commit to donating just one box of items to a charity (Salvation Army, Good Will Industries or the Red Cross).  This will help someone in need while simultaneously helping Mom get rid of the clutter in a small area.
• Help Mom clear a bookshelf and make sure to leave a little space for more items later.
• Go though all her old magazines and help her purge the antiquated volumes.  There are lots of organizations that appreciate old reading materials such as nursing homes.

I hope these ideas help you make a great day for your Mom.

Happy Mothers Day to All!!

Cluter and Cash

How much do you spend on your clutter?  I bet you never thought about it before, but clutter is expensive.

·         How many times have you misplaced an item that you need and been forced to buy another one because you couldn’t find it in the clutter?

·         How much space does your clutter consume in your home – a bedroom, the basement, the garage, all of the above?  In terms of square footage in your home you are paying a mortgage on space that is not usable for your enjoyment. 

·         How much do you spend on allergy medications that you have to take as a result of the allergens (dust, dust mites, etc.) in your living environment caused by all the clutter.

·         Have you ever fallen over something, injured yourself and had to go the hospital or doctor due to your mess?

These are all ways that your clutter costs cash.  Think about it.  Can you really afford to keep the clutter?  Start very small.  Today clean out your kitchen sink, really make it sparkle and see where that takes you. 

Please let me know if this tip helps anyone in any way.

Too Much Stuff

Too many times we use shopping as therapy and the result is an accumulation of too much stuff.  How do you know if you have too much stuff?  If you have items of clothing in your closet that still have the tag on them; if you have a “gift bag” of items that you have purchased just in case someone needs one,  when you have furniture accumulating in the basement and the garage that you hold on to just in case someone needs it.  You have too much stuff!!  I understand your pain because I speak from experience…what I have just described is me.  If you too are a victim of too much stuff, share your story with me.