*Note: This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.
Read about Part 1: Uncovering the Costs of Clutter HERE.
Read about Part 2: Why We Buy Stuff HERE.
Read about Part 3: Why We Keep Stuff HERE.
There are very few books I have read more than once (and few movies I have watched more than once). (affiliate link) Clutter Free by Kathi Lipp is one of those books. Many people have defaulted to reading the other decluttering book, but I have a hard time remembering the title. 😉 There were some great ideas in that book, but I will have to agree with what this article said about it. Clutter Free is different because it digs a little deeper to the heart issue of clutter. We’ll see what we discover this month through Clutter Free, and figure out what “next step(s)” we can take to embrace and overcome some challenges of motherhood.
I’ll be sharing my reflections on this book through the month as we journey through what “HomeLife” is to you…and me.
I will be reflecting on some discussion guide questions, as well as some quotable quotes, from each chapter to keep it condensed, otherwise I am a pretty wordy mama.
19. A New Approach to Cleaning Clutter
– After reading about “the secret sauce of clutter management,” I feel I will be able to let go of many more things because there really aren’t many things I want to keep…like in the example that people give about what you want to save if your house was on fire…
– The thought of getting my drawers and cabinets half empty makes me feel so happy and less burdened. I commit to decluttering the kitchen drawers. It has been awhile…
Some quotable quotes:
…the real magic of clearing clutter is one simple mind shift: always look at what you want to keep, not at what you want to get rid of.
Everything I own must earn a right to be there. It must pass the “I use it, I love it, I would buy it again” test.
20. Clear Your Decks: The 2000 Things Challenge
– While we’ve been intentionally decluttering for the past few years, I think getting rid of 2000 things this year will be a challenge, but I don’t doubt many things have made their way into our home that needs to be evicted.
– I haven’t had a tendency to stockpile in awhile, but when I am tempted, it is because there is a great deal on something that I know we will need more of in the future.
Some quotable quotes:
I let myself imagine a home where we only had things that were used, were loved, and we would buy again.
21. Adopt a Uniform
– The hardest part about decluttering my wardrobe is that I don’t really have much to start with, so maybe I won’t be decluttering my wardrobe much. :p
– The steps I will take to ensure my success in taking an inventory of everything I have in my wardrobe is to head to Putting Me Together to find out the basics I need before getting rid of them.
Some quotable quotes:
…I came to the conclusion that anyone who wants to cut clutter and simplify her life needs to have her own version of the uniform.
But one thing I’ve noticed about…all the other stylish women I know: they don’t have a ton of clothes. The clothes they do have are ones they love, that fit them well, and that they wear over and over.
22. Use It Up
– I’m guilty of stockpiling office supplies…just because. :p No particular reason why or how this happens, but it does.
– One positive way our family can do without is to be able to give to someone who may need the clothes or books more than we do.
Some quotable quotes:
Back during World War II, one of the most popular mottos was “Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.” And a tiny part of me thinks we should start bringing that back.
23. If You Don’t Know It Exists, You Will Never Miss It
– I don’t have too many clutter enablers in my life. I have unsubscribed to most store emailing lists, except for the ones we do shop at when we do shop. Once they come into my inbox, I move them straight into a “coupons” folder so I don’t actually look at the sales. I keep them in case I end up needing something and actually going to the store.
– We only receive the ads once a week, and when they arrive, I only take out the two grocery ads and recycle the rest.
Some quotable quotes:
Enough is a beautiful thing.
24. 50 Things to Get Rid of Today
– Of the 50 things, my biggest challenge areas are stuffed animals because I’ve had them for so long and old containers because they can so easily be repurposed.
Some quotable quotes:
Sometimes the first step to decluttering is actually taking a step.
25. 50 Ways to Reduce the Stuff Coming into Your Life
– Non-thing gifts I encourage in the future are museum or movie tickets, and restaurant gift cards. And if someone is not keen to gift cards, a promise of a date would be nice.
Some quotable quotes:
…another step on your journey to becoming clutter free is to keep unnecessary stuff from coming into your life in the first place.
Your turn: Have you found a system to help you keep the clutter out?
P.S. In March I will be reading *The Ministry of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson. Join me!
P.S.S. You can check out My 2017 Book List (specifically curated for the Work-in-Progress Mom) and read along with me this year.
*Note: This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a tiny percentage if you make a purchase through my link at no extra cost to you. Read my disclosure policy here.