Frugal vs Organized ~ my personal dilemma

**Jamauk** · 08-21-2008, 01:44 PM

I have a dilemma. My house is not tidy for the (mostly) simple fact that I just have too much stuff. We were at my in laws house the other night and I'm continually amazed at how organized and tidy my MIL keeps her house. She is the type of person that "if I'm not using something right now this very minute, in the trash it goes. If I need it again in the future, I'll buy a new one."

Not the most frugal attidue, but it keeps her house tidy. I, on the other hand, am the type of person that says "well, I may need this someday so I better hang onto it."

Help me find a balance. The clutter is driving me insane. I HATE it and I sssoo want a tidy, clutter free house.

For those of you that live this life I aspire to find ~ how do you find a balance. How do you know what to keep and what's ok to toss?

**rachelj** · 08-21-2008, 01:47 PM

Oh, Jessica - I wish I had some good solutions for you - but I totally battle with the "stuff" and being tidy. So, I will be watching this thread.

My biggest issues are that there is too much stuff that has sentimental value and that I don't know how to make a "home" for everything.

So, we can learn together.

**tervsforme** · 08-21-2008, 02:05 PM

I was totally like that, then one day I just decided if I wasn't actively using something, or used it in the past year, I was going to get rid of it. My one disclaimer though, is it doesn't pertain to my grandmother's things, those I'm keeping. So, last month, I went through my whole house, including the basement and all of the boxes and gathered stuff for a garage sale. My mom and I had a HUGE garage sale, we each made a couple hundred dollars and we donated the rest of the items that didn't sell. I feel so much better that all of that stuff is gone, it is really liberating.

Just my 2 cents worth...

**kimmy4433** · 08-21-2008, 02:05 PM

All I can offer is this....

If it has been in a box for more then a year, you do not need it and can dispose of it.

I did this when we moved into our house. I was actually suprised at how much I kept in boxes and did not use/need. HTH

**Cricketlegs** · 08-21-2008, 02:09 PM

I just got rid of tons of stuff.

Funny I held on to it for so long and yet I miss none of it. Go figure.

My house cleans so fast and easy and allows me to do other frugal things and yet I tend to have so much more time and my happy level is so much better too.

Your crud is holding you back--lose it.

**Jamauk** · 08-21-2008, 02:17 PM

Thanks for all of the advice so far ~ a little more info:

I have no problem going through boxes and getting rid of stuff. Actually, I have very few boxes that aren't "seasonal" stuff (Christmas decorations, Holiday dishes, etc...).

I'm talking about the things that are taking over my house ~ various kitchen stuff, clothes, other things hanging around in closets, cabinets, etc....things that I do occasionally use ~ maybe once or twice a year.

I'm getting overwhelemed with all of this stuff and I don't know what to toss and what to keep.....

**frugalbabe** · 08-21-2008, 02:27 PM

I'm kind of an organization tidy freak (its the teacher in me I guess!) and I am also frugal. One thing I do is ask myself "What is the very worst thing in the world that would happen if I threw this away and found out later I needed it?" usually that helps put it in perspective. My MIL is a packrat and I swear she must keep every cool-whip, margarine tub, ice cream bucket that has ever entered her house, because you know they might come in handy. And yes sometimes they do but after a while you have to say once this drawer (or cupboard) is filled then I'm not saving anymore. So I break it down in three ways:
1. What is the worst that will happen if I don't have this?
2. Have I had it for 6 months and not needed it?
3. The space rule ie. once this is full the rest gets trashed.

clutter drains your energy whether you know it or not. You will actually find yourself better able to manage your time and money with an orderly home. Good luck! It's actually kinda fun once you get started and see progress.

**MerMcE** · 08-21-2008, 02:28 PM

I think there's a philosophy of Before you buy something new, you have to get rid of something old.

Case in point, clothes! You can't buy that new dress until you get rid of at least one item in the closet.

**Maine Girl** · 08-21-2008, 02:28 PM

I totally understand being overwhelmed with clutter. Clothes seem to be the easiet for me to give away. Start with one drawer at a time or part of a closet. Keep a box in the basement for yard sale or donation. You can recycle magazines and books if that is a problem.

**foxxyroxie** · 08-21-2008, 02:31 PM

I guess I can't really give you any solutions other than to say you need to decide whether you want clutter-free closets or 'stuff'. I realized during our move 6 months ago, we were hanging on to a lot of 'stuff'... mostly junk. We sold what we could, donated the rest and now we have just the bare essentials. DBF is horrible at hoarding ... mostly papers and stuff, not receipts like he should be saving, but just notes here and there and stuff from his late mom, which have sentimental meaning to him.

I guess if I haven't missed it in the past 6 months I probably won't. The only thing that I see I might miss is some of the holiday stuff we got rid of... but then again, there's always Goodwill, Salvation Army and the dollar store.

My biggest challenge is my mail, newspapers and magazines. I just can't seem to part with them, so after a while I just go through them, cut out what I want and either donate or discard.

Good luck on your declutter.

**mommy4ever** · 08-21-2008, 02:33 PM

Well, I hear you! I'm keep things too. But with the attitude, if not in use for the last 6mo to a year then it goes. Rarely do I miss it. There are exceptions. Seasonal items.

I am working on clearing things out, but my personal issue, is paper, fabric, and yarn. If I can keep those contained then the rest of the house seems ok. Paper really really take sover, and likely my biggest nemisis.

Toys are contained. Really the only one that plays with toys is the youngest, dd9 is an outdoor person and spends her time collecting bugs, skipping, biking, running around. So I just have what I need for daycare and for dd4.

Winter storage is hard as winter coats, gloves, hats, boots, just don't compact all that great when there are 6 of us, and we save some for the youngest to grow into. We have learned that with 5 years difference only keep classic items, jeans, pullovers. Not the trendy items that come and go. So that cut back alot. I sell a good portion of outgrown clothes from two out fo the 4. DS wears out everything, dd11 sometimes can pass down but they tend to be a season apart in size, so some items get sold. dd9 wears or stains here, and dd4 I sell her stuff, I get about $200/year on her clothes....not sure how as I doubt I spend $100.

**CristiK** · 08-21-2008, 02:35 PM

With the kitchen stuff...is there any repeat items? Is there anything that can do the same job so that you can eliminate one of them?

**peanut** · 08-21-2008, 02:37 PM

Sigh...welcome to my world. I have a system now. I don't acquire it unless it's free or a very good deal, and I have a plan for it. If it's not used in a year, I either try to sell it on-line first, then I choose to do either a garage sale (the remains of which go to goodwill) OR I take it with me to stitch-in to give away to friends. That simple.

But hardest for me is to de-clutter my craft stuff, and DH and I know it!

Jean

**Ms. Clear** · 08-21-2008, 02:45 PM

I love being organized and clutter free. I really love it. I'm brutally honest with myself. Do I NEED it? What can happen if I give it away? Then, I purge.

I think I unloaded about 10% of an already uncluttered apartment this summer. The place looks great. Hubby is scanning some binders full of family history, then our reorganization will officially be complete. It's a big project, but it's really the last thing. I reordered all the closets this summer and hubby reorganized our storage room.

Knick knacks are the enemy. Learn it, live it, love it. They are a plot by the dust elimination companies.

**Starlight9803** · 08-21-2008, 02:47 PM

I used to have a similar problem with clutter, all those "good" things that I do use, at least every once in awhile (like tupperware, cookware, small appliances, bedding etc) I didn't accumulate trash or odds and ends though - I've always had no problem getting rid of that.

I just had to start asking myself some questions:
*Do I use it often enough to justify the space/maintenance it takes?
*Do I have something else that will do the job in case I do need it? (ex: my food processor can chop stuff just as well as the little mini-chopper, plus do other tasks. so I got rid of the mini chopper - the space is worth the little extra cleanup)
*And if it is clothing/bedding/household/decorations I always ask myself it is looks good on me (clothing) or if I truly love it (household items and decorations)

With the last question, especially, I was able to get rid of tons of seasonal decorations, clothing, and household items because even though some things were used a little, they weren't things I truly loved (the way the looked, felt, operated, etc) and my things got pared down considerably. The last one is also how I keep myself from buying things I run accross that while pretty and functional, aren't not things I would find real enjoyment from.