While reading Peter Walsh's book, "It's All Too Much", I thought to myself, "Isn't it a shame that we actually have books written to help us DECLUTTER?" I mean, when you really think about it...there are all kinds of books out there for this, not to mention entire companies developed exclusively for organizing all your *stuff*. Then there are the consultants who get paid top dollar to come in and help you organize your home.

I never really thought about it before. We always lived very modestly and most of our things are hand-me-downs, found items, or things bought really cheap. But, when I go thru our home, getting rid of bags and bags of things, I just think about the poor in other countries, people living in shacks, who would do anything for my bags of things (my own hand-me-downs!)

Yes, we're going thru a recession, and yes, for many of us, it's hitting us very hard. But this has also been an eye-opening experience. Maybe if it's done this for me, there are millions of others who have realized the same thing. So when this recession is over, we'll have developed better habits that will stay with us even when times are good.

I think our habits have already been affected by the economy. I wish it wasn't going to get any worse, but it will. I have learned so much though, so in a weird way I am thankful for it. I think we will be so much better off when things settle down again.

It is very sad when you think of it like that. I know that I can get sucked into the feeling that it's ok to buy things at the thrift store because it's used and cheap, even if I don't need it. I grew up with very little and when I got on my own and got a good job I decided it was time to "reward" myself for being an adult. I would buy whatever I wanted. I'm glad I snapped out of it, though. I don't think there is anything wrong with buying for yourself with money you worked hard for. Having lots of things just isn't for me.

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"It's time to move from what we can do, to what we must do, to what we will do." ~Hillary Clinton

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"It's time to move from what we can do, to what we must do, to what we will do." ~Hillary Clinton

In January I had a light bulb moment. I decided I wanted to declutter since a new home wasn't in the budget. Our home is small and the walls were closing in on us. I have cried several times on my way to the thrift store to give away my over abundance of things I thought were making me happy. Since I have had this moment I have stopped buying just to buy and we have been able to pay off several credit cards. I also got two part-time jobs where my son can go with me and that has helped us dig out and kept me out of the stores. I am much happier now and so is my DH. The stress is leaving us. Simple is better!!!

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I used to do this a lot too, especially when my dd was a baby. We had very little money, but I'd go to thrift stores and garage sales and feel like I could spend like a queen. A few years later, I had to deal with all the "stuff."

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Decluttering isn't really a problem for me, because I hate hanging on to things that I don't have a use for. I actually think in terms of "yay, that's one less box I would have to pack if we were to move" every time I bring stuff to Goodwill. Not that we're planning on moving anytime soon. We have a storage room that I hate walking into because I know we need all that stuff (Christmas decorations, maternity clothes, etc) but it's just sitting there taking up space. And then there is a whole bunch of junk that I can't get rid of because it's too junky to take to a thrift store and too big to take to the dump without paying a fee. Man I hate that.

DH, on the other hand, is more of a pack rat. Drives me crazy.

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Trust God. Whatever risk there is in doing so, the risk of not trusting in him is far greater. - Spurgeon