Clutter in the house seems to multiple like a warren of happy rabbits. Living in too much clutter will promote a disorganized home, mind and life. Here are some ways to reduce and conquer clutter.
Clutter Comes from Well Intentioned Sales Purchases
When purchasing anything new, do so with a purpose. Never go out shopping without a list. And stick to the list. If an item looks very tempting and affordable, consider questions like: "Is this a needed item or a wanted item?" "How often will this be used?" "Where will this be stored?" Avoid stocking up on things that will be hard to store.
The organized person has a place to put everything that she owns and avoids overbuying just because there happens to be a sale. Discounts and "good buy" items are the primary candidates for clutter. Don't buy another pair of table lamps just because it's on sale. A discount item may be half off, but if it ends up among the unused gadgets in your kitchen cabinet; that's still money you spent on clutter instead of basic necessities.
Cancel subscriptions to magazines and newspapers that are not read daily. Any of these items that are read can later be given away at a senior center or hospital for others to read.
Consider renting or borrowing instead of buying. Some yard equipment and home improvement tools get used only once or once in a while. Instead of buying something that will simply add to the clutter in your garage for most of the year, look into renting or borrowing from a friend.
The Power of Ten in Reducing ClutterIn the effort to de-clutter the home, every ten days, take ten items out of the home. Knick-knacks are the easiest culprits to remove, as are souvenirs and dusty mementos. Donate items like household goods, food staples, clothing and shoes to make the best use of clutter. Even furniture can be donated to shelters and other service agencies for people who are poor, homeless due to fire or otherwise destitute.
Another great way to get rid of accumulated clutter is to hold an annual yard or garage sale in the spring or summer. Place items for sale in boxes or totes in the garage in preparation for the annual sale and the household can save the windfall for vacation expenses. Label the sales items and when it comes time to hold the sale, tables can be rented for displaying these treasures if needed.
Less is More in the Future of Home Organization
It sounds simple enough: stop buying stuff. Asking oneself if a particular potential purchase is a need or just a want can be helpful. Resist the urge to purchase anything that is not in the need catagory.
Many households keep receipts, paper records and bills much longer than is needed. Keep all tax related documents in a safe place and get rid of the rest of the junk that is more than a year old. Try to become a paperless household to the extent possible. This means disposing of junk mail and old catalogs as soon as they are no longer useful. Get off mailing lists by writing a note or emailing the company that is sending the unwanted literature, saving trees in the process.
In summary, clutter is the enemy. Purchase only things that are needed. Donate items that are not used to shelters and agencies. Hold a yard sale regularly and get rid of unwanted mail and catalogs. Keeping a home organized will reduce stress, promote neatness and will make cleaning easier.
 |
