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How Much Is Enough? by Elisabeth Shake

Most articles on getting organized help you with what to do with all the stuff you already have. Here we will look at ways to cut clutter off at the front end. Sometimes we over-consume to fill a gap in our lives, sometimes it's because savvy marketers are paid big bucks to get us to "need" something new. I'll post weekly thoughts, ideas, motivation and support to help you learn about why, and in what areas, you over purchase, and help you look at consumption in new ways.

Latest Posts:


Classic Movie: Classic Message Yesterday I watched Cat on a Hot Tin Roof for the first time. The Paul Newman, Elizabeth Taylor version from 1958. I saw it on the guide, running at something like 2AM and set my DVR to record it. I love old movies and will do this when I notice one I haven't seen. I'm sitting there, taking it all in; getting so lost in the tense dialogue and the southern accents I can almost feel the humid air of the stormy summer night despite the snow falling outside my window. Then, in the slow building climax of the movie, I get completely distracted. Paul Newman's character has gone to the crowded cellar to find his dying father. A few minutes into this scene the father, says "You know... Read more... posted on: 1/27/2008 8:00:00 AM by Elisabeth Shake category: Clutter

Get that fresh spring feeling for the New Year without spending a fortune The Pottery Barn Spring Catalog arrived in my mailbox on December 31^st. In Chicago it was a few hours into a messy snow and just 10 days after the official start of winter and here comes this catalog with a beautiful spring like picture on the front with the headline "Bright, Bold COLOR". Oh, they're good. I mean, it's only December 31^st. They know that all around the country we are still cleaning up the remnants of a holiday season, with piles of empty boxes still under the tree or by the back door, a bag of returns by the front door, decorations half down and racing to get the red and green and the santas and snowmen (that made us feel all warm and fuzzy in late November) out of our sight because... Read more... posted on: 1/13/2008 8:00:00 AM by Elisabeth Shake category: Clutter

Organize Your Closet for Smarter Shopping There are several ways to organize a clothing closet. The most common is by type of garment; pants with pants, tops with tops, sweaters with sweaters. If you want to know more about how you wear your clothes and gain intelligence that will help you shop smart try this. Organize your closet by how you wear the item. Think about your life and the 3-4 main categories of clothes you need. For example, if you work in an office that's office casual but also see outside vendors or clients and dress differently on those occasions, that's 2 categories. The best way to jump into this is to go through your closet and just start making piles on the bed. For every item ask yourself, "When do I... Read more... posted on: 12/9/2007 8:00:00 AM by Elisabeth Shake category: Clutter

Doorbuster Madness It's almost here…the high holy day of over-consumption in America. The day after Thanksgiving shopping madness begins earlier than ever this year with some stores opening as early as 4AM. I sat down this morning with my cup of coffee and both Chicago newspapers to see what was what. The Sun Times was stuffed with 2.75 lbs of inserts from 31 stores all offering some version of Early Bird or Doorbuster savings. The Trib had even more; 38 advertisers weighing in at 3 lbs of special deals and encouraging phrases like "Hurry In! Only 5 hours to save!" As someone who has lined up in the dark in front of KB Toys for a razor scooter for my niece and waited in a 40 minute line to purchase... Read more... posted on: 11/22/2007 3:05:59 PM by Elisabeth Shake category: Clutter

You don't always need as much as you have the space for This morning I left my TV tuned to the Today Show on NBC when I went out. When I returned home, it had mysteriously changed itself to the Home Shopping Network. I might not have noticed if it wasn't a network I've watched only once in my entire life. As I looked at the screen I noticed that an icon appeared in the corner indicating that I could use my remote control to make a purchase. I checked it out and sure enough there's a new "interactive" program where I can click my remote and order with the push of a button. Clearly my satellite provider had programmed my TV to change to this channel as part of a new order system they set up with HSN. It really struck me. Today I'd... Read more... posted on: 11/18/2007 8:00:00 AM by Elisabeth Shake category: Clutter

The Dreaded Target Run Last spring I invited my friend Catie to lunch. Not an actual lunch, but one of our typical ways to spend an hour together. "Want to go to Target?" She declined because it was a tight month and she knew if she went, she would buy something she didn't need. I tried to bolster her resistance muscles: "C'mon now! Who's in charge – you or Target?" "Ah…" she replied, "When you put it that way….Target." I'd heard this before. Friends and clients express that they just can't go into a store like this without buying something they don't really need. Before becoming a professional organizer I was involved in a near love affair with Target. "They have EVERYTHING!"... Read more... posted on: 11/11/2007 8:00:00 AM by Elisabeth Shake category: Clutter

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About Elisabeth:

Elisabeth Shake is the owner of Yourganized, a professional organizing firm based in Chicago, IL.