Declutter

I have never even heard of this book, but I will tell you what I use. It is called Flylady, and it is all online. They send you emails to remind you what the "mission" of the day is. The motto of the group is that you can do anything 15 minutes at a time. And it is free (which is always great). I was introduced to the group when I started back to school almost 2 years ago and have been a member since. Check it out, I have enjoyed it.

S., Hi this is N.. I have not ordered the declutter book but I did order the 101 ways how to entertain your toddler..It was immediately ready for download. But please be careful. I don't want to cause anyone trouble. I just have a hard time with spending $9.99 for a "book" and getting a 13 page list. Here's what it looks like: page 1 is the title page, then the table of contents page, then the list begins.
1. Go over ABC's.
Get the magnetic letters for the fridge.
2. Practice numbers.
Counting using your fingers and toes.
This goes on through #101 on the last page.

We are a homeschooling family. Our 2yr old is VERY active and into everything right now. I feel like I have tried all toys, books, movies etc and nothing seems to interest him for more that a minute or two. This makes schooling very hard especially with a dyslexic who's trigger is sound.

I guess the possitive in this is that I learned I really had thought of it all! LOL

As for decluttering your home and getting it in order, this is my favorite subject! Have you tried www.flylady.com? SHE is awesome!! She makes sense and it really works too. I have used Managers of Their Home by The Maxwells for over a year now and what a BIG difference it has made in our family. My children all know what I want them to do and by when I want it done. And my husband can come home to a cleaner, less cluttered, less stressed out, home/family and know exactly what he can do to help us get done what needs to be done daily. For me, it has given me a chance to see that I really do work hard and that all of my hard work is making a difference around here.
I just love this subject! Please feel free to email me anytime at ____@____.com. I will gladly share any info I have with you.

FYI: Check out www.angelfoodministries.com for good quality groceries for less! We have shopped this way since October 2007 and LOVE IT!

Take Care,
N. a SAHM homeschooling 3 boys 12, 7 & 2yrs old and married for almost 15yrs to Mr. Wonderful.

Hi S.,

Write down a schedule and pitch things that you don't use or need.

Save yourself some money.

Hope this helps. Good luck. D.

I have had this issue for 7 years now ever since my husband and I got married and we tried to put both our "lives" into one home.

The person that I like to follow, who also has a book out called "It's All Too Much" is Peter Walsh. I think he's a declutter guru! He has appeared on shows like "Clean Sweep" on TLC and on the Oprah Winfrey Show.

His philosophy is that clutter is not only physical but also psychological and emotional.

I bought is book and it has done WONDERS on how I look at my home, the clutter, and how to approach gaining control of my life again and decluttering in the process.

I HIGHLY recommend that you invest into one of his books instead of the email book you inquired about. You won't be disappointed. Well worth the money in my humble opinion.

Best of Luck!
K. M
Alexandria, VA
WAHM of Chris, 25 and Brad, 17

I've got to second the Peter Walsh book "It's all too much" I got it on CD from the library and listened to it on my commute so it was FREE! Amazing! It really changes the way you think about your house and clutter, and that motivates you and will keep you going for years. There are practical, room-by-room ideas, but the big part is the philosophy. He's not trying to sell you stuff, or telling you to go buy fancy crates and bins. He's really helping you to free yourself from the overwhelming problem of clutter. I've been able to make all kinds of changes, both large and small in my life and get my family on board to help also.

I also appreciate and recommend Flylady. Again, free! Her concept of "you can do anything for 15 minutes" is also very life-changing. It helps me get off my butt, and then I'm amazed at what I can accomplish in 15 minutes. If I don't get the whole tub cleaned, or whatever, I'm still better off than I was before. I get the whole family and we set a timer for 15 minutes and we can usually straighten the first floor of our townhouse. I'll warn you that her email sign-up means several e-mails a day!

I got the book and am getting the email newsletters. The problem with clutter is that we just need to do it and not procrastinate.... and keep it up. I haven't read her book but apparently her theory of declutter is to clean off all horizontal surfaces and put things in boxes that you will short or go through later. That certainly didn't work with my friend who also got the book. She just let the horizontal surfaces get recluttered and now can't find anything in the boxes. For me, the focus of decluttering is important because it gets me motivated. Was it worth $20? I haven't read the book completely but it's simple decluttering ideas that are common. I'm not disappointed because it motivated me. I just read the next response and FlyLady is wonderful. It is organized, detailed, helps you really get it done. So, I agree if you want a great system, FlyLady is the best.