How I Learned to Curb Spending (and Therefore Clutter)

Action Steps to Help Curb a Shopping Habit

1. I read Tracy McCubbins book, Making Space for Happiness (linked here). It gives you a lot of insight into the ways marketing tricks you, as well as the affect shopping has on your brain.

2. I unfollowed the Instagram accounts that were causing me to constantly add to cart - like the Montessori toddler activities type accounts, and the clothing influencers. We had enough toys and activities, and I did not need the temptation to buy a new outfit.

3. I realized that the dopamine hit I got from shopping wore off a lot faster than the feeling I got when I decluttered a space. The peace in an uncluttered home is irreplaceable.

4. I unsubscribed from all shopping related emails. Goodbye Madewell, Jcrew, Target, Lululemon…

5. I avoid the dollar spot when I walk into Target (which is weekly or more these days buying product for clients).

6. I add items I think I want to my cart but don’t check out right away (sometimes I wait days). This way I can really think about if I need it, or if it was just a passing mood. I often never go back, to be honest.

7. I set my Instagram account to kick me off after 30 minutes. Yes, I can technically override that, and I do if I am in the middle of editing a reel for my business, or following a recipe I saved. But mostly, being off that app keeps me happier with what I have and less likely to feel I need to shop.

8. Before I buy something, I think about WHERE it will live in my home. This applies to clothing, as well as items for my kids, or even food from the store. Will it fit nicely, or will I need to squish things in the cabinet and therefore get stressed out by the visual clutter?

9. I practice one in, one out with my clothing. If I buy a new item, something needs to go to the donate bin in my closet. We live in less than 1400 square feet (with 4 people), and there is no extra room for more.

10. I avoid bulk buying for most things. Yes, if I but avocado oil at Costco, I save money, but I won’t use it before it goes rancid, and I have to find a place to store a big bottle (to eventually toss when it goes bad). The bottom line: If you are buying SO much to save money that it expires before you can use it, you have actually NOT saved money and instead have contributed to waste. The same goes for buying multiple packs of medicine or sunscreen, etc. through Amazon because its cheaper to buy several AND you get it next day. Most people will never use those items before they expire. So, again, you are contributing to waste and wasting money. AND you have to find a spot for all those extra items in your home. Odds are you shove them to the back of a closet or cabinet and forget they are there, inevitably buying it again.

Is there anything you’d add to this list? Let me know in the comments!

How to Handle ALLLL the Sales (Without acquiring ALLLL the clutter)

Have you watched the new documentary on Netflix about consumer culture and what it is doing to our planet and lives? We are in a consumer culture crisis. The reason my profession as a professional organizer has blown up in recent decades, is because people just have so much more stuff than they used to (and bigger homes to put their clutter in). It’s too easy to buy something without putting much thought into it, and it is so much more affordable to buy new things like clothing and toys than it was 50 years ago. Yet, what our parents and grandparents taught us about not wasting is also a part of our brains, so it is still hard for most people to donate or throw out something they bought, even if they never used it.

SO, how do you shop the Black Friday sales (and any future Prime Days, etc., without turning your home into a cluttered mess?

1. Prepare. You can take advantage of special sales by keeping lists of what you actually need or want to buy someone as a gift, and then purchase ONLY those items during the sale. Tell yourself you will get in, and get out. No perusing the aisles of stores “to see if there is a good deal” or wandering through the sale pages on a website. This is how you end up with extra stuff you did not need or want.

   If you are in the market for a new vacuum, for example. Absolutely wait for Black Friday. I personally do this for larger purchases. I keep a list of items I think we need, as well as holiday gift ideas for each family member. By making a list of something you want and revisiting it a week or month later, you might find you don’t actually want it anymore. I plan ahead with what I need to purchase and don’t add anything else to my cart.

2. Don’t buy in bulk. Do you know how many expired bottles of medicine or tubes of creams I throw out in client homes because they purchased it on Amazon in a pack of 12 in order to “save money” and “get it next day”? You can get it same day if you run up to any local pharmacy, and then you don’t have to store 12 tubes of Aquaphor and dispose of it later (technically wasting money in the end). Have a baby or toddler and hate going into stores? Been there. Do a Target or grocery pickup. It’s better for your wallet and the planet.

I get it. BUT IT’S ON SALE goes through your mind whenever you see something you might like online or in person. The reality is that in today’s consumer culture, almost everything is on sale. Companies raise their prices, so they can run sales constantly and still make the profit they want. So for a lot of items, they are not actually on sale. It’s a sales tactic. In my own Etsy shop, I noticed sales are sparse if I don’t have a sale. So, I basically always have a “sale”. Do I like dong this? No, but its the reality. These days people only want free, fast shipping, and a mark down. We have become conditioned to this.

If you have a consistant problem shopping and spending more than you should, I highly recommend Tracy McCubbins’ Book Making Space for Happiness, linked here.

Part 4: My Personal Move & Home Organization Story

First of all, let me remind you that moving is considered one of the top 5 most stressful life events. Despite being a professional organizer that can calmly help you with your own move (and can also bring some organizing friends with me to move the process along faster), I can fully attest to the stress level when it is your own move. In the two weeks leading up to my own move, I had debilitating pain on 4 separate days (later discovering I had gall stones - FUN!). My point is that moving is stressful for EVERYONE (unless you hire someone to help you).

We moved into a home that is 300 square feet smaller than our last home, and we had packed up our stuff 10 months prior, so we did not even fully remember what was in each of the 2 storage pods we packed. We (I) also had to move all of my business inventory out of my temporary local storage unit, back into my garage. We did not hire help, but relied on my dad to help move, and my mom to entertain the boys so they stayed out of the way. If it is in your budget, I always recommend hiring some level of help.

Here are my top tips if you are handling your move yourself:

1. Immediately set up a donate and sell pile. Even if you decluttered as you packed, you will likely find more items that just don’t work in your space.

2. Prioritize bedrooms first. Wash and make beds FIRST, then start unpacking other boxes.

3. Organize as you go. Measure and plan each space in case you need to purchase any new product. This saves you time, is more efficient, and helps you start fresh.

4. Use sticky notes temporarily as you learn your new space.

If you are curious, here is a break down of how we managed this move:

Day 1: we demoed all 4 closets, patched, and painted. We also measured for a custom couch so we could get it ordered asap as there was a 3-4 week lead time.

Day 2: storage container #1 arrived and was unloaded partially in the garage, and partially in the rooms in which each box belonged.

Day 3: storage container #2 arrived and was unloaded. This held our beds, so that was the first thing we set up. I washed all bedding throughout the day, as it had been stored in plastic for months. Dining room storage cabinets were built.

Day 4: two people installed Elfa closet systems in all 4 closets while I unpacked the kitchen, toys, and decor.

Day 5: closets/clothes unpacked

Day 6-14: Organization of all spaces, donations dropped off, items sold

Day 15-30: Many new furniture items purchased. Garage Organized.

I did all of the unpacking and organizing myself, which is why it took so long, but I am a control freak when it comes to my own space;) I also took 3 weeks off work to set up our home myself.

Need help with move management? I am happy to help you get settled and organized faster, with efficient systems set up for your family.

Our Experience Putting 90% of our Belongings in Storage for 9 Months

After we sold out house, we packed up 90% of our belongings and moved in with my parents while we looked for our forever home. Why do it this way? The market was so hot, we needed to be able to make non-contingent offers on prospective homes. Since we did not have an end date in mind or a time frame for living in limbo (although we expected 2-3 months), we put most of our home and belongings into storage that we would not be able to access until we found and closed on a new home.

9 months later…we had learned a lot.

First, we used a company called Red Rover, which is like PODS, but cheaper because you pick the containers up yourself and deliver them back to the yard. We LOVED this until they went out of business 2 months into our storage time frame. Luckily, Pack Rat purchased the company and maintained our containers, delivered them on time, and nothing was lost or damaged. I definitely recommend this method if you are looking at an indefinite amount of time in which to store your stuff as it cuts out moving items twice (into and out of a stationary storage facility). A few things to consider however:

Cons:

• these units are not temperature controlled, so you can’t store wine or other heat sensitive items (all my cricut vinyl was no longer usable)

• because they were so hot, clothing and bedding items we stored in plastic bins definitely smelled like plastic and needed washing upon move-in, even though I washed them all prior to placing them in storage. These moving bags DID NOT make my clothes smell, and the zippers did not break, so I highly recommend them.

• You cannot access your items. This meant Halloween and Christmas went by without me being able to get items I would have liked to have. I had to purchase some items that I would not have needed to buy had we moved in sooner (bike helmets, scooters, winter coats). I probably could have just planned better and kept these items out.

Pros:

• We didn’t have to move everything into and out of an off-site storage facility

• unloading was super convient compared to a moving van because the conatiners are at ground level

• I learned what it was like to live with less stuff and that was very freeing

Finally, I want to stress how impactful living without MOST of our items was for our family. We had fewer clothes, toys, shoes, and personal items. We moved in to an already packed home at my parent’s, and had to keep things to a minimum. We quickly learned that we didn’t miss most items, and when we unpacked out containers in our new house 9 months after saying goodbye to them, A LOT went straight to donation. We didn’t even remember we had half of the items we came across. We are more mindful with what we keep and buy now as we had truly learned to live with less and it gave us more time for adventures and time spent together, rather than caring for our stuff.

Pro Tips: Decluttering BEFORE You Move

Welcome to PART 2 in my series about all things moving (featuring our own personal experiences).

Packing your home to move is the perfect time to declutter because you are already going through all your belongings to put them in boxes AND you don’t want to spend time and money to move items that you no longer need or want. Why deal with the extra boxes later, when you can clear out the clutter now?!

While I went through all my spaces and decluttered prior to putting our house on the market (read the previous blog post to find out why), as I packed up our home, I gave thought to everything I was packing. Would we use this in our new home? Would I buy this again if given the option? Have we used this in the past year? Do we NEED it? There was a surprising amount of items that I had skipped over in my first decluttering, but was ready to give away this second time around. Decluttering can be an ongoing process for most people. I also took this opportunity to assess our furniture, because why move heavy furniture to a new house that we won’t even want to use. We knew we wanted a new couch and living room furniture (a different look), plus we weren’t certain the sectional would even fit in the new house (it wouldn’t have). We sold it, along with our media console, coffee table, kitchen table, dining room table, and accent chairs. In hindsight, none of these pieces would have fit well in our new home, so we are glad we did not pay to store them the past several months. The family that bought our house asked to buy our dresser, armoire, patio furniture, and entryway setup, so while I did like those pieces and they would have worked in our new home, we saved money on moving and storage by not storing those and can start fresh in our new home. 

Things that you can quickly declutter prior to moving:

• Clothes that don’t fit

• Out of style clothing and accessories you won’t use

• Kids clothes for a different season that they will outgrown by the next year anyways

• Kitchen appliances you never use

• Kitchen gadgets you don’t use

• Decor items that won’t work in your new space

• Decor items you don’t like (why keep items just because?)

• Things taking up space in the garage that no one ever remembers to use 

• Duplicate kitchen items

• Duplicate toys

• Duplicate tools

• Toys your kids never play with or have outgrown

Need help decluttering and packing? Give me a call or fill out my inquiry form here!

Check out the recent Rent. article I was featured in:

Life gets busy. Creating an organized pantry makes finding what you’re looking for quick and easy. It also helps you remain mindful of what you have in stock and what to add to the grocery list. Not only do you save time, but you also save money.

Rent.’s article, Pantry Organization Ideas to Streamline Kitchens and More explores tips and tricks to create an organized pantry that makes your life, and your recipes, that much easier. 

Read the full article here: Pantry Organization Ideas to Streamline Kitchens and More | Rent.

From Selling to Packing & Moving: Part 1

Moving in general is one of life’s big stressors. Where to start? How to pack? What to keep? What will fit?, etc.

I just went through an interesting moving situation. Last July, we prepared our home to list for sale. Then we put 90% of our belongings into long term storage that we could not access, and moved in with family while we looked for a new home. 9 months later, we finally moved into our new home. This is the first in a series of blog posts all about prepping to sell, packing, moving, and unpacking. 

Just preparing to sell was a colossal endeavor, especially with littles. Despite this, we ended up selling our home for 145k over asking within a week. Part of this was our realtor and the local housing market. BUT, here are some things we did that I think helped increase the value of our home:

• Decluttering countertops and keeping floors as open and clear as possible

• Toys and kid clutter were all put away in storage bins, baskets, and closets

• We removed personal photos to stage the home 

• Touch up paint on high touch areas such as our white cabinets and some walls

• We repainted our baseboards and trim

• Closets and cabinets were organized into bins and baskets to showcase storage (think about how a cluttered linen closet makes the storage look smaller)

• Revamped garden beds and refreshed landscaping (new mulch, etc.)

• Removed house plants that weren’t healthy and thriving

Need help decluttering before a move or prepping your home to sell? I would love to help! Just reach out here.

Next up, I’ll have a rundown on packing and our experience with storage containers. Lots of pros and cons. Check back soon!

Why Decluttering Can Be The Best Thing For Your Family.

Decluttering is an activity that involves removing unnecessary items from your living space. It may seem like a daunting task, but it can actually have a positive impact on your family's well-being. Here’s why:

1. Decluttering can reduce stress levels. When there's too much stuff in your home, it can be overwhelming and make it difficult to relax. Removing excess items can create a more peaceful environment that allows your family to unwind and spend quality time together.

2. Decluttering can improve productivity. A cluttered space can make it hard to find what you need and can even lead to procrastination. By getting rid of items you no longer need, you can create a more organized and efficient living space that allows your family to focus and be more productive.

3. Decluttering can save you money. When you have a lot of stuff, it's easy to lose track of what you have and end up buying duplicates or items you don't actually need. By decluttering, you can become more aware of what you already have and avoid unnecessary purchases, which can help you save money in the long run.

Overall, decluttering is a great way to improve your family's well-being. It can reduce stress, increase productivity, and save you money. So why not give it a try? Let me know how it goes in the comments!

Why I Ruthlessly Declutter My Kid’s Things.

As I was purging half the Valentine’s Day goodie bag junk today while my kids were out of the house, I was reminded of a conversation I recently had with a group of moms. They asked me how I deal with the constant influx of toys and stuff that comes with having young kids. My response: I’m ruthless. I regularly toss toys and artwork. Sometimes daily, but at least every 2-4 weeks. I don’t feel bad about it either. Do I want my kids to grown up constantly overstimulated by stuff everywhere? Or do I want them to feel relaxed at home, use their imagination, and learn to let go of things periodically? The latter, obviously, but that doesn’t mean I feel bad if I throw out or donate stuff they *might* remember or later want. Usually, they never notice or mention it. My oldest occasionally asks for something that’s been edited out. My response? It varies, but here are some examples: 

“We can’t keep everything we find or are given; we would be overflowing one day”

“You seemed like you no longer played with it, so I donated it to kids that don’t have very many toys.”

“You have SO many toys and you seem too old for that toy, so I gave it to your cousin. You can play with it next time you visit him.”

“I took a picture (usually with art) because we can’t save everything we make. Do you want to see it?”

“The dog chewed it, so I threw it out.” 

I see my ruthless decluttering as beneficial in two ways:

1. I am teaching my boys lifelong skills so they don’t become emotionally attached to allll their stuff and end up drowning it in. Being able to purge and keep your belongings minimal directly relates to your stress levels as an adult. 

2. I am keeping myself and everyone in my home happier and less stressed by having less. Too many things is overstimulating for everyone, especially moms. We are all happier if we have an easy to maintain home.

Need help editing and creating systems? Reach out for a free consultation anytime!

My Best Tips for Editing Your Pantry

A cluttered pantry can make meal preparation stressful and frustrating. It can also lead to food waste, which means $ waste. If you're tired of digging through piles of food to find what you need, it's time to declutter your pantry. Here are some tips to help you get started:

1. Remove everything from your pantry: The first step to decluttering your pantry is to take everything out. This will give you a clear view of what you have and make it easier to organize.

2. Check expiration dates: As you go through each item, check the expiration date. Throw away anything that is expired or close to expiring.

3. Sort items into categories: Sort the remaining items into categories such as baking supplies, canned goods, snacks, etc. This will make it easier to find what you need.

4. Use storage containers: Invest in storage containers to keep your pantry organized. Clear containers make it easy to see what's inside, and they can help keep food fresh.

5. Put items back in an organized manner: Once you have sorted everything into categories and put them in storage containers, put them back in your pantry in an organized manner. Put the items you use most frequently at eye level and the items you use less often on higher or lower shelves.

Decluttering your pantry may take some time, but it's worth it. You'll be able to find what you need quickly and easily, and meal preparation will be a breeze.

In order to best maintain your new system, be sure to shop your pantry or do inventory before heading to the store so you don’t end up with duplicates.

Why It is Important to Declutter Regularly

Decluttering is an activity that involves removing unnecessary items from your living space. It may seem like a daunting task, but it can actually have a positive impact on your family's well-being. Here are a few reasons why decluttering is the best thing for your family.

Firstly, decluttering can reduce stress levels. When there's too much stuff in your home, it can be overwhelming and make it difficult to relax. Removing excess items can create a more peaceful environment that allows your family to unwind and spend quality time together.

Secondly, decluttering can improve productivity. A cluttered space can make it hard to find what you need and can even lead to procrastination. By getting rid of items you no longer need, you can create a more organized and efficient living space that allows your family to focus and be more productive.

Lastly, decluttering can save you money. When you have a lot of stuff, it's easy to lose track of what you have and end up buying duplicates or items you don't actually need. By decluttering, you can become more aware of what you already have and avoid unnecessary purchases, which can help you save money in the long run.

Overall, decluttering is a great way to improve your family's well-being. It can reduce stress, increase productivity, and save you money. So why not give it a try? Your family will thank you for it!

Toy Rotation

It’s the day after Christmas, and as I sit in the aftermath of alllll the new toys, I am reminded of why I am such an advocate for toy rotation. My children received an obscene amount of gifts yesterday: Duplo sets, Lego sets, race car tracks, trucks, audio players, board games, etc. Yet they are whining constantly about wanting ANOTHER toy opened or taken down from their grandpa’s toy closet. When they get what they asked for, they play with it for less than 10 minutes and are on to the next. Part of this is the overstimulation of traveling for the holidays, but they are whinier than usual and there’s less independent play than normal (my dreams of reading on the couch all weekend while they play have quickly gone out the window). Everyone (including me), is less happy, despite the belief that new toys should make everyone happier. This is all because too many toys is too overwhelming, overstimulating, and just plain distracting. With more choice, multiple reputable studies (including this one from the University of Toledo in Ohio), prove that kids will actually play LESS. For info on why, check out this article.

So what to do about it in order to garner happier kids that will play independently longer? Limit their choice with toy rotation. 

The most popular way to set up a toy rotation is to put the majority of toys into bins in a closet. Organize them by category (labels help), and only offer a small selection of toys at a time. Rotate this selection every 2-3 weeks. The selection that’s available can be presented on a low shelf (for babies), or in whatever cabinets or bins/shelves you use in your kid’s rooms or playrooms. Keep it to less than 12 toys/activities. The selection should also be varied. For example, a young toddler might have a puzzle, a stacking toy, a few trucks or cars, and set of magnatiles, some play kitchen food, and a few animal figurines. 

If your child ignores a toy or activity for weeks even though it’s one of only 10 available toys, it’s probably time to donate that toy (or put it away for a while if it’s maybe not age appropriate yet). 

If you have kids old enough to ask for toys that are out of rotation, I suggest storing them in a closet out of sight and reach (don’t use clear bins). It’s okay to make exceptions for toys that are used frequently for open-ended play, such as Legos or Magna Tiles. I keep both of those out for my kids most of the time, as they use them to creatively play with other toys that are out, such as building a garage for a car, or a barn for some farm animals.

Another way to manage this: own less toys;)

Holiday Overwhelm: EditingToys & Decor

This month, I’m talking all things that can be overwhelming for families this season (and mostly moms). The back to school craziness has settled into a routine, but now you are swept into making the holidays magical and possibly traveling and balancing so many family and friends obligations. What may have been your favorite time of year pre-kids, is possibly your most stressed time of year (or is that just me?).

The holidays tend to bring SO MUCH STUFF into our lives. Whether it’s just the bins and bins of holiday decor, or all the little gifts for and from family and friends. If you have young kids, you are soon to be inundated with too many toys than you can keep track of. It’s overwhelming, to say the least.

Here are my top tips to control the chaos (as best you can):

1. Declutter holiday decor AS YOU DECORATE, not when you pack it all away. Thrift stores can sell your unwanted holiday decor NOW, not in January. So, if when you decorate, stuff is left behind (and probably has been for years), let go of it now. You will be too tired to do so in January anyways. Someone else will be happy to display that 30-year-old Santa your grandmother gave you that you hate, but continue to hold onto, taking up precious storage space.

2. Notice if you get overstimulated by too much decoration. It can be visual clutter for us in our own homes, so don’t feel bad if you feel you need simplified holiday decor. You are not ruining your kid’s experience by pairing down. It’s probably overstimulating for them, too.

3. Say no to events or things that will add to the stress. Do one or two things less this season than you planned. If Elf on the Shelf causes too much stress for you, skip that tradition or simplify it. While I enjoyed the creatively of Elf on the Shelf, I’ve realized its just ONE MORE THING TO DO when I am too busy already. We are also not going to race to every holiday lights themed event in the county. Your kids want happy, present parents more than they want a tradition that causes you stress.

4. Declutter old toys NOW, not after the holidays. Your kids will find it easier to let go of toys they don’t use if they know they are “making room for new toys from Santa”. See my recent instagram posts for more on these tips @theorganizedmommyco.

5. As you shop for gifts for your kids, look for open-ended toys that will last a long time and keep your kids’ engaged in independent play.

Check back after the holidays for a newsletter on everything toy rotation - one of my favorite systems to set up for families.

Tips & Tricks for an Organized Playroom

Decluttering toys and playrooms can be a daunting task, but with a little planning and organization, it can be a breeze. Here is a checklist to help you get started:

1. Set aside a specific time to declutter: Choose a time when you have a few solid hours to dedicate to decluttering. Make sure to schedule it so that you're not rushed or interrupted.

2. Get organized: Gather bins, baskets or bags to sort toys into three categories: keep, donate and trash. Label each container so you can easily tell them apart.

3. Start with a clean slate: Empty the entire room of all toys, games and playthings. This will give you a fresh start and help you see what you're working with.

4. Sort through each toy: Take each toy and ask yourself whether it is still being played with or if it has been outgrown. If it's broken, missing pieces or no longer age-appropriate, put it in the donate or trash pile.

5. Assess your storage space: Decide where and how you'll store the toys you're keeping. Consider using shelves, baskets, or clear plastic containers to keep everything organized and easily accessible.

6. Put everything back in its place: Once you've sorted through everything, put the keep toys back in the room in an organized fashion. Make sure everything has a designated place so that it can be easily found and put away.

7. Make a plan to maintain the space: Now that your playroom is decluttered and organized, make a plan to keep it that way. Sometimes labels can help with this. If your kids don’t read yet, try photos of the toy category instead. Encourage your kids to put toys away after playing with them, and schedule regular decluttering sessions to keep things from getting out of control.

By following these simple steps, you can create a clutter-free playroom that will be a joy for your kids to play in.