Resourcefulness in the Home- Controlling Clutter
July 14, 2009
How to demonstrate Resourcefulness in the Home:
*Control the clutter by being content!
Clutter in the home, even if it is good stuff, can quickly overcome your home and overwhelm all those that live there. The older I get the more I realize how little I really need or want.
How many of us have closets that are packed full, yet still claim we don’t have anything to wear and still shop for more? When I say "shop", this includes thrift stores and yard sales. How often have we bought it just because it was a "GREAT DEAL"? Then within a year the item is in a bag to go to the thrift store again?
Most Americans are so materialistic and wasteful. Sometimes I wish we were back in the day where you had 1-2 outfits for the week and then your Sunday dress. WOW! Wouldn’t that cut back on our expenses and TIME? Think of the time that is spent shopping for just the right outfit and then the time washing and drying all those outfits? And yes, I do have a closet full of nothing to wear too!
Oh, and what about nick knacks? A few pretty things that draw attention are so much better than a home full of distractions.
Our missionary friends to China once told us that giving up those "pretties" (nick knacks) was the first thing God had to deliver her from. It would be too much work to keep them dusted where they would be living and that her time would need to be spent in other ways. Oh, how wise!
Have you ever walked into a home that was fairly clutter free? Wasn’t it refreshing and inviting?
How many pairs of shoes do you or your children have? Could life be simpler with less?
Would you be less focused on self if you could be content with less? Could you use that time, energy and money in more productive ways?
When you buy something new does it replace an item you already have or is it just added to the closet?
Do you find ways to use items that can be reused for a different purpose? This is one reason why we love quilting!
What baby steps can you and your family make to be more resourceful with your time and money when it comes to owning stuff?
Are you teaching your children ways to be content with less?
I’d love to hear some ways you are keeping the clutter down at your home.
Topics: Homemaking, Resourcefulness | 4 Comments »
Comments (4)
This is something I am constantly “fretting” about. My boys all have birthdays coming up and I have some parents and inlaws who like to spoil. So hopefully soon we will be going through old things and de-cluttering. Thankfully I can be “meaner” to my mom and tell her if she must buy, that she can be nice and get them something more educational!
When my daughter was about 6-7 months old I started taking her down the toy isle at Wal-mart. I would pick up a toy and hand it to her and she would explore it. I would take it back and put it back on the shelf and walk on to the next thing that I thought she might like. I did this over and over again at each visit until my daughter was well over a year old. I always made her toy purchases when she wasn’t with me. If I found a toy I wanted her to have I would wait till I came back with out her, buy the toy and put it up. I had her Christmas bought well before Christmas and her birthday gifts as well. I even did this with her clothing and shoes. My point was to teach her that I bought what she needed at my convinience not her demands. Now she is 9 years old and I have ALWAYS enjoyed going off to run errands or buy what we needed with my daughter in tow because she learned early on that I never ever give in to begging and pleading or tantrums. She knows that she has and will have everything she needs to be healthy and decently clothed and a few little “extras” thrown in just because she doesn’t harrass me while we are out taking care of the family’s needs. If she does get a new garment or toy we always go through her things and “Free cylce” what she has out grown or no longer plays with. If is not in good condition we use the garments for sewing projects or for rags for when one of our many animals gives birth. Things are too costly to throw away when someone else would be pleased to have it or it could be used to bring comfort and warmth to an animal.
I love the toy isle idea Riley! I can’t wait to practice this with grandchildren one day!
)
I belive it’s the Amish who have a saying regarding clothing:
One to wash,
One to wear.
One for church,
and
One for a spare.
We were just approved for a house via Habitat for Humanity because of Rick’s disability. We have about one year, but I’m going to start NOW to pare down everyhing. It’s going to be a real job, but one that I’ll enjoy doing!
Blessings–
Dana