The process of simplifying/decluttering your life can be overwhelming. What would you tell someone about to begin that they do first of all? What is the very first step?

__________________
Check out the Mommysavers Fan Page on Facebook
Frugal Tweets! Follow Mommysavers on Twitter
Preorder the NEW Mommysavers.com Book: Instant Bargains

Stop buying stuff. If you really want to declutter.....you need to stop bringing in more stuff into the house. I know it sounds pretty obvious.....but it took me a while to get it. I kept telling myself I'm going to start decluttering my house........and I would start purging closets and such......then I would just buy new things to replace what I had gotten rid of.

I would love to hear other ideas.

For me, it isn't new stuff that is a problem. I don't really buy much stuff that isn't consumable. OK, I admit that my daughters have too many shirts. So maybe my tip should be, don't take stuff just because someone gave it to you for free. If you really like a cheap or free item you have found, something old has to go when you bring it in.
And if you are not very organized, don't think you will have a yardsale. You might not even get around to dropping it off to the thrift stores. Bag all your uneeded clothes, and have someone take them away. Or if you have Planet Earth bins in your town, drive there directly and toss your old (clean) clothes in them.

__________________
"The Christian does not think that God will love us because we are good, but God will make us good because he loves us."- C.S. Lewis

I think the first step is getting it straight in your mind that you don't need to keep everything. Just because you spent $50 on a pair of shoes 10 years ago - if you don't wear them - get rid of them. Also sentimental things (my biggest downfall) - don't keep it just because your mom bought it for you. If you don't like it/use it - get rid of it. Once you get past that you should be able to purge easier.

OK I'm struggling with this right now but I'm determined to get my closet and my desk area decluttered by the end of the year.

To me the first step is to pull it all out and group like things together. If you plan on organizing the closet you need to put your clothes in one pile and DHs in another. Don't go thru it all at once. Then designate piles/boxes/laundry baskets... something to hold the stuff you're sorting through. Make a KEEP pile, DONATE or SELL pile and a TOSS pile! Although if you're REALLY bad, you might resolve to DONATE & not SELL! I'm bad about keeping a Sale pile year round! Even after the sale is over I can't bear to just donate something I know is worth something! I still have a pile of stuff in the garage... maybe I should just go donate it all!!! Hmmm....

__________________

WE'RE DEBT FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!

A really important step is to cut the emotional ties to possessions. Emotions can be why we get something and why we don't get rid of something.

Cathleen

Put on some good music! I find it easier to go thru closets & drawers & pitch stuff if I'm listening to some Beatles...

Reevaluate things you think you need to keep. I mean, even if it serves a function, is it too big for the space you're in or do you not love it. I tend to be blind to things in my house that are collecting dust that seem to be functional. Take a second look at all your rooms to see what needs a new home (not yours).

For me the first step was getting rid of the obvious trash.

I was just about to post about this. I have a hard time donating something that I might be able to make money on. I don't think I am being selfish, it's just that we scrape every penny and I hate to see anything go out that I might have made money on. If this wasn't a concern, I could declutter in a heartbeat!!!