Yahoo Finance Thrifty Ways to Conquer Your Clutter
The task of organizing can seem daunting to the disorganized. Browsing images of pristine, perfectly-styled rooms on Pinterest can give you inspiration, but it can also give you the itch to purchase every organizational product on the market. From fancy baskets and racks to crafty crates and containers, the cost of supplies can add up, bringing an abundance of items into your house, before you've begun to purge of clutter. This can be hard on your wallet and detrimental to your goal of downsizing.
How can those who are chronically disorganized, or those of us who are simply busy and a little messy by nature, get a handle clutter without breaking the bank? Here are some ideas.
Discard Items
Marie Kondo founder of the Kon-Mari method and author of the popular book "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up" advises that organizing begins with discarding. Kondo recommends physically picking up each item to determine if it "sparks joy." Items that do not make you happy should be discarded. She believes this should be done quickly and in one swoop, as the dramatic change will give you the momentum to maintain a tidy space and achieve long-term success.
Kristin Long, owner of Organizational Specialists Inc. in Northern Virginia and featured expert on HGTV's "Mission: Organization," knows that discarding can be a difficult task, particularly when there is emotional attachment. For sentimental items cluttering your home yet not serving an immediate purpose, such as a special outfit your child has outgrown, Long recommends taking a picture and journaling about that item. This allows you to let go of that item while retaining a visual reminder.
Long also cites paper as a major source of clutter. She recommends instituting a system to quickly process and discard unneeded papers right as they come into your home. This will prevent papers from stacking up.
Use What You Have
Kondo believes the tools you need for effective organizing are already at your fingertips. She writes that the only storage items you need are drawers and boxes. Her minimalist approach is refreshing and puts the penny-pincher at ease. According to Kondo, the secret of an uncluttered room lies in your willingness to "pursue ultimate simplicity in storage.
Long notes that people can get caught up in the excitement of organizing a space, purchasing storage supplies without knowing how or where to utilize them. She warns that people without clear direction can purchase an organizational product with good intentions, only to see it go to waste.
Use Shoeboxes
Kondo's favorite storage product may surprise you: a simple shoebox. "The most common item I use is an empty shoebox. I have tried all kinds of storage products, but have never found any other that is free and still surpasses the shoebox," she writes.
She uses shoeboxes for storing everything from socks and stockings to bath and beauty products, cleaning products, baking pans and other household goods. Kondo even utilizes the shallow shoebox lids as trays and shelf liner replacements.
Use Other Boxes
Although Kondo believes you should recycle or toss large cardboard boxes or electrical appliance boxes, she likes square boxes and containers sized for specific needs. Plastic boxes from business card orders and packaging from compact Apple products can be repurposed to store writing tools and small items. Kondo recommends using cardboard boxes as dividers in drawers, which can prevent items like stockings from slipping and unrolling.
Plastic Food Containers
Kondo briefly mentions using extra plastic food containers for storing small kitchen items. This can be a great way to collect utensils or tools together within cabinet drawers or shelves.
Long recommends using small food containers for everything from small office supplies and crafts to toys and jewelry. She notes that these clear containers allow you to easily see the contents, plus the lids make them ideal for stacking on shelves, closets and pantries. Long also notes that bathroom supplies and cosmetics can easily be stored in Tupperware and similar plastic containers.
Fill Bags
A large bag can be used to hold smaller bags. Consolidating your purses and handbags into one large bag can help keep like items together and save space. Kondo recommends storing no more than two bags within another bag, to eliminate bulkiness and simplify retrieval of smaller bags when needed.
Use a Kitchen Timer
Long believes one of the most powerful organizing tools is a simple kitchen timer. She recommends setting your timer and not leaving an area until the allotted time, like 30 minutes, has passed. Undistracted time spent organizing can help you quickly achieve success in sorting mail cluttering your counter, or taming the piles of papers taking over your kitchen table.
Hire a Professional
"Sometimes the most economical approach is to hire a professional," says Long, since their insight can help you save time and achieve lasting results. She recommends visiting NAPO.net to find organizers near you.
Most professional organizers offer a basic consultation, which is perfect for those on a tight budget. An organizer can help you begin organizing and provide "homework" tasks for you to work on later. This helps maintain the order while allowing you to inhabit and actually enjoy that space. The initial investment in an organization professional will save you time and money while minimizing stress.
When it comes to organizing, make a clean sweep and resolve to start -- this is often the biggest hurdle to cross. If you are struggling, consider hiring a professional and focus on discarding, decluttering and utilizing storage items you already own. Sparking joy in the process of tidying up can easily be accomplished without a big bill attached.
Laura Harders is the founder of Beltway Bargain Mom, one of Washington DC's most popular sites for money-saving tips, finding the best deals and living a frugal lifestyle.
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