Clutter Busting Coach

…clearing clutter from your mind, body and space

Clutter Busting

Organized for Good

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Here are a few tips for getting organized for good. These tips can be used in specific areas of the house or anywhere:

O – One in, one out. Use this rule to limit your stuff. If you bring something new in, something old must go.
R – Routines are crucial. Daily, weekly, monthly and yearly schedules for organizing, cleaning and maintaining will keep you clutter-free.
G – Get help. Enlist your family to stop chaos. If needed, get the help of a friend or professional organizer.
A – Assign a place for everything and put everything in its place. Store things where there are used so it is easier to put them away.
N – Note it. Create a book with critical information in one place. This is where schedulers, phone numbers, invitations and other important information can be found.
I – Institute a system for actions like paying bills, filing and follow up actions. Placing paper in action files can corral paper clutter and stop your piles from growing.
Z – Zip things into bags (mesh or plastic depending on the items). You can do this for lost items, the dry cleaning or small items.
E – Evaluate what is and isn’t working for you. Take a few minutes to identify one or two area of your home that are clutter and ask yourself what’s working or not and brainstorm some solutions.

Using these “organizing” tips can help tame chaos and keep you clutter-free. I would love to hear a tip or two from you.

Does Buying in Bulk Cost You More?

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Just because you can buy 20 pounds of chicken at a time or a 64 pack of paper towels, should you? Does it make sense for you to buy in bulk?

Buying in bulk can make sense, but keep these questions in mind:

• Do you the storage space for it?
• Will you use it within the next (you pick the time frame)?
• Is it the right size for your needs? A quart can of tomato paste, really?
• Will it end up costing your more in waste when you throw out an expired item?

I think that buying in bulk makes sense for some, just go with a plan and don’t impulse buy and you should be okay.

What’s the Best Way to Organize Recipes?

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As I was organizing and sorting my magazines (I was a little behind), I came across a great article in January 2010 issue of Prevention magazine that shared several ideas from authors, readers and staff about what works for them.

Personally, I use two binders. One is small with page protector sheets that hold my handwritten or typed recipe cards that I started years ago and that used to be in a recipe box. The other is a letter size three-ring binder that also holds page protectors where I have inserted recipes (keepers) from various sources. It also has pockets in the front of each section for untried recipes (which I clean out every three to four months if they haven’t been used yet). I have used this binder system for several years now and was just questioning what about it was and wasn’t working for me when I came across the article I referenced above.

I was really intrigued by the suggestion of organizing recipes by seasons because I do cook that way (winter versus summer dishes) and then I also recently saw a cute recipe box and I do have all those 3”x5” recipe cards that are in the small binder and would a recipe box serve me better?

Yet another question is: do I really need to cut and keep recipes  from magazines or the newspaper any more since there are websites that have hundreds of recipes for all kinds of dishes and foods. And you can also use your computer to electroncially organize your recipes rather than have actual paper recipes.

Hmmm… Is it time to organize my recipes differently? Is it time that you organized yours?

Organize Your Coupons

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I had the pleasure of recently conducting a clutter seminar at a local library. The question of organizing coupons came up.

The audience participated in brainstorming some ideas for coupon organization:

• Organize by category or expiration date. Use a small accordion file labeled 1 -12 and placing the coupons in the respective tab (7 for July) by the month of expiration. Or if have difficulty filing that specifically, just place in an envelope.
• Keep an envelope or your file in your purse or glove box and go through it matching your grocery list just before your shopping trip. This way you won’t leave your coupons at home.
• Set a reminder on your calendar to clear out expired coupons.

And, from me, if you routinely do not use the coupons you clip before they expire, give yourself permission to stop cutting coupons and adding to your clutter.

I am always amazed at what I learn from my audiences. Do you have a coupon tip to share? I would love to hear it.

Organizing Your Children: Chore Charts

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Yes. Children should have fun because they grow up fast yet it is also important for our children to share and learn responsibility. Chores play an important role in keeping your home organized and running smoothly. There are chores that are age appropriate even for toddlers.

Chores include children in family activities while teaching them the importance of following through and completing activities. This is where a chore chart can be a great tool because it helps children better understand their tasks and chart their daily progress. Tracking chore completion will help encourage responsibility and promote your child’s success and build confidence. In addition, children will feel instant pleasure when applauded for their efforts by placing a sticker or check mark by their name.

There are several types of chore charts ranging from ones drawn on a chalkboard to custom designed ones. I came across a website that has several free printable chore charts for you to try. Try one or try them all and see what works for your family.

I am curious to know if they helped or if you have a tip you would like to share.