Help on simplifying and getting organized

[steve-in-kville]

I've inherited some bad genes from mom's side.... my dad's side was always very organized with everything. Tools, equipment, desk, filing away stuff, etc.

Mom's side is (and was always) very cluttered. Cluttered basements, cluttered desk, trashy garage, always a mountain of stuff to be put away/filed away/thrown away.

I wan to start with my desk and finances then get the basement cleaned up. I want to simplify my life. has anyone gone through this same delema? Seems I've got my mom's genes when it comes to this stuff.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. Would also love to hear your own "war stories" in this matter.

[Frugal Nurse]

You must have someone with you who can be hard core.
One room at a time. If it's real bad, one corner at a time

Three boxes
1. keep
2. donate
3. toss

Once the section is done. TOSS the toss and DONATE the donate.

Now let's get down to that KEEP box. WOW! Why is is overflowing like that.

Hard core on the way.
1. did you use it in the last year?
*yes - find a place to put it. Keep this mantra. A place for everything and everything in place.
* no - get rid of it. You didn't need it. If it's expensive- sell it. (furniture included- that fancy smancy sofa does NO good in the fancy smancy livingroom if it's not used.)
2. Will I need it in the next year?
*Yes - store it in a safe box (better to have all matching even boxes for neatness sake) and label the box accordingly.
* No - get rid of it. you won't need it.
3. What is left is all you need to live your life.

What? you can't bare to part with it? You might NEED it someday? Then store it in one of those neatly organized boxes and put it in the attic or basement or closet. In one year if you can't name what is in that box... it's Bah-BYE!

Live is so simple if you let it.

[Momto2Boyz]

First off, Frugal Nurse gave some good advice. I am a former "pack rat" Since we don't have Packrat's Anonymous yet, I had to form my own 12 step program to get myself in order

I have the same bad genes from my mother! So I feel your pain.

Here are my best tips:
1. Start slowly, one area at a time.
2. Change your midset about things.
3. If you are de-cluttering to bring things out of the house...don't buy anything new in the next 30 days! Unless it is a planned purchase. In that case, give yourself at least 7 days, from the time you think you need it, to the time you actually buy it.
4. Frugal Nurse has it right, with the 3 box system. Toss, Donate & Keep. Your keep box should always be the smallest!

If you are starting with office space, get some user friendly organizers. If you get ones with drawers or complications, you'll be less likely to use them. My office space has 2 things. A binder for my budget. It has pockets on both sides, bills to be paid on one side, paid bills on the other. My calculator & checkbook are kept in their also becuase that is when I use them the most.

Then I have a small file folder holder that is not cluttered so it is easy to get stuff in and out of.

I don't have drawers on my desk, so I keep staplers, pens, etc. in a small square basket on the desk.


The best way to keep organized is to have less stuff around. We had a garage sale last weekend and I got rid of so much stuff. My house looks so much neater now, and it is a whole lot easier to clean without tons of stuff lying around!

Good luck to you, I hope you find something that works for you. Really, I think it is trial and error until you find what works for you!

[steve-in-kville]

Thanks for the great replies. I've struggled with this since we've been married. My dad was always a neat-freak around the farm and everything had a place.

I never picked up on it, prolly a result of bad buying habits (stuffitis). Got a lot of stuff I don't want to sell, but don't really use.

Looks like my ebay account will get a work out soon!

[Frugal Nurse]

Looks like EF account will have stuffitis too!

[Momto2Boyz]

Maybe you can work out a system to rationalize the things that you don't use but want to keep. Maybe allow your self to keep a certain number of things. Say, for every five items you find that you don't use...allow yourself to pick the most important or sentimental and keep just that one thing out of the five.

Might help you make the plunge, but you won't feel like you are totally getting rid of everything all at once!

[DonnainME]

I also have problems with clutter but that's because the in-laws that used to own this house still have tons of JUNK here.