Okay, so you’ve watched Tidying Up, you’ve gotten inspired to purge and organize… but now what? What do you do with all this extra crap and what is the best way to get rid of it? How do you stay organized, especially when you have kiddos that keep needing clothes that fit and age appropriate toys? Watch the video below and find out my super simple secret.
I had a sweet insta-mom friend post a story a few weeks ago about how she has a hard time keeping up with the clothes her kids grow out of. She asked if the rest of us struggle with this as well, and to be honest, I had to answer no… but her post made me realize that there are probably some other parent’s out there that are on this struggle bus as well. So today I’m going to share with you my system for keeping up with my kids shtuff (it’s super easy).
1 – Buy storage bins
Buy a lot of them. If you watched the video you’ll see my garage is almost nothing but bins. I can see in them, I know what’s in them, and it helps me when I go to consign. Buy ones that are regularly in stock so if you need more you can go back and get the same size.
To note: You gotta pick your pony – Lowe’s, Home Depot, Target and Walmart all sell different sizes and brands. If you buy 10 bins from Target make sure you don’t also go to Walmart and try to buy the same gallon size… they will end up longer or taller than what you already have (believe me, I’ve tried). Also, measure your shelves before you go (or buy shelves that will fit your bins).
2 – Put bins in closets
You think I’m kidding… I’m not! Put one bin in each of your kids closets (sans lid), and while you’re at it, put one in yours too.
3 – Fill it up
This totally works. Any time my kids grow out of a piece of clothing or baby gear I throw it in the bin. It is now out of their drawer and I don’t have to keep reminding myself that it doesn’t fit. My kids know that once something is in the bin, it’s not to be touched. And now my six year old is at the age that he’s started throwing stuff in himself! The clothes are now sorted by age and season automatically, and if you plan to consign put them on a hanger before dropping them in. If you’re saving them for hand-me-downs, label the bin with the gender and size, put a lid on it and store it!
4 – Consign
So here is where you need to watch the video. I’m a habitual consigner. I’m now in my fourth year of doing this, and I seriously couldn’t imagine NOT doing it at this point. There are usually consignment sales in every major city twice a year – once around March/April for Spring/Summer clothes, and again in July/August for Fall/Winter. If there is a sale, that means they need consigners to sell their schtuff. The sale normally takes about 30% off the top, and the good ones donate their leftovers and profits to a local shelter or outreach. I usually wind up with about $400-$500 in profit after all is said and done.
Google consignment sales in your area and see what pops up, or use consignmentsalefinder.com and sign up to be notified of sales that are in your area (the good sales are usually listed). Most sales will have you register with myconsignmentmanager.com once you get a consignment number. From there you will have the ability to start entering your items, and transfer your items between sales. There’s way too much to explain here, so if you’re interested in consigning I’m going to ask you to watch the video.
5 – Be Intentional
You have to be intentional to keep this system working. Yes, it’s easy, but if you don’t make time to consign or put that bin in storage it’s just another pile of stuff in your house. Come up with a system to stay on top of things… maybe it’s 1 in – 1 out (meaning if you buy something, you get rid of something).
Also – shop these sales! If you’re going to contribute to them, it makes perfect sense to reduce your footprint and buy clothes for your kids while you’re there. I have saved literal thousands of dollars buying consigned clothes for my kids every season, and the best part is that when they’re this young – no one knows if they’re new or used.
Ya’ll this “bin system” changed my life. I went from digging through drawers for clothes that fit, to just tossing what they’ve outgrown into a bin, then storing or consigning when the bin was full or a sale was opening up. It’s so incredibly simple, that’s why it works. So, stop digging through drawers, make a Target run and done!
Links: Bins and Tagging Gun
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