Board Games and Playing Cards We routinely hold a family game night. Our favorite board games come in the smallest boxes or no box at all. We travel with three decks of cards (Monopoly Deal, standard playing cards, and a Pinochle deck.) While the Fish Bowl Game requires only a pen and paper. And after many years, these games remain our favorites. To keep it organized, I designated a small cabinet for our collection. Games cycle in and out. The key to organizing board games is setting boundaries and being realistic about which games are played. How to Organize Board Games Collect all the games and cards Designate a cabinet or shelf to store them Check each box for missing pieces and instructions Fix or reinforce boxes with tape. Secure with rubber bands Donate games your family has outgrown Throw away damaged or incomplete games Confirm playing cards are complete decks Keep 1-2 high-quality decks of cards Limit your collection to what you use …
Organizing and Decluttering
How To Set Up Your Fall Capsule Wardrobe
"In-between seasons" make it difficult to figure out what to wear. A capsule wardrobe can help. For many people, finding a suitable outfit involves searching two closets or digging through bins of off-season clothing. Feeling overwhelmed by clutter? Learn 5 Habits of Clutter-Free Families Perhaps you are experiencing this right now? I do not have this issue. My wardrobe lives in one closet. But that wasn't always the case. For most of my adult life, I spent two weekends a year swapping seasonal clothes into my main closet. As a part of my minimalist journey, I eliminated the swap and reclaimed precious time and space. Now, all my clothing lives in just one closet. Yes, even coats. Experiment with Less Along the way, I experimented with less clothing. I challenged myself to wear just 7 pieces of clothing for an entire week; (inspired by Jen Hatmaker’s book 7) I still left the house for work, church, and social engagements and was always in clean clothes. …
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3 Important Spaces Where Margin Can Make You More Organized
Guess what? Being organized isn’t about the stuff. It’s about the empty spaces between the stuff which I call margin. Others refer to it as white space, breathing room, buffer or empty space. Regardless of the name, margin allows items to move in and out of spaces freely and stay organized. I strive to create margin every time I declutter a space. When I create organize in a closet or cabinet, I spend a lot of time planning how the items will live and be stored in the space.I consider what items are used most often and create easy access to those. No matter what space I'm working on, the key is to declutter first and organize second. When you reduce the volume, spaces have a way of organizing themselves. Because it’s the margin in these spaces that’s the real game-changer, especially when it comes to staying organized. Margin not only allows spaces to function better but also makes them more attractive. Did you know that the margin on a piece of written work is 37%? …
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Not Enough Hangers Or Too Many Clothes
You have enough hangers. However, I'm guessing they do not match and this alone can make a closet look disorganized. But by now you know I am not an organizer who encourages you to buy stuff. I will always suggest that you declutter first to figure out what you really need. It's always less than you think. But when it’s time to replace broken hangers, I like these. In the meantime, try these decluttering and organizing tips for your closet. How to Reduce Hangers and Clothing Remove Empty Hangers - Return metal ones to the dry cleaner. Recycle plastic store hangers. Sort Clothes by Season - If possible, move current season clothing to the front. Or utilize a spare closet to store offseason clothing while you downsize. Sort Clothes by Color - Create a visually appealing space by grouping colors. Shoes - Use the 1-In/1-Out Rule. Or 1-In/5-Out Rule. :) Turn Hangers - To face the back of the closet. When you re-hang clean clothes, turn them in the …
How Uncluttered Will Change Your Life
I am passionate about living simply and owning less. My journey began when stress was high and I burned the candle at both ends. I'm here to tell you there is a better way. Uncluttered Course One key component of my journey was Joshua Becker's Uncluttered course. He's a husband and dad with great advice for families. He gets it. Joshua's story started on a beautiful spring Saturday with a garage full of stuff and his son playing in the backyard alone. He was too busy to play with him. Joshua's family felt burdened by all the stuff in their house. It was stealing their time, energy, and money. That was the moment when he knew something had to change. And he certainly followed through. My Moment My moment came in the hospital with an out-of-control, two-week-long migraine. The pain had escalated to where I could not open my eyes. When I tried to lay down, the pressure was unbearable. I sat curled up in a ball on the floor. My husband …
The Ripple Effect One Starbucks Can Have on Your Life
One morning, I left early to get my car inspected. With laptop in hand, I prepared for the long wait time. The garage is conveniently located next to Starbucks. And this presented an opportunity to sit on their patio on a pleasant morning. Debt-Free Living When I use a table at Starbucks, I believe in supporting the business, but I also spend my money carefully. And thus had already made my coffee at home. I gave up my daily Starbucks run over 12 years ago thanks to a personal finance class. I debated over what to order. A muffin would be less expensive but full of sugar so I settled on Bacon Gruyere Egg Bites. $4.99 was the price of using their table, shady umbrella, and WIFI for two hours; good value for my situation. But the price tag got my wheels turning…$5 multiplied by 5 days a week? Add on a grande drip coffee, at $2.95/day and now it's $8/day or $40/week. Change the drip coffee to a latte and it’s $50/week or $200/month. Pick up a pre-packaged …
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