You don't need to hire a professional home organizer to get rid of stuff and be clean and clutter free. Living space too small to occupy mountains of crap and other material possessions? It might be time to cleanse yourself by clean sweeping your clutter and getting rid of your junk to save yourself from a nightmare of landfill proportions. You might even gain some positive rewards in the process.

Sentimental Value

Most people keep things because of the many memories associated with the object: a pocket watch handed down from grandpa, an old picture frame from a high school buddy, memoirs of past relationships. If the items in question mean more than your leg to you, great, keep them, but if you won't even begin to get teary eyed from throwing them away, dispose of such nuisances.

Usefulness

Many of the things people own serve a function: whether to help them clean, to help them relax, to entertain. Look around, what doesn't serve a purpose? Do you really need three step stools? Will you ever really watch all the DVDs you own again? Do you really need your ancient childhood toys that even your kids won't play with? Eliminate the redundant tools and useless items and keep the essentials.

Sell Sell Sell

Things you may no longer want, need, or harbor space for could be exactly what one of the other six billion people out there dreams of owning. Start using services like craigslist, eBay, and Amazon. Let family and friends know they can finally buy from you that awesome Hawaiian-print tapestry you keep tucked in the garage. Distribute your depreciation-prone electronics before it will cost YOU money to get rid of them. Your stuff holds a value to someone, cash in now!

Donate

For the things you cannot sell, you can always give away. Goodwill, The Salvation Army, and other charitable organizations would love to claim your unwanted items and give them out to those who really need your stuff. You will be able to claim the donation as a tax deduction and feel good about giving back to the community in the process.

Cure Yourself of the Shopping Bug

Time for you to practice a little self-control when venturing out into America's consumer-driven landscape. No more impulse buys and binge window-shopping. Do you really need another white blouse to add to your dozen others? Shop when you need something and you will be less likely to buy when you don't.

Tell People "Cash, not junk."

Well, you don't need to be that bold, but asking for money over objects will not only keep your scrap pile from increasing, but also allow you to buy what you can utilize and enjoy the most. Alternatively, you can benefit from creating wish lists during birthdays and other holidays - preferably with a registry where others know the gifts already bought.

Hopefully by implementing the cleaning clutter tips mindset above and actively taking the necessary steps, you will liberate yourself from your material possessions, make and save money in the process, and live in a less overwhelming environment. Move easily, walk freely, and focus on more than the junk around you.

More by Warren Samu

aka thegecko