i need to get ORGANIZED!!!!! This mess of a house is driving me crazy!!! We don't have a lot of clutter, it's that everything do not have a place.

whenever I go to the store to buy organizers (storage conatiners, hooks for the kids rooms, shelving) I always have a hard time spending the money.
I think, "Is this a nessecity right now?" And I don't buy anything because I DON'T WANT TO SPEND THE MONEY!

i need to just spend the money. We have our tax money and I think i am going to spend it tomorrow on organizers.

I'd start out slow. I did this - went to the store and bought what I thought I'd need - and then I didn't use it all. I'd buy a couple things, get some stuff organized, and buy a couple more.

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~~Amanda~~
Mommy to one Little Man (3 1/2 yrs old), FINALLY expecting #2!!! (due around Memorial Day 2009) *adoption has been put on hold*

I would declutter first, unless you have alread done this. Then I would start slow as the previous post says. If not you will wind up with containers that just don't work and you will have a pile of them like I do.

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Yep - purge what you can first. A lot of the organizing-type shows point out how a lot of the clutter they're getting rid of are actually organization stuff. Tubs, baskets, etc. You think you're buying them to get organized but instead it just adds to your clutter unless you have a specific purpose for it.

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Stay at home mom to my 3 boys... ages 5, 3 & 1!

I can do all things through CHRIST who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

Just take it one step at a time and another helpful tip is to follow the 15 minute rule. Clean, declutter, purge whatever you want to call it for 15 mins. then stop, take a break and go back or return to it the next day for another 15 mins.

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This works for me especially when I am feeling overwhelmed with clutter. You can actually do a lot in 15 minutes just make sure and take the purge to the car, so you have no excuse not to get rid of it. If my kids or Dh sees the purge, back it goes in the house! Ugh!

As far as containers go, you can start organizing some things with cardboard shoeboxes. You can re-use plastic containers (yogurt, cottage cheese, etc.) for small things. I bring home empty shipping boxes from work and use them in my storage room and garage.

For the kid's rooms, I found plastic rectangular baskets at the dollar store in which to keep their books. I measured the width of their bookshelves, and put three across each two of three shelves. I left the top shelf for larger, hardcover books. I put the books in the baskets, facing forward so that it's easier for the kids to flip through them and see what's what, and they can pull one out without all the others coming out with it. (my kindergarten teacher friend gave me this tip).

You can find inexpensive containers at the thrift stores, too. Just think "out of the box" and get creative. Keep a list with you of the things you need to store to help you remember.

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Peter Walsh's "It's All Too Much" book will do wonders. Boy, I wish I was getting a commission every time I recommended this!!!