Paper clutter is my biggest downfall…. I need to get better at filing immediately instead of waiting for a better time.
Can I just admit to a complete de-clutter FAIL this month? Exactly four things left my home and some of them were things I was returning: a piano music stand, homeschool curriculum I mailed to a friend, and shoes and a phone charger I borrowed from my sister- in-law.
I still have the same two boxes sitting in my basement waiting to go to Goodwill plus an additional bag in my bedroom. I could blame it on the snow, or being out of town, my husband’s knee surgery, the company we had last week, or lack of time. But as my pastor once said, lack of time is lack of desire.
Next week, four of my blogging turned real life friends will be coming for a visit, and I don’t want them to know about my yet to be dropped off at Goodwill boxes. So getting these boxes out of the house is now a priority!
The biggest problem with my clutter is that it is hidden. If you walked into my home you would think it was very clean and organized. I do a good job of organizing my clutter. But there are pockets of junk that need to be attacked and defeated in my home. The top drawer of my dresser, the tupperware cabinet, the school supply bin, and more. I find that I waste time and money when things are not in order. I tend to buy duplicates (things like printer ink when I can’t find the spare cartridges) or we waste time looking for things. One child who will not be named has spent over 30 minutes looking for a pencil with an eraser. Is that because we don’t have any…. no, it is because they aren’t put away correctly and we are unable to find them.
It is my goal in March to have the kids help me with all the clutter busting. If they have to spend time cleaning out, they will probably be more likely to keep it neat and organized once it is finished.
January Total: 23
February Total: 4
Total so far: 27 🙁
What left your house this month? What are your problem areas?
Visit Amy’s Finer Things for more 730/365 Challenge.
Meagan says
I love your quote, “Lack of time is lack of desire.” It’s so true. And, while it’s easy to use that and point the finger at other people in my life, it rings pretty true for myself, too.
I think I’m going to print it out and hang it up on the fridge as a reminder for myself and the boys.
Bree says
I was about to say the same thing… this quote is worth printing out. Maybe I don’t need more time in the day, just more desire to get what I need done.
Denise@TogetherWeSave says
I have times that I can declutter several rooms in a day or two and other times I just an not itn the mood. Company is always a good motivater!
Andrea says
My problem areas are—the entire house. 🙁 We have paper clutter, tons and tons of books (but since most of us are avid readers, I don’t want to get rid of them), way too many toys and way too many outgrown kids’ clothes!! (Six kids and 2 adults living here) I would bet your house looks a whole lot better than mine!!
Southern Gal says
Not a thing I’m sad to say. I keep waiting for summer. Every year I’m waiting for summer. It never gets done. Sigh.
carla says
My house too is a house that people would probably think was organized….just don’t look in my china cabinet drawer, or water heater closet! We too have a couple of bags of Goodwill donations that need to get taken. To organize my husband’s misc. things I bought a basket that we keep on the desk in the kitchen….mail that is his or school papers he needs to look, etc. is in his basket and that has helped. When he gets home he puts his cell phone, wallet and keys there also!
Shonda says
ohhhh, I need a “husband basket”…..what a great idea!! Thanks for sharing!
Melissa Multitasking Mama says
As a professional organizer I can’t help but tell you that part of the paper problem is you have too much of it. 80% of the things people file are never looked at again. Consider keeping only what is necessary and it will cut down on your paper clutter issue tremendously =)
TheHappyHousewife says
Melissa- You know you are welcome to come to my house anytime and throw stuff away. Except the life insurance policy and the titles to my vehicles. 😉
Jackie says
That’s what I’m working on now. 6 kids and 2 adults = lots of stuff. I have 3 boys and 3 girls and I save clothes for one kid to the next. I’m working on getting rid of lots of the extra clothing and toys. They tend to wear the same outfits and play with the same toys.
I need to get to goodwill but I know I won’t so I’m having National Children’s Center pick stuff up. Do you have that option where you live? I’m not sure how far they travel. Just google them.
Good luck decluttering!
Serenity says
This was a pretty good decluttering month for me. The total was 133. Almost all of it was clothes my kiddos have outgrown.
Thank you for this challenge. What a great feeling to be able to bless others with the stuff we don’t need anymore! It ‘s wonderful to receive a box of hand me downs but it feels ever better to be able to give one!!!
Next month my goal is to get all of my newborn clothes to the crisis pregnancy center. They have been in my car for 6 weeks 🙁 Yeah, I needed to hear that quote from your pastor!!!!
Rachel says
I am with you on getting things out of the house! My “Goodwill” pile has been sitting in the garage since January! However, now I plan to donate it to the church youth yard sale next month so it will be sitting there a little bit longer! Oh well…
Cheryl@SomewhatCrunchy says
Oh yeah, I hear you. I have the goodwill bag in my upstairs hallway, three space bags (waiting to be vacuum sealed and stored in the basement) sitting in my bedroom floor along with my Blissdom luggage mt Hubby hasn’t hoisted into the overhead storage. 🙂
Cherrill Hartsfield says
Put those Goodwill items in your car and put a sticky on the dash as a reminder that it is back there and needs to be dropped off. Our daughter’s school now has a paper drop off dumpster right out front we have dropped several garbage bags off already.
Domestic Extraordinaire says
I have been trying to declutter, but since I am organizationally challenged this is a chore. My poor dining room table suffers the most because it gets stuff just dumped on it, daily.
Bonita says
My biggest clutter area is my office. Tomorrow I’m meeting with someone who might become my assistant and help me organize this paper cyclone. That’s my solution to the problem. At this stage of my life, I can’t think of a better one.
What left my house this month? Well, we took out the trash. Does that count? We even did it daily to the big can and weekly to the road. Oh, and I sold some curriculums that got mailed out.
Tonya says
AmVets and Goodwill regularly call me every month or so. It keeps me accountable. There is a pickup next Tuesday and I already have a box started. I publish our church’s weekly newsletter and next week I’ll be putting some items in there to give away as well. Some things are sold on Ebay. I am constantly decluttering. Two of the men in my house keep everything and once in awhile they get the urge to purge. I have boxes ready for them when they are ready!
Jami @An Oregon Cottage says
Well, I think any progress is better than none. 😉 And you are looking forward to accomplishing things in March rather than giving up. I’m sure you’ll do it- Good Luck!
Janet says
I really struggle with paper clutter. I’m like you and am very good at keeping the clutter out of sight. But I know it’s there needing to be dealth with. I am constantly trying to improve in this area. I did manage to organize the office supplies/schools supplies/kids craft supplies this month. I bought a 4 drawer container. The top drawer is all of my office supplies. The bottom 3 drawers are filled with the girls arts & craft supplies/school supplies. Its placed under the lowest shelf in my pantry and is very convenient for all of us. No more wasting time hunting for pencils, pens, pencil sharpeners, etc.
Shonda says
Inspiration!! I have been saying “we need to organize and de-clutter”, so now the time has come! Spring Break is coming up and we will be CLEANING…..hand-me-downs – organized and stored, consignments dropped off, papers filed or shredded, pictures and projects sorted for scrapbooking, winter linens washed, mattresses flipped and the list goes on and on. We are also planning to move this summer, so all the “extra stuff” will start being packed…..I can’t wait for a cleaned, clutter free house!
Amy @ Finer Things says
I’ll race you to a more productive March! 🙂 Enjoy your savvy time next week!
becky says
Happy and other commenters,
While my house not only is out of control, but also LOOKS out of control , the dropping off things at Goodwill is never a problem. Our Disabled American Vets will come anytime to pick up anything! Give yours a call! It’s great. All I have to do is find a scrap piece of paper from … somewhere and find a marker in … that place to make a sign to mark it clearly! 🙂
Becky L. says
Paper clutter is my big problem. What’s left my house this past month is some junk and some items in a box to go to a church sale this month. I’ve emptied out some of the tupperware that I don’t use much any more. Clothes I’ve not cared to wear or could wear are leaving. I’m finishing my computer desk this weekend…clean up. I started on a challenge from another blog but didn’t get my challenge done. Oh fudgesicles!! It’s nearly there though and glad to see I’m not the only person in the same clutter/deorganization as other people. I used to be good at this stuff and have just gone to pot. So am gonna do better in the future!
Nony (A Slob Comes Clean) says
February just flew by for me as well.
Christina says
Heres my link from my update
http://homeschool-fun.blogspot.com/2010/03/730-in-365-update-from-february.html
Mostly a lot of paper but I only counted it as 1. Im up to 98!