I didn’t realize how bad I was either until I made an out of state move. Even then I ended up moving some of the clutter right along with me. Fortunately, it also gave me the cahnce to really go through every possession I had and organize it. The unfortunate opposite also happended where I had gotten rid of things I should have kept.
But now that you’re willing to turn a new leaf, here is the approach that worked for me. Take one area (or subject) in your home. Like “Kitchen Gadgets” or “Craft Items” or whatever you choose. Get some boxes to begin – don’t go investing in any of those plastic bins just yet. Go throught every drawer, every closet, every nook and cranny in your home to gather your subject items. Choose what you’re keeping, and what goes. When you see all the storage room the keepers will take, then make your storage investment. I like the see through bins. But keep this in mind – The see through bins are typically more brittle plastic than the colored bins, so where you use them will matter. Keep this in mind when comparing the prices as well.
If you have a garage or guest room, you can do your sorting a little at a time and not stress out over leaving a mess in your living areas. It will also let you do a good and thoughtful sort.
This is what worked for me but I know there are several folks here with some fantastic ideas as well. I got several from many of them. Good luck to you – you’ll be so glad you took the time to do this. Happy New Year!