ok now I feel really dumb, now that I noticed you all ARE reporting in here still. Sorry bout that!

I too decided this was the year to "get it together". I've let it slide far too long :( When I had my second son almost 6 years ago, life seemed to turn upside down. He had a double hernia operation at 4 months old so not sure if it contributed but he was extremely miserable for the first 4 months of life and he grew into a toddler with a very difficult personality (he's SO much better now). My personality wasn't able to cope very well with it. At some point during the difficult toddler years, we finished our basement. Everything that was down there had to come upstairs very quickly. Some of them boxes that hadn't been opened since we moved here several years prior. I'm sure I fell into some kind of depression. What I learned from Hoarders is that I think we do develop a sort of "clutter blindness". It's how we can survive living with stuff everywhere. I'm certainly not a level "5" or anything but I had stuff piled up in places and I was able to just live around it (like it didn't exsist). I also came to realize I hadn't thrown anything away in my many years. I still had stuff from when I was a teenager. I used to work in the beauty business and had SO much stuff I had acquired for free that wasn't being used. We started a couple years ago with a huge garage sale (sold $1,000). I had another one last spring (sold $500) but I still had stuff everywhere in certain spots. I'm keeping only certain things from my kids for the future. Who even knows if they'll need them? I kept a few special books and some special toys (like Playmobil) and that's it. I've stored them properly away and we'll see what happens with them. We save artwork for a year and then we go through it and pick only a special few pieces which I then store in special boxes I created for them. Like this one: http://iheartorganizing.blogspot.com/2010/11/school-paperwork-storage.html My Mom and I made a pact that this year we were going to get organized and help each other achieve it. That's been the best decision ever! It's so much better doing these projects with help. An outside eye that can help you make decisions and move forward. We tackled my lower landing which had become a catch all for stuff and my basement laundry room. My laundry room was new as part of our basement refinish and it's very large. It has a huge table in the middle on castors (ala Martha Stewart) and the kids and I can do crafts here, I wrap gifts here and fold laundry. It too had "caught" stuff and wasn't being utilized as I had intended. Anywho ... two full days of purging and cleaning ... one car load of stuff taken away to charity ... and they both look wonderful! I still have a few items in the laundry room that have significant value so I'm taking them to consignment this week and I have some laundry to work through. When we built the room, I had it wired for a wall mount tv so I'm finally going to get that set up. I'm excited about the possibilities now! I lie in bed at night thinking of what the next project will be. I have hope that finally this house will get in order. I think I may take your advice and hire a cleaning lady to keep things clean while I focus on getting things in order. Even if I just do it for this year, I think it would help a lot. I'm excited for my kids. I want them to grow up in organization and know how to do it for themselves when the time comes. I really think for some (like me) it's a skill you need to learn. It doesn't come naturally. I'll keep checking in to see how you're doing as I keep forging forward myself. My next project is at my mom's house. We are tackling her kitchen. She's already been out and bought some Oxo containers for her pantry and some other handy organizing pieces. We're going to whip her kitchen into shape! Best of luck! Looking forward to hearing how you accomplish your goals.

Thank you for a warm welcome! I hope to post pics soon. I have been quilting 6+ years and have done paper piecing, patchwork, applique (fusible, machine and hand) and a little free form with embellishing. I'm really a generalist- purses, totes, wall hangings, lap and bed size, table runners, etc. Current WIPS are bed quilt, purse and two stuffed cats. Of course, a few UFO's are safe in boxes! I am excited to try new things and appreciate all the ideas that are put forth here. I quilt and sew for my own satisfaction, not for competition. You all are inspiring!

It's up to each person to find their level of "frugal" due to their circumstances. It's not a one-size-fits-all situation. The old "walk a mile in my shoes" kind of thing..... Read Brandy's story at theprudenthomemaker.com and you might change your words of condemnation to being thankful you've never had to live on so little, and be amazed at her resourcefulness. Since this is a Money Saving Tips board, and saving water is just one aspect of where we can save, here are more "A penny saved......" ideas. -Eat less-expensive food, or eat smaller portions of it. -Use disposable items less frequently, or not at all. -If you can't afford to pay cash for something, it really doesn't matter "how good of a deal" it is, especially if you purchase it with a credit card and end up paying interest on it. -Eat soup once a day as a main course. Eat vegetarian meals a few times a week. -Learn how to glean free-for-the-picking food, and how to garden (even a small container garden can yield a lot of food). -Don't ever run to the store for one item. Learn how to adapt with a substitute. -Will half as much do? Use less than you think you need, or can you get more than one use out of something (two to three cups of tea from one tea bag). -Look for less-expensive options. Frugality is a vehicle for ingenuity and creativity. -Embrace a DIY lifestyle. -Find new uses for old items. -Use passive cooking methods (solar, thermal cooker and other thermal cooking methods like a homemade Wonder Oven or Haybox) and save on utilities. -If you don't particularly care for an inexpensive food, like oatmeal as a cooked cereal, find ways to fix it that you do like - make oatmeal into granola, bars, cookies, scones, pancakes..... As someone once said, "Frugal activity should ideally be: EFFECTIVE, EFFICIENT, and ENJOYABLE."