This post is Part 4 of ‘An Organised Home’.

9.  Streamline organisational tools and boxes

I use the same organisation system throughout my home…

i. Binder Clips

ii. Same-sized Storage Boxes

iii. Clear Pockets

Clear pockets stretch the dollar compared to clear holders; order of pages can be easily changed and the quantity is easily customised

They have saved a bundle for me over the long run.

Invest in some storage boxes and receptacles after surveying and measuring your available empty spaces, may it be in your cabinets or inside your fridge

Of course, it’s easier if you are in a new home and therefore can anticipate using similar-sized storage containers and prepare the renovations for that 🙂

If in doubt, just recycle and reuse the boxes of some consumer items your purchases come in for the time being. Oftentimes, the cheapskate I like to gain that ‘win-win’ situation by buying a supermarket food item so that I can reuse their empty receptacles once we finish eating out their contents:) I especially love those square ice cream tubs that sell at NTUC Fairprice.

Also, go for transparent receptacles whenever possible – it’s so much easier to ‘see what’s inside’ or know if it’s half full or filled to the brim…

Lastly, ziplock bags are a godsend..because of their soft sides and transparency..a very flexible storage receptacle 🙂

10.  Establish the  ‘One-In, One-Out’ rule

Our family adheres to this a lot to keep our material possessions at bay.

Eg. If someone gives my children a stuffed toy, then a stuffed toy from their ‘collection’ has to go. If a brand new pair of shoes is bought, one other pair is disposed of or donated.

This rule has a few advantages.

It has influenced our consumer buying habits and makes us think twice before buying something. Through such a rule, the children learn to prioritise their wants and conclude if an item is a need or a want.

In association with this rule, we also teach the adage to our children ‘Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without’.

This also impressed upon them that they are not defined by what they own.

I think these frugal sayings are really financial intelligence teachings at its best 🙂

Update:

Just 2 weeks ago, my teenage daughters had to ‘purge’ their wardrobe and tidy up their belongings. Naturally, they had to apply ‘TKDS’. Some items were harder to ‘let go’ so on the spur of moment, deciding it as an experiment (the Marie Kondo way) I suggested they ‘thank the item’ for the great service it had performed for them but now they had to ‘say good-bye’. Of course, my suggestion was greeted with scepticism but they tried it anyway; I suggested it because when one is on the ‘tidying’ journey, every little way one tries does accumulate to greater wisdom of what works for oneself 🙂

In conclusion…

Writing these tips had been challenging because so many of these practices had become second nature over the years

However, I believe these tips do provide for a happy home

The children also learn life skills such as housekeeping and money skills such as budgeting and cutting expenses.

The atmosphere at home is serene because ‘minimalism’ is practised and ‘material things are in their place’. Everyone is contributing to a ‘shared space’.

Most definitely, over the years, these HABITS have contributed to a healthy bank balance and increased savings.