TINA'S INHERITED CLUTTER

Them all!

Ten years ago I moved home to have more space, thinking my problem wasn't the clutter but not enough space.

Then, when I wasn't able to afford to move to a bigger home for a second time, I became a storage solution Queen.

I also considered paying for self-storage, and I'd had friends and family to help and that had just led to me not talking to them for a while.

​Then a couple of years ago I got someone in who said they could help me declutter.

Actually, I realised that having someone in my home for a day, at great expense, was actually not helping me make decisions - instead it felt like I was being pressured to make decisions I wasn't ready to make and it was extremely stressful.

So all it did was put me off dealing with my clutter for even longer because I was worried I would have the same experience.

Them all!

Ten years ago I moved home to have more space, thinking my problem wasn't the clutter but not enough space.

Then, when I wasn't able to afford to move to a bigger home for a second time, I became a storage solution Queen.

I also considered paying for self-storage, and I'd had friends and family to help and that had just led to me not talking to them for a while.

​Then a couple of years ago I got someone in who said they could help me declutter.

Actually, I realised that having someone in my home for a day, at great expense, was actually not helping me make decisions - instead it felt like I was being pressured to make decisions I wasn't ready to make and it was extremely stressful.

So all it did was put me off dealing with my clutter for even longer because I was worried I would have the same experience.

I didn't want to have any help in my home because I knew from having had someone come to my home already that it wouldn't work.

So when I saw that I could do the 7 Step Journey without coming to my home I thought that would be great, especially as I live in America and Clare's in England!

I like to think I'm intelligent - I have a Masters degree after all - so I liked the fact that Clare gives you the theory and exercises each week, and all you have to do is follow it step by step with her as your guide.

The comfort of knowing there's the Social Gathering, LIVE Q&A and VIP Circle on Facebook is great.

She always manages to calm me down and reduce the stress levels.

And as for making me focus on the positives rather than the negatives going round in my head - well, that's the only reason why I haven't given up again.

She makes sure I've got it all in perspective.

The simplicity of it all.

I was impatient in Step 1 to get working on the Clutter, but when I got to Step 2, 3 and 4 I realised how important it was NOT to work on the clutter in Step 1.

It's not rocket science, it's making the time and committing to the journey.

I've had my clutter for so long that it doesn't actually matter if I have it for a bit longer because ultimately I know I'm getting closer to the end with every Clutter Clearing Session I do with Clare, and it doesn't dominate my life any more.

I know every day I'm breaking my old bad habits.

So I'm surprised that I can actually keep my rooms clear.

I'm on my third room, and the first 2 are still clear which has never happened before. I know where things are in those rooms and I can find them quickly and easily.

I guess the biggest surprise is the amount of money I'm actually saving by getting help with Clare.

It was a struggle to stop the impulse buys - the stores are all so temping with their stuff! - but I've resisted and having more money in my purse feels so good.

It reminds me I'm in control when I have more money left at the end of the month, even after Clare's help.

​Slowly but surely I'm doing what I haven't done before - clearing my clutter and keeping it clear.

When I did my first shopping challenge session with Clare inStep 1.

Having to do the stock take and go through my kitchen cupboards made me realise just how much out-of-date food I had in the cupboards and freezer that could go out of my home.

I literally made more space in my kitchen in that first session!

I actually started to look forward to doing my weekly shopping challenge because I knew I would be clearing more clutter and making more space without having to make difficult decisions.

It's true what they say - you can't make an omelette without cracking a few eggs.

​It's frustrating that it takes so much time to clear it, but at the same time at least I'm clearing it this time instead of just moving it like I have before.

​I've also learnt that as Clare says - it's not always the size of what you go through but the significance.

I used to try and find homes for everything before, see where I could put it.

I now know it's more important to get things off the conveyor belt and that doesn't have to be throwing it away.

 I've given a lot of stuff to community projects - furniture, clothes, kitchen equipment that I don't use - so I feel like I'm giving a gift to someone who needs it without having to spend any of my money!

Now when I get charity things through the door, instead of throwing them away because I don't want to give money, I contact them to see what stuff I can give them so they can benefit from using them.

Guilt free TV!

I'm planning a Clutter Free party with my friends when it's all done because they haven't been invited round to my place in years.

I can't wait to see the look on their faces when I show them the before photos.

They stopped coming round before it got to it's worst.

Do it.

Start your journey. You only need to commit to the first step.

If you don't you know you'll just put it off for another few years, just like I did.

You'll spend more money on stuff that will never get used, you'll buy more useless storage, and you'll have more blitz's that you'll regret.

So stop procrastinating and get started NOW!