Decluttering

Mother Nature Can Clear the Clutter the Hard Way

/

Mother nature sure has a way of reminding us of what is important. The pictures of the wind and flood damage from hurricane Irene show how quickly all our belongings can be destroyed.  But ask anyone who has survived a disaster what they are grateful for and it’s always that their loved ones are safe, not the loss of their “things”.

I remember a few years ago when heavy rains caused flooding and sewer back-up at my mother-in-law’s condo basement.

IMGP1213

She had a lot of photos, clothes, and other things she stored down there. She also had a lot of clutter that she never got around to getting rid of.

IMGP1221

After it was all cleaned up she missed the photos and other memorabilia but that was all. She even felt relieved to be rid of all the junk. But she also felt bad because a lot of the things could have been given to a charity to bless others. Instead those items were wasted and ended up in the dumpster.

Now is a good time to take a look around your home and see what you can get rid of. Ask yourself a couple of questions.

  1. Would you miss this item if it was destroyed in a disaster?
  2. Do you even use this item or can you get rid of it now?
  3. If you aren’t using the item would it be something that someone else could use?

With all the flooding in the east coast I’m sure there will be many families in need of some of your extras you aren’t using.  Check to see who is gathering up donations of clothing, household items, etc. in your area.

This is a great way to get rid of some of your clutter and share your good fortune and abundance with those who weren’t so lucky this past week.

To a lighter load along the way.

Janice

Mother Nature Can Clear the Clutter the Hard Way Read More »

Declutter Before You Shop

/ / 1 Comment

We’ve all heard the saying “Shop till you drop”  But I think a better one is “Declutter before you shop”.  Okay, I know it doesn’t rhyme but it will help keep the clutter under control. If you get rid of the old before bringing in anything new you’ll stay one step ahead of clutter build-up.

Containers014Also if you “declutter before you shop” you’ll know before you go to the store what is needed to fill in your wardrobe or finish your decorating. At the grocery store you’ll already know what ingredients you have on the shelf and what you need. You won’t buy a duplicate of something that can go bad or expire before it is used.

 

So before you start your autumn clothes shopping go through last year’s wardrobe.  Get rid of the clothes you didn’t wear because:

  1. They no longer fit.
  2. You don’t like them.
  3. They are worn out.

Create a list of what you need or want before you go shopping.  This will help reduce the impulse buying (future clutter?).

Before heading to the grocery store get rid of the expired ingredients and put them on your shopping list. Check your recipes and weekly menu and put what you need on the list also.  Then you won’t need to make that extra last minute trip to the store.

So save time, money, and clutter by following the saying, “Declutter before you shop” instead of “Shop till you drop”.  You’ll be glad you did.

To a lighter load along the way.

Janice

Declutter Before You Shop Read More »

Back To School Organizing

/

It’s already the middle of July. The stores are stocked up with back-to-school supplies. The TV and newspaper ads are bombarding us about all the things our children “need” in order to have a great year.

Before you rush out and buy all those things be sure to check what you already have at home. Last year’s backpack may still work. Their school clothes may still fit , at least the ones to start off the school year with. They may have enough left over supplies that you only need to buy a few new ones.

Now is the time to take inventory so you can figure out what they will need and how much. It will be a lot easier if you first declutter what they don’t need or can’t use anymore.

Below are some steps to help you declutter. Then I have listed some options on how to get rid of the clutter in fun ways for you and your children.

Decluttering Steps:

  1. Go through all their clothes. Pull out any that do not fit or they won’t wear. Last year’s favorite style may make them feel like they will die of embarrassment if they wear it this year.
  2. Any clothes that are wearable but need repair should be put in a separate pile. Mending can be done while watching TV.
  3. Go through school supplies. Take inventory of what you have from last year that is still usable. Make a list of what each child needs (elementary schools usually provide a basic list). Mark off what you already have. What’s left is the shopping list.
  4. Go through their books. Have them pull out all the ones they have outgrown and are willing to part with. See below for a fun way to recycle the books.

Options on How To Clear out the above items:

  1. A garage sale is a good way to get rid of the outgrown clothes, school supplies, and books. The money you make can help buy new clothes and supplies. If you are interested in having a garage sale before school begins check out my eBook, “Decluttering With A Garage Sale”.
  2. A children’s book exchange is another fun way to clear out some clutter. This can be done in your neighborhood, church group, or other group you and your children belong to. School supplies can also be exchanged. A simple method to do this is explained in this article “Declutter Children’s Books With a Book Exchange”.

Although decluttering the previous year’s school papers won’t help with taking inventory it’s still a good idea to do it now if you didn’t at the end of the school year. You’ll make room for all the new papers that will soon be coming in.  Plus, as your children go through the old papers it will refresh their young minds as to what they learned the past year.  This article will give you some tips on it, “Decluttering Children’s School Papers”.

To a lighter load along the way.

Janice

 

Back To School Organizing Read More »

New Look: Clean and Simple

/

After three years of the same theme I have decided it was time to clean up and simplify the look of my blog.  The brighter cleaner look makes me want to write more about decluttering and organizing. It’s motivating to share those tips on a simple looking blog.  I hope you find it easier to read also.

I’m still working on tweaking it to make it more user friendly.  I’m always open to suggestions if you have any.

I did want to let you know that the picture in the header above is of the Grand Basin in Forest Park, St. Louis, MO.  This is keeping with the theme of vacationing in your own town. I’m lucking to have this park and many others around to take advantage of during nice weather.

Of course St. Louis is in the middle of a heat spell like most of the mid-west and southern states.  That’s when indoor options or cooling water options work best. If you’re trying to keep those out-of-school children busy be sure to check out your local museums, bowling alleys, swimming pools, or movie theaters.

There is always the sprinkler in the backyard to help keep them cool, active, and out of trouble for a little while. It’s clean and simple. Just don’t run the sprinkler in one place for too long or the clean part will end up a muddy mess!

Please let me know how you like the new look of this blog. If you don’t already get blog post updates in you email you can sign up here.

Janice

P.S.  If you are planning a garage sale this summer you’ll want to get this eBook first. Learn how to use the garage sale as a tool to help you clear out a lot of clutter from your home.  Check it out here:  https://cutclutterwithscissors.com/decluttering-with-a-garage-sale-ebook/

New Look: Clean and Simple Read More »

Decluttering With A Garage Sale

/

We’re in the heart of garage sale season. My subdivision had a sale about 3 weeks ago.  Although I didn’t have a lot to sell there were about 12 homes scheduled to have sales so why not take advantage of the traffic already coming into the subdivision.

bigstock_Garage_sale_4972132

I decided to look around my house for any items that had become clutter. This was a great opportunity to clear out as much as possible. After all, why not let other people take the items off my property instead of me having to haul it all away myself.

This included many things that were worth trying to sell but also included items that weren’t worth selling. In other words, some things should have been put in the trash a long time ago. The problem is I’m not always good at trashing some things that are useful but not donation worthy.

So what kind of items am I talking about? Well, I had some small empty but sturdy gift boxes from bath and/or perfume sets. These kind of boxes were too nice to throw away but I didn’t need them. Someone else may be able to use them for storage.

Other items were athletic shoes that were too worn to donate. Then there were some free promotional items I threw in the box. Also partly used school and office supplies that I no longer needed.

With all those shoppers driving up and down the streets I put these kinds of items in boxes with a sign stating they were free. Most of these things were taken so I felt good that someone else would be using them. What was left went into the trash.

I decided beforehand that the items I put out for the sale would go to Goodwill right away if they didn’t sell. Since I needed to fill the tables (I didn’t want it to look too skimpy) I went through each room of my house looking for things I hadn’t used and probably wouldn’t use again. So why keep them. I got them out of the house. Any money I made was a bonus.

If you are planning a garage sale or if your neighborhood is planning one then approach it from how much clutter you can get out of your house and not how much money you can make. With the clutter gone you’ll feel so much better. Your home will be much easier to keep clean.

I’ve had many garage sales over the years, some successful money wise and some not. But they all have been successful with helping me clear out the clutter.

I’ve written an eBook, “Decluttering With A Garage Sale” to give you all the tips I’ve learned over the years. So if you need help on how to go about using a garage sale as a motivating tool in your decluttering journey then check out this new eBook here:

https://cutclutterwithscissors.com/decluttering-with-a-garage-sale-ebook/

Janice

Decluttering With A Garage Sale Read More »