Do you ever feel like stuff just keeps appearing in your home? You buy another white shirt because you forgot you already own three. You grab dry shampoo "just in case" and come home to find a small collection already waiting. What if the real problem isn't that you have too much stuff—it's that you don't know what you have?

In this episode of Clutter Free Academy, Kathi Lipp and Grace Church introduce Low Buy July—a realistic, grace-filled approach to mindful spending that's about awareness, not deprivation. Unlike extreme no-spend challenges, Low Buy July invites you to hit pause on non-essential purchases while still living your real life.

What Listeners Will Discover

This episode walks through exactly how to prepare for and thrive during a month of intentional spending. Kathi and Grace share practical strategies for reducing impulse purchases while still taking care of what matters—from birthday celebrations to necessary prescriptions.

The Discovery Phase

Before cutting back on spending, it helps to know what you already own. Kathi introduces several "treasure hunts" to help listeners rediscover forgotten resources:

Setting Yourself Up for Success

Small friction can make a big difference. Kathi and Grace offer these practical tips:

What You're Still Buying

Low Buy July isn't about deprivation. Safety items, prescription medicine, true groceries, and birthday celebrations are all still on the table. The goal is accommodation, not elimination.

Key Takeaways

Ready to join the challenge? Head over to the free Clutter Free Academy Facebook group to take the Low Buy July pledge and celebrate wins together with 16,000+ fellow declutterers.

Does the thought of tackling your home office make you want to close the door and pretend it doesn't exist? You're not alone. In this episode of Clutter Free Academy, Kathi Lipp sits down with Grace Church to discuss why most office decluttering attempts fail—and what actually works instead.

What You'll Discover in This Episode

August brings that familiar back-to-school energy, and it's the perfect time for adults to reset their systems too. But before you pull everything out of your office for a complete overhaul, Kathi has some important wisdom to share about why that approach almost always backfires.

The Truth About Office Gut-Jobs

An office gut leaves you in shambles and piles. Instead of a marathon decluttering session, Kathi recommends breaking your office down into manageable pieces—the desk one day, files the next, walls another day. The key? Fifteen minutes is your best decision timeline. Beyond that, you're making poor decisions without the energy to carry them out.

Why Your Office Is Like Your Kitchen

Grace offers a powerful observation: your office is a space you're working in while trying to work on it—just like a kitchen. It's hard to renovate a space while you're living in it. This is why small, sustainable steps matter more than dramatic overhauls.

The Year-Long No Office Supply Challenge

Kathi is kicking off a personal challenge that has transformed other declutterers' lives: a full year without buying office supplies. The secret? Gather all your pens, sticky notes, and notebooks into one spot and create your own little store. You likely have more than you think.

The Power of Body Doubling

There's real psychology behind working alongside others—even virtually. Body doubling helps your brain stick to the task without excuses. It's one of the most powerful tools available in the Clutter Free for Life community.

Key Takeaways

Whether you need a simple tune-up or a complete overhaul with daily support, there's a path forward for your office. The goal isn't perfection—it's creating a workspace where you can sit down and actually work without moving piles first.

Have you ever decluttered a room only to watch it fill back up three months later? If so, this episode of the Clutter Free Podcast is for you.

Kathi Lipp sits down with Katy Joy Wells, host of the Maximized Minimalist podcast with over 5 million downloads, to explore why traditional decluttering methods often fail—and what actually works for those who struggle with emotional attachment to their stuff.

What Listeners Will Discover

In this conversation, Kathi and Katy dive deep into the psychology behind clutter, examining why some people can easily let things go while others find themselves paralyzed by a simple organizing decision.

The Four Types of Clutter

Katy introduces her framework of the four clutter types that keep most homes stuck:

Understanding Your "Stuff Story"

Listeners will learn about the three pillars that shape their relationship with belongings: historical influences from caregivers, personal experiences, and cultural messaging. This awareness creates the foundation for lasting change.

How Clutter Affects Your Nervous System

The conversation reveals how the average American home contains over 300,000 items—and how this visual chaos triggers stress responses, elevated cortisol, and feelings of overwhelm that have nothing to do with willpower or motivation.

Key Takeaways

This episode offers hope and practical strategies for anyone who has tried and failed at traditional decluttering methods. It's time to stop blaming yourself and start understanding the real reasons clutter has such a hold on your life.

Do you dread packing for a trip? Are you an overpacker who loves having options but hates paying baggage fees? Whether you're heading out for a family vacation or traveling for work, packing doesn't have to be a source of stress and anxiety.

In this episode of Clutter Free Academy, Kathi Lipp sits down with author and literary agent Barb Roose—a self-proclaimed overpacker who has mastered the art of smart travel. Together, they share practical, real-world tips that will transform the way you approach your next trip.

What You'll Learn in This Episode

Barb shares her three-part packing philosophy that has revolutionized her travel experience:

• Pack Early: Starting four to five days before your trip gives you time to think, rethink, and do laundry without the last-minute panic

• Pack Like You Have Amnesia: Create a laminated checklist of essentials so you never forget the items that matter most

• Pack for Reality: Embrace who you really are—if you need extra toiletries, three pairs of shoes, or compression socks, pack them without guilt

Rapid-Fire Tips for Smarter Travel

Kathi and Barb trade their best travel wisdom, including:

• Why packing cubes are a game-changer for organization

• How to use a cord organizer to keep your backpack from becoming a hot mess

• The importance of packing 24 hours' worth of essentials in your carry-on

• Why speakers should always wear something to the airport that could work for an event

• Creating three "anchor outfits" for busy travel seasons

• The life-changing tip about freezing yogurt before TSA

Key Takeaways

Overpacking isn't something to be ashamed of—it's something to manage wisely. By giving yourself margin, creating systems, and packing for your real needs (not an idealized version of yourself), you can travel with confidence and comfort. The goal isn't deprivation; it's showing up as your best, most prepared self.

If you're one of the many homeowners who can't park a car in their garage, you're not alone—and you're definitely not without hope. In this episode of Clutter Free Academy, Kathi Lipp sits down with returning guest Tenneil Register, who brings a unique perspective to garage organization from her experience managing inventory for an actual retail store.

Why the Garage Is So Hard to Tame

The garage tends to become a catch-all space because it's undefined. It's where things go when company is coming, when seasons change, or when we simply don't know what else to do with something. Unlike the rest of your home, there's no "garage inspector" coming to motivate a cleanup—so clutter piles up without any natural deadline.

A Professional Approach to Home Storage

Tenneil shares hard-won lessons from running a retail business, including how to think about garage contents in categories: seasonal items, repair tools, and backup supplies. This simple framework helps create logical zones that make finding (and putting away) items so much easier.

What "Done" Really Looks Like

Forget Pinterest-perfect matching bins. A well-organized garage is one where anyone can walk in and find what they need. The secret? Clear containers so you can see what's inside, simple labels (even handwritten ones count!), and contained categories that others can understand without explanation.

Key Takeaways

• Use clear containers – If it's opaque, there's always the possibility the thing you're looking for might be in that box. Clear bins let you scan and move on.

• Label everything – A 30-second scribble with a marker can completely change someone else's ability to use the space, including future you.

• Work in small time chunks – The "big Saturday cleanout" leaves you too exhausted to actually organize. Small sessions are more sustainable and effective.

• Create a "maybe" zone – Tape out a spot for items you can't decide on. By the end of your organizing session, you'll often be tired enough to let go of some maybes.

• Make it a choice, not a consequence – Deciding intentionally that you need storage more than parking feels completely different than living with the result of accumulated mess.

Even improving your garage by just 20% this season will make a huge difference every time you go out there looking for something. Progress, not perfection, is the goal.

Are you holding onto mattresses, kitchen supplies, or linens because your adult kids might need them someday? You're not alone—and you're not wrong for wanting to help. But what feels like wisdom or generosity might actually be one of the sneakiest forms of clutter.

In this episode of Clutter Free Academy, Kathi Lipp and Grace Church tackle a question that resonates with so many listeners: How do you decide what to keep for your kids and what to let go?

The Real Cost of "Just in Case" Storage

Before you dedicate precious square footage to items your children haven't asked for, consider this: you might be making decisions based on a future that may never happen, for a person who hasn't requested anything. Grace shares her eye-opening experience of calculating 10 years of storage unit costs—and the painful realization of what that money could have done instead.

A Simple Framework for Deciding

Kathi offers a straightforward approach: "I have [blank]. Do you want it? And if so, when?" This simple conversation can save years of storing items that your kids may never want—or worse, items that deteriorate while waiting for their "someday" moment.

When Donations Feel Impossible

The episode also addresses a common frustration: what to do when thrift stores are overwhelmed and Facebook Marketplace isn't working. From Buy Nothing groups to foster care closets and community swaps, Kathi and Grace share creative alternatives for getting items out of your home and into hands that need them today.

Key Takeaways

Whether you're storing things for adult children, struggling to find homes for donations, or simply need permission to let go, this episode delivers the practical wisdom and gentle encouragement you need to reclaim your space.

Do you ever feel like traditional organizing advice just doesn't work for your life? Maybe you're a caregiver with an unpredictable schedule, a mom juggling multiple kids' activities, or someone whose daily responsibilities shift constantly. If you've ever felt like you can't get on top of life because life just won't stay still, this episode is for you.

When Every Day Looks Different

In this powerful conversation, Kathi sits down with author and speaker Barb Raveling to tackle a question many listeners have been asking: How do you maintain peace and order when your schedule is anything but predictable?

Barb brings both practical wisdom and deeply personal experience to this topic. Having spent nearly a decade living with a spouse struggling with addiction, she knows firsthand what it means to wake up to chaos you didn't cause and can't control. From that difficult season, she developed strategies that have carried her through book deadlines, family medical emergencies, and the ongoing demands of a busy speaking and writing ministry.

The Top 5 Daily Anchors

Barb shares her "Top 5" approach—five simple, non-negotiable things she commits to doing each day, no matter what chaos swirls around her:

• Prioritize sleep – Getting the best rest possible given the circumstances
• Move your body – Not a specific workout, just intentional movement
• Make healthy food choices – Working with what's available
• Spend time with God – Quality over quantity
• Have one quality connection – Reaching out to someone who matters

These anchors aren't about perfection—they're about staying as regulated as possible when everything else feels out of control.

When You Can't Even Start

For listeners who feel too buried to even think about five things, Barb offers gentler advice: Do one thing for yourself today. For her, it once started with simply putting on a pair of earrings. That small act of self-care sparked something inside her during her darkest days. Later, it became a daily walk with earbuds in—a simple practice that gave her something to hold onto.

The Spiritual Foundation

Barb also shares how her faith became her lifeline, not through elaborate spiritual practices, but through simple acts like reading five promises of God written on a notecard each morning. When she couldn't pray, when all she could do was cry, those promises helped her "hold on until she could hold on."

Her powerful prayer—"God, I can't, but You can, and I will let You"—offers a starting point for anyone ready to release what they cannot control.

Key Takeaways

• You're not crazy for craving certainty—it's natural, but trying to manufacture control often creates more chaos
• Small, faithful steps build the foundation for handling bigger challenges
• God's plan was never for you to set yourself on fire to keep everyone else warm
• Before you can figure out your "top five," you need to figure out what to let go of
• One small act of self-care can be the first step out of survival mode

Do you feel defeated before your feet even hit the floor? Does your morning feel like a race you've already lost? You're not alone—and more importantly, you're not the problem.

In this encouraging episode, Kathi sits down with bestselling author Jennifer Bennett to unpack what morning rituals can actually look like when life is a lot. Jennifer shares a perspective-shifting truth: everyone is a morning person. It's not about when you wake up—it's about how you choose to begin.

What You'll Discover in This Episode

• Why the cultural idea of a "morning person" has been keeping you stuck

• The difference between being an early bird and being a morning person (hint: they're not the same)

• How even five seconds of intention can change the trajectory of your entire day

• What "revenge bedtime procrastination" is and how it's sabotaging your mornings

• Simple, doable ways to prepare the night before for a more peaceful morning

• The powerful truth that God is a morning person—and because you're made in His image, you are too

A Morning Mindset Shift

Jennifer studied all 200+ mornings mentioned in Scripture and discovered something beautiful: not all mornings in the Bible were easy, but God was present in every single one. From Abraham's difficult obedience to the hardest morning in history—the crucifixion at 9 a.m. on a Friday—morning has always been a place where God meets His people.

This episode is for every woman who has felt like a "non-morning person," who has believed that peaceful mornings are for more organized versions of themselves, or who simply needs permission to start small. Whether you have ten minutes or ten seconds, there's a way to begin your day with hope, intention, and the presence of God.

Key Takeaways

• You are already a morning person. It's not about the clock—it's about deciding to live the day with hope and intention.

• Start with a simple prayer. Even saying "Good morning, Jesus" before anything else can set the tone for your whole day.

• The best mornings begin the night before. Avoiding revenge bedtime procrastination and prioritizing sleep is a gift to your future self.

• God's mercies are new every morning. No matter what mess surrounds you, His presence is available at the start of every day.

Do you find yourself postponing bedtime because the thought of walking into your cluttered bedroom feels overwhelming? You're not alone. For many of us, the bedroom has become a catch-all space—a place where laundry piles up, papers accumulate on nightstands, and clutter hides behind closed doors.

Your Bedroom Should Be Your Exhale Room

In this episode of Clutter Free Academy, Kathi Lipp and Tenneil Register have an honest conversation about why the bedroom often becomes the most cluttered room in the house—even for people who don't consider themselves "cluttery." They explore why we use this private space as a dumping ground and, more importantly, how to reclaim it as the sanctuary it's meant to be.

What You'll Discover in This Episode

The Safety Factor

Beyond the mental and emotional benefits, Kathi Lipp shares a personal story about passing out in the middle of the night and the relief of knowing there was nothing on her floor to trip over. Your bedroom should be the safest room in your house—a place you can navigate even in the dark.

Key Takeaways

Rest is a gift, not just a reward. You don't have to earn the right to a peaceful bedroom by completing everything else first. Your nightstand should only hold items you use daily or weekly—everything else needs a different home. If you're resisting making your bed, you've probably made it too complicated with too many pillows.

Ready to transform your bedroom from a stress zone to a sanctuary? Start with just one small step tonight.

Have you conquered most of your home only to find yourself completely stuck on those final one or two rooms? You're not alone. Those last spaces are almost always the hardest—and there's a reason for that.

In this encouraging episode, Kathi Lipp sits down with Grace Church, the community leader of Clutter Free for Life, to tackle one of the most common struggles in the decluttering journey: finishing strong when you've already come so far.

Why Those Last Rooms Feel Impossible

Kathi and Grace dive deep into the psychology behind why final rooms become such roadblocks. These spaces aren't random—they're where all your unmade decisions have migrated. Every item you couldn't face in other rooms has found its way here, creating a concentration of emotional weight and decision fatigue.

What Listeners Will Discover

• Why the last rooms represent more than just clutter—they often hold grief, identity, and memories we're not ready to release

• The difference between productive avoidance and strategic room-hopping

• How body doubling (working alongside others, even virtually) accelerates progress and improves decision-making

• The power of the "minimum viable" approach—starting with your C plan instead of your A plan

• A practical combo approach: 10 minutes of easy decisions plus 5 minutes of hard ones

• Permission to define "done" as functional and peaceful rather than Pinterest-perfect

The One-Item Method

Grace shares a surprisingly simple breakthrough strategy: instead of tackling the whole room, pick up just one item and fully process it. That doom room is made up of individual items, and one decision at a time adds up to transformation.

Key Takeaways

• If you're depleted, you need rest and smaller goals—try 15 minutes or even just 2 minutes

• Systems beat motivation every time, especially when life gets hard

• Don't save decluttering for vacation days—small daily progress preserves your weekends for living

• Find one square foot of space to clear; your eye will be drawn to that victory every time you enter the room