De-Cluttering

Im sure you've heard the old saying "You have to spend money to make money". Well in ways its true for saving money too.
My family, all of us, is horrible about just buying the cheapest thing to get us by. We keep the train of thought "it will do for now". Really it doesn't though. It usually causes more problems than we had originally. And now we are out the money for the "cheap/quick fix" and still have to shell out for the right product to fix the problem.
Where Im going with this is there are tons of ways to save yourself money already in your home. Its the thought process that you have to re-evaluate. Sure some things you are going to need/want to buy. Myself I'm trying to go with the new motto "If it cant be used but for one thing I don't need it". This is a very hard concept for me as Im a packrat through and through. If its cute I want it, if its shiny I want it, if I dont know what it is I want it. Okay Im not really THAT bad. But the basic meaning, I hold onto too much junk.
We are having a 4 family yard sale the first weekend in August. Why August? This was my mothers brilliant reasoning. School starts back on August 7th where I live. We have all kinds of clothes that we are putting into the sale. People who have found themselves in a rut and not able to afford all brand spanking new clothes this fall for their kids will be hunting for bargains. And the kind person I am I am going to offer them more bargain than they imagined!
Now we come to the part where we have to decide what goes and what stays. If you are like me and hold onto lots of things this is going to be very difficult for you. We have to assess what we have, what we need and what is just in the way. We're not going to jump in and do it all at once. Baby steps for those of us who cry over throwing away dryer lint!
since I have an average of 5 weeks, we are going to do this in 5 weeks. 1 task per week. The tasks arent going to be very easy but they will be efficient and I promise you, you will see a big difference in your home, your ability to find things, and your mood. So lets get started...

Week 1: Bedrooms
Week 2: Bathrooms & Laundry Room
Week 3: Kitchen/Home Office
Week 4: Living Quarters
Week 5: Garage & Other

To start with your bedroom, pick out your most dreaded task. For me its clothing. I hate going through and trying on clothes. It makes me feel horrible to see the things that fit last week I cant get above my knees this week. I am determined. I know I have barely anything to wear and people I run into more than a couple times a week are beginning to wonder "is that the only outfit she has to wear OMG!" Almost yes. but at least its clean!

My assessment:
I know what I want and what I dont want. I am only 25 years old I should not be wearing the same styles and patterns as my grandmother is today.
I LOVE baggy t-shirts for my comfy days and the snug fitting jeans. This is what I keep. I have worn gray and black for the past 3 years. Im sick of it. All gray and black shirts must go with the exception of my 2 Ryan Newman shirts!
I LOVE those same jeans with my "date" shirts. I only have 3 or 4 of these, I will keep.
Shorts, Skirts and other: I hate shorts/capris/pants that do not zip and button. In other words anything with elastic must go. Ok I'll keep 1 pair for lounging around in. All others must go. I do not wear skirts, Im by no means a girly girl and if I can wear jeans thats what Im wearing! all skirts must go. Other: for me would be shoes. I have 2 pairs of sneakers, one good pair for wearing when I leave the house, 1 pair for mowing the lawn and general housework. These both stay until I get another suitable pair. I have 1 pair of lace up boots. I wear these on my date nights, they stay. I have 1 pair of outdated sandals and 2 pairs of crocs. One pair of crocs stay, other pair and sandals must go.

KEEP:
shorts/capris/pants that fit and that button & zip
dress shirts (3-4 total)
Shoes: 2 pairs sneakers, 1 pair crocs, boots
Select few t-shirts

GOES:
shorts/pants/capris with elastic
black & gray t-shirts
shirts I havent worn in 2 weeks
sandals & 1 pair crocs


Now we have a basic starting point and a list of what we are keeping and what we are not keeping. The remainder of the room should be pretty easy to get through once the daunting task of the clothes has been taken care of. Now its in your hands.

PLEASE DO NOT put these clothes in the trash! If you dont have a local goodwill or salvation army store/drop off, call your local fire department, local churches. They usually take donations for people who have lost their belongings to natural disasters or for the homeless. It would truly make someones day to get them that needed them.