Do you really need a larger house? Or maybe just one that is better organized? Who lives in your house - you, or all of your stuff? And do you even use all those items anyway........but how do you know what to keep, and what to toss?
For many people who have spent years accumulating stuff - decluttering can be extremely overwhelming. Decluttering and home organization is a skill, and it's a learned skill. The good news is, once you learn it and put it into practice, you can find that you can reclaim square footage of your home that is currently being wasted and unused...held hostage, you might say - by stuff.
There can be a benefit to decluttering besides reclaiming space; you may find things that you can sell on eBay or Craiglist or at a garage sale; you may also be able to engage in charitable giving even though you don't have cash to give to those in need; additionally you may be able to barter/swap with friends. So there can be a real financial advantage to decluttering.
One of our writers, Ruthie, is in the midst of a major decluttering project. Here are her many helpful suggestions!
General Principles, Goal Setting, and Time Management:
1. Set a small goal. (Editors note: large goals can quickly become overwhelming)
2. Have a permanent save box that is small.
3. A place to keep things that are going out.
4. A black trash bag ready to fill up. It must be opaque so that the no one see what's inside and pull things back out.
I'm starting out by commencing my daily chores and getting them out of the way - the laundry gets started, then I quickly go thorough the house tidying up by picking things up and putting it away where it belongs.
On Monday and Tuesdays of each week, I'm handling weekly cleaning, such as dusting, vacuuming, bathrooms, sweeping and mopping the kitchen floor. Each week I try to add something I didn't do in that room last week.
On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of each week I do the daily morning chores since the house is still pretty clean, and then I work on one room.
Consumables declutter:
Right now my biggest thing is to clear stuff OUT. Buying Rubbermaid plastic boxes may contribute more to your clutter. Just get rid of it versus trying to tame it.
Using up the cleaning products that you have on hand instead of purchasing more of the 'new and better' also helps to keep the clutter at bay.
Paper declutter:
Unless you have a home-based business with an office space used solely for that business there is no reason to keep monthly bills. Excel spreadsheets can be generated to keep track of utility usage (electricity, gas and water) and dollar amounts spent for each month.
I am keeping:
*all tax returns
*All bank statements
*All year-end retirement statements
*All year-end investment statements
*I keep all major purchase receipts and user's manuals for appliances, tools, electronics, etc. Only keep paperwork, user's manuals, etc. for what you still own!
*After year-end, I throw away all EOBs for medical services. (Explanation of Benefits.)
Everything Needs A Home:
I've had good luck with decluttering for the long term by using two tactics:
1) Have a plan to move a lot of what comes into the house/room....OUT of the house/room. This tactic can apply to the mail that you receive down to the food your children bring home in their lunch bags. The 2-bin recycling station, our easy-to-get-to garbage bin, along with the compost bucket for vegetable, fruit, and bread scraps? Keeps our kitchen amazingly clutter free.
2) Designate a place for everything. This includes the backpacks for school, the boots, the dishes, the everything.
A Final Note:
Another of our writers, Leah, states that staying off the computer is vital during decluttering. Well said, Leah!
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