As you look at your Christmas gifts — the ones you wanted and the ones that made you wonder, “What was she thinking?” — there is probably one thought on your mind: Where am I going to put this stuff? (If you celebrate Hanukkah, you are a few weeks ahead in this process.)
You are going to find places to put your valued new gifts by organizing what you have and getting rid of an equal amount of old stuff.
Because clutter costs. It costs you time looking for things you have but can’t find and money buying things you don’t need because you can’t find the old ones.
You are going to get organized, once and for all. Or at least for once.
Step 1 in the Great Decluttering Extravaganza: Put like things together.
That means putting all your shampoo in one place and all your sandals in another. If you have tomato sauce in your pantry and tomato sauce in a kitchen cabinet, get all that tomato sauce together. This simple step is one of the first rules of organizing.
I once moved in with someone who had so many unused bottles of shampoo scattered around her apartment that I didn’t have to buy any for a year.
If you don’t have a lot of storage space, getting all your like things together may require some time and effort, but persevere.
It is worth it.
Oh, and that ugly sweater you know you’ll never wear? Put it in a box for charity immediately. You are ahead on Step 2.
Next: Get ruthless.
