downsizing

It’s okay to donate your nice things

  I’ve heard my clients say this more than once…….”Jill, this is too nice to give away!” My response is, “yes, that’s a nice __________, but here’s the thing, thrift stores LOVE nice things.” Clients often believe they should sell their items rather than donate them because it feels wasteful and they want to recoup some…

Downsizing when it gets emotional

Downsizing is emotional for humans. You might feel bad about letting things go but your stuff doesn’t care whether you keep them around, toss, recycle or donate them to the nearest thrift store. Acknowledging this might make the downsizing process a bit easier. We have to feel the feelings, deal with them, and heal our…

SHOULD isn’t a good reason for keeping things

Let’s talk about NOT “shoulding” on yourself.  I’ll share some examples. * I should keep this because I spent $$ on it. This is a sunk cost. We buy things to use and enjoy and then pass them along if they no longer serve us. * I should save this awful piece of art my…

My grief story. Tips for downsizing after a loss.

I felt anxious and apprehensive about picking up my dad’s cremains. Would I be sad and cry once they placed his container in my arms? Should I accept my husband’s offer to pick them up or have him accompany me? In the end, I decided I’d do it after a client appointment since she lived…

Try this if you need to get rid of items quickly

Sometimes a move to a different home is planned, other times it’s due to a crisis. My parents experienced both situations and moved 3 times in the last 9 years. Each move required downsizing because of space constraints. Fortunately, they’d downsized for decades and didn’t hang onto things that no longer served them. They continued…

Organizing is emotional

I noticed there was a change of plans when my client met me at her door with two outdoor seat cushions and a cup of coffee in her hand. She needed time to enjoy the beautiful morning and chat for a bit.  I realized organizing was gonna have to wait. Doing nothing is a challenge for…

3 vital organized habits you need to adopt to live a more organized life

Uncover the organized person within you. Believe it or not, we are all capable of living a more organized life. I’m going to reveal three vital organizing practices I teach my clients that may encourage you to embrace better habits. 1. Edit your possessions until they fit their intended space. When everything fits into your available…

You won’t believe what turns up while decluttering with clients

Has clutter concealed money in your home? You’ll find out once you start sorting through your papers, boxes, and piles. My clients have discovered thousands of dollars hidden among clutter in their homes. People are thrilled when we find sizable checks they thought were lost forever. We’ve also found loose change and bills. We once…

It’s not the stuff in life that matters

“All you need is love,” according to The Beatles. It’s not the stuff that matters. In fact, owning less stuff will positively change your life.  Short on time? Save time, shop less. Stop acquiring more things that need to be laundered, dusted, organized, etc. Short on space? Make space by decluttering and donating your excess.…