I am officially overwhelmed by the amount of things we have. I really wish I could be someone that is a total minimalist and doesn't have a bunch of "stuff" hanging around their house, but it just hasn't happened in my last 29 years of life. I think it's even gotten worse now that we have two kids and a house, not an apt. It really is amazing all of the things that we think we need, but then never use-plus my husband and I are both impulse shoppers so that doesn't help much! Now don't get me wrong, our house is still clean it just makes me feel unorganized sometimes.
So does anyone have any good websites that I can look at to, I guess, "declutter", simplify, or just plain get rid of stuff? I already have bags ready to go to the thrift store, but I'm so bad about actually getting the bags from the house, to the car, and ultimately dropped off.
I need some organizational help please!
On another note, I had a very very productive weekend at the store and with sewing-I'll post pics on Wed.
So that's my random Monday morning, Sesame Street is on, and I have a few minutes to get my thoughts out Post.
Try ths: http://tlc.discovery.com/fansites/cleansweep/tips/tips_index.html
ReplyDeleteHave you ever seen Clean Sweep? They start by taking EVERYTHING out of the house (you could probably do it by room), then sort it into 3 piles: keep, toss, sell. If there are things, like shoes, that there are a WHOLE lot of, they force the person to go through them all and choose a much smaller number, then reward them when they do it (like, you can keep just 20 pairs out of the 65, and if you do you can take back one item from the sell pile).
Once everything is sorted out, they have a yard sale/take the toss stuff to Goodwill or the trash, and put everything back in the house.
As for your Goodwill bags, maybe you need to make yourself a deal to get them there, like if I take these bags, I can open that bottle of wine I've been craving, or something. Put a reward at the end of the tunnel.
Also, I'm REALLY good at sorting/organizing stuff, and being motivated throughout the whole process, so if you're stuck, give me a holler, I'd be glad to help out. I'm a Milwaukee-an too (an Eastsider).
kim@kzieglerdesign.com :)
Good luck!
So, I've been feeling the same way lately and finally had some time to tackle my mess of a basement and one thing I found really helpful are those bags you can vacuum the air out of... you know the ones? They actually WORK! I've been hesitating to buy but glad I did. Regular clothes don't get as flat as they advertise, but they are more manageable in a flat, hard bundle...and you can kind of see whats in there... Just thought I'd share...
ReplyDeleteI found this book very helpful: "Confessions of an Organized Homemaker: The Secrets of Uncluttering Your Home and Taking Control of Your Life" by Deniece Schofield. The best idea I got from this book was just because you may give away something that someone you love gave you, that doesn't mean you don't love that person anymore. Also I try to live by the rule that if you bring something new into the house, you have to get rid of something that you already have.
ReplyDeleteI have the same problem about getting things to the thrift store. I've started just putting bags of stuff on my porch and putting a listing in the Free Stuff section on Craigslist telling people to come and get it. It's always gone within a few hours.
ReplyDeleteoh the free stuff idea is great! @kelly: I used the space saver bags when I moved to seattle, the only thing is that after awhile the air get back in the bag and they inflate again
ReplyDeleteHave you ever checked out Flylady.net?
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