Beware the Pile!

Control. According to Webster, control is a transitive verb defined as: to exercise restraining or directing influence over : regulate b : to have power over : rule c : to reduce the incidence or severity of especially to innocuous levels

This blog has been about getting personal finances under control, but really any venture with a targeted goal needs to have controls in place.

One must understand if events or situations are within a certain tolerance to know whether or not the result will be successfully achieved or if behaviors need to be modified along the way.

Right now, for example, our laundry is out of control! But our finances are finally getting in control.

One of the biggest problems I have with our house is the tendency to collect clutter. Our reluctance to donate toys, get rid of outdated electronics, etc. has created clutter, which most often manifests itself in my house as piles of stuff. I think we may hang on to a bit of the psychology that suggests that our “stuff” defines us. The reality of the piles is that, instead of creating a sense of purpose by reminding us of all the “stuff” we’ve collected; the piles actually create anxiety by reminding us of all the “things” we have to do!

We need to bring how we manage our daily tasks, under control.

But beginning just before Christmas, we started to really de-clutter. I had notebooks full of project management material that was over ten years old that I haven’t cracked open in nine years. Gone. I had a palm pilot that I haven’t used in twelve years (and I never really used it in the first place). Gone. My personal office was full of “to do” piles. Gone.

We made about three trips to the Goodwill last year which is a definite improvement, but I want to consider making that a monthly family field trip – not to shop, but to donate.

It’s a new year, and to spin an old saying, “out with the old, not necessarily in with anything else for a while.” Be it bills, mail, laundry, or dishes, I want no piles in my house…unless of course it’s cash ;-)