Need help with Frugality & Simple Living-Don't know Where to Start

[Trishagirl]

I agree with the others start small but start somewhere pick a place to begin your organizing journey and just start cleaning up your clutter. You will be amazed with your progress and it will give you fuel to keep going cleaning up your apartment! It's contagious!!! My son isn't very organized so I just started w/his desk I organized his bank statements and bills put in a folder. then went from there.

[lyra]

it took me a long time to understand that i was NOT going to use it someday and that i needed the space now.

i also had this weird idea about feeling like "things had feelings" and that i would hurt an object's feelings if i gave it away. weird, i know. to break this weird thinking, i say to the object "i now let you go to someone who will love you and use you".

the books by sandra felton helped me immensely in this area. good luck.

Thanks, I also had the same emotional reaction when trying to get rid of things, especially sentimental stuff.
Yesterday I donated some ethnic dresses my ex boyfriend got me when he went on a trip to Turkey. Those dresses were lovely and beautiful but I never wear them anyway.

My relation with him ended few years ago, but I still keep the dresses (which I never wore). I donated it yesterday. And the people who receive it were so happy. The dresses were indeed lovely with beads etc. It took me a few years to finally do that.

[lyra]

Trishagirl, thanks for the tip. It's very useful. I am on my journey to be an organized lady I think that organizing and decluttering is a skill that we can all learn. I just need to have confidence in myself regarding this.

Updates on me

Yesterday I did small organizing and decluttering. I cleaned 20% of my room now. I put some stuff away and now my room looks wider and more better. I plan to do some work again today.

[lyra]

Welcome, you will find lots of tips and ideas on these forums.

One of my favorite things is the 15 minute challenge. Do something, anything for 15 minutes. You will be amazed at how much you can do in 15 minutes.

Thank you so much, I am starting to do cleaning up now.And I also watch my expenses very strictly. I plan to do job hunting this week. Wish me luck!

My suggestion would be that if you have a lot of clothes or shoes that you know you don't need, pack up a box full and donate them to Goodwill [or some type of charity thrift store].
It will help you unclutter and also help someone in need. And it will make you feel good, too.

Thank you very much for the suggestion & ideas. I have some unused shoes and some clothes I want to donate.

Hello and welcome.
You've come to the right place for many of your answers!!
Many, many wise members here...

Yes i notice that too..I definitely can learn a lot here. I am so happy for this forum. Sometimes I feel so alone.

It sounds like you are looking for some control in your life and controling your home environment is a great place to start and will spread over into other aspects of your life.

You can do this!

Welcome to the boards!

Thanks! Exactly, I am looking for control in my llife and I want my home to be representable when friends want to come over they don't have to cringe because of the clutter.
I want to be confident with my home.

Welcome to frugal village! Check out the threads and the challenges. Baby steps lead to success and soon you will be clutter free and organized. Make yourself at home and will catcha around the forum!

Thank you for the warm welcome. I feel so much better now.

[lyra]

You quit your job while you still had credit card debt? OUCH.

Yes,because of company issues. I am job hunting now. I used to get more than enough from selling cosmetics so I wasn't worried with my office job that much when I had to quit.But things seem to get more tight and I want to make efforts to land a job.Hopefully this month. Please wish me luck.

How about if you put some things on EBAY? then you not only get rid of it but you also have some $ to put toward the credit card debt?

Thanks for the idea. I will do that also.

I have learned by watching my mom, don't go through the papers while your cleaning, put them in a box and go through it while your relaxing.. Mom has more than once thrown important papers away while cleaning..

As for financial help, this site is awesome on ideas...

Thanks for the tip. I will surely incorporate it. Wow I am so happy to find friends here and good tips to help me sort out and organize my life.

[lyra]

My Goal for 2011

- Learn how to manage finances better
- Become a good home maker
- Learn to organize my home & eliminate clutter
- Find ways to be frugal & comfortable enjoying frugal lifestyle

[lyra]

Updates Today
Jan 16, 2011 (Sunday)

- I organized another 10% area of my room. So it looks more wide now.I still have 50% area to tackle.

[bumplett]

Great Start!

you can also sell items on Craigslist. This way, you aren't paying a listing fee or shipping an item. It's local to your area.

You can give items away for free of Craigslist also, or Freecycle.

I think if you are willing to give it away, you should give it to a non-profit organization so you know someone who needs it gets it, & so you can get the tax receipt - JMO.

I think that I may be at the opposite end of the spectrum from you. If I have too much stuff in a room, I can't breathe. I can't have too much clutter - I don't like "nik naks" These types of "things" suck up my oxygen.

Weird, I know.

As for the financial aspect: Have considered having a yard sale? Everything you sell gives you more space, and you can use the money towards your cc debt.

[lyra]

Thanks bumplett for the suggestions & everybody!
I'm planning to sell some of the stuff online and also put them on my friend's garage sale.Hope that they get buyers fast.

[lyra]

Update on Me
"Room 80%tidy now, Clutter & Mess only 20% left"

With the help of a kind cleaning lady who I know and used to help in my apartment area, I declutter and organize my room and it looks 80% tidy now. I only have 20% messy clutter spot which I plan to tackle next week.

The Cleaning Lady taught me about organizing and storing, I got some interesting tips from her. She kept going with the cleaning and decluttering when I felt exhausted almost like giving up. But I was so relieved and happy and couldn't believe my eyes when we're done! Before this happened, I thought there was no hope for me..

I am so grateful & happy. I also have her some of my stuffed animal collections because she desperately needs a gift for her little daughter's birthday next month. She was so happy when I presented her the gift. I am also very happy to see my room. What a blessing!

[Debt Ninjette]

Lyra, I can relate. My mother is a hoarder but she's getting better.

I love to keep sentimental items but I HATE clutter (thanks to Mom, lol). If I have an item that's in my way, but that I will never use, I take a nice picture of it, and then I donate it. That way I still have the memory, but not the clutter. Sometimes I print and scrapbook those pictures. It's a nice way to honor your memories and feelings without having items pile up that you can't use. The space and peace are more important!

[lyra]

Debt Ninjette, it was difficult for me to declutter & organize my room at first when I live alone, because I never experience it when living with my parents.

But I am determined to learn and I believe I can learn this. Although sometimes I am not confident with myself, when it comes to organizing. Now I am happy to go home and see a tidy room A kind cleaning lady I know helped me organize my room and taught me some basic steps in organizing & decluttering my place. I am so grateful for this