A lot of folks have a holiday spending hangover, so it might come as a relief to get a “what not to buy to get organized” list. In fact, you probably already have everything you need to get organized.
Reminder: I’m looking forward to seeing you this Saturday morning at our free online event. You bring the coffee. We’ll bring the hangers, bins, and fancy folding. See you there.
What NOT to Buy to Get Organized
Do NOT buy more huge plastic bins. Please. I beg you. Do not buy them thinking they will get you organized. Repeat after me…putting things in bins does not make you organized.
source: The Upbeat, Organized Home Office
What to do instead? Make room in your drawers, closets, and shelves by getting rid of the old things that you haven’t touched in months or years. Use your suitcases to store seasonal items. Re-use bins and storage that you already have before buying one more plastic bin…or twelve. If you really do need more storage, look for more sustainable bin options made of metal, wood, felt, woven reeds, or cotton.
Do NOT buy some organizing gadget that you saw on Instagram, Pinterest, or anywhere else unless you have 1.) put your hands on it and seen the quality, 2.) have a VERY clear idea of how it will work for you and 3.) looked to see if you already own something similar that might do the job.
Do NOT buy specialized cases for your electronics or devices to get organized. You know your computers and devices only have a lifespan of a few years, maybe ten years at most. If your organizing gadget is hyper-specialized, it will only last as long as your device, and then you’ll have to toss and buy new…again. Instead, re-purpose zipper pouches, jewelry cases, and other clever and attractive containers.
Do NOT buy organizing gadgets on impulse. At the very least, give yourself 24 hours to think about how you would use any new organizing device or container.
I can’t tell you how many times we make a shopping list with our clients and by the end of appointments, we have either reduced the need for more storage because they just don’t have as much, or we find the very item that we put on their shopping list! New hangers, drawer dividers, wall hooks, file boxes? You probably already own them.
So your homework from today? Go and find one organizing gadget that you’ve already bought (but probably forgot about) and put it to good use. I’d love to hear what you found, so please comment here.
Thank you for this – so refreshing. I am sickened by all the people pushing plastic/acrylic organizers. I confess to using them sometimes, but I never buy them new – I get them on Freecycle or Craigslist used and then pass them on when I’m finished with them.