Tip #2:  Simplify! Less is More.  Limit the incoming.  One of the easiest and fastest ways to simplify and downsize is as soon as possible, begin to eliminate, opt out, discontinue, borrow not buy, and filter your daily activities.

Three is the magic number.  Years ago as I was heading down the steps in the Cherry Creek Tattered Cover bookstore (I do miss that location!) when the book Three Black Skirts caught my eye. The premise of the book was that all you need is three black skirts in three different lengths and you'll have dozens of fashion options by simply pairing with different blouses, jackets, jewelry, and scarves.  As I began to study feng shui, three became a magic number: the three kinds of luck (People Luck, Heaven Luck, Earth Luck), the combination of 3s to make the auspicious number 9, and the three rows and three columns on the Ba-Gua.  As you begin to limit the incoming, consider the number 3 as a perfect number for 'enough'.

Eliminate and opt out.  What can you begin to eliminate or opt out of in your daily routines? How about opting out of one more project or request when you are already struggling with your current responsibilities and busy schedule?  How about elimiting your obligations down to your three favorites: organizations, networking opportunities, product parties, magazine subscriptions, email newsletters. Like focused feng shui, the more scattered your energy, the less opportunity for results.  Try eliminating some shoulds: I should make 20 calls today (how about 3 focused calls) or I should get the whole house clean (how about the 3 most important areas). Opt out of email distribution lists, junk mail, subscriptions, and catalogs.  Simplify.

Borrow not buy.  I love books!  Over the years I have purchased thousands.  My friend reminded me the other day about my desire to have books, even if I had no place to put them.  A volunteer at the hospital where I worked passed away and donated literally thousands of books to the hospital. The staff, volunteers and patients were encouraged to come pick the ones they wanted. There were hundreds left and I took half of them home with me. Over the years I have whittled my collection down by giving them to my local library's annual fund raiser book sale. And for my book club reading I almost exclusively now borrow from the library, not buy. I have begun reading on my Kindle, which has significantly limited the incoming and even borrow with downloads from the library.  And while technologically has helped eliminate the space books and music and movies take up with streaming and phones and players that hold thousands of selections, you may still want to make the choices that keep you from acquiring when you can simply borrow.

Filters.  Think about filtering what's coming in to your home and office spaces. First, filter your emails. Set up the spam assassins that limit unwanted incoming email so you have less to go through and filter the distribution lists you are on by unsubscribing to those that are no longer relevant.  Next filter your travel purchases.  Return with nothing but memories. What could you possibly bring home from a trip to Paradise besides memories? I hesitate to suggest bringing home photographs unless you have a plan on how to store and retrieve your photos without their becoming clutter.  And filter the need to pick up all those promo pens and pads and jar openers and clips at conferences and open houses.  Finally, filter through the children's art work and papers at the end of each month and let them help you choose their 3 favorites. Then at the end of the school year pick the nine favorites--one for each month of the school year and a feng shui magic number--to represent this year's accomplishments and growth to compare to next year's saves.  You can also laminate art work for placemats or frame as gifts to grandparents. 

Limit more incoming.  Use up what you have before bringing in more.   When one of my clients wanted to save money, she put all her toiletries together, shampoo and soaps, conditioners, lotions, and bath salts that she had either purchased, received as gifts or brought home from hotels, and was able to go an entire year without purchasing any.  And my daughter just told me when she de-cluttered her office a couple months ago she found enough thank you notes that she wouldn't have to buy more for a long time.  The first year my husband and I were married, we lived on the GI bill -- $195/month. Our rent was $90.  By the end of the month we were eating canned soup and toast.  So from time to time, now I don't go to the grocery store until I've used nearly everything in the pantry and fridge and freezer.  What if you were snowed in or there was a disaster?  It's fun to test your creativity and see what you can use if you couldn't get to the store.  You might be amazed at the amount you have stockpiled. 

Until Next Week