Frugal Friday 24: 10 Organizing & Decluttering Tips

Now that I’m working from home, I’m trying to get a bit more organized.  It seemed things had been piling up and getting stuffed here and there until a later time.  When we let things pile up, it becomes overwhelming and like a defeating task.  Here are some tips to help us stay organized each day.

1.  If you get it out, put it away.  Putting an item away as soon as you finish with it is the key.  Put it back exactly where it came from.  This one habit, consistently followed, will straighten up many other habits.  Don’t forget to preach teach this one to your kids.

2.  Run the 30-second drill.  If it takes 30 seconds or less to do something, do it immediately.  Put dirty clothes in the bathroom hamper.  Return the garbage can to the backyard.  Put the newspaper in the recycling bin.

3.  Give every item a home.  This one is hard for me because I’ve never really had the time to do this.  It takes time to organize your house and give every item a home.  Now that I am working from home, I am working harder to remove clutter and try to find a home for everything.  It makes life so much easier!

4.  Go through the mail each day.  Each day put your bills in the bill basket and throw away/recycle your junk mail.  Be sure to shred anything with your personal information on it; this includes credit card applications.

5.  Get moral support when decluttering.  I am waiting on this one.  My basement is such a mess!  I feel like I am constantly getting rid of stuff.  What I need is the help of someone to offer me moral support while decluttering.  I need someone to agree with me that I don’t need all this stuff!

6.  Use the 1 toy in, 1 toy out rule.  When birthdays and Christmas come around, I let my little girl know that it’s time to get rid of some things.  She doesn’t seem to mind because I let her know that she’ll be getting new things that she has to make room for.  FYI – This rule also works well for shoes and clothes!!!

7.  Multi-task as you walk around your house.  Are you going down to the basement?  Then take something with you when you go.  Going to the kid’s room?  Then take their shoes and socks when you go (if they’re not around to do it).

8.  Use a timer.  I learned this one from the Flylady.  Sometimes organizing or getting rid of clutter seems like such a big task.  If you set your timer for 5 minutes, then you know you only have to work for that set amount of time.  Setting a timer makes the task seem less overwhelming.  When the timer stops, you can stop or keep going now that you’ve gained momentum.

9.  Don’t buy organizing gadgets just yet.  Before buying organizing bins and containers, clear the clutter first and then access what you really need.  Otherwise, you will be left with even more clutter.

10.  Avoid impulse buying.  Don’t buy something just because it looks cool or you think you just have to have it.  Give yourself some time to think it over.  Your house will be less cluttered because of it.

Do you have any helpful organization or decluttering tips?

Frugal Fridays