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spring cleaning

5 Spring Cleaning Tips

Posted on March 25, 2021

Spring cleaning is a great way to clear your mind and bounce into a new season with a fresh start, but it can also be overwhelming. With these 5 tips, spring cleaning is easy breezy and you can avoid the irrefutable urge to pull your hair out while getting it done.

1. One Room at a Time

Declutter, clean, and organize one room at a time. Cleaning bits and pieces all over your house at once will make the hefty task of spring cleaning very overwhelming. You probably want to start with the rooms in your home that are going to be the toughest to organize. That way, it will get easier as you go.

2. Make a Schedule

You know when you say you’re going to do something and then the time comes and you think, “nope I’ll do that later.” It’s kind of like how having a personal trainer to guide you through a workout makes you way more motivated to finish versus doing it on your own. Make a spring cleaning schedule with the order of rooms you will be cleaning. Treat it like a checklist, and mark those rooms “done” as you go. It will make you feel a lot more accomplished when you do finish a room and keep you on track for the next task.

3. Declutter

Don’t just clean, dust, and reorganize your home. It’s important to go through junk drawers, clothes, and other storage spaces to get rid of anything that just doesn’t bring you joy anymore. While you are decluttering, think “when is the last time I used this?” If it’s been a while, it’s probably safe to get rid of. When it comes to clothing, if you haven’t worn it in the past year, it’s time to let it go.

After all, a cluttered home makes a cluttered mind.

Instead of just throwing those items in the trash, consider donating them to America’s Thrift Stores. By doing this, you help keep millions of pounds of donatable goods out of landfills. Plus, your donations benefit our local charity partners and their efforts to change the lives of those battling addiction and children with critical illnesses.
Find a Donation Location

4. Work from Top to Bottom

This is a crucial step in cleaning your home and making sure you are working smarter, not harder. Always work from the top of the room to the bottom to make sure you aren’t doubling your work. When you clean off a countertop then dust the top of a ceiling fan, you will have to go back and wipe that countertop down again. We want to be efficient with the way we clean!

5. Reward Yourself

Look, spring cleaning is no joke. It’s important to reward yourself for the hard work you have put in. You may want to reward yourself after each room you finish cleaning. Or you might spread out the task over a weekend and reward yourself at the end of each day with a yummy steak dinner, a massive dessert, and a date night with yourself and a good movie. Can you tell I’m hungry writing this?

Donate the Decluttered

After you have given yourself a pat on the back for spring cleaning, donate the items you decided to get rid of. Here are three ways to donate to America’s Thrift Stores.

Store Donation Centers

There are actually two places to donate at each America’s Thrift Stores. Drop off your donations at the drive-up donation center on the side of the store or at the Drop & Shop at the store’s entrance. After you drop off your donations, head inside to shop for new clothing for spring and summer.

Community Donation Bins

America’s Thrift Stores has thousands of donation bins in the five states we operate in, making it super convenient to find a bin near you. Just drive up and drop off!

Free Home Pickup

If you live in a city with an America’s Thrift Store and have more than two bags of donation goods, schedule a free home pickup with us. You can even leave your donations on your porch for a contactless home pickup. This is also a great option if you have large pieces of furniture you would like to donate.
Schedule a Home Pickup

Who Does it Benefit?

America’s Thrift Stores is a for-profit company that supports numerous children’s health and addiction recovery charities. A portion of our net profits is contributed to these regional and national charities when you make a donation at America’s Thrift Stores. This funding enables these organizations to carry out their charitable works.

For example, when you donate gently used household items to America’s Thrift Stores in Alabama, Make-A-Wish Alabama receives a monetary donation from us.

OUR LOCAL CHARITY PARTNERS

ALABAMA
Make-A-Wish Alabama

GEORGIA
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta

MISSISSIPPI
Home of Grace

LOUISIANA
Louisiana Adult and Teen Challenge

TENNESSEE
Adult and Teen Challenge MidSouth
Make-A-Wish Middle Tennessee

by Taylor Wagnon

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4 Valentine’s Day Gifts from the Heart

Posted on February 5, 2021

Whether your Valentine is your mom, friend, significant other, children, or all of the above, spend less this Valentine’s Day and give a gift with more sentiment. Here are 4 heartfelt gifts to show how much you adore them!

100 Things I Love About You

People love being told how much they are cared for. Come up with 100 things you love about your Valentine and write them on individual pieces of paper.

Once you have the hard part done, head to your nearest America’s Thrift Stores and find a pretty container to keep them in, like a jewelry box or vintage teapot. Encourage your Valentine to pull out a note every time they need to hear how much they are loved.

A Special Momento

Think of a special moment or experience you and your Valentine shared. Maybe it’s your first date with your significant other, or maybe it’s when your dad was your number one fan when you hit your first home run.

Find the menu from your first dinner date and frame it as a gift to your partner to keep that special memory forever. America’s Thrift Stores has tons of picture frames to choose from. 

Grab a pack of baseballs from our sports section, and write a note to your dad on the ball to tell him how much you appreciate his encouragement and for always being your number one fan!

Themed Gift Basket

Shop an assortment of inexpensive baskets at our stores and create a themed gift basket. Fill the basket with some of their favorite things, like coffee mugs, books, knick-knacks, or craft supplies. We even have stuffed animals for Valentine’s Day!

Flowers Do the Trick

You can never go wrong with a bouquet of flowers for Valentine’s Day. Vases can easily reach upwards of $10 at the florist. You can find a unique vase at America’s Thrift Stores for just a couple bucks.

Your Valentine will definitely want to display that beautiful bouquet of love for weeks because you did such a wonderful job making them feel special this Valentine’s Day!

Find your America’s Thrift Store

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Back to School on a Budget

Posted on July 18, 2019

It’s hard to believe summer’s winding down already, but we’re just a few weeks out from the start of school here in the Southeast. That means it’s time for back-to-school shopping!

I’ve got two growing boys, both of whom will be in elementary school this year (first time in eight years with no day care bill!). If you have boys, you know they can be pretty rough on clothes, and they grow like weeds. That means I have to work at finding a balance between buying quality clothes that they won’t immediately rip holes in while also not spending a ton of money on something they will only wear a few times before the sleeves are too short.

Here are a few pointers I’ve picked up in my years as a boy mom that I hope will be helpful for you if you’re in the same boat:

Shop at the Thrift Store

Particularly if you live in or near a larger city, you will likely have a ton of options. There are 5 America’s Thrift Store locations in the Birmingham metro where I live!

If you haven’t done a ton of thrift store shopping, you might think that folks only discard their ratty old junk, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, I think some folks must be in the same boat we’re in, because on my last trip to the thrift store, I found a lot of really nice stuff that looked almost brand new (and a few things that still had the tags).

I’m talking Izod, Polo, Nautica — stuff that I honestly wouldn’t buy new for my kids but that I will happily spend $3-5 on at the thrift shop so they can have a nice option for picture day or fall events that might require dressing a little more nicely. (Not that there’s anything wrong with buying these things for your kids; it’s just not in my budget!)

I was able to pick up a good portion of both my kids’ fall wardrobes for right around $50 at America’s Thrift Store Huffman location.

Take advantage of tax-free weekend — EVEN at the Thrift Store!

Did you know that items covered under your local tax-free weekend are also tax-free at the thrift store? This honestly kind of blew my mind!

Tax-free weekend is coming up July 19-21 in Alabama, so it’s a great time to stock up on clothes and other back-to-school supplies for a little less. It may not seem like a lot, but it definitely adds up.

  • Tennessee July 26 – 28
  • Mississippi July 26 – 27
  • Georgia – Exempt
  • Louisiana – Exempt

You can find out when your state’s sales tax holiday is here.

Know what your kids will wear and what they won’t

There are few things more frustrating than popping the tags off a brand new clothing item only to have your child turn their nose up and refuse to wear it.

But I’ve found there’s usually a reason my kids don’t want to wear certain things. Last year, I found that Noah, my 8-year-old, didn’t want to wear jeans any more. I was absolutely baffled by this until we had a conversation. It turned out they were hard to move around in during P.E. and recess — and some of the kids in his class were making fun of him as a result.

In previous years, jeans have been a staple of his wardrobe, but this year, I’m not bothering to spend money on them. Instead, I looked for athletic shorts and pants that would be more comfortable plus a few sturdy pairs of cargos and corduroy pants that are less stiff than denim.

For Spenser, my 4-year-old, the one specific thing I kept in mind was finding pants he could put on by himself. That meant I could easily cross pants with buttons off the list.

Don’t stress!

Figure out your budget, figure out what you need and stick to it. Back-to-School shopping can feel overwhelming if you let it, but it can also be fun!

By Misty Matthews

Summer Staycation Hacks

Posted on July 8, 2019

Not everyone has the extra funds, the extra time or the extra patience to take a summer road trip or brave a long flight with small children. For these families, a staycation may be just the ticket for summer fun rather than summer stress.

Here are a few ideas for creating a fun experience for your family and still being able to sleep in your own bed each night.

Tour your town

Odds are, your town (or nearby cities) have some great attractions that are kid-friendly and inexpensive. I live in a suburb of Birmingham, Alabama, which means in the course of a week, I could take my kids to a minor league baseball game, the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, the McWane Science Center, and the Birmingham Zoo. Birmingham also has a lot of highly esteemed restaurants where we could take the kids — or get a sitter for the night for some adult time.

Go on a photo scavenger hunt

This is another great way to learn more about your town, whether you load up on bikes and scavenge your neighborhood or hop in the car to explore a wider area. This can also be sneakily educational if you come up with age-appropriate, learning-specific clues.

Find a new play spot

A new playground and splash pad just opened up in the suburb where we live, so that’s definitely on our list for this summer. From outdoor adventures on local trails to finding a new playground (because new is more fun, even if it has the same toys), there are lots of free options away from home to keep the kids entertained.

Invite friends over for water games

One of the summer activities my kids have loved the most so far this year was a makeshift slip-n-slide created from tarps and a sprinkler. Even if you just have a few water guns, water balloons or a plain, ol’ water hose, put the kids in their swimsuits, slather on some sunscreen and cut them loose!

Try some new recipes

Cooking together is a great family activity, so bust out the mixing bowls and cupcake tins for some summer treats. Another great option? Throw together a fun summer drink that will refresh the kids when they’ve been running around in the yard — but that can also be upgraded to an adult beverage for after the little ones are in bed.

Schedule some quiet time

One of the great things about a staycation is that it allows you to keep a little bit of your normal routine in the mix. Amid all the fun in the sun, schedule in some time for you and your little ones to rest. Grab a new book or two for everyone, and relax in your own home.

Written by Misty Matthews

A Perfect Dessert for a July 4th Cookout

Posted on July 1, 2019

The 4th of July is right around the corner, and that means it’s time to celebrate our freedom with family, fun in the sun and lots of food!

In our household, my husband is definitely the grillmaster, while my favorite thing to contribute is a dessert. This Independence Day, I’m whipping up an old favorite recipe from my mom that I wanted to share with you all, too!

Nana’s Million Dollar Pound Cake

Adapted from Southern Living

Ingredients:

1 pound (4 sticks) of unsalted butter, softened

3 cups white sugar

6 large eggs

4 cups all-purpose flour

¾ cup whole milk

1 tsp almond extract

1 tsp vanilla extract

Vegetable shortening (for greasing your pan)

Instructions:

Make sure you let your butter thoroughly soften! That means you need to set it out well in advance of when you plan to actually start making the cake. This is a step I always forget until it’s time to cook, and I can definitely attest to the fact that microwaving the butter is NOT a good shortcut, especially for a pound cake recipe.

I’d also go ahead and grease the pan you plan to bake the cake in (a 10-inch tube pan is the best, though a bundt pan typically will work, too) thoroughly with vegetable shortening before you get started. If you accidentally miss this step at the end, you’ll have a mess on your hands instead of a cake.

Once your butter is softened, beat it at a medium speed with a hand or stand mixer until it’s creamy. Slowly mix in the sugar until the mixture is nice and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time and mix until the yolk disappears.

Turn your mixer down to low and begin alternately adding flour and milk, starting and ending with flour. Mix these until the batter is smooth; if your batter still has a few lumps, try stirring it gently with a rubber spatula. Finally, stir in the almond and vanilla extract.

At this point, you can go ahead and preheat your oven to 300F while you pour the batter into your already greased pan. Bake the cake for about 100 minutes, or until a long toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Important: Let the cake cool in the pan on a wire rack for at least 10 minutes. Very carefully remove it from the pan onto the wire rack and let it cool the rest of the way before decorating or serving.

You can make Nana’s Million Dollar Pound Cake a perfect 4th of July treat by serving with a side of vanilla ice cream, blueberries and strawberries.

Hope you all have a safe and happy holiday!

Written by Misty Matthews

A Thrift Inspired Father’s Day

Posted on June 13, 2019

Bobby and I agreed after we had kids that we’d go modest on a lot of the “non-major” holidays that traditionally require gifts, and it’s worked well for us. So when I started thinking about Father’s Day gifts, I had thrift on the brain — while also considering what he would like and what might be a meaningful present to him from our kids.

Bobby’s a great dad, and he does so much for our family, so I definitely would never let the day pass without celebrating him. Here are a few of the ideas I had that you can draw inspiration from to celebrate the dads in your life!

The gift of time

This is honestly something Bobby and I are very intentional about giving each other, but we both make a special effort around Mother’s and Father’s Day. That means I will likely take the kids out for breakfast on Father’s Day so Bobby can sleep in and wake up to donuts and coffee from our favorite local spot. I’ll also try to make sure he has free time to do things he enjoys, like having a cigar or finding a quiet spot to read a book.

Hit the thrift shop

America’s Thrift Stores has lots of affordable options that are good for Father’s Day. Although, it is important to know if the dads in your life will be cool with gifts that may be secondhand. Since I know Bobby wouldn’t mind a component of his Father’s Day present is coming from the thrift shop. I went in search of some of his favorite things and found a Bama T-shirt and hat, plus a book from one of his favorite authors. While I was there, I saw plenty of other great options for dads, including coffee mugs, ties, socks (new!), a variety of golf clubs and other collectable items.

Handmade gifts can be really meaningful

This one can depend somewhat on the age of your kids, but it’s always great to get them involved with putting together a Father’s Day gift for their dad or granddad. One cute and easy way to get them involved is having them fill out an “All About Daddy” sheet and framing it. There are lots of options out there, but here’s a cute one I liked. Plus you can score and really nice frame at the thrift store for as little as 99¢! Another option would be custom artwork created by the kiddos, especially for Dad.

Photo gifts that can be updated annually

Kids grow fast, so this can be a fun and special annual gift, whether you pick a simple framed photo or order a specialty gift. There are lots of websites out there that will add photos to almost any item, including coffee mugs, mouse pads, magnets and more. You can also have your kids post with printed or handmade signs — maybe “We love our Daddy” or “Happy Father’s Day 2019.”

No matter what gift you pick (or if you choose not to do gifts on Father’s Day), this time of year is a great time to show appreciation for the dads in your life!

Written by Misty Matthews

Tips to Save Time and Money on Your Summer Roadtrip

Posted on May 28, 2019

School’s out, and that means it’s time for everyone’s favorite summer activity: Road trips!

The idea of packing your car to the max and driving for eight hours with your partner and kids may immediately send you into a panic (especially if you have bad memories of your own family road trips), but it doesn’t have to! A little preparation and the right attitude can go a long way toward making your next family road trip a great memory for you and your kids.

Here are a few tips I’ve found useful for better family road trips:

Buy lots of books and art supplies

This is one of my new favorite road trip tips. During my most recent America’s Thrift Store shopping trip, I discovered bundles of kids’ books and art supplies in the Value Grab Bag section of the store. I grabbed two bundles of books (one for each of my boys), a bundle of art supplies that had colored pencils and crayons and a plastic pencil box to keep them contained. I also grabbed a couple of “How to draw” books — bugs and animals.

Noah and Spenser loved having new books to read on our recent road trip, they were able to swap when they were done, and when they got tired of reading they colored and drew. I spent less than $10, and it kept them occupied for an entire 3-hour road trip to visit family (and the entire way back).

Pack snacks (but make it more fun with mini snacks)

If you’ve been a parent for any length of time at all, this one’s a no-brainer. Gas station snacks are a fun treat on a road trip, but they also can get pricey fast.

But here’s a fun trick I saw recently: Instead of just tossing some applesauce and crackers in a bag, consider packing mini snacks. Grab a plastic container with a lot of small compartments (fishing lure holders are good for this) and put a different snack in each one (goldfish crackers, M&Ms, raisins, mini marshmallows, etc.). Then let your kids take turns picking out their snacks!

Put together an emergency road trip kit

If you’re a veteran family road-tripper, you know there’s lots of stuff that can happen on the road. While you can’t be prepared for everything, you can be well-stocked in case of spilled drinks in the car or scraped knees during a pitstop (this is in addition to whatever roadside emergency kit you likely already carry).

Put together a simple kit with things like wet wipes, Boogie Wipes (because three hours of whining about a runny nose will ruin anybody’s trip), Kleenex, napkins, bandages of various sizes, sunscreen, and basically anything else you can think of that you might need.

Find and plan fun places to stop

You’ve got kids. They have small bladders. You are going to need to stop.

So if you have to stop anyway, why not make it fun? Find quirky attractions that are on or near your route. If there’s a national monument or park a few miles out of the way, run by and snap a few pictures. Even if you just find a really awesome rest area (seriously, there are some good ones, with playgrounds), make each stop a little extra special, because they will help give your kids and you more happy memories of these trips and hopefully less whining and bickering in the backseat.

Don’t stress over your schedule

This goes along with the previous tip. Plan enough time into your trip that you don’t have to stress over every second and every mile. If you have a specific time you have to arrive (say, for a wedding), then plan twice as much time as you think you’ll need. If you don’t have a specific time, then do your best to stave off those feelings of FOMO about your final destination and enjoy the journey.

Written by Misty Matthews

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, THRIFT!

Posted on April 11, 2019

One of the greatest lessons we can take away from Earth Day is the potential for humans to have an incredibly positive effect on the environment. The theme for Earth Day 2019 is “Protect Our Species,” and that’s a great reminder that all living things have value, and each one has a unique role on this planet.

More than 1 billion people across 192 countries will celebrate Earth Day on April 22, and America’s Thrift Stores is proud to be among those celebrants.

Our entire business model dovetails with the ideals of Earth Day, as we help our customers reduce, re-use, and re-purpose gently used items. Using resources like America’s Thrift Store is a great way to keep items out of our landfills. With the help of our customers, we were able to keep over 21.3 million pounds of textiles–clothing, tools, electronics, etc.–out of our local landfills, as well as recycling 725,205 pounds of paper and cardboard.

Every little bit of recycling we do helps our environment!

This month, to celebrate Earth Day, we’re hosting a Up + Recycle Donation Drive, Saturday, April 27 for items that can be re-purpose and re-use. Making a donation is simple, and can be done in several different ways: You can call to request a FREE pickup, drop off your donations at one of our stores or community donation centers, or find one of our convenient donation bins.

So what kinds of items are we looking for when it comes to donations?

It’s pretty easy, really: Here’s a quick list of donations America’s Thrift Stores accept:

CLOTHING

  • Men’s, Women’s, Children’s Clothing
  • Men’s, Women’s, Children’s Shoes
  • Nylons, Socks, Underwear
  • Accessories such as: Hats, Mittens, Scarves, Ties, Purses, Wallets, Fanny Packs, Bags

HOUSEHOLD ITEMS

  • Bed sheets, blankets, pillows, curtains, tablecloths, and similar items
  • Bath towels, hand towels, wash clothes, bath rugs
  • Sports equipment, exercise equipment, bicycles
  • Kitchen Ware such as pots, pans, utensils, china, vases, dishes, cutlery, glassware, silverware
  • Small electrical appliances such as power tools, irons, blenders, mixers, stereos, CD players, speakers, DVD players & VCRs, lamps, fans, humidifiers
  • Miscellaneous Items such as jewelry, crafts, mugs, candles, pictures/frames, baskets, ornaments, hand tools

FURNITURE

  • Chairs, sofas, couches, loveseats, recliners, foot stools, storage dressers, armoire, bookcase, cabinets, entertainment centers, dining tables, kitchen tables, coffee tables, end tables, computer tables, night stands, patio sets

VEHICLES

  • Cars, trucks and RV’s (must be able to drive it to the store / do not call for home pick up)

ENTERTAINMENT

  • Hardback and paper books
  • Magazines
  • Records, tapes, CDs
  • Videos, DVDs, Blu-rays
  • Toys, games, and puzzles

Sadly, we do draw the line at some items. Here’s a list of donations we cannot accept:

  • Mattresses/box springs for sanitary reasons
  • Hazardous waste/materials
  • Pepper spray/mace
  • Used children’s car seats
  • Used major appliances
  • Mini-fridges
  • PC’s / Computers / Printers
  • Box TVs (tube, cabinet, console). We will only accept flat monitor style that can be easily mounted on a wall.
  • Construction remains (i.e. carpet scraps, boards with nails, etc.)
  • Items recalled by the CPSC
  • Liquids
  • Firearms, stun guns and firearms accessories

We hope to you at our Earth Day Celebration, Saturday, April 27th!

Written by Misty Matthews

Change of Seasons Calls for a Change of Wardrobe

Posted on March 14, 2019

A bit of good news: Spring is almost here!

It’s hard to believe, I know–this Winter has been so wet and dreary that my husband and I started talking about building an ark in the backyard–but temperatures are about to rise, the birds are about to return, and that means it’s time to give some thought to your Spring wardrobe.

Like every year, page after page of women’s magazines will be devoted to Spring fashion. But–spoiler alert–a lot of Spring clothing is timeless. Look, I just saved you $5.99 on a magazine at the supermarket checkout.

* Rainbow City, AL location.

You don’t have to break the bank to find excellent new fashions. Shop smart and thrifty, and you’re likely to find a great combination of classic and trendy pieces with the chance to incorporate your own personal style.

Finding the right wardrobe for you

I live in the deep South, so bold florals are almost always a winner. With the wide range of temperatures on any given spring day, you should look for items that can transition from cool mornings to warm days and back to chilly evenings. Maxi skirts and dresses are always a good choice, and it’s easy to layer over them with a light sweater or a cute blazer.

Another fun thing you can do? Accessorize.

A light Spring scarf, a floppy, oversized hat, or a chunky necklace can take you from basic to stunning with very little effort. Shoes are another great option for pumping up your spring style — look for cute wedges, espadrilles and strappy sandals, plus flats or basic tennis shoes for a more dressed-down look.

Shop for the rest of the family, too

You don’t have to limit your inner fashionista to your own clothes: Pick up a few new items for the husband and kids, too.

Pastel polo shirts and comfortable chinos (long pants and shorts) will be a hit for the men and boys in your life. If your dudes are a little more adventurous, scope out seersucker items for a refined Southern look. Looking for your men to be a little more formal? Find a good quality blazer or light sports coat.

For your little girls, look for sundresses, smocked dresses and bubbles. Or if you have a tomboy, Bermuda shorts and T-shirts can be a good option!

Make thrifting a family activity

Thrifting for a new wardrobe can be a fun activity for the whole family; you can treat every trip as a ‘dress-up’ day and find what works best for each of you. And don’t forget what “building a wardrobe” can really mean for you and your family members: it’s about putting multiple pieces of clothing together that can be mixed and matched in a way that seems as fresh as the season.

And while you should be building a wardrobe with basics that can last for a few years–depending on how often you wear them–the nice thing is that you’re not going to spend a small fortune on an item you’ll only wear once or twice.

If you’re looking for a piece that’s trendy right now, well, you might not want to pay full price in case that trend is over quickly. Why pay retail when you don’t have to? Shop THRIFT! The key is to look for quality items with the seams in good shape and made from quality materials that last longer.

P.S. It’s highly likely that you’ve got something in your closet that might be perfect for someone else this Spring season. Donate your old or outgrown spring apparel to make room for new!

 

Written by Misty Matthews 

Five Tidy Lessons from Marie Kondo

Posted on February 21, 2019

I will admit to being skeptical about the Konmari method, especially after seeing countless memes about how ridiculous it is (“You want me to only keep 30 books? I have that many on my nightstand!”).

Thankfully, Netflix gave me a method to learn more about Marie Kondo’s method without having to commit to a whole book. It’s pretty easy for me to watch while I work out, so I figured, why not?

Ultimately, I’m glad I gave it a chance. I’m still not really 100% sold on Konmari, but I did feel like I learned some valuable lessons from watching.

 

Lesson 1: My family is NORMAL

It was a relief to realize that my family isn’t the only one that struggles to keep everything in order. The first episode in particular (about a family with two young children) really connected with me. I really liked Marie’s lesson to try to include the children in cleaning activities and make them fun. One of the chores my kids already enjoy doing around our house is picking up laundry, because we make a game out of it (“Laundryball” — it involves launching clothes toward the laundry basket down the stairs, and it’s a blast). There’s definitely more opportunities for us to teach our kids responsibility while making it enjoyable for the whole family and taking a little bit of pressure off my husband and me.

Lesson 2: A tidy house won’t happen overnight

Even the families that Marie Kondo (and her translator Iida) came to help had to invest some serious time to get their homes in better order. It seemed that most of the families committed about 30 days to complete the steps needed to organize their home, and the bulk of this time was without Marie present. This makes me realize that, even though it will take a time commitment, getting my home organized really is something that’s possible for our family.

Lesson 3: We have too much stuff

Our family is fortunate to have more than we need. In our case, I truly think it’s a symptom of my husband and me having grown up in families that sometimes struggled with their finances. We aren’t wealthy by any means now, but we are comfortable enough to have disposable income, and we also have generous friends and family members. We have a lot of items that are functional but that we don’t necessarily love. Our mission moving forward will not only to be removing items we don’t love from our home but also not simply replacing them with a bunch of other stuff. Even if it means having less or needing to save to buy something a little nicer, we are committing to investing in things that give us joy.

Lesson 4: Tidying up gives us room to be generous

As we work to clean out items we no longer want or need, we plan to donate those items, because it’s likely someone else will need them or want them. America’s Thrift Stores makes it really easy to do this, because you can schedule a time for them to come to your house and pick up donations for FREE.

Lesson 5: Our home is meant to be a place of joy

My favorite thing about Marie Kondo is that she really doesn’t force anyone to do anything. She simply provides a framework for tidying (keep things that spark joy, everything has a place and find storage solutions that make sense for your space) and lets the people do the rest. She encourages people to find ways to enjoy and cherish their sentimental items rather than boxing them up and sticking them in a corner. She helps them make their small spaces functional and enjoyable. She also helps couples find more time for each other because they no longer have to spend hours upon hours stressing over housework.

Altogether, I really did enjoy Tidying Up. I don’t think it’s an all-inclusive solution, and it’s probably not for everyone, but it had useful lessons that apply to most homes!

Written by Misty Matthews

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