Collins Country

Saving Space

Organization and frugality go hand in hand.  I have a tendency to save everything “in case I need it.”  I am still learning, but one thing I’ve finally gotten through my stubborn skull is that clutter is wasteful!

It really creates a sense of disorder that is stressful to me.  I open a drawer to get something out and it’s full of parmesan cheese packets and twist ties, tangled with plastic bags, rubber bands and broken pencils.  If these things are going to be saved, they must be orderly and easily accessible.

The first step is deciding what’s worth saving and what should go immediately in the trash (this is the hardest part, in my opinion). 

After that, it’s making a place for these things and remembering where they are so you can find them when you need them; then you have to use them!

What usually happens, speaking for myself and my sister, is one day we can’t get the drawer open properly.  Finally a good yank and it’s out and everything is all over the floor.  In disgust, we scoop it all up and stomp over to the trash can and dump our collection.

At that point:

• We’ve wasted our time saving the things which are now on a journey to the dump. 
• We’ve wasted our peace of mind dealing with a mess everyday as we try to find things. 
• We’ve wasted our space with a wad of junk instead making a place for everything and everything in its place. 
• We’ve wasted our money because now that we’ve tossed perfectly good reusable items, we have to go buy them!

From now on, when I de-clutter I will weigh the value of the item over the value of my time, mind and space!

Have a great weekend!

Untitled Comment

{ 10:36 , Saturday, July 1, 2006 } { Posted by Carol }

I couldn't agree more. Great post.
~carol

Untitled Comment

{ 10:54 , Saturday, July 1, 2006 } { Posted by Cindeerella }

That is sooo true! Thanks for the reminder!