#687 – What’s Lurking Under Your Bed? Declutter the Forgotten Zone for Good

#687 – What’s Lurking Under Your Bed? Declutter the Forgotten Zone for Good

#687 – What’s Lurking Under Your Bed? Declutter the Forgotten Zone for Good

The space under your bed might be the most neglected—and mysterious—storage zone in your home. In this quick, practical episode, Kathi Lipp and Tonya Kubo equip you with simple steps to declutter the hidden chaos beneath your bed. You’ll learn the best way to tackle dust, discover what actually belongs in this space (and what definitely doesn’t), and get favorite solutions for easy, clutter-free storage—even if you’re short on closet space! Whether you struggle with allergies, have kids who love hiding treasures under the bed, or just want to make the most of every inch in your home, this episode is loaded with relatable ideas and proven tips. Listen in, laugh along, and finally say goodbye to that under-bed pit of mystery—for good! 

Sabbath Soup: Weekly Menus and Rhythms to Make Space for a Day of Rest

Kathi Lipp gives readers an easy-to-follow process for meal planning and prep, so that they can enjoy a full day each week of real rest and refreshment.

Could you use a break from cooking (and everything else) once a week? Not only is rest vital for your mind and body, it’s good for your soul too. God designed us to enter into Sabbath rest one day per week, but as you know, meals still need to be made. Your family still needs to be fed.

Sabbath Soup includes convenient, seasonal meal plans that take the guesswork out of shopping and cooking. More than just a collection of delicious recipes—including main dishes, breads, breakfasts, desserts, salads, sides, and yes, soups—this is your guide to establishing a weekly rhythm and routine of meal planning and prep that allows you to have a true day off.

Do something good for your soul and experience the peace that comes with a full day dedicated to spending time with God, family, and friends. Savor your Sabbath as you proudly proclaim, “Soup’s on!”

Order your copy of Sabbath Soup: Weekly Menus and Rhythms to Make Space for a Day of Rest here.

Links Mentioned:

 

FYI: Some product links may be affiliate links. If you buy, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support! 

 

Clutter Free Resources:

Let’s stay connected

To share your thoughts:

  • Leave a note in the comment section below.
  • Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help and I read each one.

Subscribe on iTunes or subscribe to our newsletter now.

Meet Our Co-Host

 

Tonya Kubo

Tonya Kubo is the illustrious and fearless leader of Kathi Lipp’s Clutter Free Academy Facebook group and the Clutter Free for Life membership program. A professional community strategist, she believes everyone deserves to have a place online where they feel like they belong. Raised by a hoarder, Tonya knows firsthand the pain and isolation that comes from living in conditions others don’t understand. She wants better for her family and her cluttery peeps, which is why she is passionate about the compassionate slow-and-steady approach that makes Clutter Free unique. She lives in the heart of California with her husband, Brian, their two spirited daughters, and one very tolerant cat. Visit tonyakubo.com to find out more about her community work, or email her at tonya@kathilipp.org to discuss the Clutter Free Academy podcast and programs.
Tonya Kubo Picture
Transcript

Kathi Lipp (00:09)

Well, hey friends, welcome to Clutter-Free Academy, where our goal is to help you take small, doable steps every day to live with less clutter and more life. And I’m here with Tonya Kubo. Hey, Tonya.

 

Tonya Kubo (00:20)

Hey, Kathi.

 

Kathi Lipp (00:22)

Today we’re talking about a place that rarely sees the light of day, the space under the bed. It’s one of those sneaky spots where clutter loves to hide, but today we are making the invisible visible and we’re making it clutter free and intentional. I’ll never forget when I was younger, my mom finally got fed up with not, you know, I’m like, I can’t find any of my clothes. I can’t find any of my clothes.

 

And we spent probably half an hour digging out from underneath my bed. My clutter free roots are deep and legit. Like, I mean, not my clutter free roots, my clutter roots. And so I and you would think as an adult, things would be better. And they have been better, but it’s only been through intentionality because for me, under the bed was the easiest place where of I don’t know what to do with this. How about we put it under the bed?

 

Tonya Kubo (00:56)

Mm-hmm.

 

Yeah.

 

Kathi Lipp (01:19)

And maybe that wasn’t best my best system now i’m gonna i’m gonna make a a bold statement here that i’m going to let you opt out of and i’ll explain that but I I think that Things that just because we don’t see it it doesn’t mean it’s not affecting our space and our peace I think it’s you know, I think it’s real

 

Tonya Kubo (01:31)

Mmm.

 

No, I agree.

 

Kathi Lipp (01:47)

Yeah, because if you don’t know what’s down there, then you’re always going to wonder, you’re always going to assume. And you and I were just talking about ? tripping in our own houses over clutter. And the hard part is getting back up. Can I just say, I don’t want to have to crawl under my bed more than a couple of times a year. Yeah, yeah, it does not work for me.

 

Tonya Kubo (02:03)

Yeah.

 

No, no.

 

Kathi Lipp (02:16)

When things get kicked under there, old shoes, off season clothes, random storage bins, forgotten items, we need to know exactly what’s down there. We need to know what’s accessible. It’s a pain to get down there, so it should only house items that truly belong. And we need to be able to clean under there. I don’t know about your house.

 

In my house, that can get really, really, really dusty.

 

Tonya Kubo (02:47)

Oh, yeah. Well, and also, you know, I’ve got kids, they shove stuff under there. It’s not pretty, Kathi. It’s not pretty.

 

Kathi Lipp (02:52)

It’s, yes.

 

So this is the thing that I’m gonna give you an out for, but I think it’s a guiding principle that many of us should think about, but to use our under the bed space solely for things that are related to the bed. So here’s what I mean by that. That most of us probably have a couple of ? sets of sheets.

 

Tonya Kubo (03:03)

Mm-hmm.

 

Kathi Lipp (03:21)

Most of us have some extra pillows, some extra blankets that we’re not using year round, those kind of things. Now, I know that you happen to use your under the bed storage also for ? out of season clothing, correct? But you know that it’s there. I think it’s really important we do not have mysteries underneath our bed.

 

Tonya Kubo (03:26)

Mm-hmm.

 

Yep.

 

Mm-hmm.

 

Oh, I agree. But I just want to jump in and say you’re giving me an idea because remember this is an old house with two closets and we keep all the bedding and the sheets and stuff in the hallway closet, but it takes up two full shelves because they’re not very big shelves. And so now I’m like, and I have so much space underneath my bed still because I don’t have a lot of non-seasonal stuff. So I’m like, ooh, I could buy a couple.

 

Kathi Lipp (03:55)

Mm-hmm.

 

Yeah.

 

Really?

 

Okay.

 

Tonya Kubo (04:15)

containers and I could get two whole shelves free in my hallway.

 

Kathi Lipp (04:20)

And I’m going to tell you

 

the containers you should buy. This is revolutionized. Yes. Yes. Okay. So this is a quick episode. We’re going to take a quick break. And when we come back, we’re going to talk about setting up clutter-free under bed storage. So we’re going to take a quick break and we’ll come right back.

 

Tonya Kubo (04:24)

I love this! I don’t have to shop, you’ll tell me what to do!

 

Kathi Lipp (04:42)

Okay guys, this is gonna be one of our fastest episodes ever because there’s not that much space underneath our bed. So you don’t, we don’t need to have a giant episode here. But here is, I wanna give you guys some instructions on what to do to actually clean out underneath that bed and what you should be putting down there. So the very first thing I want you to do is pull everything out. And I want, I mean everything.

 

Don’t leave anything that’s in that middle space there just because you can’t reach it. Get a broom, do what you have to do, pull all of that out, okay? And then I want you to sort and purge. There is stuff that probably has been living down there for a really long time because you just don’t need it. So if you haven’t been pulling it out, like one of the things I just realized, Tonya, I can’t believe this. We had three mattress pads. Why?

 

Why did we have three mattress pads? I don’t really understand that. It makes no sense in my house why that would be a thing. So.

 

Tonya Kubo (05:47)

That feels like

 

a, bought one, we forgot we bought one, we bought another one sort of scenario.

 

Kathi Lipp (05:53)

Yeah, and I think maybe

 

the people who left us stuff in the house, maybe there was one there too, like it kind of. It did it gives with purchase, I love that it’s so true. Yes, it’s so true. So then ? this is the time to clean out that space, OK? So you’re going to want to dust. I have I bought something recently and I wasn’t going to mention this, but I’ll mention it now. I bought a.

 

Tonya Kubo (05:58)

Your house came with a lot of gifts with purchase.

 

Kathi Lipp (06:22)

? How do I want to say this it’s a cleaner for our fan blades like our blades So it’s like a triangle that you can put over your fan blade and all The dust comes off and when I say all the dust I mean all the dust it looked like it was snowing I didn’t realize how how how in just one year how much dust

 

Tonya Kubo (06:50)

Does it,

 

I was gonna say, does it work so well it makes you feel like you’ve been living in filth?

 

Kathi Lipp (06:56)

I feel disgusting, disgusting. ? But I use that to kind of sweep under my bed. It was perfect. It was absolutely perfect. And I also, we have a Roomba. Like it’s not a Roomba, but it’s Roomba-like. It’s actually higher rated than the Roomba. And so ? once we had everything out, I just pulled up all of the sheets and I let Roomba go wild under there. I don’t know if you saw this yesterday on my feed.

 

Tonya Kubo (07:12)

Mm-hmm.

 

Hmm… I did.

 

Kathi Lipp (07:26)

Guys, my Roomba ran. Roger did not pull up the dog food. I am gonna blame him because I take enough bullets around here. I get enough shrapnel for the things that I don’t do, not from Roger, but from myself. But he didn’t pick up Moose’s dog food and it ran right over it. And it’s so gross. It took about an hour to clean that out, pulling it all apart. my goodness. Yeah, it was disgusting. Yes.

 

Tonya Kubo (07:44)

It was so gross. So gross.

 

I bet. But like everybody who commented said, right, at least it wasn’t

 

poop because I have seen those pictures.

 

Kathi Lipp (07:56)

At least it wasn’t poop.

 

Yeah, no, no, this was so much better than poop. Can I just, it’s always good to be thankful, isn’t it? It’s always good to be thankful. And then we’re gonna choose some functional storage. Now, what I have used and I still use in some of our bedrooms is the clear plastic bins, okay? So that has been great. But I have discovered a new thing and that’s why we’re gonna combine this.

 

Tonya Kubo (08:09)

Mm-hmm.

 

Mm-hmm.

 

Kathi Lipp (08:24)

with our segment of things that have earned this place in my clutter free home. ? This is, it’s not clear. It’s a fabric box. It’s got the struck wires inside, but here’s the big difference. It’s on rollers. And yes, so it has a pocket so you can put what’s in there. like I have, ? I put it in that pocket, things like these are my ?

 

Tonya Kubo (08:35)

Mm-hmm.

 

Kathi Lipp (08:53)

out of season sheets. So flannel is under there right now. And then in the winter, I’ll put my spring sheets in there, but I just grabbed the handle. I pull it out from underneath my bed. I can fit four of these under my bed. You probably could fit six, but because of our nightstands, we fit four under there and it has made. And then here’s the crazy thing. I made a little map that goes inside our closet. So I know.

 

I don’t have to pull them all out to see which is underneath each one. It’s made such a difference. I’ll link it in the show notes, but now I know exactly what’s under my bed. It’s not a mystery anymore. So for me, I only have things under the bed that relate to the bed because we have an out of season ? bedspread.

 

because we have a very heavy bedspread that we use nine months out of the year, but in the summer we don’t use that. So ? we’ve got a very thin one that goes on there. ? We have extra blankets, different sheets, that kind of thing. So if it doesn’t relate to the bed, for at least for us, it doesn’t belong there. And now you’re going to adopt that as well. You have extra space. I love that. We’ve made a convert here.

 

Tonya Kubo (10:11)

Yes! I love this. This

 

makes me really happy.

 

Kathi Lipp (10:16)

Yeah, it.

 

OK, anything else that you want to say about under bed storage? Anything that you feel like has been important in your under bed storage journey?

 

Tonya Kubo (10:26)

Mm-hmm.

 

Well, so what I will say is, this hit me probably a few months ago, is if you take full advantage of the space underneath your bed, there isn’t space for other stuff to collect.

 

Kathi Lipp (10:46)

Yes, it’s so true. It’s so true. Your shoes can’t go under there. Your socks can’t fly under there. Yes.

 

Tonya Kubo (10:52)

Right.

 

Yes, or like the girls, know, if I put stuff underneath their bed, then they can’t shove clothes too far underneath that we can’t reach.

 

Kathi Lipp (11:04)

which I feel is really, really important for this time of year because at least in our household, it’s allergy season. And it’s really important to me that I don’t suffer from allergies like Roger does, but his allergies are terrible. And so I have to keep everything as dust free as possible. And you’re right, as the more items we have under there and the…

 

Tonya Kubo (11:12)

Mm-hmm. ?

 

Yeah.

 

Kathi Lipp (11:28)

It can’t just be shoving stuff under there. It has to be in boxes that fit together so they’re seamless. And then we can make sure that it is not collecting dust. I know I’m gonna have to at least once or twice a year go in there and just dust off the tops, but it’s not going to be every day. And here’s what I think is really, really important. When you know what’s under your bed, it’s not a

 

Tonya Kubo (11:48)

Mm-hmm.

 

Kathi Lipp (11:57)

burden anymore. It’s not a pit of mystery, which I feel like is really, really important with what we’re doing. Okay, this is a micro episode guys, but here’s the beautiful thing. It’s not going to take much for you to do this. So pull everything out, go through it, sort through what you don’t need. If it’s been under there for five years, you can donate it. You don’t need it anymore. If you have extra sheet sets that never get to, you never get to, it’s time to get rid of those.

 

Tonya Kubo (12:05)

Thank

 

Kathi Lipp (12:27)

If you have things that have just found their way down there and you don’t need anymore, or maybe you’ll find some treasures. If so, I hope that this has been a blessing to you. You’ve been listening to Clutter-Free Academy. I’m Kathi Lipp. Now, go create the clutter-free life you’ve always wanted to live.

 

 

More Posts 

#685 – Stuck and Overwhelmed? The Real Reason Your Clutter Won’t Budge

Are you worn out from battling clutter and not seeing the progress you’d hoped for? In this heartfelt episode, Kathi Lipp and Tonya Kubo explore the reality of declutter fatigue and why, for so many women, the journey can feel never-ending. If you’re feeling stuck,...

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#687 – What’s Lurking Under Your Bed? Declutter the Forgotten Zone for Good

#686 – Declutter Once and For All: Why Your Home’s Chaos Keeps Sneaking Back

#686 – Declutter Once and For All: Why Your Home’s Chaos Keeps Sneaking Back

Are you tired of feeling like you’re living on an endless treadmill of tidying up, only to have chaos sneak right back in? This week on the Clutter Free Podcast, Kathi dives deep into the secret reason behind recurring clutter—and why baskets and labels alone aren’t the fix your soul is craving. If you’ve ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or ashamed of your mess, you’re not alone. Tune in for practical, faith-filled strategies that break the cycle for good, plus real talk on battling perfectionism, overcoming guilt, and creating a peaceful haven without losing your mind or your faith. Whether you’re managing family clutter or just wondering if you’ll ever find the bottom of the laundry pile, this episode will inspire you to reclaim your home, your peace, and your sense of possibility. Grab your coffee (and maybe a basket or two), and let’s start decluttering for good—together! 

Sabbath Soup: Weekly Menus and Rhythms to Make Space for a Day of Rest

Kathi Lipp gives readers an easy-to-follow process for meal planning and prep, so that they can enjoy a full day each week of real rest and refreshment.

Could you use a break from cooking (and everything else) once a week? Not only is rest vital for your mind and body, it’s good for your soul too. God designed us to enter into Sabbath rest one day per week, but as you know, meals still need to be made. Your family still needs to be fed.

Sabbath Soup includes convenient, seasonal meal plans that take the guesswork out of shopping and cooking. More than just a collection of delicious recipes—including main dishes, breads, breakfasts, desserts, salads, sides, and yes, soups—this is your guide to establishing a weekly rhythm and routine of meal planning and prep that allows you to have a true day off.

Do something good for your soul and experience the peace that comes with a full day dedicated to spending time with God, family, and friends. Savor your Sabbath as you proudly proclaim, “Soup’s on!”

Order your copy of Sabbath Soup: Weekly Menus and Rhythms to Make Space for a Day of Rest here.

Links Mentioned:

 

FYI: Some product links may be affiliate links. If you buy, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support! 

 

Clutter Free Resources:

Let’s stay connected

To share your thoughts:

  • Leave a note in the comment section below.
  • Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help and I read each one.

Subscribe on iTunes or subscribe to our newsletter now.

Meet Our Co-Host

 

Tonya Kubo

Tonya Kubo is the illustrious and fearless leader of Kathi Lipp’s Clutter Free Academy Facebook group and the Clutter Free for Life membership program. A professional community strategist, she believes everyone deserves to have a place online where they feel like they belong. Raised by a hoarder, Tonya knows firsthand the pain and isolation that comes from living in conditions others don’t understand. She wants better for her family and her cluttery peeps, which is why she is passionate about the compassionate slow-and-steady approach that makes Clutter Free unique. She lives in the heart of California with her husband, Brian, their two spirited daughters, and one very tolerant cat. Visit tonyakubo.com to find out more about her community work, or email her at tonya@kathilipp.org to discuss the Clutter Free Academy podcast and programs.
Tonya Kubo Picture
Transcript

Kathi Lipp (00:10) 

Hey friends, welcome to Clutter Free Academy, where our goal is to help you take small, doable steps every day to live with less clutter and more life. And I am here with the queen of decluttering. She has dethroned the clutter in her own life. It is Tonya Kubo. Hey, Tonya. 

  

Tonya Kubo (00:28) 

Hey, Kathi. 

  

Kathi Lipp (00:30) 

I should always mention you and I are still on the journey. Nothing has been settled. are still, we are not just founders of the group, we are also members. But we are, I would say my life looks radically different than when I started on this journey 15 years ago. Your journey’s been closer to what, eight years? 

  

Tonya Kubo (00:55) 

No, actually my journey has been, so I can always time it with Abby because I started when she was six months old. And so she is 11 now. 

  

Kathi Lipp (01:01) 

? right, okay. 

  

okay. So you’ve been on this train for a while and you’re feeling the difference, right? 

  

Tonya Kubo (01:14) 

Definitely. But you know, one of the things that you said early on, know, as long as as long as you live with other people, you will always be on the journey. 

  

Kathi Lipp (01:25) 

Can I just say I Think I might be worse off left to my own devices not that mr. Roger doesn’t create some messes every once in a while but I act better around him he you know He just like Josh Groban. It was our wedding song you raised me up He raises me up out of my clutter and you know keeps me on the straight and narrow he he’s a good person in that 

  

Tonya Kubo (01:44) 

Mm. 

  

Kathi Lipp (01:51) 

And it’s so appropriate we’re talking about that today because we’re gonna talk about the room that I share with Roger. It is the bedroom. Now, we’re not talking about it like that, friends, but ? we are talking about, I know, I’m sorry, this is not clutter-free after dark. ? 

  

Tonya Kubo (02:10) 

First 

  

influence on you, Kathi! We always get inappropriate. We had the underwear episode, now we have a bedroom episode. 

  

Kathi Lipp (02:12) 

No. 

  

Ha 

  

Tonya Kubo (02:22) 

And moose, moose does not approve of our behavior right now. 

  

Kathi Lipp (02:26) 

Okay guys, you know what if if I stop this podcast every time Moose barks today We are not going to get through it. And here’s the thing. We have people That have just put a new roof on our house. So I thought it’s fine to record today But they are coming and doing the cleanup work and moose things they because of that they should all die and so I’ve 

  

I have one window open in the house that she can’t see out of everything else is shut down. It’s like a cave in here. Okay, and because I’m in the bedroom, but she’s on the bed and she can see outside if or she just assumes that things are happening outside anyway, let’s talk about the bedroom because here’s the thing friends sleep is the foundation of health ? they sit I read something recently like 

  

The lack of sleep that many Americans have is having the same damage as what smoking was in the 70s and being alive and conscious in the 70s. Let me tell you, there was a lot of smoking going on and it was not good. Yeah, I’m the only person I know who’s like when I smell a Newport light or a Newport, I’m like, ? that reminds me of childhood. That’s not good, people. It’s not good. ? 

  

Tonya Kubo (03:27) 

Mm-hmm. 

  

was a lot of smoking. 

  

haha 

  

Kathi Lipp (03:49) 

So, Tonya, I don’t know about you, but for me, my bedroom can be the dumping ground. And I thought, I was gonna say, I think I kinda know about you, but I didn’t wanna call you out without calling myself out first. Yeah. 

  

Tonya Kubo (03:58) 

Always, always. 

  

  1. Well,

  

it’s like one of those things where it’s not just, it’s everybody’s dumping ground, right? You know, we’ve talked about this before because the house is, this house in particular is small. Cause our bedroom has not always been the dumping ground in every house that we have lived in. But because my workstation is in our bedroom, like, 

  

Kathi Lipp (04:13) 

Yeah. 

  

Mm-hmm. 

  

Yeah. Yeah. 

  

Tonya Kubo (04:30) 

Everybody wants to pile stuff for mom to see and everybody knows mom will see it if it’s in here. 

  

Kathi Lipp (04:34) 

Mm-hmm. 

  

Yeah. Well, and can we just say this is becoming a reality for, you know, for a long time, Roger had his office in our bedroom and I was more of like, I’m at the kitchen table. I’m, I’m working in the living room. I’m working at Starbucks. But when we got rid of some kids, Roger took over an office and because he knew his situation was he needed, you know, soundproofing and quiet and stuff like that. 

  

Throughout the day I could schedule mine but for a lot of us our office is now in the bedroom and So this is becoming a reality for it all of us. I I knew that It it was a problem You know as I have not been feeling a hundred percent recently and I’m pretty good normally about getting dishes downstairs but when Roger said 

  

Tonya Kubo (05:14) 

Mm-hmm. 

  

Kathi Lipp (05:33) 

You know, I’ve come, I’ve looked all over the house. We are, I can’t find any glasses. And I had a stash of glasses in the bedroom that he couldn’t see. I’m like, okay, that’s not good. It’s not good because it is the stash and dash. And I don’t know, I feel like my bedroom, it’s my favorite place to hang out too. It’s like, it’s where I rest, I recharge. I know that’s not it for everybody. But why do bedrooms, 

  

Tonya Kubo (05:55) 

Hmm. 

  

Kathi Lipp (06:02) 

Become the chaos zones. ? I think it’s the one room we can close the door on when company comes and Nobody’s allowed in there. Like you can’t do that with your bathroom because Tonya you have one bathroom. So Yeah ? Plus it’s the place where we get dressed and undressed. It’s it’s laundry limbo and ? I think also 

  

Tonya Kubo (06:17) 

I have one bathroom. 

  

Mm-hmm. 

  

Kathi Lipp (06:29) 

It’s the space that’s ours so that when ? we need to put something somewhere and we don’t know what to do with it, I feel like the default is the bedroom because at least it’s in my space. It’s not in the common space. 

  

Okay, we’re doing the great bedroom decluttering reset. We’re gonna do this for five days. It’s Monday through Friday. ? And so I wanna give you some ideas as you approach this. ? Day number one, Monday, we are going to clean our nightstands. You know how passionate I am about a clear nightstand. Do you have a traditional nightstand, Tonya? 

  

Tonya Kubo (07:12) 

don’t, Brian does. 

  

Kathi Lipp (07:14) 

Okay, so what would you do instead of the nightstand? What would be your space? 

  

Tonya Kubo (07:18) 

? 

  

yeah, so, so the dresser is close to my side of the bed. So I just use like a little piece of the dresser. 

  

Kathi Lipp (07:22) 

okay. 

  

Okay, that’s really really smart. Okay, so here’s what I want you to think about guys Are there things on or in your nightstand that do not belong there? Are there things you need to reconfigure? So I I want you to think about decluttering but also part of decluttering is Do you have old cords there that don’t need to be there? is there something about your nightstand that bugs you? Do you have a working lamp there? 

  

Or a non working lamp that you need to rethink. How can you make your nightstand? The thing that it’s supposed to be now for me the thing it’s supposed to be is a place for my glasses The top place for my glasses my drink to charge my phone We got really fancy nightstands not too long ago that have a place for the cord You know, so you can plug it you plug in your nightstand 

  

and you can charge your cell phone there. I never would have done that until we got the universal cords, but now that we have universal cords, I’m all in, baby. I’m very excited about that. ? But I will tell you, it is a great collector of nonsense, and I need to go through some of that nonsense. My first drawer is things like ? my vitamins and a couple of medications I take each night. It has my… ? 

  

you know, night basket. I’ve talked about it before. So I’ve got this little basket that has ? something to pull my hair back. It has face wipes. It has face cream. It has ? teeth wipes for when I’m just, I just can’t, I just can’t. ? It’s got all of that kind of stuff. So that’s the first drawer. The bottom drawer are things like a shoe horn, just weird stuff that you need and you need to know where it’s at. So that’s gonna be 

  

Tonya Kubo (09:04) 

Mm-hmm. 

  

Mm-hmm. 

  

Kathi Lipp (09:17) 

? day one. ? Okay day number two decluttering drawers, so I I What I would like to suggest is that you set a timer for 15 minutes and maybe that’s one drawer for you Or maybe that’s three drawers, but it’s not going to be all the drawers. Let’s be super super clear 

  

And I want you to start with the drawer that bugs you the most. Tonya, what drawer bugs you the most? 

  

Tonya Kubo (09:45) 

Well, I would say in my underwear drawer, which is funny because it is the drawer that is at like eye level height for both girls. And so when they don’t know where to put something and they don’t want to just leave it on the surface, they shove it in there. So, you know, at night I get, I open that drawer and there’s like all sorts of surprises. 

  

Kathi Lipp (09:51) 

Mmm. 

  

Bye. 

  

Why is the underwear drawer the Bermuda triangle of our bedrooms? I don’t understand this, but I do that weird stuff too. I don’t understand. We’ve talked about this before. I have a dead chicken footprint. I don’t anymore, but I did for a really long time. 

  

Tonya Kubo (10:11) 

you 

  

Well, you’re going to love this, Kathi. So I opened the drawer this morning and there’s like a brand new sports bra in there that is not mine. Why is there a brand new sports bra in my drawer? And one child says, well, I didn’t want my sister to see it and take it. So I put it there. Okay. 

  

Kathi Lipp (10:33) 

Yeah. 

  

Okay. Yeah. 

  

? 

  

Can I guess? Okay, that was Lily. That has Lily written all 

  

over it. Because Abby is not worried about her sister stealing her stuff nearly as much as Lily is. I don’t blame her. Lily, I see you. I see you as an older sister. I see you. 

  

Tonya Kubo (10:59) 

Bye. 

  

Yeah. 

  

It is so hard to be the older sister. 

  

Kathi Lipp (11:11) 

Yeah, and guys if your underwear drawer is the drawer you’re gonna work on we’re gonna put a link in the show notes here to our our discussion about underwear drawers because they truly are The the lost city of Atlantis when it comes to our bedrooms. Okay day number three floor and under the bed Okay, I have a terrible habit Tonya of 

  

Tonya Kubo (11:39) 

Mm-hmm. 

  

Kathi Lipp (11:39) 

taking off my socks right before bed and then they get smooshed under the bed and we go there and we find like, why do I not have any pairs of socks? Because half of them are under the bed. How is your floor and under the bed and what will you be concentrating on on day three? 

  

Tonya Kubo (11:50) 

They’re under the bed. 

  

So I actually kick off my shoes under the bed. that’s the Bermuda Triangle of shoes for me is underneath the bed. My habit is because I go to bed before everybody else and I wake up before everybody else, I tend to leave my clothes on the floor in front of my dresser. And then I wake up to everybody else adding other stuff on top of my stuff. And I can’t get mad, Kathi, because I started the pile. 

  

Kathi Lipp (12:00) 

yes, okay. 

  

? 

  

Tonya Kubo (12:26) 

Let’s be real. I don’t get to get angry with them when I started the pile on my floor. 

  

Kathi Lipp (12:27) 

I know, I know. 

  

I 

  

know, I know. Well, and you guys live in a very small space. yeah, decisions are made. Decisions have been made. This is what we’re doing. Okay, yeah, for me, it’s, definitely need, we’ve got under our bed pretty well organized, but I do want to pull everything out and just say, okay, is everything in the tub it’s supposed to be? Here’s what I want to do. I want to make a list of what’s under there. 

  

Tonya Kubo (12:36) 

Yeah. 

  

Kathi Lipp (12:57) 

because everything that’s under there is supposed to be under there, but I’m not always 100 % sure if it’s labeled, you know, the winter sheets, the summer, whatever. Okay, day number four. I wanna give you a couple of different options. So you could, this is all about your bed, your actual bed, okay? So you could take everything off. This is if you have a dust ruffle, maybe your comforter. 

  

So to wash it ? and put it back on. So that’s a big job. I know it’s a big job, but it needs to be done. We don’t have a dust ruffle, but they catch so much dust and dust mites and yeah, it needs to be taken care of. Or in the normal course of you changing your sheets, maybe this is the day you change your sheets, maybe it’s time to vacuum that mattress. 

  

You should be doing that every six months. okay, Tonya’s looking at me with disgust. Okay, what? 

  

Tonya Kubo (14:02) 

I’m not looking at you with 

  

disgust. I’m just like, ? that’s a thing we’re supposed to do. I did not learn that in high school or college, Kathi. I did not. 

  

Kathi Lipp (14:10) 

You know, that’s okay. You know 

  

what? We’re here to teach you. Yeah. So the vacuum, can I tell you, if you follow me on Facebook, you know that ? in July ? Moose got skunked. And that is a different experience than I have ever experienced before. And I am a changed human being. My biggest fear. 

  

Tonya Kubo (14:39) 

you 

  

Kathi Lipp (14:40) 

We had just replaced 

  

our mattress. We had just replaced it. And of course, Moose’s favorite spot in the entire world is our bed. so, yeah, and you know, she, I was like, do I sleep downstairs with her? So after her third de-skunking bath, we were much better. But I was terrified because mattresses are so expensive. They’re so expensive. And yeah, so. ? 

  

Tonya Kubo (15:07) 

They are. 

  

Kathi Lipp (15:10) 

So yeah, every six months just take ? a vacuum to it if you’ve never done it before Day four is the day for you. So just get that attachment out and ? You’re gonna get a lot of dust and things like that and that’s okay ? You know what don’t feel guilty for what you haven’t done. Just going forward. I do it when we change our ? clocks 

  

when we change our, which nobody changes any clocks hardly anymore, because it’s all done automatically. Not all of them, but like my oven’s not, my coffee maker’s not, but like, I don’t have a lot of change back clocks. Do you? 

  

Tonya Kubo (15:35) 

Mmm. 

  

Mm-hmm. 

  

Microwave is the only thing we have to change. 

  

Kathi Lipp (15:52) 

Yeah, 

  

yeah, okay, okay. So that’s usually when I like I literally take that afternoon off and do a whole bunch of things that need to happen every six months and then day number five. This is where I want you to choose your own adventure. ? Maybe you need to wash your curtains and put them right back up. ? Maybe 

  

you know, that’s not something you need to do. You can get out some candles, you know, would a candle in your room be really nice? One of the things that we did is we got ? those electric candles and we’ve got those around the room and we’ve got them on a timer now. And I love that investment. It’s just, it’s a great way to calm down at night and walk into a room that is. 

  

partially lit. It’s really really lovely. So I just want you to do something that is going to make you feel good about that room. Tonya, what would you do? 

  

Tonya Kubo (16:56) 

Well, I just started actually ? using a candle in the bedroom because I used to use room sprays, but you know, I’ve got so many folks here with allergies. So, yeah, so I have a candle on my desk that I like to light. You know, I usually light it a little bit after lunchtime and then it just leaves the room smelling nice at bedtime. 

  

Kathi Lipp (17:02) 

Yeah. 

  

Mm-hmm. 

  

Love that. Okay. So look at your candles go. You probably don’t need to buy a candle friend You probably have one in your house that you can dig out and use and if you’re like, but I don’t like that one Friend, why is it still in your house? Just I we’re over here asking the hard questions. That’s what we do at clutter free Academy. Okay, I Also want you to think about how you can set the tone with sleeping triggers, you know, we’ve had dr. Vicky here on the podcast all 

  

Tonya Kubo (17:30) 

Mm-hmm. 

  

That’s what we do. ? 

  

Kathi Lipp (17:45) 

put a link to her show in the show notes. We’ve got so many good past episodes, guys, so I want you to check those out. ? think about, if you go to bed at 10 o’clock, can you start to lower the lights about nine o’clock, an hour before bed? I have a pen and a little pad ? that I keep next to my bed. I went and grabbed it so I can show you if you’re on video and wanna see it. It’s one. 

  

? that suzy flory gave me it says things to do so my chickens can have a better life by the way Tonya did I tell you we became grandparents? 

  

Tonya Kubo (18:25) 

No! 

  

Kathi Lipp (18:26) 

Our chickens finally laid their first eggs. And so they’re itty bitty teeny teeny tiny. I’ll take a picture so we can put them in the show notes, but they’re so cute. So we are registered at Tractor Supply. If anybody wants to go look at my grandma registry, that’s where you can find it. Okay, so got your pen and paper. And then ? for yourself or maybe for your kids, ? if 

  

You have trouble going to sleep, having a good calming routine. ? I do five deep breaths. Now, some people would say that that would wake you up. It just, for some reason, it just helps me. It triggers my brain to say I’m going to sleep. Also, putting my facial moisturizer on totally triggers me to go to sleep. I don’t know what that is, but it’s super, super helpful. Anything you do to kind of trigger your brain to say, nope, it’s time to go to bed. 

  

Tonya Kubo (19:00) 

Mm-hmm. 

  

you 

  

Well, so for us, you know, there is bedtime rituals. ? There’s a magnesium lotion I use on the girls that kind of just helps them settle. We all use sleep masks and ? that’s helpful. Just like shutting out all the ambient light is super helpful for us. And fuzzy socks, I like fuzzy socks. 

  

Kathi Lipp (19:33) 

? 

  

? okay. 

  

Yeah, I love that. Yeah. 

  

Okay, you know, you have to keep trying things until you find what works, right? And once you find what works, it really does help trigger your brain to say, I want to sleep. Guys, we want your bedroom to be your favorite place in your house. So one of the things I’m gonna encourage you to do is join us over at Clutterfree, it’s Kathi Lipps Clutterfree Academy over on Facebook, September 15th through 19th. 

  

Tonya Kubo (19:53) 

Mm-hmm. 

  

Kathi Lipp (20:18) 

we are going to, as a group, do the Great Bedroom Declutter Challenge. So ? if you’re not a part of that group, go over there and join. We have a couple of questions to ask you just to make sure you’re not a bot or you’re not trying to sell things or even worse, a perfectionistic person who wants to tell the rest of us that we’re lazy. We don’t do it. So if you go to Kathi, that’s k-a-t-h-i dot link slash c-f-a. 

  

you’re going to be able to go join that group. So we’ll have the link also in the show notes, but that’s k-a-t-h-i dot link slash c-f-a. That’s for ClutterFree Academy. Guys, let your bedroom be a recovery room, not a storage unit. All right? That is our goal for September. Friends, you’ve been listening to ClutterFree Academy. I’m Kathi Lipp. Now, go create the clutter free life you’ve always wanted to live. 

 

 

More Posts 

#685 – Stuck and Overwhelmed? The Real Reason Your Clutter Won’t Budge

Are you worn out from battling clutter and not seeing the progress you’d hoped for? In this heartfelt episode, Kathi Lipp and Tonya Kubo explore the reality of declutter fatigue and why, for so many women, the journey can feel never-ending. If you’re feeling stuck,...

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#687 – What’s Lurking Under Your Bed? Declutter the Forgotten Zone for Good

#685 – Stuck and Overwhelmed? The Real Reason Your Clutter Won’t Budge

#685 – Stuck and Overwhelmed? The Real Reason Your Clutter Won’t Budge

Are you worn out from battling clutter and not seeing the progress you’d hoped for? In this heartfelt episode, Kathi Lipp and Tonya Kubo explore the reality of declutter fatigue and why, for so many women, the journey can feel never-ending. If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or just plain tired of trying—this conversation offers practical hope and encouragement. Kathi and Tonya candidly tackle the frustration and emotional load that comes with decluttering, share faith-based wisdom for those tough days, and offer four simple steps to help you restart your journey with renewed energy. Tune in to discover how God meets you in the mess and how you can break free from the clutter cycle—for good.  

Sabbath Soup: Weekly Menus and Rhythms to Make Space for a Day of Rest

Kathi Lipp gives readers an easy-to-follow process for meal planning and prep, so that they can enjoy a full day each week of real rest and refreshment.

Could you use a break from cooking (and everything else) once a week? Not only is rest vital for your mind and body, it’s good for your soul too. God designed us to enter into Sabbath rest one day per week, but as you know, meals still need to be made. Your family still needs to be fed.

Sabbath Soup includes convenient, seasonal meal plans that take the guesswork out of shopping and cooking. More than just a collection of delicious recipes—including main dishes, breads, breakfasts, desserts, salads, sides, and yes, soups—this is your guide to establishing a weekly rhythm and routine of meal planning and prep that allows you to have a true day off.

Do something good for your soul and experience the peace that comes with a full day dedicated to spending time with God, family, and friends. Savor your Sabbath as you proudly proclaim, “Soup’s on!”

Order your copy of Sabbath Soup: Weekly Menus and Rhythms to Make Space for a Day of Rest here.

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Meet Our Co-Host

 

Tonya Kubo

Tonya Kubo is the illustrious and fearless leader of Kathi Lipp’s Clutter Free Academy Facebook group and the Clutter Free for Life membership program. A professional community strategist, she believes everyone deserves to have a place online where they feel like they belong. Raised by a hoarder, Tonya knows firsthand the pain and isolation that comes from living in conditions others don’t understand. She wants better for her family and her cluttery peeps, which is why she is passionate about the compassionate slow-and-steady approach that makes Clutter Free unique. She lives in the heart of California with her husband, Brian, their two spirited daughters, and one very tolerant cat. Visit tonyakubo.com to find out more about her community work, or email her at tonya@kathilipp.org to discuss the Clutter Free Academy podcast and programs.
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Transcript

 

Kathi Lipp (00:11) 

Hey friends, welcome to Clutterfree Academy where our goal is to help you take small doable steps to live every day with less clutter and more life. And guys, let me just tell you, ? you’ve heard me talk about it here on the podcast. I am still recovering from COVID. Now I am totally toast. Okay, this is what’s happening with my brain. Okay. 

  

Tonya Kubo (00:30) 

I was gonna say you 

  

were just about to say you were totally fine, but you couldn’t get those words out 

  

Kathi Lipp (00:38) 

I could not. I am testing negative, so that is good. But I will tell you the the exhaustion is real. I am good for about four hours. And let me just tell you, they are not stellar four hours. They are. We’re just surviving four hours. But then I’m toast. I have to go lay down. ? I can’t believe I did this. But let me just here’s my true confession, because my doctor said 

  

Tonya Kubo (00:50) 

Mm-hmm. 

  

Mm-hmm. 

  

Kathi Lipp (01:07) 

You can probably expect another three weeks of this. No, like, no. And I don’t know why, but it is exhausting to sit at my desk. It is just exhausting. I do so much better in bed. So do you know what I’ve done? I’ve ordered a hospital table. So this is just a table that you know what it is. Like it sticks out. Yes. 

  

Tonya Kubo (01:09) 

Mm-hmm. 

  

Mmm. 

  

that comes to the side of your bed! 

  

Yes. 

  

Kathi Lipp (01:35) 

And 

  

it rolls under with it. It was only like 60 bucks, which you know, I don’t have 60 bucks to throw around, but I just do so much better with my legs up ? and ? just being cozy under blankets. I can do so much more so. 

  

Tonya Kubo (01:40) 

Mm-hmm. 

  

Kathi Lipp (01:55) 

? I have ordered a hospital table that can collapse down. We can put it in the attic when we’re done, because I know I’m going to be, but I don’t want to be underwater for the next three weeks not being, not getting some stuff done. So ? as I stated on Facebook the other day, ? we have a lot of people who come to Clutterfree Academy or a part of Clutterfree for Life. 

  

who deal with chronic illness. Now, this is not chronic illness what I’m dealing with, not by a long shot. And it has also given me a 1 % insight to having to manage my energy. And a couple of years ago, you went through a major health thing where you had to really manage what you were doing. We have both been through something. And so we don’t have all the answers. 

  

Tonya Kubo (02:26) 

Mm-hmm. 

  

Mm-hmm. 

  

Kathi Lipp (02:53) 

But here’s what we do, Tonya, You and I listen to the answers from the people in our communities that have chronic illness. And we’ve gained some insight. ? So if you are recovering from illness or you’re in a hard caregiving season, maybe you’re grieving or you were just run down. I mean, like that’s what I am. I’m run down. But this episode is for you. Tonya ? 

  

I put up a question in Facebook about how do you survive when you’re completely overwhelmed? And we got some great answers, including yours. And so I would love for you to share with our audience what you said ? you do when you’re in that space. 

  

Tonya Kubo (03:41) 

Yeah, I would love to. for me, and I think the question had something to do with like, you know, how, how do you intentionally like lower the bar, right? When you’re already in over your head. And so I feel like as a mom, right, I’ve got kids in the house, I’ve got a husband, but like the number one thing is everybody has to eat. 

  

Kathi Lipp (03:51) 

Yes, yes. 

  

Tonya Kubo (04:02) 

And I am fortunate in that we haven’t had too many situations where all of us are sick at the same time. There’s usually at least one person who can do something. But I think, you know, it’s making sure that you have stuff available for everybody to eat because that’s one of the best ways that you can heal and recover is to make sure you’re getting your nutrients. So generally speaking, we always have stuff to make soup on hand. 

  

Kathi Lipp (04:03) 

Mm-hmm. 

  

Yeah. Right. 

  

Tonya Kubo (04:31) 

I make my own bone broth, you know, anytime I roast a chicken or whatever. And so that’s usually in the freezer. I freeze fresh ginger so that I can add that easily to recipes. So I’ve almost always got that in the freezer. And then we do a lot of ? freezing of cooked meats, like just, you know, browning ground beef and having that ready to go, boneless, skinless chicken breasts. So in a perfect world, I’ll have all of that in my freezer and I can just make a quick pot of soup. But… 

  

We also keep like I buy like from frontier foods or something but dehydrated soup vegetables where you can just add like a quarter of a cup of them to you four cups of liquid and you make a quick soup So I think those like having a quick soup to put together is easy. I do live in town I can order delivery like I know when my mother-in-law has been sick. She loves whenever she’s sick She loves the chicken tortilla soup from El Pollo Loco and we’ll just 

  

Kathi Lipp (05:07) 

Yeah. 

  

yeah, that’s a good soup. 

  

Tonya Kubo (05:29) 

Yeah, well, if we’re not sick, we’ll order that and we’ll just go and take it to her, but we’ve ordered it before just to be delivered to her house. ? That’s super helpful. Abby swears the chicken noodle soup at Panera is the best soup ever. I don’t know, but okay. 

  

Kathi Lipp (05:44) 

Well, that’s kind of because 

  

Panera is kind of dressed up hospital food. you know, so that’s that’s where she’s getting the vibes from. Yes. But I will say, yeah, I don’t know. A Panera orange scone. ? Yeah, will heal just about anything. Yeah. So, ? you know, it’s so interesting. You and I were talking, I don’t know, a couple of weeks ago, and I was like, the best thing I did 

  

Tonya Kubo (05:50) 

okay. 

  

Got it, that would make sense. 

  

Hmm. 

  

Kathi Lipp (06:14) 

? when the bet the the thing that made me feel so much better was Roger changed the sheets and talk about sheets 

  

Tonya Kubo (06:20) 

Mm-hmm. 

  

Mm, yes. So I don’t know about you, but I ever since I was little, I noticed that like there’s some funky smell that happens when you get sick. And it took me until I was in my 30s to realize that smell was my sheets. So one thing that we try to do is we always try to have at least two extra sets of ? sheets on hand to that way we can strip the bed every three, three days or so. 

  

Kathi Lipp (06:36) 

Yes. 

  

Tonya Kubo (06:54) 

But I find if I can keep up, nothing else, keep up on the towels and the sheets. Like if the linens are washed and dried and ready, I’m doing pretty well. So like when the stomach flu hits the house, that is my first priority is making sure that I’ve got clean towels and clean sheets in rotation at all times. Because if I get hit, I know that I deserve, Kathi Lipp, I deserve clean towels. I deserve clean sheets. 

  

Kathi Lipp (07:17) 

Right. 

  

Yes. Yes. 

  

Tonya Kubo (07:23) 

And if I’m not staying 

  

up on it while everybody else is sick, guess what? There’s no clean towels left for mom when she needs them. 

  

Kathi Lipp (07:30) 

Yeah, and can I just go a little step further on that? Now, people all lost their minds when I said, I don’t sort my clothes before I wash them. We’ll do a whole nother episode. But here is something I do that has been, ? especially when I’m sick, is using laundry sanitizer, which is not a bleach, but it just sanitizes your laundry. And when we’ve had COVID, when we have a big group of people here, 

  

Tonya Kubo (07:34) 

Mm-hmm. 

  

Mmm. 

  

Kathi Lipp (07:59) 

I just run the towels and the sheets through with the sanitizer and it just makes it feel so much cleaner. So just something to think about. Now that is not necessarily about lowering the standards. It’s just a little extra tip, but yeah. And by the way, if you’re sick, somebody else in your house should be doing that for you. Should be doing the laundry and stuff like that for you. Okay, I wanna talk food for when you are sick. 

  

Tonya Kubo (08:02) 

Mm-hmm. 

  

Mm-hmm. 

  

Kathi Lipp (08:29) 

One of the things, a category that we got was meals that take less than five minutes. So Suzy Flory, who has been on this podcast before, she says, you know, if she has the energy, she makes a pot of chicken soup. But if she doesn’t have the energy, she opens up a can of refried beans, put some salsa and cheese into a tortilla and she has a quick burrito. And I’m like, 

  

That is dream. Can I tell you also what Suzy did for me last night? Because I’m still in the midst. Roger is not ? the guy who’s going to do a home cooked meal. ? She is on a book deadline. So she is offered to bring me, well, she’s on her doctoral thesis deadline, let’s be clear, which is turning into a book, right? But ? I kept telling her, don’t bring me anything. Don’t bring, you know, finish your book, finish your book, we’re fine. And she goes, 

  

Tonya Kubo (09:12) 

? yeah. 

  

Kathi Lipp (09:21) 

Hey, I’m coming to your house and bringing you food. And I’m like, that would be lovely because she’s offered so many times. So what she did, she just got back from Texas and she, think she was inspired by this. She stopped by our local grocery store. It’s local to her. And she picked up some sliced Thai tri-tip. She brought some ? barbecue sauces. She brought some potato salad, some pasta salad and some beans. 

  

Tonya Kubo (09:27) 

Yeah. 

  

Kathi Lipp (09:50) 

And ? so she and some buns and she made us tri-tip sandwiches last night and she stayed and ate with us, which was lovely. I mean, I was so tired by the time she left, but my soul was reenergized. And then this is where she is so extra. Not only did she bring us a quart of vanilla ice cream, she made ? peach hand pies because she know, right? And so. 

  

Tonya Kubo (09:55) 

Mmm. 

  

she makes the best pie crust ever. 

  

Kathi Lipp (10:17) 

This is more crust than pie, which by the way are the ratios that I love. So she really went extra for it, but it was so lovely and I felt so loved and so taken care of last night and so did Roger. Cause let’s also, he’s a caregiver all this. I try to be very low maintenance, but he is checking in all the time. ? Shannon Garcia says, ? we just do ? cereal and milk. And I’m like, you get it girl. I love that. ? 

  

Tonya Kubo (10:20) 

Mm-hmm. 

  

Mm-hmm. 

  

Mm-hmm. 

  

Kathi Lipp (10:46) 

Tina Maxwell, I love this. She does a lot of charcuterie style snacks. You talked about how ? your Abby loves, does she call them? 

  

Tonya Kubo (10:56) 

The Snackle Box. 

  

Kathi Lipp (10:58) 

That’s right. You know, I love this just like getting some sliced ham, some sliced cheese. You can even get sliced apples and toothpicks and just like I grab kind of, if that sounds good to you, I love that. And then Trisha, I want to make sure, Ontiveros I hope I pronounced that right. Ontiveros, you said it much more elegantly than I did. 

  

Tonya Kubo (11:07) 

Mm-hmm. 

  

Mm-hmm, on Tavares, yeah. 

  

Kathi Lipp (11:24) 

? Instant mashed potatoes, which I think everybody should have in their cabinet at all time. They’re so much better than they used to be. And here’s my justification for using them, is that Julia Child served them to her husband one time and he couldn’t tell the difference. I’m like, okay, if it’s good enough for Julia’s husband, it’s good enough for me. And then Trisha says she does that with some canned green beans and ham steak. And by the way, I’m not a big… 

  

Tonya Kubo (11:41) 

Mm-hmm. 

  

Kathi Lipp (11:51) 

canned green bean person, that’s not my favorite, but there is a lemon pepper seasoning that you can get at Costco, that you put that on any green bean product, it’s a winner. ? It’s the one with the cow head on it. I’ll make sure that we mention that, yeah, it’s so good. And then somebody else mentioned mac and cheese and frozen chicken nuggets and applesauce. that is a, whatever works, friend. ? Yeah, so. 

  

Tonya Kubo (12:03) 

So good? 

  

you 

  

Whatever works. 

  

Kathi Lipp (12:21) 

? Let’s talk about your pantry and some freezer MVPs. ? Now, Pauline and Shelly both mentioned rotisserie chickens. There is nothing. I keep a cut up frozen chicken in my freezer at all times. And then somebody else, you just mentioned a dehydrated vegetable soup mix. ? 

  

Tonya Kubo (12:37) 

Mmm, so smart. 

  

Mm-hmm. 

  

Kathi Lipp (12:49) 

And I’ve seen these Bear Creek soup mixes. 

  

Tonya Kubo (12:53) 

who always has five or six of those in her pantry. I will tell you, my family does not enjoy like soup mixes like that. That’s just not their thing. These are so good, Kathi. They do a really delicious, I will give you all my favorite flavors, not that you asked, but I will tell you them anyway. The minestrone is really good. There is a like cheddar potato that I think is really delicious. And then, yeah, so good. And then the beef and barley and what? 

  

Kathi Lipp (13:03) 

Okay? 

  

Okay? 

  

Okay, okay. 

  

? I’ve had that before. It’s so good. 

  

Tonya Kubo (13:23) 

My friend likes about them is you can just make them as is on the package, but they always have embellishment ideas on the back. So for the minestrone, what she does is she’ll brown ground beef and onion, and then she does the soup. So it’s a little bit of a heartier soup. ? But I have to say, I have not had a bad one. think right after my friend introduced me to them, I went to her house and we had soup together. I saw them for sale at the grocery store. 

  

Kathi Lipp (13:30) 

Yes. 

  

? 

  

? 

  

Tonya Kubo (13:52) 

Cause I feel like they’re a little expensive. They’re not really that expensive. Okay. I think they’re like $5, but they were on sale five for five. So he picks them up and even Brian, Mr. Soup Snob that he is, he thought they were pretty tasty. 

  

Kathi Lipp (13:56) 

Yeah, right. 

  

Okay, yeah, this is this is You know making some adjustments and you know zipping them up, which I love. Yeah, Sarah her Burley Sarah Burley mentioned this she says Bear Creek vegetable beef dry soup mix and add a can or two of canned beef from Walmart or Costco when they have it and a beef bullion cube and we have dinner for days makes eight to ten cups of soup. I love that 

  

Tonya Kubo (14:12) 

Mm-hmm. 

  

Mm-hmm. 

  

Kathi Lipp (14:36) 

I love that and some you know, don’t don’t sleep on frozen entrees So one of the things we did is I made a sam’s card order or not sam’s card Excuse me sam’s club order where you can just go and pick it up because you know Roger this isn’t his bailiwick We’re just you know being honest here. So we got some of the shredded pork carnitas and we just did that with 

  

Tonya Kubo (14:46) 

Mm-hmm. 

  

Mm-hmm. 

  

Mm-hmm. 

  

Kathi Lipp (15:03) 

some vegetables and that he did on the grill and some tortillas and that was wonderful. Some people suggest, ? go ahead, yeah. 

  

Tonya Kubo (15:09) 

Kathi, 

  

I’m sorry, because you said frozen entrees. have to share something that you like introduced us to. taking frozen, because we always have like frozen wonton, frozen pot stickers, things like that in our freezer, because my family loves that. But dropping that into some chicken broth with a little bit of green onion back to you can buy freeze dried green onion. Like tastes just like fresh. 

  

Kathi Lipp (15:18) 

Yeah. 

  

Yeah, yeah. 

  

Yeah. 

  

which is a beautiful thing, right? 

  

Tonya Kubo (15:36) 

But again, quick soup filling but light all at the same time. So fast. 

  

Kathi Lipp (15:41) 

Yeah 

  

Yeah, think about these things guys like the healthy choice steamers frozen ravioli ? A prepared meatloaf a prepared pizza like this is survival food guys We’re not talking about your entertaining or this is what you do every week I like to just have a sliced ham because ham can be eaten You know warm cold it does not matter 

  

Tonya Kubo (16:07) 

Mm-hmm. 

  

Kathi Lipp (16:09) 

You can throw it into eggs for breakfast. can have it between two slices of bread for lunch. You can put some ? mac and cheese with it and some artichokes or artichokes, excuse me, asparagus. And that’s dinner. Like do what you have to do. There have been some days where I just haven’t felt like eating, but Roger still wants to eat and I want to have things that are easy for him. ? Jill May says she eats 

  

Tonya Kubo (16:12) 

Mm-hmm. 

  

Mm-hmm. 

  

Kathi Lipp (16:38) 

pressure canned meat. So ? if that is something you’re into, that’s great to do in advance. Or if you’re bringing something to somebody, that’s a beautiful thing. And then Lori Hayes says she loves a good salad kit, deli meat, hard boiled eggs. ? That is a winning combination. I love those ideas. Okay, but guys, it’s, ? it’s not just about the food. We also have other things to keep up on. 

  

Sarah Thompson made mention she only really keeps up on her bathroom and kitchen like right 

  

Tonya Kubo (17:15) 

I agree. I agree 

  

because everybody deserves to throw up in a clean toilet. That’s my rule. That is my rule. You deserve to throw up in a clean toilet. 

  

Kathi Lipp (17:21) 

it’s so true, right? Yeah. 

  

I love that. And you’re gonna be more likely to throw up in the right place if it’s clean. Let’s be clear, okay? ? Susie Flory says she just keeps Clorox wipes everywhere, because you can clean almost anything with a Clorox wipe. ? Yeah, and then make sure you, especially if somebody’s sick, if you don’t normally have room to keep all your cleaning supplies in the bathroom, ? 

  

Tonya Kubo (17:30) 

Exactly. 

  

Kathi Lipp (17:49) 

just for this time while people are sick, keep those Clorox wipes, keep everything in there because you just want to grab and go. I thought this was so smart and I have one of these and I have not been using it. But Carla Stewart says she uses one of those grabber tools for energy conservation. And Tonya, why have I been bending over and picking up Moose’s toys and her half-eaten chew sticks and 

  

the clothes that end up on the floor like a sucker. Like I have a grabber tool. 

  

Tonya Kubo (18:20) 

Because Kathi, 

  

because your brain cells are tired and are healing and they did not process that, okay? You needed somebody else to make the suggestion so you could go, ? I could do that. Now you will. 

  

Kathi Lipp (18:26) 

Yeah. No, they didn’t. 

  

Yes. 

  

And by the way, I’m using paper plates like it’s 1995. Like I don’t care anymore. 

  

Tonya Kubo (18:40) 

yeah, no, Brian, that is I would say Brian’s number one thing is if somebody’s sick, he runs to the store, he gets paper plates, paper napkins. ? He won’t do paper cups just because he feels like when you’re sick, you like neglect the cup and then it gets all leaky and gross. But he’ll even go so far as to get plastic utensils because for because he’s the one that keeps up with the dishes. He’s like, OK, if he gets hit, 

  

Kathi Lipp (18:56) 

Yeah. Yeah. 

  

Tonya Kubo (19:08) 

He just wants everybody to be able to just use and toss. 

  

Kathi Lipp (19:08) 

Yeah. 

  

Yeah, and I’m gonna hold this up for Tonya to see, right now I’m supposed to be drinking. It’s like one of those, what were the Stanley cups, but this is the cheap knockoff. got the, remember we had a meeting here several years ago and they came up with prizes and this is the one I got. I use this every day of my life, but ? I fill it up with, ? I need to keep hydrated. 

  

Tonya Kubo (19:15) 

? that’s a nice one. 

  

Yep. Mm-hmm. 

  

Mm-hmm, yep. 

  

Kathi Lipp (19:41) 

And the way I’ll do it, you can hear this, it’s still got ice from last night. And I just keep refilling it with ice and whether it’s something with electrolytes or something like that. I’m gonna run through the rest of these really fast. then Tonya, I’m gonna ask you for your best idea as we close out. ? the systems we keep up with are laundry and dishes. It’s the bare minimum. This is from Samantha Weatherstone. ? 

  

Tonya Kubo (19:45) 

Mm-hmm. 

  

Kathi Lipp (20:10) 

Those are the things that if you get backed up on it’s gonna be harder. So minimize those. Can ? you use the paper plates? Can you eat out of the container that you bought the food in? Do as much, but keep up on those when you have energy. You only have so much energy, put it where it has to go. This is not the time to go into your photo albums and reorganize them. Just keep up on dishes. 

  

? Keep grocery orders simple deliver drive up or ask a friend when somebody asks you what can they do? Go pick up their food order. You can assign somebody else your Sam’s order or your ? Your Rayleigh’s order, whatever that is ? Robin and Lynn both recommended that and then if you need toilet paper This is the time to bust out your Amazon order, right? You need paper towels. You need a food order 

  

Get that delivered. If you have to pay extra to get it here on time, do what you need to do. And then finally, when people are asking for help, Laurie Nichols says, ? accept help. People want to help. I want to help when my friends are sick. ? Shannon Garcia says, I love this. Asking doesn’t make you weak, it makes you human. ? My friend, Kathi Carlton Willis says, before you say no, ask God if he wants you to say yes to receiving help. 

  

? Julie Wiseman asked for specific help on social people jump at the chance, you know, so ? Hey, you know, my my kid is sick. Could you pick up our prescription people want to help I remember somebody was ? that I barely knew Needed to be picked up at the airport and I said, ? that’s easy. I can do that and She was so shocked and I’m like, no, it was an easy way and it was a specific way and I knew what time 

  

And so Tonya, give us one more example of something you can do ? when you need to lower your standards. 

  

Tonya Kubo (22:12) 

well, would say ? accepting help, I think, is probably like the best advice ever, but also like reaching out for help. You know, if you’re sick, call a friend and, you know, ask one of your kid’s friends if they can bring your child home. That has been the hardest thing for me as a parent to go, ? I could ask somebody else to pick the girls up and take them to school or to bring them home. 

  

Kathi Lipp (22:24) 

Yeah. 

  

Yes. 

  

Tonya Kubo (22:40) 

I think that’s a big one. And even like picking up a grocery order for you. Like you can place the order because not everybody has grocery delivery, but can somebody pick it up for you and bring it to your house? 

  

Kathi Lipp (22:41) 

Yeah. 

  

Yeah, and you know, ? I thought this was this is such a good one to end on ? Tracy DeLong. ? She recently lost her husband and I mean, that’s the ultimate ? grief ? energy zapper and her advice. I love this ? every day. I got out of bed made my bed brush my teeth got dressed had devotions and breakfast even if I didn’t feel like it is helped me. 

  

to have some order and stability in this season of unrest. So thank you to all of you who shared your wisdom. Tonya, thank you because I love you. You are such a grace first person and I’ve appreciated that in my life. And when I see you ? give it to the people in our Clutterfree Academy membership, ? you are a model for all. And friend. 

  

Take good care of yourself in this season. That is your highest calling, it really is. ? Friends, you’ve been listening to Clutter Free Academy, I’m Kathi Lipp. Now, go create the clutter free life you’ve always wanted to live. 

 

 

More Posts 

#685 – Stuck and Overwhelmed? The Real Reason Your Clutter Won’t Budge

Are you worn out from battling clutter and not seeing the progress you’d hoped for? In this heartfelt episode, Kathi Lipp and Tonya Kubo explore the reality of declutter fatigue and why, for so many women, the journey can feel never-ending. If you’re feeling stuck,...

read more

#681 – Embracing Empty Spaces: A New Approach to Clutter

#681 – Embracing Empty Spaces: A New Approach to Clutter

#681 – Embracing Empty Spaces: A New Approach to Clutter

Join Kathi Lipp and the creative genius, Tenille Register, as they explore the journey of embracing space over stuff to live a clutter-free life. In this episode, you’ll discover  

  • Practical strategies for decluttering with purpose.  
  • How choosing space can lead to a peaceful home environment. 
  • How to start your own decluttering tradition.  

Tenille shares her insights on storing with intention using creative solutions like her shape sorter technique for your household items. If you’re seeking inspiration and practical steps to reclaim your space, this episode is a must-listen. 

Sabbath Soup: Weekly Menus and Rhythms to Make Space for a Day of Rest

Kathi Lipp gives readers an easy-to-follow process for meal planning and prep, so that they can enjoy a full day each week of real rest and refreshment.

Could you use a break from cooking (and everything else) once a week? Not only is rest vital for your mind and body, it’s good for your soul too. God designed us to enter into Sabbath rest one day per week, but as you know, meals still need to be made. Your family still needs to be fed.

Sabbath Soup includes convenient, seasonal meal plans that take the guesswork out of shopping and cooking. More than just a collection of delicious recipes—including main dishes, breads, breakfasts, desserts, salads, sides, and yes, soups—this is your guide to establishing a weekly rhythm and routine of meal planning and prep that allows you to have a true day off.

Do something good for your soul and experience the peace that comes with a full day dedicated to spending time with God, family, and friends. Savor your Sabbath as you proudly proclaim, “Soup’s on!”

Order your copy of Sabbath Soup: Weekly Menus and Rhythms to Make Space for a Day of Rest here.

Links Mentioned:

FYI: Some product links may be affiliate links. If you buy, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support! 

 

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Meet Our Guest

 

Tenneil Register

Tenneil Register can be found creating, repurposing, decorating, gardening and welcoming guests to their reclaimed barn storefront. She and her husband, Cowboy, established rural roots for their blended family of 7 in their DIY ranch home in Iowa. Connect with her on Instagram for practical ideas to reclaim your home.

Tonya Kubo Picture
Transcript

Kathi Lipp (00:11) 

Hey friends, welcome to Clutter Free Academy where our goal is to help you take small doable steps every day to live with less clutter and more life. I’m back with one of my favorite human beings on the planet. It is Tenille Register. Hey, Tenille. 

  

Tenneil Register (00:25) 

Hey Kathi! 

  

Kathi Lipp (00:28) 

So here’s the thing I know about you I would not consider you one of the more naturally cluttery people in my life But I will say this I think you have just about more moving parts than anybody else That then I know I there are some people They you know, we talked about this with being overwhelmed. Some people have ? Demi toss cup size platters 

  

Tenneil Register (00:44) 

Yeah 

  

Kathi Lipp (00:54) 

And you have a turkey size platter about how much you do and how much you accomplish but all of that accomplishment leads to clutter and Here’s what I know about you. No, I don’t know this about you, but i’m going to posture this about you most people downsize because they have to But you have chosen to do it for peace. Does that make sense? 

  

Tenneil Register (01:20) 

It absolutely does because in these endeavors, we have access to a lot of square footage that we could continue to store and store. And because our businesses are things like Airbnb’s apartments, retail store, I could justify keeping almost anything because we will use it. So yeah, I would say I am very intentionally, actually it’s a July tradition for us. 

  

Kathi Lipp (01:28) 

Thank you. 

  

Right. 

  

Tenneil Register (01:50) 

to get rid of things just for the sake of getting rid of them to make sure that we don’t kind of go over the threshold of how many things we can be responsible for. 

  

Kathi Lipp (02:00) 

Okay, so tell me about this July tradition because explain to me why we pick the hottest month of the year. Like that’s my favorite excuse. I can’t declutter out, you know, in the barn or the garage because it’s just too hot. Yeah, so tell me more about this. I love this. 

  

Tenneil Register (02:22) 

Because many people like you are celebrating Lowe by July, so it’s our slow season. 

  

Kathi Lipp (02:29) 

Nice! okay, that makes so much sense, yes! 

  

Tenneil Register (02:34) 

Truly it’s just our downtime. A lot of people are vacationing. There’s not a lot, ? July the yard work even kind of evens out. Like you have to mow but not pulling a ton of weeds. it’s just kind of a slow season. And so we just ? roll up our sleeves and do it. And we have done everything from like literally bringing in a roll off dumpster to our driveway so that there’s no ? like decision making involved. It just went in the dumpster. 

  

Kathi Lipp (02:43) 

Yes, for us too. 

  

Yes. 

  

Tenneil Register (03:03) 

? And you guys, that’s not irresponsible. We are repurposers. So if we are not repurposing it, it is not repurposable and that’s why the dumpster. ? Or just like making frequent trips for ice cream and dropping off at the Goodwill. This year has not been a dumpster year, but I would say every three to four years we have a dumpster worthy purge. 

  

Kathi Lipp (03:10) 

Mm-hmm. 

  

Right. 

  

Yeah. 

  

Yes, and you know what? I think that that is one thing that as cluttery people You know, we’ve been told You know reuse re, you know reduce recycle and here’s what I know A lot of cluttery people tend to keep stuff because they don’t know what to do with it. They’re like, okay if I throw this away i’m a bad person and 

  

Tenneil Register (03:48) 

Yeah. 

  

Kathi Lipp (03:54) 

I think that there is no value, there is no virtue in keeping it in your house or in your space as opposed to the dump. ? I think the virtue comes when, if it can’t be donated, if it can’t be reused in some way, don’t bring it into your house again, but it’s okay to get rid of it. Does that make sense? Am I saying that correctly? 

  

Tenille knows I’m recovering from COVID, so she’s gonna explain things that are jumbly out of my mouth, but she can make it make sense. 

  

Tenneil Register (04:20) 

It was. 

  

just have a good example from my office closet clean out. I had these stacks that I bought on clearance of like little stickers that you mark your planner with or different little notepads and that kind of thing. And I bought them when I was coaching teachers because teachers like those kinds of things. And so I had this stack of them. I will… 

  

Kathi Lipp (04:30) 

Please. 

  

Mmm. Yeah. 

  

Tenneil Register (04:51) 

I was about to like say, you know, I could take that out to California when I meet with the authors and give them a goodie bag. And then I thought to myself, me, why would you fly this stuff all the way across the country? That’s silly. And so I put it in the goodwill bag. But by the time I finished cleaning out the closet, the truth was the monetary value of what was in that goodwill bag is not worth what they’re going to pay somebody to sort through the bag. 

  

Kathi Lipp (04:59) 

Mm-hmm. 

  

Tenneil Register (05:20) 

And so I put it in my car intending to go to the Goodwill, but when I went to the trash can, I just put it in there. It’s a small sack. The energy used in gas, thought, then them sorting it. There wasn’t enough in there to be worth monetarily doing that. And for me, I think you said it right. I keep it out of guilt. So giving myself permission to almost like rebel against the system and just throw it away strengthens my decluttering skills. 

  

Kathi Lipp (05:21) 

Hmm. 

  

Yes. ? 

  

Right. 

  

Yes, and it’s the resolve to you know, I threw this way do not bring it back into the house Do not bring similar things back into the house 

  

Tenneil Register (05:59) 

Right, because I threw it away, I’m not going to pick those up on clearance the next 

  

Kathi Lipp (06:03) 

Exactly, exactly. Yeah, here’s the thing. Why do we think we have to keep something just because we have the room? Like, why do we why are we afraid of that space? Do you think? 

  

Tenneil Register (06:17) 

I don’t know, when we bought our home to fight against that, I tried to keep an empty drawer in each room. As a way of saying, like, I don’t want to give into this ideal that because we have the space, we should fill it, or because we have the space, we should keep the items. And so I almost think… 

  

Kathi Lipp (06:25) 

Mmm, really? 

  

Yeah. 

  

Tenneil Register (06:41) 

I think we probably have an idea that we’re not being a good steward of things or that we don’t have our adult self together if we have gaps, right? But the same way we’re learning gaps in our schedule allows us to love people, I’m learning that an empty drawer allows me to love someone too because I can tell the guests that drawer is empty, feel free to use it. 

  

Kathi Lipp (06:46) 

Mm-hmm. 

  

Mm hmm. Yeah. 

  

Yeah, I do have empty drawers in all of our guest rooms, but there are other spaces that are filled to the brim. so may I, you know, I am still deconstructing my cluttery ways and I want to live a life of peace. And when everything is filled, like if I bring something new into the house and I have to get rid of something in order to make room for it. 

  

Tenneil Register (07:08) 

Yeah. 

  

Kathi Lipp (07:31) 

That’s not a peaceful circumstance because that new thing has to sit out until I find the new place for it. And so as ? I am more of a maximalist than a minimalist, but I need to become less afraid of empty spaces. And that’s something I’m working on. Okay, friends, we’re going to take a little break and we’re going to come back and I want to talk about what happens when you choose space over stuff. What does that do to your brain? 

  

What does that do to your heart and how can we actually do that? So we’re going to take a quick break and come right back. Okay, guys, we are back. I am here with Tenille Register, who is just, I think she’s probably mentally ill because she says she keeps an empty drawer in all of her rooms to remind herself. I don’t even know what that would feel like and I need to figure that out. So what happens? 

  

What’s the feeling for you when you are choosing space? How does that feel for you? 

  

Tenneil Register (08:35) 

I feel like I’m leaving room for something else good to come into my life. I know that sounds kind of like spiritually strange, but I just feel a little woo woo. But if I’m overflowing with things, then literally if I bring a new thing home or if somebody gives me a gift, then I have this huge project of figuring out where to put it. Where if I have some space, 

  

Kathi Lipp (08:41) 

Mmm. ? 

  

Woo woo, but I love woo woo, go for it. 

  

Yeah. 

  

Tenneil Register (09:03) 

And I am not the master of this, it’s a work in progress. Like I said, the closets that I cleaned out yesterday, I actually called my husband and when I cleaned out these closets, I got rid of a filing cabinet and a dresser that were in these two closets. And I said, okay, but what are we gonna put in them? And then as we talked about it, what if it was just an empty closet with floor space? 

  

Kathi Lipp (09:30) 

I don’t even know how to think about that, be honest. 

  

Tenneil Register (09:36) 

Right, because I felt like I needed to add like a bookshelf for some bins of storage or a bench that we could put something under. Like naturally my brain tried to do that. And so I’m in this place where I’m like, what if there was just an empty closet so that if I got an Amazon box at the same time company was coming, I had an empty closet to go set the Amazon box in until I had time to open it. Like, I don’t know, I haven’t mastered it, but this is my what if that I’m in right now. 

  

Kathi Lipp (09:42) 

Mm-hmm. 

  

Right. 

  

Okay, I have to tell you, I have done this in our front closet ? because that’s the place where, know, normally when you get an Amazon box or something like that, you would put it, but it’s always been packed to the gills. So instead, what I did was I bought ? some storage things for that, which I’ll talk about in our things that have earned a place in my clutter free home. And 

  

? Now, if something comes into our house, that can be its temporary holding place. And it feels so good to say it doesn’t just have to get piled on top of something. And that makes it, yeah, it’s, you know, we don’t need more bins necessarily, we need breathing room. And sometimes the bins can help us with the breathing room. But sometimes it’s just organizing our clutter. And we need less of that. 

  

Tenneil Register (11:06) 

Yeah. 

  

Kathi Lipp (11:07) 

Yeah. 

  

So, where do you start? 

  

With this idea it because it feeling very radical and I’m sorry. My dog is now climbing on my desk right now Little distracting we’re gonna get her off. Yes. She she she does this with you and with Tonya she really likes She knows you guys. Yes. So yes, she she likes to come up and just check out if that’s her friend Okay, please continue 

  

Tenneil Register (11:21) 

? 

  

She knows. 

  

Yeah, so I mean, I think the one thing is just choosing the space that you’re going to have empty, right? Like, is it going to be the tiniest little drawer? Is it just going to be eight inches on the shelf, you know, in the pantry? Like, where is the empty place going to be? And then it’s almost like playing a game with yourself. How long can I leave this empty? 

  

Kathi Lipp (11:48) 

Mm-hmm. 

  

Yeah. 

  

Tenneil Register (12:05) 

before you even know how you’re gonna use the empty space. I know this sounds like radically strange, ? but for example, like in our bathroom, the bottom drawer is what I decided to leave empty. So what that meant was like, actually we don’t need as many bath towels as we have, downsizing the number of bath towels that we have. No, the water pick, no one has pulled that out in three years to use the water pick. We might’ve paid a lot of 

  

Kathi Lipp (12:18) 

Mm-hmm. 

  

Yes. 

  

Right. 

  

Tenneil Register (12:34) 

it and been excited about it, but we’re going to get rid of that. And then we’re going to have this empty kind of holding space. So I think, I think it’s almost just like trying to set a rule for yourself and like looking at it as a challenge. And of course, there has to be room for grace and flexibility. If I find them overflowing, I may have to put some stuff in that drawer. The key is to come back to it and review it. 

  

Kathi Lipp (12:58) 

Exactly. 

  

Right and to you know, all that back stock we have like in my bathroom i’m like Why am I keeping so many candles in my bathroom? Like that just doesn’t make sense It’s time to get rid of some of those so there can be that space because if I can’t put something down because that space is so crowded Then there there need to be some hard decisions and my tips would be start with the least emotional space I think when we go and we say we want to create space 

  

The first thing we think about are grandma’s photo albums because it’s like there’s an emotional anchor to that. Don’t start there. Start with the bathroom towels. Like, do I really need eight towels in my bathroom? Or can two hanging in the bathroom and two back up be enough? What is enough for that? And then celebrate one win. Take a picture. If you’re in our free group. 

  

Clutter-free Academy or our paid group clutter free for life take a picture because the rest of us get this right there may be people who don’t get how important this is but we all get it and creating this visual space like one of the things I’m really convicted about is not convicted but the place where I need to do this is there I I Have a couch table behind my couch in the living room 

  

that kind of stays the same all year. And wouldn’t it be fun to put, ? Roger just gave me the most beautiful picture for Mother’s Day. It’s like hand painted, it has a rabbit on it. I love it so much. Why am I putting that in the kind of chaos of my kitchen instead of pulling that into the living room and putting some branches in it or something like that? So I’m gonna go do that today. I’m gonna clear off that place. 

  

I think we just get comfortable with something that we’ve liked and it’s hard for us to imagine. It takes energy for us to imagine something else. But this is your challenge. So, you know, what would you downsize right now? Is it a drawer? Is it a closet? Is it a table? For me, it’s going to be a table. Anything come to mind for you Tenneil? 

  

Tenneil Register (15:18) 

? Yes, it’s going to be ? continuing here in the office, like how I store my office supplies, right? Like I have a cubby that I like, I have a tray that I don’t like, like downsize how I keep my office supplies. 

  

Kathi Lipp (15:26) 

you 

  

Mmm. Yeah and think about this guys and Tenneil is the expert at this Do you have like I have a cake stand that I don’t need I’ve got three cake stands Do I need three cake stands? But could I use that in other parts of my house? Once I clear away the clutter give me some other ideas Tenneil because you’re so good at this stuff 

  

Tenneil Register (15:55) 

First of all, the cake stand has to be somewhere with the candle on it because it’s a beautiful way to keep your candle. 

  

Kathi Lipp (16:01) 

? 

  

yeah, I love that. Okay, I can do that. 

  

Tenneil Register (16:04) 

? 

  

Yeah, yeah. So ? I love crocks like bowl crocks. So like, I try to use them to store things, but then they end up with too much in them. And so ? using them for objects that make sense, like a crock bowl is perfect for paper plates, right? Or you regularly grab and go like that. And so what 

  

Kathi Lipp (16:12) 

Mm-hmm. 

  

? yeah! 

  

So smart. 

  

Tenneil Register (16:33) 

When I start to get bored with my house, it’s actually kind of looking like the size and shape of the objects. Like when I was little and I actually still get satisfaction out of it. You know the shape sorters, like the plastic little type toys shape sorter. If you can start to see your house like a shape sorter, which container is the right shape of item, that’s when you really take off your creativity ? in using. 

  

Kathi Lipp (16:53) 

Okay. Okay. 

  

Okay. 

  

Tenneil Register (17:02) 

things like cake stands, crock bowls, baskets in an effective way. 

  

Kathi Lipp (17:08) 

Okay, give me a couple more ideas of shape sorter ideas, because I love this thought. 

  

Tenneil Register (17:14) 

So toolboxes, I love old toolboxes, like especially the little metal caddy kind. And then I put our tabletop games, right? Like our card games, Skip Bo, Uno, that kind of thing, because then it’s got a handle so you can carry it around. So I love that thing. ? And then let’s see. 

  

Kathi Lipp (17:18) 

Yeah. 

  

Right? 

  

Yeah. 

  

Okay. 

  

Tenneil Register (17:38) 

I’m gonna go with like, some people would use big baskets. use like, they’re cement troughs. This is gonna sound so strange, but they’re basically like a big metal tub where somebody would mix cement in them in days gone by. And so the result is this big tub that’s the perfect size for like pillows and blankets. You can also do it with a big wooden dowel basket. 

  

Kathi Lipp (18:02) 

That’s amazing. 

  

my goodness. ? I love that. And you know, just yesterday I saw somebody who had a magazine rack from probably the nineties or two thousands and they stored ? rolled up pillows or blankets in it and it was so cute. ? I love that. 

  

Tenneil Register (18:23) 

Yeah! 

  

Yeah, and those are also great, 

  

like those magazine racks are also good toilet paper holders if you need to store your toilet paper in plain sight or paper towels, that kind of 

  

Kathi Lipp (18:37) 

That’s so clever. I love that so much Okay, guys, we’re gonna take a quick break and when I come back We’re gonna talk about some clutter free things some things that have earned a place in my clutter free home. So stick around Okay friends, we are back with things that have earned a place in my clutter free home I don’t even know my own title. So I was telling you earlier in this episode 

  

about a couple of things that I’ve put in my front closet. So one thing is we said, you don’t need more containers to contain your clutter, but we have a lot of things that are in our front hall, that our front hall closet that we need access to things like we have ? stuff for our dog there, stuff for like our keys, Roger’s wallet, those kinds of things. And so we’ve bought two things that have been really helpful. 

  

One are these little, they’re like sorter baskets. They’re probably, for the people who are listening, they’re probably like eight inches by six inches for the big ones. And then there are smaller sizes. And we put things in there like we have a sunscreen basket. We have a bug spray basket. We have a mooses leash and treats basket. And then we have these 

  

Hanging organizers so they hang off of a rod in that closet and they’re just these open baskets that we can put blankets in there or we can put ? All everything that Roger takes to the car. So we have a Roger basket in there. That is his hat He uses a baseball hat his his wallet ? His he uses sunscreen before he gets in the car. So that has made it so we don’t have to keep all that stuff 

  

out all the time and it makes such a big difference. ? Tenneil I know that ? you love to have ways to hide things and so I’m going to send you a link and I’ll put a link in the show notes for you to see these because I think these would be great ways to think about, like you said, what would work in this space like the shape sorter that you were talking about. 

  

Tenneil Register (20:53) 

Yes, and I’m changing my mind. I’m not going to organize my office supplies. You’ve just inspired me to use our front hall closet. The front hall closet, we don’t use it for anything useful. So I’m going to look at these favorite things of yours and come up with a way to make that space useful. 

  

Kathi Lipp (20:58) 

Do tell. ? 

  

Love it and friends. We love you. Thank you so much for being a part of the podcast You’ve been listening to clutter free Academy. I’m Kathy Lipp now go create the clutter free life. You’ve always wanted to live 

 

Find this episodes full show notes and resources here. 

More Posts 

#685 – Stuck and Overwhelmed? The Real Reason Your Clutter Won’t Budge

Are you worn out from battling clutter and not seeing the progress you’d hoped for? In this heartfelt episode, Kathi Lipp and Tonya Kubo explore the reality of declutter fatigue and why, for so many women, the journey can feel never-ending. If you’re feeling stuck,...

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#687 – What’s Lurking Under Your Bed? Declutter the Forgotten Zone for Good

#670 – Emotional Decluttering: A Journey Through Sentimental Keepsakes

#670 – Emotional Decluttering: A Journey Through Sentimental Keepsakes

In this episode of Clutter Free Academy, Kathi Lipp is joined by clutter experts Tonya Kubo and Tenneil Register for the second part of their heartfelt discussion on sentimental items. Discover the emotions that often lead us to hold onto things we neither love nor use, and learn how to navigate these feelings with grace. Whether it’s figuring out what to do with your prom memorabilia or repurposing your grandmother’s teacup, our hosts share practical steps and innovative ideas to help you cherish the memories without clinging to items out of guilt or fear. Tune in to learn how to display the items you love and let go of those you don’t. Plus, dive into Tenneil’s incredible tips on repurposing for a clutter-free home filled with joyful memories. As an added bonus, Kathi cointinues her new segment: “Things That Have Earned A Place in My Clutter Free Home” where she chats with Tenneil about a simple gadget that made a huge difference in storage space in the kitchen! 

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Sabbath Soup: Weekly Menus and Rhythms to Make Space for a Day of Rest

Kathi Lipp gives readers an easy-to-follow process for meal planning and prep, so that they can enjoy a full day each week of real rest and refreshment.

Could you use a break from cooking (and everything else) once a week? Not only is rest vital for your mind and body, it’s good for your soul too. God designed us to enter into Sabbath rest one day per week, but as you know, meals still need to be made. Your family still needs to be fed.

Sabbath Soup includes convenient, seasonal meal plans that take the guesswork out of shopping and cooking. More than just a collection of delicious recipes—including main dishes, breads, breakfasts, desserts, salads, sides, and yes, soups—this is your guide to establishing a weekly rhythm and routine of meal planning and prep that allows you to have a true day off.

Do something good for your soul and experience the peace that comes with a full day dedicated to spending time with God, family, and friends. Savor your Sabbath as you proudly proclaim, “Soup’s on!”

Order your copy of Sabbath Soup: Weekly Menus and Rhythms to Make Space for a Day of Rest here.

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Meet Our Co-Host

 

Tonya Kubo

Tonya Kubo is the illustrious and fearless leader of Kathi Lipp’s Clutter Free Academy Facebook group and the Clutter Free for Life membership program. A professional community strategist, she believes everyone deserves to have a place online where they feel like they belong. Raised by a hoarder, Tonya knows firsthand the pain and isolation that comes from living in conditions others don’t understand. She wants better for her family and her cluttery peeps, which is why she is passionate about the compassionate slow-and-steady approach that makes Clutter Free unique. She lives in the heart of California with her husband, Brian, their two spirited daughters, and one very tolerant cat. Visit tonyakubo.com to find out more about her community work, or email her at tonya@kathilipp.org to discuss the Clutter Free Academy podcast and programs.

Tonya Kubo Picture

Meet Our Co-Host

 

Tenneil Register

Tenneil Register can be found creating, repurposing, decorating, gardening and welcoming guests to their reclaimed barn storefront. She and her husband, Cowboy, established rural roots for their blended family of 7 in their DIY ranch home in Iowa. Connect with her on Instagram for practical ideas to reclaim your home.

Tonya Kubo Picture
Transcript

Kathi Lipp (00:08) 

Well, hey friends, welcome to Clutter Free Academy, where our goal is to help you take small, doable steps to live every day with less clutter and more life. And we are back. We have a three-part series here on sentimental items, how hard they are to declutter, what do we do with them, and maybe just a couple of pieces of advice to say it’s okay to get rid of it and prove that you don’t hate. 

  

the other person who gave it to you or your own life. And I’ve got two of my favorite cluttery experts here. We’ve got Tonya Kubo and Tenneil Register. Hey guys, welcome back to the program. 

  

Tonya Kubo (00:48) 

Hey, Kathi, . 

  

Tenneil (00:49) 

Hey there! 

  

Kathi Lipp (00:51) 

Okay, so Here’s what I want to talk about today Because you guys are such geniuses Tonya about making the hard decisions about getting rid of to Tenneil once you’ve made the decision to keep it What do you actually do with it? And Last week we talked about your kids stuff, which has so much emotional attachment next week We’re to talk about the stuff from people who have passed on 

  

I mean, like we’re just bringing out all the hard hitting subjects right now. But today I want to talk about our own stuff. And I want to talk about why do we hang on to things that is that maybe we know we’re never going to use them. We know that we maybe we don’t even really love them, but we feel such an obligation to keep them. 

  

I’ve had that for a couple of different items in my life I feel like Through a lot of growth and let me be honest from a couple of people passing on I’ve been able to get rid of some things But I just wonder do any either of you have any insight to this? Why do we hang on to stuff even? Sometimes I don’t even think it brings back great memories, but we just can’t seem to let it go 

  

Tenneil (02:16) 

Letting go is scary because we’re wondering what that means about us and what that means about that relationship. 

  

Kathi Lipp (02:25) 

Tell me more about that. 

  

Tenneil (02:28) 

So when we’re walking through it and we are still holding on to a physical object, we’re still giving ourselves time to figure it out, figure out the relationship, figure out what it meant, figure out how to grieve, figure out how to hold on. And we find something significant about doing the physical let go. And so we kind of want to know for sure that we’ve done the emotional part correctly if we do the 

  

Kathi Lipp (02:42) 

Yeah. 

  

Yeah. 

  

Tenneil (02:56) 

physical part correctly. We’re like looking for affirmation. 

  

Kathi Lipp (03:01) 

Okay, okay, I totally get that. I have a question for both of you. Are you guys hanger on-ers to your own stuff? We’re not not stuff you’ve been given necessarily, or are you letter goers? 

  

Tonya Kubo (03:14) 

It takes me a while. Like I am in general, my cluttery problem is not that I acquire a lot. I am not a big shopper. I just don’t know what to do with stuff once I have it. So I tend to be a keeper. So like what we have been, you we talk about this all the time. It has taken Brian and I have been married now 16 years and it’s just this year that we’re getting rid of the wedding pictures from our first marriages. 

  

Kathi Lipp (03:25) 

? yeah. 

  

Yeah, that’s a hard one. It’s a hard one. 

  

Tonya Kubo (03:41) 

Well, and it’s back to what Tenneil said, because I’m thinking like where I keep those photos is also where all of the prom stuff is. And I don’t know if so this is the thing is this does not hit home with current teens at all because this is not how they do prom. But prom in the 90s was a whole thing of a thing. You paid your money. You got your photo album with the theme on the cover. You got your champagne flutes. Why did they give us champagne flutes? It’s not like we could drink at that age, but they did. 

  

Kathi Lipp (03:59) 

Absolutely. 

  

Tonya Kubo (04:10) 

And we got a key chain, got all these things that matched the theme. And I remember thinking it was so important to have that stuff back then. And now I look at it and I’m like, what am I supposed to do with this? Like all I can think about is we had one year where the theme was from dusk till dawn. And that’s when the Quentin Tarantino movie came out. So every time I look at it, I go, I remember how excited I was to see that movie and how horrible that movie was. 

  

Kathi Lipp (04:36) 

Okay, there we go. I love that that’s the memory that pops up for you. 

  

Tonya Kubo (04:38) 

So as, right, 

  

why am I still keeping that stuff if that’s the memory that pops up? I’m keeping that stuff because I go, well, when I go to my high school reunion, are other people gonna have it? Are other people gonna talk about keeping it? What does it say about me and my high school years and what I think about all the people I went into prom with if I get rid of this, which is what I really want to do? 

  

Kathi Lipp (05:04) 

Yeah, ? really interesting. How about you, Tenneil? Are you a hangar oner or a letter goer? 

  

Tenneil (05:10) 

So I’m somewhere in the middle. I’ve become much better letting it go. think transitions of life. I do still have first wedding pictures also because I thought that my child would want them, but he doesn’t. So I’m really close on that one too. Tonya, have to tell you though, let go of the prom stuff. I’ve had my reunion. There was one really great thing that somebody brought from the reunion. 

  

Tonya Kubo (05:23) 

Mm-hmm. 

  

Kathi Lipp (05:25) 

Nope, they 

  

don’t. 

  

Tenneil (05:38) 

It was the school handbook for our very conservative parochial school. And that makes for excellent conversation. So if your key chain’s not gonna make for good conversation, let it go. 

  

Tonya Kubo (05:51) 

Fair enough. 

  

Kathi Lipp (05:51) 

Hmm 

  

really interesting. Yeah, I want to talk about the emotional drivers that sit behind our inability to let things go so Tonya you and I have talked about this for years fear what if I need it someday or the other version of that is what if I regret letting this go and Guilt this was from somebody that was important in my life whether I’m no longer in touch with them or maybe they’ve passed on something like that 

  

And then I think there’s a third one here, identity. Guys, again, I’m bringing up old stories, but I only have one life to live. And so I only have so many stories. But I was a sales rep for years and years and years. And I invested in these leather cases for catalogs. And this was important in my job. 

  

We did not have a laptop to bring around. These were leather cases that we put, you know, the A &A plush and the Carolina candles and all those catalogs in. I would take them into a store and somebody would order something and I’d go home and write up the order. It feels very archaic now. I could not get rid of those leather cases for the longest time because they were expensive. And you know, the year I bought them, I bought them because I was salesperson of the year. 

  

And that was important to me. That meant something to me. And so that was, it was an identity. I didn’t recognize it at the time, but it was an identity thing saying, you know what, because then I went home and I was homeschooling my kids and then I went through a divorce and I was working at a job that wasn’t my favorite. And I could look at those cases and say, okay, but I had it going on 

  

like and maybe I’ll have it going on again. You know, sometimes we keep things not out of love but out of guilt, fear or the need to remember who we were. And I just think it’s so important to really recognize why are we hanging on to things that make no sense. By the way, I no longer have those leather cases. It’s probably been 20 years now. I’m good. But at the time, and I think we all have those things like that. 

  

Tonya Kubo (07:48) 

Mm-hmm. 

  

Mm-hmm. 

  

Kathi Lipp (08:16) 

We have somebody in our life who says or maybe it’s media. You’ll regret getting rid of that You’ll regret it. So One of the things that Tonya and I have talked about a lot in our group Clutter free for life that if you love it show it so if you if you say that you love this purse But you have it in a box in your garage. I question your love 

  

And so I wanna talk about some ways that we can display things. And one of my favorites is I have a friend, Robin Neal, who we’ve been friends for a really long time. And her father-in-law had passed away earlier the year of this story. And he was famous for his chili recipe. And so she had a butcher block inscribed. 

  

with her father-in-law’s handwriting with the chili recipe. And there’s a great picture that went around TikTok. And I think it had something like six million views. It was crazy. It went crazy of her husband opening up this package and seeing that and what it meant to him. But it wasn’t just keeping the recipe and even just framing a recipe could have been cool, but this took it a step beyond. And when we wanna talk about the step beyond 

  

Tonya Kubo (09:24) 

wow. 

  

Mm-hmm. 

  

Kathi Lipp (09:42) 

We come to Tenneil Register. We’d love some ideas for things that maybe they’re not super useful day to day, but can give us some ideas of, I don’t want to get rid of it because it’s important to me. I’ve discovered I’m not keeping out of fear or guilt or false sense of identity. No, it really brings back happy memories and I want it. 

  

Tenneil (10:05) 

Yeah, I want to share a recipe idea too, because it’s always such a favorite. And that is at Christmas time, have a small tree in your kitchen and hang the recipe cards for family recipes like this all over the tree. And if you have grandma’s old utensils or something like that, you can hang it on the tree. Then the rest of the year, you can pack that down into a small little tote and you have 

  

Kathi Lipp (10:09) 

Yeah. 

  

Tenneil (10:34) 

At the time of year that you’re gathering with your family in your kitchen, you can pull out these recipes and these little utensils and do a kitchen tree. It is usually everyone’s favorite idea of how to remember grandma. 

  

Kathi Lipp (10:46) 

Okay, I want to spin off on this for just a second because I think we think if we want to put something up it has to be up all year round and I am a very seasonal girl like every spring summer fall winter I’ve got a little tote where I’m pulling things out not just the fall decor. It’s not that it’s the Native American dolls that my friend Susie gave to me that I put in the fall decor. It’s the 

  

Tonya Kubo (10:55) 

Mm-hmm. 

  

Kathi Lipp (11:14) 

picture that my grandmother passed down to me that I have out in the spring. But I don’t have it out year round because my house would be an antique store. But it’s I love the idea of switching things out. Okay, what are some other ideas to Tenneil? 

  

Tenneil (11:30) 

Yeah, so another one is make sure you’re using the things you can use. like sometimes, you know, that’s like a vase and we’re afraid to use it because it might get broken or something like that. If like you said, if we love it, use it. But also like maybe you don’t put fresh flowers in vases. I use a lot of like sentimental items. I think you might even be able to see one on the video behind me as bookends. So like a vase from China is 

  

Kathi Lipp (11:36) 

Mm. 

  

Yes. 

  

Tenneil (11:59) 

holding up as a book in for my actual books that I need to use throughout the day. And so incorporating those so that if it’s functional, then we’re not setting up a museum, right? And that’s what we want to avoid is having a museum of things. We want to have a home that’s been built over time that’s functional. And so I think asking yourself, how can I use it is really, really the most important question if you 

  

Kathi Lipp (12:04) 

Mm-hmm. 

  

Right. 

  

? I love that so much. And I think that displaying something, being surrounded by things you love is such a gift to yourself. And it shows the life you have and the hopes and dreams you’ve had. know, Tonya, do you have any ideas that you could share with us on this topic? 

  

Tonya Kubo (12:50) 

Well, mean, I second what Tenneil says. It’s like, if you can create something functional out of it, I think that’s brilliant. know, the recipe cards. I knew a woman who had her mom’s recipes all framed in the kitchen. And it was such an easy way to decorate an apartment and make an apartment feel homey. And part of it was that her mom’s handwriting in and of itself was a beautiful decor in addition to the recipes. 

  

And I think, you know, I think we need to give ourselves permission to not be connected to the items. Like it is okay that that meant a lot to you 15 years ago, and it can have meant a lot 15 years ago and not mean as much today. And that doesn’t make you a bad person. 

  

Kathi Lipp (13:31) 

Mm hmm. Right. 

  

Mm-hmm. 

  

I love it. Yeah, you know, what I’ve had to discover is that having, using what I can or have it when I can’t use something, but it’s still precious to me. I was just visiting my friend Sherry, our friend Sherry, and she gave me a little framed sunflower. And that was her daughter who had passed away, her favorite flower. 

  

Like there’s no practical use for it, but I’m not getting rid of it because I love it. And so it has yellows in it. So I put it with some blue little vases that I really like. And sometimes the vases have flowers in them and sometimes they don’t, but a little vignette is, a fun thing. And you can, you can make a vignette out of the weirdest stuff. I, I came in second place in a baby contest when, you know, 

  

56 years ago. I’ve got the little trophy. I it means nothing to anybody But I just like having it on display because I’m like what a weird thing and I love it so, know and sometimes we don’t want to use things because We don’t want them to get broken. We don’t want them to get chipped So we keep them away, but when something feels too precious to use or display I think we have to ask ourselves. Am I protecting it or 

  

Tonya Kubo (14:44) 

Mm-hmm. 

  

Kathi Lipp (15:00) 

Is it protecting me from dealing with letting it go? Like, am I too afraid to unpack those emotions? And maybe you can’t unpack the emotions right now, but it’s okay. We’re gonna take a quick commercial break and then we’re gonna come back and we’re gonna talk about Tenneil’s favorite subject, repurposing. Okay, so we’re gonna, we’ll be right back. Okay, we are back with Tonya and Tenneil. Tenneil, how do you? 

  

I want you to talk about more ideas for repurposing. Give us some more ideas because you’re such a genius at this. And I want you to give us your weirdest and wackiest ideas. 

  

Tenneil (15:39) 

Oh boy. Well, I was going to start with the plain ones, Kathi, , but we’ll start with the plain ones. So your plain ones is right, like a teacup. If you don’t drink tea from it, but it’s grandma’s teacup, can it hold your rings? Can it hold soap? Right? And even like your little sunflower picture, is it something that should be out all the time or should it come out just during the month of May that you get out the tea 

  

Kathi Lipp (15:44) 

Go f- start there and then build our way up, yes. 

  

you 

  

Mm-hmm. 

  

Yeah. 

  

Tenneil (16:09) 

for the soap, know, like that 

  

Kathi Lipp (16:10) 

Yeah. 

  

Tenneil (16:10) 

kind of thing, so that you’re going through a process. Wackier ideas is like the things you can hang on the wall. So when you were talking about your leather suitcases, I actually have a bag from my corporate days too that I still love, but I don’t carry it. So it hangs on the coat rack by my front door for like your everyday clutter that you need to hide in a hurry. And it’s just like a hiding place, right? It looks like a bag I carry in and out, but I actually… 

  

don’t, right? And so, grandpa’s, you know, hand rake, if grandpa was a gardener, right, hang that on the wall and use that to hang your necklaces off next to your closet or hang the dog leash on next to the door where you head out, just to turn the object upside down, inside out, spin it round and round until you can find some other form. 

  

Kathi Lipp (16:40) 

Yeah. 

  

Mm-hmm. 

  

? 

  

? I need to be thinking about this. Okay, so I’m gonna throw a couple objects at you. This is our game show. And I want you to tell me, okay, so not only do I have one spoon that is precious to me, I have two. One that we found buried on the property here, and it’s from a company called Rogers Brothers. 

  

and we looked it up, it’s from the 1920s. And then I have one of my grandmother’s serving spoons. Like, what do I do with those? 

  

Tenneil (17:41) 

Well, I mean, first of all, are they usable? Like, can you stir your coffee with it? The rogers spoon? 

  

Kathi Lipp (17:46) 

just that 

  

they’re giant and I’m worried would I get poisoning from them but maybe that could use them yeah yeah I would need to figure that out yes 

  

Tonya Kubo (17:52) 

I was gonna say, this lead poisoning? I don’t know. 

  

Tenneil (17:58) 

So a big spoon, one of the ideas we’ve done in the store and people usually love because they usually have one like an old spoon or ladle or something. If you’re able to hang it on the wall and it makes a cup, you can put like a little plant or succulent or something like that. Or you could have your kitchen keys, your keys or whatever, if you need it to be functional. 

  

Kathi Lipp (18:09) 

Mm-hmm. 

  

I love that idea. And I love the idea what you were talking about the rake where you could put a dog leash or something like that. I love that idea. Okay, I’m trying to think. I have lots of cards that people have sent me and I get rid of most of them. But what’s an idea for the ones that you want to keep? 

  

Tenneil (18:39) 

Yeah, this one’s not overly creative, but it looks a little better than a bulletin board. I have a screen in my office. It’s like a wood frame that’s a screen. It’s industrial off the farm. And I have clothes pins on it where I can rotate out cards or inspirational sayings. I’ve got a couple of pictures of my grandparents. Just my own kind of teenager pin board in my office. But to keep up with looking bulletin board, it’s actually like an industrial primitive screen. 

  

Kathi Lipp (18:43) 

I’ll take it. 

  

Mm-hmm. 

  

Mm-hmm. 

  

Mmm. 

  

Tenneil (19:09) 

you could do it with an old window screen too. 

  

Kathi Lipp (19:09) 

? 

  

okay, I love that. Tonya, I’m gonna ask you for one in just a second. But, Tenneil, another thing I would be interesting to get some ideas from, if you have somebody in your family, they wore a uniform, you know, like I’m thinking like, you know, firefighter, police officer, they have a badge, they have a hat, like, what are your ideas for that? 

  

Tenneil (19:34) 

Yeah, so some people go full out, right? Like shadow box on the wall, it’s that important. You mentioned last time we were talking about kids, like sometimes it works to get it out seasonally, you know, for that moment of memorial. But I think it’s kind of choosing an item from it, right? The hat, can it be worked into your mantle decor, that kind of thing? Or like I think of a fireman’s jacket. I could see some semblance to leaving that on your coat rack next to the door. 

  

Kathi Lipp (19:46) 

Mm-hmm, yeah. 

  

Right. 

  

Tenneil (20:04) 

just there as a statement kind of thing. 

  

Kathi Lipp (20:07) 

Yeah, 

  

and guys don’t be afraid to look at something like Etsy if you’re not the crafty person because they can take grandma’s china that was broken and turn that into a necklace or something along those lines Tonya jump in here play the game. What’s something that you would throw it to Tenneil? 

  

Tonya Kubo (20:26) 

Something that I would throw at Tenneil, baby teeth. 

  

Tenneil (20:29) 

yeah. 

  

Okay. I’m going to say first of all that I’m pro getting rid of the baby teeth. And I believe there should be a tradition when the truth comes out about the tooth fairy that we give those babies back and the kid can decide like, we want to bury them or what do we want to do? 

  

one for you all that is still a thing in our house and that is a first pacifier. I think at 17 my kids still finds a little joy from knowing it’s in the top drawer of my jewelry. 

  

Kathi Lipp (21:07) 

Oh my gosh. You guys, anything that somebody has sucked on? I don’t know. I don’t know. 

  

Tonya Kubo (21:15) 

I didn’t 

  

have a pacifier, my children never had pacifiers, so I have no pacifiers in my home. 

  

Kathi Lipp (21:19) 

? my- 

  

Okay, we went to the hospital in the middle of the night to get Justin his pacifier that he was going to die without apparently. Like, because he didn’t know the difference between, you know, not having a pacifier and me dumping him off at the orphanage. Like they were on the same plane. Okay. Yeah, I love the idea of like, 

  

Tonya Kubo (21:32) 

? 

  

Mm-hmm. 

  

Tenneil (21:41) 

Thank 

  

Kathi Lipp (21:48) 

burying the teeth for the tooth fairy to recycle or something. I love that idea. Guys, I love this so much because our memories shouldn’t live in an attic, they should be in our lives. They should be incorporated into our lives. And Tenneil is so good at this. Tenneil, would love, you you said at the store, what people may not know is you own a beautiful store. What’s it called? 

  

Tenneil (21:52) 

Right? 

  

Yeah, R7 reclaimed and it’s a vintage barn and so we specialize in how to recycle and, you know, reclaim the unexpected. 

  

Kathi Lipp (22:17) 

Yeah. 

  

Yeah, okay at some point what I’m gonna do if you’re a listener and you’re like I have this weird item that I would like to know how to incorporate I’m gonna book another show and what we’re gonna do is we’re gonna bring these ladies back and We’re gonna come up with those weird items. I’m gonna read them off. I’m not gonna give to Tenneil any prep Because she is so creative. She is seen and done everything No 

  

Tonya Kubo (22:45) 

Ooh. 

  

Tenneil (22:49) 

Are you gonna save me at all? 

  

Tonya Kubo (22:53) 

I will prep, I will do homework for you, Tenneil, because I’m the person who threw baby teeth at you, okay? 

  

Kathi Lipp (22:59) 

Yeah 

  

my goodness, I love this so much. Okay, guys, just remember, you deserve to enjoy your sentimental items, not be overwhelmed by them. Okay, thank you ladies so much for being here. Guys, we’re gonna be back in just a moment with my new favorite segment, Stuff That Has Earned A Place In My House. We will be right back. 

 

PART 2 

Kathi Lipp (00:00) 

Well, welcome back to ClutterFree Academy. ? 

  

Today in our third segment is another episode of things that have earned a place in my clutter free home. And I’ve got my friend, Tenneil Register. Tenneil’s part of my team, but also my friend. And if you need your house redecorated, just invite her over and let her sit amongst your house and she will not be able to help herself. That’s just the kind, but she’ll only do it with your permission. Hey Tenneil. 

  

Tenneil (00:27) 

Yeah. 

  

such 

  

an accurate version of me. I’ll be switching, but I’ll wait for permission. 

  

Kathi Lipp (00:36) 

Well 

  

You were you were not rooted at all. I’m like, please please please because here’s the thing I think other people can sometimes see things that you know, you just live with all the time, right? And you think you don’t think about things being in a different way and we were literally moving dressers upstairs from downstairs and You know when I bought this house man, you know things were where they were and I changed a ton of stuff 

  

but some of the stuff I left just where it was because I thought it was cute. But then your house moves and things like that and you just have to figure out new solutions. And that’s one of the things we’re gonna talk about today is figuring out new solutions. there’s very little that I get to influence Tenneil about, but I influenced you and that makes me very happy. And it was so funny. I’ll tell you this Tenneil and then we’ll actually talk about the item. 

  

You know Roger and I were going to a church and we have since left this church so I’m not telling any tales out of school but ? one of the pastors did a whole sermon on like the worst thing that your child could grow up to be is an influencer and I’m like well, okay, first of all, thanks ? But I also think isn’t that what everybody does? We’re trying if you’re a politician, you’re an influencer if you’re on TV, you’re an 

  

Like we’re all influenced and I want to influence people one to not buy things that they don’t need but two if something works for me I want to share about it because it’s made my life better, right? 

  

Tenneil (02:16) 

Yes, and for most of us, at least listening to this podcast in America, we’re probably gonna spend our money on something. So if it’s something that makes your life easier and makes you happy, I love when people share what’s working for them. It just gives me new ideas. 

  

Kathi Lipp (02:29) 

Right. And that’s the thing. I don’t want to spend my money on stuff that doesn’t work. And so, so let me tell you how I influenced Tenneil. Now, some of you have listened to the podcast where I was talking about organizing your pots and pans and ? Tenneil I, the day that podcast came out, she’s like, I’m getting that pan organizer. And okay, so I’m going to tell you my experience with it. then 

  

Tenneil (02:34) 

Yeah. 

  

Kathi Lipp (02:55) 

I want to hear yours. And I don’t know what her experience is. I just told her, Hey, we’re recording this episode. I’ll find out if you liked it or not. But I’m going to tell you what my experience was. my, have a corner cabinet in the kitchen and pots and pans. They were such a pain that my husband who everybody I know, you know, I, everybody knows I, I, I don’t worship him. only worship God, but 

  

Tenneil (03:24) 

Admire. 

  

Kathi Lipp (03:25) 

I admire greatly, but it got to the point where he was setting out to dry the pots and pans on a pretty regular basis because there’s such a pain in the rear to put away. And so he also, he still does this with our, our, ? not Tupperware. I can you tell I’m a child of the eighties. I call it Tupperware, but, yeah, he doesn’t like that either, but that’s very easy to put away. So I bought, 

  

this it’s called ? Muddella eight tier heavy duty adjustable pan organizing rack for kitchen cabinet storage and organization. So I mean, that is a mouthful. But what it does is it’s so you don’t put your pans or your pots inside of each other. They’re each on their own level. And I have to say the amount of people who now put away their pots and pans in my household. 

  

or even people who are visiting ? without being harangued has gone up 100%. Including me, by the way, including me, because I used to avoid it too. Okay, so now I don’t know, this is honest reaction, not that we’re gonna ever lie to you guys, but ? Tenneil, what is your unbiased reaction about this pot and pan organizer? 

  

Tenneil (04:49) 

I love it. So I was so excited because our pot in pan one, I’m like the only one who can do it correctly, right? 

  

Kathi Lipp (04:55) 

Yes, 

  

nobody can do it like mom does it. 

  

Tenneil (05:00) 

And similarly, we tend to leave them out like on the stove kind of ready to reuse because it’s irritating and we cook a lot. So I was super excited about this pot and pan holder and I ordered it and it was super late at night when it was delivered from Amazon. Everyone was like, who’s at the door? And so I start putting it together. So it was a whole family activity of watching me, you know, put this together. Me explaining that I’d ordered it off the podcast. I just, I don’t usually do that kind of 

  

Kathi Lipp (05:04) 

Yeah. 

  

Mm-hmm. 

  

Tenneil (05:29) 

And so they were super intrigued. The guys in my house were really impressed with the design. And I got down on the floor to put it in my cabinet and it didn’t fit because I didn’t measure first. And I was like so bummed. But I was like, this thing though, it makes sense. This thing makes sense. And so I scooted my little rear over to the next cabinet, to my corner cabinet, where I also have like 

  

Kathi Lipp (05:30) 

Yeah, yeah. 

  

Ooh! 

  

? no. 

  

Yes. 

  

Yeah. 

  

Tenneil (05:57) 

piles of things, but they’re a little bit different. They’re like containers that I take cookies in, deviled eggs, tray, strainers stuff like that. And it worked brilliantly in there to stack all that stuff up and each have its own, it’s almost like a slot, its own shelf, right? And I ordered a second one to do under there. And then ? we’re still gonna order another one. We can make it fit our pan cabinet, but our pan cabinet has a 

  

Kathi Lipp (05:58) 

Mm-hmm. 

  

Yeah, 

  

Yes, right. 

  

Tenneil (06:26) 

like a top shelf in it, half shelf. 

  

Kathi Lipp (06:29) 

That’s mine does too. Yes. 

  

Tenneil (06:30) 

And so you 

  

need to remove that for this to really do its job, which is okay. I would prefer it be gone in this baby work. 

  

Kathi Lipp (06:38) 

Yes. 

  

So for some reason, this works with my half shelf. It just, mean, yeah, it’s a little, it loses a little space. But what I’ve done is I’ve put my turkey roasting pan behind that, which I only need to get to once a year. And I only need to get to it when my 30 year olds are in the house and one of them can do the crawling. So I’m fine with that. So yeah. So, ? okay. I, I’ve never given, you know, a 

  

a ranking on this portion of the podcast. But for me, this is a 10 out of 10. It solves a huge problem. It isn’t crazy expensive. It’s not cheap, but I also don’t want cheap because I want this to last for a long time. It’s $31 and ? I just got it off of Amazon. We will put the link in the notes ? and you don’t have to give it a 10 out of 10, but what is your ranking for it? 

  

Tenneil (07:32) 

Yeah, for sure for what it did for me, I would give it a 9 out of 10 for the space that it fixed for me and I’d give it a 10 out of 10 if it measured correctly, but that’s on me, not on the product, right? 

  

Kathi Lipp (07:37) 

Yeah. 

  

Okay, 

  

but you know what this is really good to know that you should take that extra three minutes and Measure that space and guys, you know, I’ve talked about how I’ve ordered and I’ll put a link to these two I’ve ordered ? Those a dozen of the tiny measuring tape. So I have one in every room of the house because I That saves me a trip into town to return something 

  

Tenneil (07:49) 

Yeah! 

  

Kathi Lipp (08:08) 

And yeah, so many times I wish it worked better on clothes because like I still end up returning clothes because I don’t know what size I am anymore. But for things in your house, it’s always good to just take that extra second to measure. I bet nine times out of 10 Tenneil, you can eyeball stuff. I bet you. 

  

Tenneil (08:29) 

Yeah, 

  

and when it comes to like furniture and other spaces, I pretty well have nailed that and I measure a lot of stuff. I just didn’t think through. I was so excited about it on the podcast. So, yeah. 

  

Kathi Lipp (08:33) 

Go. 

  

No, of course not. Yeah, exactly. 

  

Okay, friends. So this is called the Mudella eight tier heavy duty adjustable pan organizer rack for kitchen cabinet storage and organization. And so ? I, like I said, love this thing. If you are struggling with what to do with your pots and pans, this is worth trying. As you know, Amazon, you can always return things. 

  

But yeah, this works for us. And I noticed like it’s saying free delivery today, 5 to 10 PM. Yeah, and here’s the thing guys, it doesn’t do free delivery to my house. It does free delivery to my mom’s house. But if I really needed it, we could do it. So I’ve ordered the second one. 

  

Tenneil (09:19) 

No. 

  

Kathi Lipp (09:26) 

And yeah, we’re gonna be so organized. It’s gonna make cooking a dream. I’m so excited. Tenneil thanks for sharing my love of pot and pan organization. It makes me super happy. 

  

Tenneil (09:37) 

Yes, it’s the little things. 

  

Kathi Lipp (09:39) 

It’s the little things, that’s true. Anytime you can remove an obstacle from something you have to do is huge. Well friends, you have been listening to ClutterFree Academy, I’m Kathi Lipp, now go create the clutter free life you’ve always wanted to live. 

 

 

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#667 – Clutter Free Finances: Taking Control of Subscriptions

On this episode of Clutter Free Academy, Kathi Lipp and Tonya Kubo dive deep into the world of subscription services and the hidden costs they can incur over time. As many of us fall into the habit of acquiring more subscriptions than we need, our finances begin to clutter much like our living spaces. Kathi and Tonya share personal stories on saving thousands of dollars by auditing their monthly subscriptions, canceling those that went unused, and exploring alternative solutions. They’ll also introduce you to the idea of Low by July, a practical exercise in mindful spending. This episode is brimming with relatable anecdotes, actionable tips, and a call to reclaim the financial freedom many of us don’t realize we’ve lost. 

 

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Sabbath Soup: Weekly Menus and Rhythms to Make Space for a Day of Rest

Kathi Lipp gives readers an easy-to-follow process for meal planning and prep, so that they can enjoy a full day each week of real rest and refreshment.

Could you use a break from cooking (and everything else) once a week? Not only is rest vital for your mind and body, it’s good for your soul too. God designed us to enter into Sabbath rest one day per week, but as you know, meals still need to be made. Your family still needs to be fed.

Sabbath Soup includes convenient, seasonal meal plans that take the guesswork out of shopping and cooking. More than just a collection of delicious recipes—including main dishes, breads, breakfasts, desserts, salads, sides, and yes, soups—this is your guide to establishing a weekly rhythm and routine of meal planning and prep that allows you to have a true day off.

Do something good for your soul and experience the peace that comes with a full day dedicated to spending time with God, family, and friends. Savor your Sabbath as you proudly proclaim, “Soup’s on!”

Order your copy of Sabbath Soup: Weekly Menus and Rhythms to Make Space for a Day of Rest here.

Links Mentioned:

Kathi Lipp’s Clutter Free Academy Facebook Group (the Kindest Corner of the internet!)
Clutter Free For Life

 

FYI: Some product links may be affiliate links. If you buy, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support! 

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Meet Our Co-Host

 

Tonya Kubo

Tonya Kubo is the illustrious and fearless leader of Kathi Lipp’s Clutter Free Academy Facebook group and the Clutter Free for Life membership program. A professional community strategist, she believes everyone deserves to have a place online where they feel like they belong. Raised by a hoarder, Tonya knows firsthand the pain and isolation that comes from living in conditions others don’t understand. She wants better for her family and her cluttery peeps, which is why she is passionate about the compassionate slow-and-steady approach that makes Clutter Free unique. She lives in the heart of California with her husband, Brian, their two spirited daughters, and one very tolerant cat. Visit tonyakubo.com to find out more about her community work, or email her at tonya@kathilipp.org to discuss the Clutter Free Academy podcast and programs.

Tonya Kubo Picture
Transcript

Kathi Lipp (00:09) 

Well, hey friends, welcome to Clutter Free Academy where our goal is to help you take small doable steps to live every day with less clutter and more life. And we are talking money today. We are talking money, money, money. And I am here talking money with my friend Tonya Kubo, who, you know, we just have so much of it. We don’t know what to do with it. That’s the problem, right Tonya? Yes. 

  

Tonya Kubo (00:33) 

Right, right. That money 

  

tree in the backyard is like worse than a lemon tree. 

  

Kathi Lipp (00:37) 

It’s been so… 

  

Now, okay, did watch, speaking of trees, I watched a video last night of somebody talking about, he’s in construction and somebody, they were working on their house and they said, ? you should probably tell your workers not to eat the apples off of that tree. And he said, my goodness, I’m so sorry. 

  

Normally when we go and work on people’s houses, they have no problem with it. And she said, no, it’s no problem. It’s just that those have not been processed. And he said, well, what do you mean? She says, well, those are like backyard apples, but they’re not store apples. he’s like, so tell me what’s wrong with them? And well, they haven’t been processed like as if they were going through a store and we just don’t want any of your workers to get sick. 

  

And so she honestly thought that the apples at the store were a different kind of apple, like a different variety than the one. And he’s like, well, why would you have an apple tree? And she says, it just looks pretty. And first of all, I’ve had apple trees before. Those are the messiest trees in the world if you’re not constantly eating them. OK, so that was a tangent that we didn’t need to go on. But you know, 

  

Tonya Kubo (01:42) 

Hmm. 

  

They are super. 

  

Kathi Lipp (02:04) 

Because apple tree, well, don’t we all wish that we had an apple tree in our backyard now because we know some prices are gonna be going up here pretty soon if they haven’t already gone up for you. And we had a challenge in our Clutter Free for Life, which is our paid group. this was an impromptu challenge, but it was based on something I’ve been working on, I would say for the past five months. And. 

  

Tonya Kubo (02:10) 

Yeah. 

  

Yeah. 

  

Mm-hmm. 

  

Kathi Lipp (02:31) 

I just realized it’s very easy for me. We have become the this is the decade of the subscription. I know there were subscriptions before. I know there will be subscriptions in the 2030s, but this is where people said you can’t start a business unless it’s subscription based. Maybe it’s been longer than this, but this is where like I can. I have noticed that subscriptions keep. 

  

Tonya Kubo (02:41) 

Mm-hmm. 

  

Mm-hmm. 

  

Mm-hmm. 

  

Kathi Lipp (03:02) 

I anything I want to buy they want it. I was trying to buy socks the other day. They wanted me to buy a subscription to socks. I’m like, yeah, I’m not doing that. Like I’m not changing out my feet. I don’t wear that many socks. It’s nutso we want to be subscribed to our food. We want to be subscribed to delivery. We to be subscribed to our television. And that was not all the unnecessary expenses in my budget, but it was a lot of them. 

  

Tonya Kubo (03:09) 

Mm-hmm. 

  

Mm-hmm. 

  

Mm-hmm. 

  

Kathi Lipp (03:32) 

And I don’t know about other people who are listening, but I do feel like I have some insight after doing this experiment in Clutter Free for Life. Because I challenge people, just for the moment, could you save $1,000 a year just by going through your budget and canceling subscriptions, canceling things that are coming up that you are no longer using? And while I feel like I crushed this, 

  

You crushed it like a tin can. And I was able to eliminate about $2,500 worth of reoccurring expenses for the year of our Lord 2025. And some of it was through canceling things, some of it was renegotiate. There were so many different varieties. But Tonya, how much did you end up cutting? 

  

Tonya Kubo (04:14) 

Mm-hmm. 

  

So by the 28th of February, we actually landed at just shy of 5,000. I think it’s like 4,994 or something or other. Like ridiculousness. 

  

Kathi Lipp (04:37) 

It’s crazy. 

  

Oh my gosh, did you so, when I find 

  

$6 more and just, yeah. 

  

Tonya Kubo (04:46) 

Well, was Brian and I was like, what if I cancel this? He’s like, Tonya doesn’t count if you cancel it this month and then live to regret it and restart it next month. 

  

Kathi Lipp (04:54) 

Right, right. Well, okay. 

  

You know what? This may be my first time that I ever disagree with Brian Kubo because we all know that I’m a Brian Kubo fan. But if you cancel something to see if you can live without it and you realize, yeah, no, this is really important to me. I think that’s a victory, but I understand his premise. So I don’t disagree with him, but I do think that there 

  

Tonya Kubo (05:10) 

Mm-hmm. 

  

Yeah. 

  

Kathi Lipp (05:23) 

there is value in saying, I’m gonna pull back, nope, I’ve decided this is worth the $12 a month. So I wanna get into this because I think it’s really, I think it’s a great challenge to see, could you eliminate $1,000 of reoccurring expenses in your year? And you think, well, $1,000 over an entire year doesn’t feel like very much, but. 

  

Tonya Kubo (05:26) 

Mm-hmm. 

  

Mm-hmm. 

  

Kathi Lipp (05:51) 

Could you use an extra $80 a month? I know I can. And maybe if you haven’t been paying attention to your budget, maybe you could eliminate $2,000. It’s not that you’re not paying attention, but at one point in your life, at least for me, at one point in my life, Brit Box was very important to me. And then it became not so important to me. At one point in my life, I was helping, I bought a subscription for my kids. 

  

Tonya Kubo (06:03) 

Mm-hmm. 

  

Mm-hmm. 

  

Mm-hmm. 

  

Kathi Lipp (06:20) 

that 

  

was very important to them. Well, they don’t use it anymore. So why am I paying for it? So these are some things. why, I really believe that clutter and finances go together. Okay, so tell me what you think about that because it’s important to me. 

  

Tonya Kubo (06:24) 

Right. Right. 

  

they totally do. Totally do. 

  

Well, feel 

  

like clutter and finances go together for a few things, right? So we know that we cluttery people really struggle with overwhelm, we struggle with decision fatigue. you you sign up, subscriptions are the bane of our existence, because you sign up and then they’re just like out of sight, out of mind. And then you, you know, in some cases, and this was something that Brian had figured out a few months ago, 

  

Kathi Lipp (06:53) 

Mm-hmm. 

  

Right. 

  

Tonya Kubo (07:10) 

you’re subscribed to the same thing in three different ways. So that sort of stuff though, like the cluttery person’s overwhelming decision fatigue, I think leads to a lot of overspending, duplicate spending, also just unintentional spending. Like if you knew that was coming out of your account every single month, you would have canceled it long time ago, right? So there’s that piece, but then there’s the other piece where it just, I think it just weighs on our mind. I mean, 

  

Kathi Lipp (07:27) 

Great. 

  

Right. 

  

Tonya Kubo (07:39) 

Ten charges coming out of your account every month are ten different things to keep track of. 

  

Kathi Lipp (07:46) 

It’s so true. this is why it’s so much like clutter, because it’s very easy to mindlessly have things come into the house and then they accumulate. You have to take care of them. instead of being intentional about what comes in, it’s very easy. Subscriptions are just habits that are unexamined habits sometimes. 

  

Tonya Kubo (07:52) 

Mm-hmm. 

  

Mm-hmm. 

  

Right. 

  

Kathi Lipp (08:14) 

I know, you know, when I was in my first marriage, when I first got married and we were paying bills, you you’d sit down with your checkbook and you had your stack of envelopes and you had your stamps. And I think it was 13 cents at one point. I mean, like, you know, we’re talking back in the olden days and you knew every dollar that was going out of your account. That’s just not the case anymore. 

  

Tonya Kubo (08:23) 

Mm-hmm. 

  

Mm-hmm. 

  

Right. 

  

Kathi Lipp (08:40) 

And 

  

so it’s very easy to let those things build up without doing it. So Tonya, I told people was go through your bank account and see, you what are those reoccurring charges? What are those things that are coming out that maybe you’re not paying attention to? But you took it to a whole new level because you realize they’re getting money from us in ways that we may not even be aware of. 

  

Tonya Kubo (08:50) 

Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. 

  

yeah. Okay. So I feel like here’s what’s really important is to understand that I have my own business. So part of why I could save almost $5,000 a year is because I did this in my business account in addition to in my personal account. But what we’re, it’s all real money. It affects how much I get to pay myself. Right? So that, that counts too. But to your point, you know, on my business side, there’s only like 

  

Kathi Lipp (09:17) 

Mm-hmm. 

  

Yeah. 

  

Witcher is all real money, by the way. It’s all real mo- Yeah. 

  

Exactly. Yes. 

  

Tonya Kubo (09:40) 

one way things come in or two ways, right? I either use my business debit card or I use PayPal. That’s it. That’s how I get charged on things. But I was not prepared for this, Kathi, but you’re right. I figured it out really fast. On the personal side, there are the bank account charges, right? The things that use your debit card. But then if you have credit cards, there’s the things that you put on a credit card and forgot you put on the credit card. 

  

Kathi Lipp (09:47) 

Right. 

  

Mm-hmm. 

  

Mm-hmm. 

  

Tonya Kubo (10:08) 

And 

  

if you don’t max out your credit cards, how would you really pay any attention? It’s like if your credit cards are always at zero, you’ll notice. And if your credit cards are always maxed out, you’ll notice. But if it’s anywhere in between, you wouldn’t. But then what we also discovered was PayPal subscriptions. So I had subscriptions hiding out in PayPal that I had no other record of that had to be canceled in PayPal, couldn’t be canceled anyplace else. 

  

Kathi Lipp (10:16) 

Mm-hmm. 

  

Right. Hmm. Okay, yeah. 

  

Mmm. 

  

Yeah. Right. 

  

Tonya Kubo (10:36) 

which then led us on the trail of Google Pay or Apple Pay. Sometimes you have subscriptions directly through those. anybody who has done any of those, like if you do a lot of online shopping, right, you’ll notice that some, there’s shop accounts and they collect, they’re the ones who are facilitating your subscription service. There’s links. 

  

Kathi Lipp (10:45) 

Mm. 

  

Guess. 

  

my goodness. 

  

Tonya Kubo (11:04) 

So Kathi, I found subscriptions hiding in like six different locations just on my personal site. 

  

Kathi Lipp (11:12) 

It’s insane, right? 

  

Tonya Kubo (11:13) 

Right. And part of how I noticed was a couple hit that I wasn’t expecting. So the PayPal thing was I had an Evernote subscription. I started using Evernote in 2016 when my mom died. I’m like, no, no, it would have been 2015. So when my mom died, I needed a way for us to have all the information associated with her death and I needed to be able to access it at my computer. 

  

Kathi Lipp (11:21) 

Mm-hmm. 

  

Mm, right. 

  

Okay. 

  

Tonya Kubo (11:41) 

or on my phone and I needed Brian to be able to access it. And Evernote at that time was the easiest way to do that. So did you just hear me say my mom died in 2015? Yeah, so I haven’t actually accessed Evernote for anything else since then. And yet I got this notification from PayPal that they had processed a charge. And I’m thinking like, I don’t have anything coming out of PayPal. And it’s $120. And I go and look. 

  

Kathi Lipp (11:47) 

Mm-hmm. 

  

Right? Ten years ago? 

  

Tonya Kubo (12:11) 

And it’s like, I’m still paying for Evernote? 

  

Kathi Lipp (12:16) 

Wow. 

  

Tonya Kubo (12:17) 

Why would I think about it? I haven’t touched it in years. But so that’s a charge that got canceled. 

  

Kathi Lipp (12:20) 

Right. That’s insane. 

  

Yeah. it’s heartbreaking. It’s heartbreaking. And you think about the money that has been wasted. But here’s we’re going to reframe it. The money that will no longer be coming out of your account. Yeah. 

  

Tonya Kubo (12:28) 

Mm-hmm. 

  

Exactly. Exactly. 

  

And you know what? I know that we have a lot more to talk about on the savings front, but we should probably take a break, pay some bills, and then we’ll come right back. 

  

Kathi Lipp (12:43) 

Yeah. Okay. Yep. 

  

Tonya Kubo (12:51) 

And we’re back and we are talking about how we are saving. So Kathi, I just shared how I cut expenses that I kind of didn’t even realize I was spending for maybe a decade or so. How about you? 

  

Kathi Lipp (12:52) 

Okay. 

  

You know, so a lot of things I did I realized a lot of my things were hidden inside of Amazon So, you know like Brit box and thing Acorn TV, you know things that you’re like, I’m totally into this show Well, I’m into that show and then I never use it again. So that was a problem and I I had to 

  

Tonya Kubo (13:14) 

Mmm. 

  

You 

  

Mm-hmm. 

  

Kathi Lipp (13:34) 

I had to reframe some of my thinking from, know, when it’s clutter, it’s like, do I need this to with subscriptions? Do I use this? Not will I use this? Because and you know, they they really play with our mentality saying, well, if you cancel it now, if you resubscribe later, it’s going to be more expensive. 

  

Tonya Kubo (13:43) 

Mm-hmm. 

  

was hoping you 

  

would address this because I think that holds us, Cluttery people in bondage, Kathi. 

  

Kathi Lipp (13:59) 

It’s so true because but I I had to think about okay, but if I cancel it and I resubscribe a year later That will cover me forever. That will cover me forever so and I am not paying for anything that I’m not using and so one of the things that I did was what are the alternatives so One thing that ended up being so interesting 

  

Tonya Kubo (14:18) 

Mm-hmm. 

  

Kathi Lipp (14:28) 

was I was looking over all my subscriptions. This is something that’s really interesting. The subscriptions you actually use, are there other benefits that come with that subscription? So one of them for us was we were paying for Paramount Plus, which is like CBS. Because we use it all the time. Well, come to find out, our Walmart subscription had free Paramount Plus. 

  

Tonya Kubo (14:37) 

Mm-hmm. 

  

includes it. 

  

Kathi Lipp (14:57) 

It included the one with the commercials, which Roger, every time we watch commercials says, we should pay for the, and I’m like, no, stop that, stop. You can sit through a commercial. Go to the bathroom, go put some more ice in your drink. that’s right, and I’ll scream, it’s coming back on! But what are the alternatives? 

  

Tonya Kubo (15:05) 

Mm-hmm. 

  

Yeah. Go do what we did in the 80s, Roger. 

  

Kathi Lipp (15:23) 

we have become very impatient and I blame social media and I know you love social media, but I’m gonna blame social media here for something because it used to be a movie would come out and yeah, you talk about it with your friends, but you could see it. You could wait six months until it was out on VHS or on disc or whatever like that. But social media makes you feel like you are missing the most important thing in the world if you’re not at Wicked on opening night. 

  

You know, it comes to find out you will live. You probably will live. Now there are things that will be exciting for you and you’ll want to go see, but you know what? It’s okay if you don’t do that. What are some alternatives? Can I wait to read that fiction book until it’s available at my library? Because there I can get it for free. What free apps could I use? Do I really need another subscription? 

  

Tonya Kubo (15:58) 

Mm-hmm. 

  

Kathi Lipp (16:22) 

Or should I go investigate what’s actually on YouTube? Because there’s a lot of stuff on YouTube. Tubi, T-U-B-I, is a free streaming service. And if you’re like, yeah, but it doesn’t have this thing that I want to watch. One of the things that we are doing is we canceled our Apple subscription. We canceled a few other subscriptions, and we’re using the free versions, or we’re not using anything. But I will go back and subscribe. 

  

Tonya Kubo (16:27) 

Mm-hmm. 

  

Kathi Lipp (16:50) 

You maybe every six months for a month and I’ll watch on Apple the morning show and Severance and like, you know, all the things I’ve been waiting for is going to be an awesome month. But, you know, for right now I can watch things on Paramount Plus. We do have Max, which has a lot of great shows. So we’re using that. But when it comes time for me to go to Apple, I’ll cancel my Max subscription for three to nine months. 

  

Tonya Kubo (16:57) 

Mm-hmm. 

  

Yeah. 

  

Mm-hmm. 

  

Mm-hmm. 

  

Kathi Lipp (17:20) 

and 

  

wait till the things that I wanna watch are on there and it’s okay. I probably will not die. So I wanna let people know that every July we do something great in our Clutter Free Academy group and we do a Low by July. And so can you give us a little glimpse into what we do in our free group in the Low by July? 

  

Tonya Kubo (17:24) 

Mm-hmm. 

  

Mm-hmm. 

  

Yeah, so Low By July is simply about paying attention to your spending. So it’s not a spending freeze. It’s not, my gosh, I can’t drive across town because I’m not allowed to fill up my gas tank. It’s simply trying to minimize the impulse purchases we make, right? So it’s really looking at, you know, do I need to go to Starbucks every day? 

  

Kathi Lipp (18:05) 

Mm-hmm. 

  

Tonya Kubo (18:17) 

Do I need to go to Starbucks once a week? Are there alternatives that maybe I want to explore? And if ultimately you say, get so much joy out of going to Starbucks once a week compared to making coffee at home, then hey, that’s okay. So it’s really just figuring out how can you be more intentional with your spending and really focus on what makes sense for you and your family. And we do it in the free group because we know that the biggest… 

  

Kathi Lipp (18:30) 

Mm-hmm. 

  

Tonya Kubo (18:45) 

contributor to clutter is what we bring in the house. So if we can minimize what comes in the house, then our in-home decluttering efforts have a greater impact. 

  

Kathi Lipp (18:48) 

Mm-hmm. Great. 

  

Yeah, it’s so easy to just do the same things out of habit You know, this is gonna sound ridiculous But I have been buying too much asparagus. Let me just be honest. Let me let me confess here There has been too much asparagus buying in my life. I’ve been buying the Costco size asparagus it’s just me and Roger and while we enjoy asparagus we don’t enjoy it that much and 

  

Tonya Kubo (19:16) 

Mmm. 

  

Kathi Lipp (19:24) 

What I’ve also come to notice in my patterns is we tend to eat a ton of asparagus when we’re grilling. But we’re not grilling right now because it’s March. And so to just take a step back and look at some habits that maybe you have that has been causing you to spend money. And so Tonya today, I’m gonna throw away some asparagus and I’m gonna do it guilt free. But what I’m not gonna do is put it 

  

Tonya Kubo (19:31) 

Hmm. 

  

Right. 

  

Mm-hmm. 

  

Kathi Lipp (19:53) 

back on my Costco shopping list, I’m gonna put it back on there with a little parentheses that says May, because Mother’s Day is when we can pretty much guarantee we’re not gonna get more snow. And so this is the same thing. I’m gonna ask you to look at your habits. so a couple of things I wanna encourage you to do. Go over to the Facebook group, which is Clutterfree Academy, Kathi Lipps Clutterfree Academy. 

  

Tonya Kubo (19:55) 

Right. 

  

Mm-hmm. 

  

Hmm. 

  

Mm-hmm. 

  

Kathi Lipp (20:24) 

and join us. So when July comes, you’ll know when we do our low by July, you’ll be you’ll already be a part of the group. You’ll already know. But I also want you to do something else. I would love this is my challenge to the people who are listening. Do a quick audit. What subscriptions or services are you paying for but not using? And we had somebody in our paid group, Clutter Free for Life, who said, I’m not doing this. 

  

Tonya Kubo (20:41) 

Mm-hmm. 

  

Mm-hmm. 

  

Kathi Lipp (20:53) 

I’m not doing it because I grew up without a lot of money and I don’t want to be told what I can and cannot do and I want to enjoy these little luxuries in my life. Can I tell you that’s the exact opposite? I don’t want you, I don’t want you canceling things that bring you joy. I think many of us could eliminate a thousand dollars just by getting rid of the things that we are literally not using. 

  

Tonya Kubo (21:11) 

Mm-hmm. 

  

Mm-hmm. 

  

Kathi Lipp (21:24) 

Or the next level is maybe we’re using it sometimes, but it’s not worth the amount of money we’re paying for it in proportion to the joy that we’re getting from it. And that’s what I want you to think about. if you’re willing to take the challenge, what I would encourage you to do is get into, just keep a little Excel spreadsheet or even on a notepad and go through your bank statement. 

  

Tonya Kubo (21:36) 

Mm-hmm. 

  

Kathi Lipp (21:53) 

and figure out what those charges are because they do a really good job of calling them different things so you don’t know what you’re actually being charged for. So one of things I would encourage you to do is just take that name and put it into Google if you can, you know, if it’s, you know, Starbusters. Okay, what’s Starbusters? Is that a Starbucks, you know, sign off? Is it Starlink? I don’t know. 

  

Tonya Kubo (22:15) 

Mm-hmm. 

  

Right. 

  

Kathi Lipp (22:22) 

but find out what it is. Somebody else will have Googled that and they can tell you what you’re paying for. And get rid of the things that are not actively improving your life. I wonder if many of our people could be saving 200, 500, $1,000 a year. Guys, so do the quick audit, get rid of some of those big ticket items. Next time, what we’re gonna be talking about, 

  

Tonya Kubo (22:29) 

Mm-hmm. 

  

Kathi Lipp (22:51) 

we’re gonna talk to Tonya about how she renegotiated some of her bills. And I did one too. Let me just tell you, my savings were less than yours, but they all count. then cutting down on some of those reoccurring charges that are not bringing joy to your life. This was a great episode. Thank you so much, Tonya. 

  

Tonya Kubo (22:55) 

? yes I did do that. 

  

Hahaha 

  

? thank you for having me. This was great. 

  

Kathi Lipp (23:16) 

Okay, well. 

  

Tonya Kubo (23:19) 

And I think we are about at time, Kathi, but I want to say that I really hope that everybody listening takes that next step to do a quick audit. You are going to be amazed. And please make it judgment free. Don’t be like me. Don’t be all sad and feel like you have to go to confession in order to talk about the Evernote subscription that you had for a decade and you didn’t know about. Just judgment free, shame free. Just do that audit and see what you find. 

  

Kathi Lipp (23:32) 

Yeah, yeah, right. 

  

You 

  

Tonya Kubo (23:46) 

And we will see you next time when we talk about those big ticket savings. So you have been listening to ClutterFree Academy. Now go create the ClutterFree life you have always wanted to live. 

 

 

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