Clear the Clutter from Your Handbag

That’s a lot of receipts.

I think it’s time to clean out the clutter from my handbag. (It’s been a while.)

I also found a LEGO in there and the letter “Y” key that’s been missing from the keyboard.

(Two minutes later = much better.)

Bonus assignment: Use a tray for the things you need to stay organized as you walk out the door, so you’ll always know where to find your keys.

How I Make Goals for My Kids (Printable)

When the new year comes, it takes me a couple of weeks to sift through all the aspirational goals to reach the point of, “Now this is what I’m really going to do.”

Goals have to be short and basic, not a long list. You have to be able to easily say your goals from memory, if you’re going to really do them.

I plan goals for my kids using a simple approach I learned from the book Desperate Households by Kathy Peel. It starts with the Bible verse, Luke 2:52 (NIV):

“And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.”

This one sentence focuses on growth in four essential areas: intellectual, physical, spiritual, and social.

I use it as a framework to purposely choose ways that I can encourage growth in each of these areas. Because it’s just one sentence, it’s easy for me to remember, and I can tailor my plans for each kid.

(It works for grown-ups, too.)

I made a printable if you want to do it too:

• Kids’ goals printable pdf

• Kids’ goals printable pdf (two on a page)

Clear the Clutter: Sell or Donate One Big Thing

Last week’s Clear the Clutter challenge was to put away the “worn but not dirty yet” clothes that pile up next to the bed. This is traditionally a struggle for me because I’m so tired when I go to bed, but this week it was easier to put my clothes away since I took care of the pile first.

This does not mean you have to go through all the rooms in your house to find a bunch of stuff to donate or sell. We’re going for big impact with little effort. I’m always impressed by how much space I get back when I can finally get rid of something big. If you sell it, that means someone is paying you to improve your home!

The motto for this is, “Remove to improve!”

My job this week is to sell my old TV stand. I sold the TV and the speakers long ago, so right now the stand is sitting in the garage, and we don’t need the storage.

You might have:

• an old couch or chair
• unused exercise equipment
• an old appliance or TV
• baby gear such as a swing or exersaucer

If you don’t want to go through the hassle of selling, some charities will come to your house with a truck to pick up furniture or appliances.

If your stuff is not in good-enough condition to donate to charity, put it on the curb with a “free” sign, or find what day the city will do a bulk-trash pickup.

I only sell something when I can get at least $20 for it. I donate most household items and clothes, but I do like to sell the big stuff.

Tips to Sell Your Stuff on Craigslist

Price: I generally price things at 40% of what it costs to buy it new, assuming it’s in good condition and something I bought in recent years. (I only sell things that would cost at least $50 new since I have a $20 resale minimum.) It makes me laugh when I see listings for “Custom drapes, gorgeous!” when they’re clearly from the 1980s. “Custom” means it suited the owner’s preference, but to me they’re just old drapes. Price accordingly. Check other listings to compare and estimate a good price.

Photo: Include a big, clear photo on your ad. Craigslist makes your photos look small with low resolution, so overcome that by following the instructions in this post: Craigslist Photo Tip: How to Show Big, Clear Photos So Your Stuff Sells.

Detail: Be descriptive in your title by naming it something like, “Sage Green Loveseat from Pottery Barn,” not “Couch.” Preempt questions by listing measurements and flaws. Also list your terms, such as, “Pick-up only, no delivery. Price is firm. Located near ___. Available evenings and weekends.”

On My Bookshelf: Resources for the New Year

I think you can tell a lot about a person’s interests by what they keep on their bookshelf. If you look at my small book collection, it’s obvious that I’ve always been a library girl. I take notes as I read and then return the books, leaving plenty of open space on the shelf for the next stack of books.

On my bookshelf you’ll see the favorite paperback novels that I saved from my childhood.

You’ll notice that I favor practical books and that I’ve saved some personal-development books.

You’ll find gardening books, but a lack of cookbooks.

You’ll discover I have very talented friends who wrote some of the books that I proudly keep on my bookshelf.

Last year I read some books that are such good resources if you are wanting to simplify and organize more.

Organized Simplicity: The Clutter-Free Approach to Intentional Living by Tsh Oxenreider

The first part of Organized Simplicity is like having a life coach to ask you thought-provoking questions. The second part is like having your really organized best friend come over to help you clean out your closet. Simple Mom readers will recognize her intentional style. You’ll start the book with a revived focus and finish the book with a good house makeover.

Desperate Households by Kathy Peel

First of all, I loved the encouraging tone of this book. It gives practical solutions for common family issues, but in a relatable way, not like a tip list you’ve already heard before. It covers topics such as getting family members to pitch in with less nagging from you, reducing stress in the morning, better marriage communication, time and priority management, and even keeping your house clean (but not so clean that all the fun vanishes from your family.) In one word, this book is: refreshing.

Simplify Your Time by Marcia Ramsland

I don’t think there is anything new that can be said about how to manage time, but still I read magazine articles and books to glean some reminders about what I should be doing. What I like about Simplify Your Time is the way it is organized into 30 short chapters, each one concentrating on a practical aspect of time management. This makes it easy for me to evaluate my own time management (making lists, using a calendar, saying “no” to irrelevant things…I’m doing well at those) and focus on what I need to improve (punctuality, taking downtime). It’s good for self evaluation with direction on the next steps to take.

The Minimalist Mom’s Guide to Baby’s First Year ebook by Rachel Jonat

Is buying a bunch of baby stuff supposed to make your life easier? That seems to be the common advice for new parents, but not in this guide. I contributed the Foreward for The Minimalist Mom’s Guide to Baby’s First Year, and here is part of what I wrote about it:

The must-have baby lists at the stores and in the catalogs are all written by marketing teams who want to sell you something you don’t really need. Rachel Jonat wants to give you something that every family needs…more time, more money, and more space. Her advice is a welcome relief from promises that the latest and greatest baby gear will keep your baby happy and give you more sleep.

In our consumer-driven society the word “minimalist” may sound extreme, but as Rachel describes it, honestly it means “conscious consumer.” There is a lot of freedom in that, as well as time and money.

Congratulations on becoming a new parent! It is the most awe-inspiring responsibility in the world with a wonderful mix of crazy and serene. A shopping list can’t fully prepare you for it, but the common-sense advice in this guide will definitely make it easier.

One Bite at a Time: 52 Projects for Making Life Simpler ebook by Tsh Oxenreider

From the book: “Sometimes it feels like simplifying is actually adding one more thing to that list, making it, ironically, another thing to stress over.” Oh my word, yes. If you need to simplify your life, but you don’t know where to start, then start here. One Bite at a Time is a rich resource; it takes all those ideas you know you should do and you’ve brainstormed about, and it gives you a blueprint to actually make them part of your life.

My ebook Simple Blogging: Less Computer Time, Better Blogging.

If you blog in your spare time like me, this book will show you how to make the most effective use of your time so you can grow your blog but still find balance. It will help you avoid blogging burnout and let the meaning and purpose in your blog remain.

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