Second, what do you DO with all that clutter, outgrown clothes, etc.? Gather up those clothes and drop off at your local charity or thrift store and get a receipt for your taxes! Sometimes just knowing you can get money for that stuff OR a tax write-off is enough for some people. Also, learn to FREECYCLE! What is that? Its like REcycling only everything you give away (or get!) is FREE…..Its a nationwide movement and many areas have clubs in each city. Simply go to Freecycle.org and find your state and then area and sign up. You’ll be AMAZED at the things people give away because they don’t want to bother with garage sales, etc. I’ve gotten a nearly new freezer, plants for my garden, a sandbox for my granddaughter, etc. etc. I’ve given away concert tickets, beds, pet items, etc. Try it!

My second biggest hurdle is I have about two boxes of clothing that I don’t fit into anymore, but it’s only by one or two sizes. I have been intending on losing the weight to fit back into them, but that’s another issue. I’ve been holding on to them as “incentive”, but obviously it isn’t enough.

The third big problem is my boyfriend, as wonderful as he is, is a “collector”. He collects toys, books, posters, cardboard cutouts, etc. So even if the mess is “valuable”, it’s still a mess that we just don’t have space for! He believes that these things will one day pay for our children’s college or something silly like that.

1 – Everytime you walk anywhere in your house or garden, filling the kettle, walking to or from the bathroom, pick something up and carry it closer to where it should finally go. You then don’t need to make any special trips. It all gets cleared with no walking!

2 – Make it visual, quickly create some discrete posters for your house which display the top 3 most effective tips that work for you. Renew the tips every week if required to keep it fresh.

3 – If you haven’t used something for more than 1 year and it has no sentimental value, then you don’t need it! Sell it on ebay to turn it into cash, or put it into your box labeled ‘For the charity shops’ near the door.

4 – Only keep 2 sentimental items from each person. More than two itmes is unnecessary.

5 – Cleared space in your home is much more important than the value of your junk.

6 – Once you have had a clear out on the physical level, you should then find that you have a much clearer state of mind and you will find it much easier to make future decisions with confidence.

7 – Stop buying junk in the first place! You probably don’t even need a fraction of what you buy. You will have more money, a neater home and there will be reduced pollution on the planet, if you stop buying.

8 – Instead of buying, put the cash that you would have spent into the ‘For my Savings Account’ section of your wallet. Then put all of it into your real savings account every Saturday morning without fail.

9 – Work out how you can replace your purchasing pleasure time with some activities that are more useful to either yourself or to others. Try helping others who are less fortunate, organise a local jumble sale in aid of a good cause, or simply have a special relaxing bath.

10 – Why not try walking or cycling instead of going to buy junk. Who knows, each hour spent improving your fitness could potentially extend your life by a full day, it’s like free time with interest!, and you will generally have more energy for tomorrow to do more clearing out.

11 – If a big clearout is too much to bear, then tackle it in small stages. Just like with every other human weakness, diverting your bad habits into good habits by just a little bit more each day, you will very soon be who or where you wanted to be, and with tidying up, this will slowly turn your house into your home.

I hope they might help someone.

PD – teotw.com

I know it sounds nutty – but it is amazing how much you can do when you think you are working against the clock. When you do finish your work you may find yourself saying “is it only …. o’clock?”

May be stating obvious here but make sure you are near the phone to hear it go off – good luck!

Pick up each item 1 at a time, and ask yourself: do I love it? Does it serve a purpose? If the answer is “yes” put the item where it goes. If the answer to either question is “no” put it in a bag to get rid of. Y

Get rid of at least 1 item for every 4 you keep. Seriously, keep count on a tally sheet if you have to, and for every 4 things you put away, one item MUST go in the bag. I do this with clothes every couple of months, and it helps a ton.