Clutter Free Academy

Several years ago, Deanna Day Young joined Kathi Lipp’s Clutter Free Academy. Deanna felt pretty confident about her organizational skills, but she realized there is always more to learn and thought she could learn some good strategies for organization. However, what she actually realized is that she had previously been trying to organize a bunch of clutter! Since then, Deanna has strengthened her decluttering muscles, and on today’s podcast Kathi asks Deanna to share her best advice for someone who is starting out on their decluttering and organization journey.  Listen in as Deanna shares: What is the most important thing to do first? Three simple steps to organize any space. When to be creative, and when to keep it simple. Next week, Deanna and Kathi will return and dive deeper into aesthetics. How can we be organized and still make it look great at the same time?  Be sure to sign up here and be notified when the next episode is released. Links Mentioned: Meet Our Guest: Deanna Day Young Deanna Day Young

Welcome to Part 3 of the Abundant Home Conference series! In this segment, Kathi and her guest Amy Betters-Midtvedt talk about having a neurodiverse family and how having a brain that processes differently affects how people declutter. Together they discuss: The process of body doubling: helping someone complete a project like decluttering by completing pieces of that project for them while training them to take over the entire process eventually Why it's important to decide on systems like organization and decluttering as a team Chaotic creativity and why not everything needs to be special all the time If you missed Part 1 of their conversation, Why Just in Case Is a Trap or Part 2 Fear, Finances, and Finding Peace: Decluttering Your Mind and Home, click the link. Be sure to sign up here and be notified when the next podcast episode drops. This conversation is a small excerpt from the Abundant Home Conference - a half-day conference held exclusively for members of Kathi Lipp’s Clutter Free for Life members

Welcome to Part 2 of the Abundant Home Conference series! In this segment Kathi and her guest Amy Betters-Midtvedt face the fears and hidden perfectionism that often sabotage our decluttering efforts. Together they discuss: How can you avoid a scarcity mindset and start to think differently about your stuff? How do you combat the feeling that the things you have are not enough? How can you challenge the idea that your stuff is protecting you and instead realize that it is limiting you? If you missed Part 1 of their conversation, you can find it here: Why Just in Case Is a Trap. Be sure to sign up here and be notified when the third part of this three-part conversation releases next week. This conversation is a small excerpt from the Abundant Home Conference - a half-day conference held exclusively for members of Kathi Lipp’s Clutter Free for Life membership community. Are you ready to take the next step in your decluttering journey? The step-by-step plan inside Clutter Free for Life can guide you, and the c

Do any of these sound like you? I’m afraid to get rid of things, because what if I need it in the future and don’t have money to replace it? My kids’ notes and artwork are all so special and I can’t part with any of it! I better buy three of those, that way I’ll always be able to find at least one. If so, then today’s podcast is for you! In this session Kathi chats with self-proclaimed “pack rat” Amy Betters-Midtvedt about her process of digging out from under all the clutter. They talk about green bananas, earring emergencies, and how worry and sentimentality can trip us up. You don’t want to miss it! This conversation is a small part of the Abundant Home Conference - a half-day conference held exclusively for members of Kathi Lipp’s Clutter Free for Life membership community. Are you ready to take the next step in your decluttering journey? The step-by-step plan inside Clutter Free for Life can guide you, and the community you find there will encourage you to keep going. It’s time to change the way you th

Have you ever read the ingredients on the bread you buy from the grocery store and thought, “I can’t even pronounce these words! What are they?” Maybe you’d like to take control over what you put into your meals but don’t know where to start? Start here! In this episode, Kathi and Roger Lipp discuss what they have learned on their homestead journey about getting closer to the source of their food and what goes into the meals they prepare. As they continue to celebrate the release of Kathi’s new book “The Accidental Homesteader: What I’ve Learned About Chickens, Compost, and Creating Home”, Kathi and Roger share ways we can all eat like a homesteader even if we don’t have a garden. For example: Making your own bread (Keep scrolling for recipes!) Making your own cake & brownie mixes Making your own cheese (Kathi and Roger are in LOVE with her homemade mozzarella cheese.) Canning and preserving your abundance Batch cooking and creating Kathi’s favorite fast food swap out: individual serving cubes of soup H

Is it possible to eat like a homesteader even if you live in an apartment? Yes, it is! Eating like a homesteader is really about being more purposeful and thoughtful about what you eat and where you source your food. In this episode, Kathi and Roger Lipp discuss what they have learned on their homestead journey about growing their own food in the garden as well as the non-gardening ways they source their food. For example: The satisfaction of growing your own food Start with a salsa garden/container garden. Don’t have a garden? Try: Shopping at a Farmers' Markets or Roadside Stands Joining a Food Swap or Bartering Group Be a part of a Community Garden And what to do if you have an abundance of produce For those of you wondering where Kathi and Roger’s chickens fit into the “Eating like a Homesteader” plan, don’t be worried. Kathi's philosophy is they don’t want to meet their meat. Looking for the Meal Planning Calendar Kathi mentioned in this episode? It's right here! Calendar_Meal_Planner Click here

Would you like some tips and tools to help you move from last minute scrambler to organized planner? Welcome to Part 2 of How to Plan Like A Homesteader where Kathi and her co host in life and on the mic Roger Lipp discuss strategies for advanced planning. You might not need to worry about your snow blower not working like they do out in the wilderness they call home, but there are so many things you can plan in advance for to make your life run more smoothly. For example: Pet and animal care Regular medical appoints to avoid a medical crisis And the many joys of putting a vacation on the calendar If you haven’t listened to 579 How To Plan Like a Homesteader No Matter Where You Call Home, Part 1 yet, click here. Also…today is the day that Kathi Lipp’s new (and visually stunning) book The Accidental Homesteader: What I’ve Learned About Chickens, Compost, and Creating Home releases! You can still get in on all the preorder goodies but you MUST order it today. How? Listen at the end of the episode to get the

Would you consider yourself a natural planner, or is it challenging for you to plan ahead? If you think planning doesn’t come easily, then you share that trait with Kathi and Roger Lipp, but moving to the Red House has forced them to plan ahead. In today’s podcast they share their hard-won wisdom with all of us. Even if you don’t live on acres in the wilderness, you can still apply these lessons to lessen the stress in your life. For example: Are you prepared for extreme weather events or other emergencies in your area? Have you been thinking longer term in your financial planning? What home maintenance issues are going to turn into big problems without attention? Are you taking the time to build practical skills? Kathi and Roger give us some helpful ideas in all these areas and more. Listen and find out how you can experience more peace in your home by planning ahead.   Sign up here to get an email when Part Two comes out next week, when we will learn seven more areas to think about in order to plan like a

Have you ever been working on a project and had to run to the store to buy something you needed? How about run to the store multiple times to buy what you needed? You might be in need of what Kathi and Roger Lipp call the Magic List! Kathi and Roger are starting a series titled Accidental Homesteader, where they take some of the principles they’ve learned about homesteading and applied them to everyday life. In this episode it’s all about creating effective, precise, time and money saving lists! Listen in as Kathi and Roger laugh and lay out listing making tips, such as: How to create effective shopping lists How to organize your To Do lists so things actually get done Why it’s important to keep a master list (Kathi keeps hers on her phone!) Don't forget to give Clutter Free Academy a one sentence review on your favorite podcast platform! Sign up here for the Clutter Free Academy newsletter and be notified when future episodes are released. Links Mentioned: Guest Host: Roger Lipp Pre-order Kathi's book The

What happens to your time when you have a rare moment, and nothing is scheduled on the calendar? Does it immediately get full of all the things that aren’t on your to-do list, but could be? Jen Cowart, a pastor, Bible teacher, and author, recently experienced a season with extra margin, and she chose to be intentional with her time instead of letting others fill up her calendar. (Can you even imagine?) In today’s episode, Kathi and Jen discuss how to thrive when your life is just too overwhelming. They talk about: How seasons play a role in our schedule What a “win” looks like Specific times that MUST be carved out What to prepare for in order to thrive The schedule considerations that matter most Want to dig deeper? If so, check out Jen’s new Thrive Women’s Bible Study. You can download a free discussion guide for the first two lessons in the Thrive Participant Workbook here. Jen has two copies of the Thrive Bible Study to give away to Kathi’s listeners. For your chance to win, answer this question in the

Do you love the excitement and intrigue of that the arrival of a subscription box brings? We do too! But are all subscription boxes equal? Can subscription boxes become just one more thing to declutter? Join Kathi and her Tik Tok famous guest Meredith Lynch as they discuss decluttering and the world of subscription boxes. Meredith started out as a beauty influencer but pushed back on the fast fashion/fast beauty culture. She is not afraid to speak her mind and has the cease and desist letters from beauty brands to prove it! Kathi and Meredith covered so much in this episode that Kathi has labeled it an XXLarge episode of information, such as: The origins of subscription boxes How some subscription boxes have become a scam The concept of White Labeling - mass producing a product and slapping a designer label on it But we love new beauty products! Are there any trusted voices out there? YES! Meredith Lynch gives us two people to follow for authentic beauty product insight. Don't forget to give Clutter Free Ac

Welcome back to the basics! Kathi Lipp is joined by Roger, her husband and fellow declutterer, and they are here to recap some of the best tips they have discovered about decluttering. How do you declutter quickly? Kathi has an easy to follow decluttering system for you and it only takes 15 minutes. Step 1 - Gather your tools. Kathi likes to use 3 tote bags. One bag is "give away," one bag is "put away," and one bag is "other rooms." The 2 additional bags Kathi adds to the mix are a garbage bag and a recycling bag. Step 2 - Pick a small area. This could be a desk, drawer, or shelf. Make sure it is something so small, you don't have to move your feet for the 15 minutes you are decluttering. This will also limit the number of decisions you have to make and avoid B.S.O. (Bright Shiny Object Syndrome). More decluttering tips from Kathi and Roger: Listen to something dedicated to your declutter time. Kathi listens to the Scientology: Fair Game podcast from Leah Remini. Body Doubling - Make yourself accountable by

In this Best of Series episode, Kathi and her best friend, Roger Lipp, are taking the clutter free journey back to the basics. Do you need specific criteria to guide your decision making for what to keep and what to get rid of? Kathi and Roger are here to remind us of the three clarifying questions we should be asking ourselves as we declutter. Join in the conversation to learn the art of how to keep the best and get rid of the rest by knowing and practicing these three questions as you declutter: Do I love it? Do I use it? Would I buy it again? Listen in as Kathi and Roger explain how asking yourself these three questions can get you past the mental block of clearing out your clutter. Links Mentioned: Guest Host: Roger Lipp Pre-order Kathi's book The Accidental Homesteader here! The Clutter-Free Home Clutter Free Academy Learn more about Clutter Free for Life Let's stay connected! To share your thoughts: Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help, and I read each one. Subscribe

Do you ever look around your home wondering why it feels more cluttered, despite your decluttering efforts? In this "Best Of" episode, Kathi and her decluttering partner Roger are uncovering this mystery by clueing us into five reasons our homes may be more cluttered: You don’t know what you have, so you keep buying more. You have backups for your backups. (We’re looking at you, broken can-opener in the garage!)  You are storing things for other people, with no limit or deadline. You are holding onto things for “some day.” (Is that item something you would buy again today?) You are keeping tools that were useful in a past season of life. Your life has changed and moved on, so now those items have become clutter.  Clutter is a battle that has to be fought on every side. Together let’s learn how to break these habits that leave us with more clutter and less peace. Want some encouragement on the journey? Join us on Facebook in Kathi Lipp's Clutter Free Academy. Sign up here for the Clutter Free Academy newslet

In this Best of episode, Kathi Lipp is talking with Clutter Free community leader, friend, and screenwriter, Grace Church, about how decluttering and creativity can actually help one another. Have you ever struggled to balance decluttering time and creative time? You are not alone. In this episode, Kathi and Grace share how they have found that balance by: Shifting their mentality Doing a little bit every day Establishing routines If you’ve ever found your creativity blocked by the clutter around you, you won’t want to miss this episode. Meet Our Guest: Grace Church You can connect with Grace on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube at “Rise and Write with Grace & James” — or catch her movie “DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH” on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, and Tubi! Links Mentioned: Pre-order Kathi's book The Accidental Homesteader here! The Clutter-Free Home Learn more about Clutter Free for Life. Grace Church Diamond in the Rough Clutter Free 21 Day Declutter Challenge Let's stay connected To share your thoughts: Leave an

On this very special podcast Kathi Lipp is joined by Clutter Free queen Tonya Kubo to get all of us excited about the month-long celebration we call No Buy July! Some may think that No Buy July sounds crazy, after all - it is fun to spend money. But this challenge is meant to be a kind of retreat from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Let's put all our creative energy into doing something that is going to help our houses and our budgets breathe a little easier! Listen in for all the details, and answers to questions like these: What are the "rules" for No Buy July? (Hint - You don't have to be a minimalist to participate.) How can I convince my family to join in this challenge? What happens if there is an emergency, or if I have a special event coming up? What can we do for fun in July without spending money? What will I wear? What will we eat? How does this whole thing work? If you are as excited as we are about No Buy July, then be sure to join us! All you have to do is be part of Kathi Lipp's free

Did you know the “urge to splurge” is a brain chemistry response and can last from 7 - 12 MINUTES? No wonder it can be a difficult mindset to break! In this Part 2 episode, Kathi and spending coach Paige Pritchard talk about brain chemistry and the way it affects our behavior. Today they finish discussing Paige’s five tools to managing your impulsive shopping. The conversation is fascinating. Here are just a few of the many highlights: How to use an Urge Jar to change your behavior (and maybe save enough for a trip to Disneyland). Making a list of what you want to buy is actually a healthy choice. There is a big difference between an intentional buy and an impulse buy. Haven’t listened to #569 Urge to Splurge? How to Manage Your Impulsive Shopping - Part 1? Click here. As promised in the episode, here’s a link to Paige Pritchard’s Free Masterclass Why You Impulse Shop & How To Stop. Join Kathi and friends for No Buy July! Click here to join her free Facebook community Clutter Free Academy, and get read

Have you ever struggled with impulsive spending or another “urge to splurge” mind set? You are not alone, friend. Kathi and spending coach Paige Pritchard are digging into the root cause of our impulsive shopping and how to change those behaviors. Today they discuss the first of Paige’s five tips to managing your impulsive shopping, plus answer questions like: Why are you shopping? What is a de-influencer? What is an Urge Jar? As promised in the episode, here’s a link to Paige Pritchard’s Free Masterclass Why You Impulse Shop & How To Stop. Join Kathi and friends for No Buy July! Click here to join her free Facebook community Clutter Free Academy, and get ready to participate in this No Buy challenge that can change your home and your life. Sign up here for the Clutter Free Academy newsletter and be notified when future episodes are released. Links Mentioned: Paige's Free Masterclass Why You Impulse Shop & How To Stop What to work with Paige directly? Overcoming Overspending Group Program Guest Hos

How do you start a conversation with someone who says that absolutely everything is valuable and should be cherished? Especially when that means that you, not they, should be the person to make space for it?  Kathi and her friend Cheri Gregory are returning today for the second part of their discussion on how to respond responsibly to another person who has a “waste not, want not” mentality. Here are their tips for how to keep the peace without keeping all the stuff: For people living in your household, give each person their own space and they can keep what they want in that space. Have agreed upon standards for cleanliness, maintenance tasks, and decorating budgets. If someone says, “I can fix that,” set a time and have a plan for getting that item fixed. Consider whether or not fixing a particular item is enjoyable and worth the time. Realize that you may not agree or change the other person’s mind, and you can still keep boundaries around your own space and belongings. Did you miss the first part of thi

Sometimes we hear sayings like “waste not, want not” and we assume they are true all the time and in every circumstance. Or we may want to get rid of something, but someone else in our life expects us to keep it. What to do then? Today Kathi is discussing this very issue with her friend and co-author, Cheri Gregory. Cheri tells the tale of some big items she has recently decluttered and shares how her mindset about those items has changed over time. Some of those shifts in her thinking include: Realizing that just because an item was nice several decades ago, doesn’t mean it is still nice. Learning to set a time limit on fixing things - just because something could be fixed someday by someone doesn’t mean I have to keep it (broken) forever. There is a cost to keeping things - time dealing with them, lost space to enjoy other things, and missed opportunities. Listen next week to hear Part 2 of the discussion, in which Cheri gives advice for how to start a conversation with someone else who is opposed to our