Store it at the store.

Now that is a brilliant way to simplify your storage needs!

There is a balance between having what you use and need available to you, 
and not turning your home into a warehouse of items you bought ‘on sale’, or Justin Case, or because it came in a multi pack.

The best storage ‘home’ for some things is right on the shelf or the rack at the store.
Let them use their square footage so you don’t need to waste any of yours.

Often what you  think you save, in money or time or convenience; you end up paying for in clutter, crammed closets and drawers, or forgotten about stock piles and caches.

The more you have on hand the more money you’ve spent,
the more storage places you need to create,
the more you need to keep track of,
the more you need to maintain.

Take advantage of the free, unlimited storage the store has available.
Choose less to have more……..

As you are going through the uncluttering process,
remember that there isn’t a competition to see who can have the fewest things.
The purpose of uncluttering is to right-size your possessions and commitments so that you can focus on what matters to you most.  UnClutterer.com

You get to choose how many is enough.
Make choices that reflect who and what you value, 
and the life you want to live.

I love it when I see ideas for organizing that aren’t  just prettifying but
are clever and functional. 
And ideas that reuse or repurpose items people already own
I find especially helpful.
Looking good is an added bonus.

Lynette Thomas, friend and amazing real estate professional, recently posted this link to several great organizing tips.
Some may be familiar to you and some may be things you could scurry right off and take care of today.

Make the mechanics of daily living easier. 
Create homes where items are used,
Store things in accessible places, and
Establish easy systems and simple tricks
to reduce and  eliminate clutter.

Rip off these ideas or come up with some of your own.
Choose and create ways to make your life as simple
and easy as possible.

(Thanks to Sally for sharing Lynette’s post)

One way to avoid creating clutter is: 
Have what you need near where you use it.

Sort the mail over the recycle bin.
Keep your sheets in the bedroom.
Store the stamps in the same place as the envelopes.
Charge your phone where you lay it down when you get home.
Stash a supply of clean empty bags in the bottom of each trash can.
Have a donation bag in your closet so you as soon as you decide it isn’t ‘you’,
it can be on its way.

Eliminating steps; both physically and literally, simplifies your life.

Life is complicated enough.
Keep the mechanics of daily living as simple and routine as possible.

Donating is more than just the math of subtracting something from your home that you not longer need, use, love or value.  (Or that you’ve been keeping for Justin Case)

There is the math of subtracting the value of your donation from your taxes.

There is the plus of the jobs your donations help create at the organization your donation supports.

There is the plus of the money your donation generates when the items sell.

There is the plus of meeting the need of the person buying your item who will use, love and value it.

Do the math.

Two Minute Rule:  If you can do it in two minutes or less, do it now.

Not on the counter, into the dishwasher.
Don’t put it down, put it away.
Make the phone call.
Pay the bill.
Hang it up.
Recycle it.

Don’t think, ‘I’ll do it later’.  You won’t.
Avoid touching things multiple times.
Quit piling, stacking, ignoring.

Thirty seconds now eliminates clutter in the future.

“Most decisions don’t require extensive research.”  
Gretchen Rubin, Secrets of Adulthood

Analysis Paralysis  keeps many people from moving forward in their lives.
Fear of making the wrong decision or not considering every possibility keeps ideas churning in our heads and prevents us from committing to an action and allowing things to unfold.

Very very few decisions are irreversible and often we don’t know where our choices may actually lead us.
How often have we thought that if I do A. then B. will follow along?  
Only to have C. or even K., L or P options rear their heads?

Quit trying to figure every angle, every possibility, every scenario.
Pay more attention to your gut and less attention to the voices swirling around and around in your head.

Make a choice.
Be willing to live with it until you need to make a different choice.
You can handle the consequences.  
I have every confidence in you.

There will always be options.

The clutter of unnecessary  words and repetitive thoughts keep us from having the calm and relaxed life we want.

Too often in conversation we are not listening to the other person, just mentally rehearsing our next comment and polishing our point of view.
Before you offer your next bit of advice, argument or observation; ask yourself, “Is this kind and is this helpful?”
If the answer is no, keep silent.  
Don’t comment.  
Don’t suggest.
Don’t escalate an argument.
Allow there to be the space of silence.

Really, wouldn’t you rather be kind than right?
(If not, why is being right so important?)

 Just as you choose which physical items to have in your life,  mindfully choose which words you want in your conversations.

How much is enough?

Will one more make you happier?

Will one (or two, or five) less make your life easier?

How many projects?
How many commitments?
How many unread books?  Unwatched films?  Unworn clothes?

Would setting some limits,
letting go of some supplies,
and rethinking some routines
open up some space?

Could having fewer things but of higher quality,
more genuine experiences,
and fewer but stronger relationships
be enough?

More usually isn’t better.
It’s often just more.
More distraction.
More money spent.
More to store.
More to manage.

Enough really is enough!

The retention and filing of some papers is necessary.
Ready access to important documents will make your life easier.

However, setting up multiple and exacting categories isn’t a good use of your time or energy.
Use broad  general categories, that make sense to you.
Group like items together.

When (and if) the time comes when you need to find a document, receipt, or
policy; spend time then looking through your folder.

By placing the most recent papers in the front of the folder, you will be creating a chronological record, which will also help you locate things in a timely manner.

Only keep those papers you can’t easily obtain a copy of in some other manner.

Business, professional or tax related papers may require a different set of considerations-speak with your accountant or bookkeeper.
But the day to day papers, paid bills, and receipts most likely can be filed directly into the recycle can or the shredder.

Most papers that get filed are never looked at again.
Really.

With filing, as with most things in your house:  Keep it Simple.