I know that there are some of you who have no option but to have things in your MB that maybe don't belong there due to limited storage. For those of you who have a choice...

Is your Master Bedroom peaceful, clean and clutter free? If not, why not? The most important thing you can give yourself a a restful, soothing night's sleep. Having clutter in your bedroom is fighting against that.

What do you have in your MB that really shouldn't be there? Kid's toys? Stuff you don't know what else to do with?

When was the last time you gave the MB a good thorough, deep clean and got rid of all the dust, pet hair and debris?

Time for Spring Cleaning, how about starting with the most important room in your house?!

My bedroom is due for a redo. I am reluctant to replace the bedding because of my cat. I have spots on my current comforter that will not come out. I can't banish her from the room because her litter box is in the dressing area.

The room could use a good cleaning. I might have to see about getting some help to move a couple of pieces of funiture, as DH can't do that anymore.

I have too many clothes - ones I don't even wear anymore due to a change in lifestyle - and yet I find it difficult to let them go. We have too many old clothes and I'd like to get rid of them and just have the (nice) things that I wear all the time.

I'm asthmatic, so I do try and keep on top of any dust in the bedroom. But there are a lot of clean clothes that need to be ironed and put away (and there would obviously be more space if I dumped the business suits I haven't worn for years!) so I need to work on that.

VH,
What would it take for you to let the business suits go? What stops you? If you haven't worn them for years, chances are if you get another job in the business world, they might be out of style. Here in the US, there are places that accept business clothes to help women who are getting back in the workforce.

Anyone else? Lots of views and no participation...love to hear from you.

I have been working on this for a while. I have another donation bag filled, but my main goal is to keep my drawers by the bed clutter free. I plan to do some work in this room this weekend. Wish me luck I think I will need it

I am actually pretty pleased with my bedroom. Hardwood floors, tossed the rug runners from around the bed and just basic furniture in there....bed 2 metal nite stands with lamps, an armoire and my jewelry armoire(which I am looking at downsizing)

Have had trhe same color scheme for 4 years since I bought the house and am thinking about new colors when I have the use of my hand again.(Current color is soft yellow with burgundy accent wall and not sure what i want now) The only thing I really need to do in there right now is spring cleaning of windows (but the wholw house needs that too)

I appreciated the suggestions of GONers who discussed details of how they created a Master Bedroom sanctuary only holding items that made them happy. I'm grateful our MBrm is an uncluttered, peaceful, adult haven having finally returned home [18 hr. flight including stopovers] very ill with Pleurisy. The prescriptions and OTC meds help but the side effects cause me to fall asleep...even sitting in a chair. The fluffy, winter, down duvet is comforting and the suede type duvet cover feels cozy. [I needn't worry about spilling cough syrup or water as it washes easily]. While the weather here is pleasant, I'll change out decor for spring pastels and sheers at the end of April when weather in our region is more stable.

Our side tables only hold the items we need like clock radio, tissue and water jug. I use swing wall lamps to control lighting.

DH has kindly unpacked, luggage to garage storage, professional materials to the office and the baskets of laundry to the washer.

welcome home,cyd!!

mary

Hope you will soon be in good health, Cyd. That must have been a pretty grim journey, and I bet you were never more happy to get into your own home!

Cyd
So sorry to hear you are ill. Welcome home and take care.
((((HUGS)))))).

Cyd, hope you are on the mend quickly.

Okay, I don't know if this is allowed or not, but I just took a video of my messy master bedroom. And I would like to share it with you. I am open to anything. I need help with it. I need ideas to make it useful and purposeful. I also need it to be a relaxing place and a study place, which I don't have.

I have very little money to do anything to it. I do have pictures to hang up to decorate it. So here is the link to my very own messy room in need of organizing video, and sorry I was a bit winded when I recorded it and I was in a hurry.

http://youtu.be/7fa7cBIZ5WA

Please copy and paste it into your browser in a new window to view it. I really need lots of input. This room is a library, with a part of a bed, my necessary equipment, and its also a place to watch tv and for me to prop up my swelling leg everyday. So I can't get rid of the chair.

I have the tv in one spot until the tv service ends soon, and the antenna only works in that particular window. I don't know what to do. I know I need a place to put all of the extra papers and junk.

I can't store them upstairs in our loft because it is not finished yet and its hard for me to go up and down the stairs. On top of all of that, the loft is either too hot or too cold and there's no air conditioning up there and no heat and there are silver fish up there and other creepy crawly things.

There are five of us living in this house and only 3 bedrooms and one bathroom. Our laundry room is in the kitchen and our dining room is in our living room and every room is full and every room is like a multipurpose room.

It all has to make do though until I start working again when I complete school, which is next winter. So please help me find a way to organize all of that stuff and find a way to put everything in manageable zones. I am open to anything.

You have a lot of things in there, but the"alikes" are all together, which is a good thing.

So is there a basement in the house or a garage? If not, then that wouldn't help what I was going to suggest, which would be to move the books, out. Now, we can work with you....don'tfeel overwhelmed, one baby step at a time. How about starting with the shredding....do that first, and then get that out of the room. Next The areas that have the file cabinet and bins, could you cover them with a blanket or drape, if you don't use them that often. I will watch it again, and write down any ideas I have, but of course, am leaving for a mini trip on Sat
So we can continue to work, the ladies have excellent ides ALL the time.....Let me hear your input also on my suggestions.

What a brilliant idea to share the video. You seem to have some good stuff in there for storage. I agree with Diana, don't feel overwhelmed, and do get anything done, like the shredding, that can be done.

Take a deep breath when you feel anxious and remember, we all go through this at times with particular spaces in our homes. I'm looking forward to hearing what the more expert GONers come up with! I'll take another look at the video, too, and see if I get any ideas.

Well,the books have to stay for now because I am still in school and I have to do them for certain paperwork. I am a student nurse. So it's all important; however, some of them I would love to move out of the room. The only thing is, I don't have a basement or a garage.

We started renting this place when we moved here and now we are on contract to buy it. I think I am totally having second thoughts. It's just not big enough. I need a storage place like a basement or garage to put my workout equipment, and our vehicles since there are four vehicles in my driveway and they are parked in front of the house. No shelter for them either.

The workout equipment is up in the loft, but if the loft was completed and maybe sprayed for bugs, then I could move my bedroom upstairs. I was hoping to expand the house and put two bedrooms upstairs and another bathroom. We still would not have a storage area for my stockpile stuff and we would not have a basement.

We were planning on expanding on the back of the house and do a partial remodel on the main level of the house. And since there are five of us here and my boys are sharing a room, every room is full and no place to put anything.

To make matters worse, I may have company coming in July because I am walking in the graduation (yes they are making us walk early). So I am in school full time, I have to do my clinicals, and then I have a ton of housework and paperwork and studying to do on the days I am off, which for this quarter until the end of May or early June, the days are on Thursdays, Fridays, and weekends. It takes me several hours to do all of my paperwork, so there's not much time to do organizing when I have so much basic chores to do.

I still have some health problems with my back and my leg, so I have to do everything slowly and with lots of breaks. I know things can be done, but where in the world do I put it all? I don't have the money to buy the things that I need like organizers and decent furniture that I so desperately need. So for now, I am slowly weeding it all out and I am placing most of it in the upcoming yard sale that we are going to have whenever it stops raining here. So yeah, I agree, the papers can be shredded, but the thing is I don't own a shredder. I had several of them and had to throw them away, just couldn't handle the job. So now I have to hand shred them all one by one or go buy another one, which I don't have the money for.

My house is a wreck and it makes my blood pressure go up and I feel terrible. Too overwhelming for me.

I like your motto under your signature, "don't put it down, put it away". I wish everyone in my household would learn that rule. It would be so nice. I think I just need to do small things a little at a time until I can get back to work. I really need to think twice about keeping this small house. I love the neighborhood though. I think less is more and if I had it my way, that is how it would be. My mom was like that, and it only took her like under two hours to clean her whole entire house and that's including mopping and all everyday. She had a plan for everything, but now she's not like that anymore. Times are too fast she says and no one has the time anymore. I am enjoying the tips and I am going to try to make a dent in it as I can. I have to tackle my paperwork homework first though.

Where to start You have entirely too much going on in your life right now, along with the health issues. Just do little things, maybe pick up some boxes with lids from the grocery store(apple boxes?) and place some of the items there. Or those folded canvas cubes you can pick up at the dollar store ( a couple week) and place items in there.

Some banks shred papers for customers once a year...but I would try borrowing one from a friend. You could also go thru your clothes in the closet, shoes, etc. Little things that will make you feel better while you are so busy. When things slow down
in your life you will have time. Right now it will wait for you just do what you can.

First off be proud of becoming a nurse! To me that is much more
important in your life now.

Another thought I had was a storage shed...but they are pricey, so the best thing would be to declutter and have your yardsale, and good luck!

Thanks Dianaro2. I already went through my clothes in my closet yesterday, and I have started going through papers. I have gathered items for the yard sale. I moved out a few items (out of season stuff) and I am going to put items that I know won't ruin up stairs. I think that it's a good idea to get some of those cubes because they can stack and plus when I am not using them they fold away for storage. That is a good tip.

Good for you WTS, you are really getting at the problem. Every bit you do makes a difference.

Our son has a small house for himself, DDIL and DGD. They love their neighbourhood and although sometimes there seems to be a lot of stuff, they do periodically toss or pass on things. My only problem is that they don't have enough space in their basement for me to haul out his stuff from our house and dump it in theirs, LOL. But he does occasionally go through stuff here and toss some.

That's wonderful that you sorted through your closet, already!

Here are my thoughts and suggestions:

- Pick one or 2 things to do that will have maximum impact in the shortest amount of time. For me, it is important to have something to show for my efforts. I can spend an hour going through a box of papers or a file drawer and have very little to show for it, or I can spend 5 mins. picking stuff off the floor or the backs of chairs (clothes, shoes, books, etc.) and have the room look 100% better).

- Start with the laundry. Often, when I start on a room cleaning/organizing project, I start with the laundry. I gather up all the items that need laundering and start a load. That makes me feel like I am already being productive and doing something! Even if nothing else gets done, I've got a load of laundry done! And "active" time for doing laundry - the time it takes to gather up items, load the machine, add detergent, select the settings, and start the machine usually takes just 5 mins. It's not like one has to haul water from the well and heat over a wood stove and manually soap and scrub and rinse, etc. (yes, I've done that).

- Next, put away the clean laundry. I generally air dry my laundry (probably 75% of the time), so the putting away of dried/folded laundry takes place several hours after the washing. I think, now that you have gone through and decluttered your closet, you will find it easy to put away the clean laundry. That will get those laundry baskets off the floor and clear up that corner.

- Use vertical space. I know you said you don't have a lot of money for furniture, etc., but, one can get some shelving for very little money. If you can install some wall brackets and get some shelves up one wall, then, a lot of the items can be stored on those shelves, and that will free up some floor space. If not, then stack boxes, 3 or 4 high, against one wall and cover it with fabric, until you have time to go through the contents and decide what to do with them.

- Use under the bed space. One doesn't necessarily need the special under-bed storage containers. One can cut down a box to size and use that to store things like out of season clothes (just cover them with a cloth to keep out the dust), bulk-buy/stock up items, etc.

- Use behind the door storage space, if you have any. Can the ironing board be stashed behind the bedroom door so that it is out of sight?

- Baby steps. Break tasks down to smaller segments. Put away 1 basket of clothes. Sort through 1 file folder. Pick up only the light colored clothes/enough for 1 load. For me, cleaning the whole bedroom, that first time after I joined GON, seemed like an enormous task (and it was! I had piles of stuff in boxes, on top of the dresser and desk, etc.) So, I started with the least cluttered surface, which was the top of my chest of drawers. Once I had decluttered that and cleaned it, I moved on to the next least cluttered surface, which was my bedside table. The top of the desk was last, as it was piled high with stuff! Once all the surfaces were decluttered and cleaned (because that's what showed the most), I moved to decluttering and organizing the drawers, one drawer at a time.

- Work in short periods of time - 15 mins. (or 10 or even 5). Sometimes, that's all the time we have. Other times, that's all we can bear to do! I still do that, when I feel too overwhelmed by the job. I tell myself, it's only for 5 mins. and anything can be done for 5 mins.

- I know you said the chair has to stay, but can move it to another room (living room or family room if you have one?) Or, can you sit in the bed, instead, with one of those bed-rest pillows for your back and with your leg propped up on pillows or cushions?

- Finally - declutter as much as you can. For me, this is the hardest part of organizing. Getting rid of items. I am a sentimental collector of things. I become emotionally attached to things, not because of what they are, but because of the memories they hold. I am working on a mind change - from why I can't get rid of a certain thing to why I can get rid of it. It's not easy. I used to collect cookbooks and had 2 shelves full of cookbooks; each shelf was 3 ft. wide, so, 6 linear feet of cookbooks. I didn't use all of them, but I liked to look through them. But when it came to cooking, I kept going back to the 3 or 4 favorites. Gradually, I got rid of the majority of them - now I have 1 shelf, 2 ft. wide, of cookbooks. These days, when I get the urge to look through a cookbook, I borrow one from the library.

Hopefully, you'll find one or two of my thoughts and suggestions useful.

Hello wheretostart! Not sure I have welcomed you before, glad you have joined us!

I have a question; does the recliner have to stay in the room? Do you have a family/living room it could migrate to? Same goes for the tv, I find it less conductive to good sleep or study for that matter... If you're about to lose service could it be a good time to re-evaluate having it in the bedroom?

I'm also fond of the behind the door solution for the ironing board.

A second shelving unit about the same as the bigger one (found at a trift store? maybe paint it to match?) would double your vertical space. I used white fabric blinds in front of wooden shelving units we had in the basement, it kept the crafting stuff out of sight when we used the family room for other purposes.

Again, have to concur with the others on the paring down, as you mentioned your DM could do all the work in less time... Having downsized I had to cut my belongings by at least 50% on the plus size I have less stuff to maintain and I'm not missing any of it! I had up to a dozen cookbooks, now I have two plus a binder with fave or printed recipes; loooove internet for that! Another thing, could the lesser collection be moved to a shelf in the kitchen?

My laundry basket is in my closet, sits and waits when I'm ready, no daily reminder or space waister on the floor.

Visual clutter seems to be the main culprit preventing you from having that peaceful place you desire, attack it with a vengeance!

Food for thought I read this today: 'if something you want is important you will find a way, if not you will find an excuse'

Feel free to take in or discard any or all advice! We are not here to judge you or your family's needs!

Great suggestions gals. I agree, you did good on the closet. Whoooo hooooooo a GONer cheer for you. Give yourself a reward each day for all your hard work.

I too have my laundry basket (hamper) in my closet. It is a folding/collapseable one, and holds a good amount. When My DD and Mom lived with me we had different colors. DD did her own laundry, I did moms.

You can change a little at a time and when you finish up school, you will have the time to get more done.

WTS, you have an extra ordinarily busy life so you will need to stay realistic. I agree with your mom, there isn't enough time. Thank you for the video which helps us understand the frustration you've expressed.

You need to protect yourself from identity theft by tearing/cutting up Identifiers like Pay Slips, any thing with numbers like Social Security, Bank account, Driver's License, Credit Card or Utility a/c numbers, Income Tax details etc.

Could the kids take on the task of tearing paper from the pink bin? Except for Identifiers, remaining paper can be tossed. It helps to have a system to process papers coming into the house. Of course you need notes and nursing course information but mail comes daily so there are lots of ads, flyers, and householder items.

Wow, this is a lot of tips. Thank you everyone for the response. Well I am going to town tomorrow and I am going to try to pick up a few things such as a hook to put on the back of my door to hang the ironing board or an ironing board orgaznizer caddy to hold both the iron and ironing board. For the papers, I will have to work on that in small piles. And I thought about having my husband build me another bookcase if I can get the wood for a cheap enough price, but if not I am also going to go to the local used furniture places and look for another shelf. I don't have my bed on a frame yet, the mattresses and box springs are new and they are on the floor so there is no room for anything underneath them. I really wish I could just take everything out of the room and get me a bedroom furniture set. That would help me a whole lot. My daughter mentioned that her dresser is too big for her room and so she may want to get rid of it. If she does, then I will take it and have my husband sand it and paint it. This will provide storage for a lot of stuff such as my toiletries and magazines. Next, I thought about getting rid of the filing cabinets altogether. I purchased them, but they take up room in my bedroom and if I moved those out then I would have room for the dresser and I could put all those things in the floor inside the dresser, such as the blankets and things. I did the laundry, so that is done. I can't get rid of the chair because there's no room in my house for it. I am thinking about making videos of my house one room at a time and displaying them on this forum so that you all can see what I am dealing with. If I had a larger home, that would be great. On the other hand, if I had a larger home, then I am afraid we would just fill it up with more stuff.

Just out of curiosity, WTS, since you are in a house and not an apartment, could you use the papers as firestarter for a nice relaxing evening outside? Would be a way to unwind, have family time and get something done that would help in the clutter control without adding to the workload(hand shredding is a pain)

Have you thought about getting rid of the side tables by the bed and using the file cabinets as side tables? You could cut down a couple pieces of fabric to disguise them and make them feel more like bedroom furniture, still have space for your cpaps, and also have the benefit of disguised storage.

I agree with the other suggestions you have already had. If you can, move the chair out. Raise the bed and utilize the space under for storage. Go as much vertical as you can. And disguise the storage so you don't see the clutter.

I have and am doing the same in my office and have found that if I can hide the clutter temporarily, it is easier to focus on small tasks and ends up having me make more progress.

Just remember, it took a long time to get this way and it will take a long time to get out of it too, and it is a learning process. Things are important only for so long and then they aren't.....when you look at something, ask why you are keeping it and if you really need it. I am much like Bless in my keeping of way too many things and have finally realized at almost 54, that the stuff is not defining my life, I am....which is how I am finally being able to part with sooo much....but it is still not enough.

We are here for you....we are all in the same boat too. Keep up the good work.

WTS, I hope you can find one of those ironing board organisers for the back of the door. I finally tracked one down and it is great. I'm glad you are making so much good progress already.

BL you and others have come up with some good suggestions. We all learn when we read these ideas, and then we remember them when we need to reorganize a room.

Using drapes and fabric to disguise clutter works well. I installed a drapery rod and a set of long drapes I already had, in front of a double shelf unit in the basement to hide the clutter (stuff that is needed seasonally).

I have returned home and it is time to sort thru the seasonal clothes. The bedroom might get a little messy, but I thought to
move the donations into the guest room for sorting and listing before I donate them, and keep the bedroom clear of clutter while in the process. This is the closet and dresser drawers.

This thread has me on alert. When I returned home from my little visit, I was quick to make sure I didn't leave stuff around on the single bed when I unpacked. It has become important not to see clutter in there. Now the closet..........

@ Diana, That sounds like a good plan!

Been thinking about this for a while, what could I do to make my bedroom more peaceful?

The second bedroom is kind of a catch all space, but lately it's spilling over to my room. So I took action: first, the winter boots, cleaned them and stored them under my bed in a vinyl zippered case. I also took the 3 paper bags in the corner behind my dresser, emptied them, put back my Halloween(!) costume back in the cedar chest, the clothes from...? in the laundry and the last one had other empty bags and a lint brush, ha! Found you!

I had a pile of books on the dresser closest to the bed, left one and put the others back into the bookshelf in the living room. I cleaned the fake roses in my vase, they look a lot better without the dust build up! Routinely I leave my jewellery, papers, work keys... on top and it gets cluttered up. I had taken the time Friday to find places for these items but the rest of the room needed the same treatment.

Had a few too many sweaters, jeans and pyjamas on the hooks behind the door, also went to the laundry. Now that I've emptied the laundry basket in the second bedroom I can now go back to my laundry 'system'. I use one basket for dirty clothes (in the closet) and the other for freshly laundered but not yet folded clothes (stays on top of the dryer until I have time). Since I couldn't use the other one it would pile up on the floor (dirty) or on top of my chest (clean), yuck!

Top of dressers are orderly and decorative. Nothing left on the floor but furniture legs and a waste basket! Well not counting the storage cases under the bed that is I light my Berger lamp to sanitize and make the air smell good, I'd say it's more peaceful. Thanks for this thread, nice reminder!

BG, when I have more laundry than will go in the basket in the laundry room, I have a folding mesh basket that cost me $1.99 in a budget store to keep stuff off the floor. It also helps with sorting in the laundry room to have this extra basket. When not needed it folds flat and can be slipped beside the washer.

I found it so useful that I bought another for DDIL to use in the guest bathroom for their clothes when they stay over a night or two. With a little one, there are always plenty of dirty clothes, so this keeps them all together, either to transport home in a plastic bag or even to wash and dry here if it is a longer stay.

I think so too. I can still get the donations out and make it even easier to see what I have available. It has been rainy, stormy and gloomy, a perfect time to get started.

Bushlady, that is great---I hope to inspire somebody to not let your rooms get like mine, LOL! Anyway, I haven't made much progress, but I work on it everyday. I think I need to concentrate on school though for the most part. I did find out that I soon get a 3 week break. Wooooot! Anyways, I thought what perfect timing. I can get a whole lot of things done then and as soon as we have our yard sales, that will really help clear out the clutter. So my break is around the last 3 weeks of June and I am off through July 4th and go back to school on July 5th. And since the holiday is rolling around, not to mention, my graduation walk and pinning ceremony, that time would be a perfect time to focus on my house and myself. I thought I do a complete cleanup in 3 weeks. I might need some help with advice so I might be posting more videos as soon as I can. Thank you all for everything----you're the best!

Dianaro, i did exactly the same thing!!!!! Now to just list and box them up! And I made a commitment to myself that they will be done this week!

The bedroom is just ok, but could be better. No excuses! Not sure how to corral the clutter on hubby's dresser and end table. It makes it difficult to dust.

Jo, Is there something you could put it in that would contain it?

My thoughts too!

Jo, I set a small [8" x 15"] silver type tray on DH's highboy in hopes of corralling his stuff. He was pretty good about using it but it was just mess in a tray. I decorated a shoe box by gluing nice gift wrap to the outside of a cardboard shoe box, leaving the black lid underneath. From time-to-time I set the box in the top drawer but that sure didn't fly!

He now has a much larger box [boot sz] for his stuff, looks nice, he can find his stuff. Anytime he can't find a note, receipt, key, trinket, photo, thumb drive etc. he clears out un-needed stuff.

Cyd, I like your new signature line!

I've thought the same. I'd once bought a small tray, but it quickly filled up and spilled over. Something larger perhaps. The dresser is an upright, too tall for me to see what is up there, so it doesn't get dusted very often! The end table is another matter and perhaps the small tray would work better there.

DH doesn't seem to have any clutter on the dresser, but sometimes I think I would cheerfully put up with clutter on the dresser if he would stop snoring, LOL!

Well, today is the day that it all begins. It's clean out time for me and I am off for 3 weeks. I am so excited to get all of this dang clutter gone! I will post after pics when I get my room done. So come back and visit again soon. Have a great day and happy de-clutter week!

Good luck wheretostart! Pulling for you!

wheretostart, please remember baby steps, baby steps to reduce stress and avoid feeling overwhelmed. Be sure to give yourself rewards for every section/zone or drawer or bookcase shelf done. If you wish to move furniture around, it truly helps to make a rough outline on paper after checking dimensions. It's too frustrating to move a bookcase only to find there is not quite enough space.

Well yesterday was a pretty productive day. I got some laundry done, dishes washed, garbage out, floor swept, and I removed a trunk load of clutter. Now I have to haul the clutter away either today or tomorrow. I am going to finish moving things out of my living room and then go search for boxes and things to organize my room with. I am hoping that I will get a lot done this week.

Good luck WTS! Let us know your progress!

Well, I got the clutter hauled away from my living room yesterday. Yay me! I also got some free zucchini yesterday from a church friend. I was glad to get that. My leg is swollen today but I am planning on finishing up basic chores and then start on my bedroom. Going to take my daughter and my church friend out to yard sales tomorrow if it's not too hot. Have a great day everyone!

Wheretostart!
Excellent on the clutter hauled away! Watch those yard sales.
My neighborhood had one today, and I refused to stop! I'm trying to keep things down, and not add to it! LOL I was glad and proud I didn't stop. A couple of the ladies stopped on the way over here.

I went to a few yardsales, but I kept it at a minimum. I only purchased two silicone fall design bakeware pieces, a centerpiece for my dining room table that really looks great. The centerpiece is fruit design with candles in the middle and it matches my green and brown and fruit decor in the house. I also got a wooden magazine holder crate for my magazines so I can put them next to my recliner. That is all I purchased. Sad thing is I lost my daughters debit card in the shuffle somehow, but I cancelled her account and got her a new card. So that is taken care of.

I didn't get everything done as I had planned and my kitchen has been neglected. I've had a lot of other things going on such as my mom's been in the hospital with her blood pressure and heart, my school messed up my upcoming schedules so I had to get that straightened out cause I thought I wasn't going back which was making me worry and very sad because I was almost done. I only have this quarter and then next quarter. I should be out in January if I don't fail anymore classes. I only failed one, but it put me behind another quarter and messed up me and my family plans. I can't afford to fail anymore what so ever.

So here it is Sunday, only half of my work is done, and I am getting ready to go back to school. I will be gone 4 days a week this time instead of two. That is going to hurt and my daughter can and will only do so much around the house. But I told her the situation and I told her I cannot afford to fail anymore and I have to study. She doesn't care. She doesn't realize though how much of an impact it can have on her in the future if I don't get this career. It's pretty much the only career I can get into that I can do around here, but I do have a few business courses done, so if I wanted to I could change careers, but I would have to take more classes for. I can't afford it and I am out of loans and almost maxed out all of my grants.

My son is helping me financially too, and believe me we are feeling the crunch. It's taken a lot to make ends meet right now. I wish I could go back to work as LPN for a while and then take more classes, but I have to finish this now given my financial circumstances. So, maybe I will get more done on some of the days I am not in school or clinicals.

One good thing I did today, was stay home and save my gas and I also made 10 gallons of homemade laundry detergent to cut the costs down. I have cut everyplace that I know to cut on my bills. It's gonna take some time, but I remind myself it's only for a season.

Once I get my RN and get certified, I can get a job and then help my son and family in return, but not until I build up my emergency fund first. That is my main goal.

Wheretostart, good going on all that you have accomplished! It is a long and sometimes grueling process. Know that many of us have been here for years, in multiple houses, through divorces, deaths, sicknesses, job losses, etc. Believe me, we know and or have been where you are at..

Keep your chin up and focus on the things that will make the difference in your life. If you can't make progress in the house, then at least make a point of maintaining where you gotten yourself to. If you don't backslide, then know you have made progress! And if it's just taking a five minute study break to clear your mind, find one small task to do. Since you are feeling so overwhelmed, get a dollar store notebook and make yourself a list of the things you ARE getting done. When you get down, you can look at it and feel good about what you have done.

don't know how old daughter is, but sometimes it takes tough love and setting standards to get them to realize the realities of the situation...maybe setting standards and goals with a small reward attached, even if its dinner of her choice that you make, something you can afford that will make her feel appreciated(understand I am NOT saying you don't appreciate her, its just that sometimes when we have expectations put upon us, a moment of recognition for a job well done is nice)

good luck!

Thanks Beaglelady. Well, good news is I am back in school and in full swing. I am gone 4 days a week including clinicals. I have tons of studying and paperwork to do before the next week begins. I've made a hug dent in my bedroom, and if nothing else happens, this Friday I am suppose to tackle filing cabinets and the paper mountain in my bedroom. Just trying to get basics done is taking me a while to accomplish because I have to keep my butt glued to a chair studying. I have to study 20 chapters in each subject. I don't know what else to do, but my daughter is finally helping me more, she realizes that I can't pass my classes unless I study so now its just staying on task with everything. We will manage some how.

Wheretostart:
Do 10 minutes every other day on the paper mountain, maybe wait on the files. Good luck in school, and that your Daugter is helping you also.

We built (& designed) both our houses & our bedrooms are truly very soothing, comfy places! No clutter; the paint in the house I am in tonight is a a gray-green (hard to describe the color) & the carpet matches. It is a very soothing color.

Our bed has a duvet & the sheets are crisp--love crisp, clean sheets. I iron the pillow cases & the top 1/2 of the sheets! We have a bureau & 2 night stands & I made sure the lighting was good for reading in bed. NO TV or other electronic devices in bedroom unless I bring my tablet in to read.

Our walk-in closet has the entry through the master bathroom so no clothes are strewn around--unless I am folding laundry on the bed during the day & need to "rest" my hands!

We have French doors that open to the back porch. There are also floor to ceiling windows next to the doors so we can roll up the fabric blinds & have sunlight come in & open the door for the morning air.

I have on my night table next to the bed lovely smelling lotions & oils to put on at bedtime as the fragrance helps me relax for sleep.

Since I love to read, the bed & lighting are perfect for me to read at night before sleep & also in the morning w/coffee. Since it is about 2:00 a.m. now I'd better head into bed! My husband is on a short business trip & I get off track on my timing when he is not here to keep me in line! Because he gets up at 5:00 every morning he is good about getting to bed early.

Good night or actually, Good Morning Now!!--Suzy

I am wanting a farm and a one story ranch farm house with a full size dry basement. I think that having a dry basement would be helpful if I had a farm to store my canned goods. I also want a dry basement to store all of my coupon stockpile stuff. I want to just go through the house I am living in right now and I want to clean it out thoroughly, but I can't. Most of the items in it are not mine and no body will get rid of anything, but yet they tell me to get rid of my things. I have gotten rid of a bunch of things even some of the kids stuff that they no longer use. It's crazy to hoard up clothing that hasn't been worn since before 2001. I mean clothes rot over time. I know they may be hanging up in a closet, but if it hasn't been touched or worn in the last 6 months, then I think everything must go. I am aggravated today because I don't like how my house looks and smells and I am wanting to change but the rest of the family is not on board and I can't do it on my own. I try to ignore things, but its hard. I need another house with an entertainment room and a dry basement so I can move all of their stuff down there and then I won't have to see it everyday. I am praying for a change in my family and a change in routines. Have a blessed day.

wheretostart - (((( Hugs )))) It can't be easy when others won't deal with their stuff. I'm guessing that one of our GONer friends will come up with an idea to encourage them to do some tossing. Maybe some kind of competition you set up between them to see who can toss the most? : )

As for moving, I can tell you that there is no such thing as a perfect house, because we take ourselves and our problems with us! For now, visualize how to deal with the house you have now, and don't let discouragement cheat you. You have already made progress. Keep the dream realistic and you can work towards it.

That is so true Bushlady! If things don't improve now, how will they improve when we get a farm? My daughter says that when we get a farm, she will do the inside chores, and feed the animals, and help with the garden, but she can't do it all. Neither can I, and they now know this. It takes a team to do stuff. My son will be out of high school soon, and I've told him that once he gets out, he will have to help more, but I know he has his limits on what he can and can't do. But we will get things done.

Does everyone have their own rooms? If so, then take stuff from all over and make them put their stuff in their rooms....period. Make a clutter free zone that nothing is allowed to get piled in....say living dining and kitchen....and make a rule that if stuff is left lying about that it becomes trash can stuff.

My DB is a slob and when he was in a home with others like him, the "mom and dad" made these rules.
1. your room is cleaned every week
2. anything left out in the open areas and not picked up was designated trash if you didn't care enough to take care of it.
3. everyone was responsible for their own laundry, wash dry fold and put away.
4. everyone had a specific chore/set of chores to do that was to be maintained daily, even if it was something simple like taking out filled trash bags, putting away dog toys, wiping down counter tops or cleaning bathrooms.

By getting everyone in habits, it kept a double wide mobile home with 6 people in it, clean(and 3 of those were disabled).

No matter what limitations everyone has, you must find a way to work around them. Right now, I can do no heavy lifting. So the things I can't lift are gotten to the point that I can do and then I get help with the heavy part.

good luck....hope you are making progress.