How I Learned to Curb Spending (and Therefore Clutter)
Meet Blair Mohr, founder and lead organizer at The Organized Mommy Co. With a background rooted in education and family life, Blair knows firsthand how easy it is for spending habits to lead straight into clutter and overwhelm. She specializes in helping clients develop more intentional buying habits, curb impulse shopping, and design systems that support simpler, calmer homes. Blair’s approach is part organizing, part mindset coaching—she guides clients through habits, decision frameworks, and gentle accountability so their homes don’t just look organized, but feel more manageable every day.
I read Tracy McCubbins book, Making Space for Happiness (linked here). It gives you a lot of insight into the ways marketing tricks you, as well as the affect shopping has on your brain.
I unfollowed the Instagram accounts that were causing me to constantly add to cart - like the Montessori toddler activities type accounts, and the clothing influencers. We had enough toys and activities, and I did not need the temptation to buy a new outfit.
I realized that the dopamine hit I got from shopping wore off a lot faster than the feeling I got when I decluttered a space. The peace in an uncluttered home is irreplaceable.
I unsubscribed from all shopping related emails. Goodbye Madewell, Jcrew, Target, Lululemon…
I avoid the dollar spot when I walk into Target (which is weekly or more these days buying product for clients).
I add items I think I want to my cart but don’t check out right away (sometimes I wait days). This way I can really think about if I need it, or if it was just a passing mood. I often never go back, to be honest.
I set my Instagram account to kick me off after 30 minutes. Yes, I can technically override that, and I do if I am in the middle of editing a reel for my business, or following a recipe I saved. But mostly, being off that app keeps me happier with what I have and less likely to feel I need to shop.
Before I buy something, I think about WHERE it will live in my home. This applies to clothing, as well as items for my kids, or even food from the store. Will it fit nicely, or will I need to squish things in the cabinet and therefore get stressed out by the visual clutter?
I practice one in, one out with my clothing. If I buy a new item, something needs to go to the donate bin in my closet. We live in less than 1400 square feet (with 4 people), and there is no extra room for more.
I avoid bulk buying for most things. Yes, if I but avocado oil at Costco, I save money, but I won’t use it before it goes rancid, and I have to find a place to store a big bottle (to eventually toss when it goes bad). The bottom line: If you are buying SO much to save money that it expires before you can use it, you have actually NOT saved money and instead have contributed to waste. The same goes for buying multiple packs of medicine or sunscreen, etc. through Amazon because its cheaper to buy several AND you get it next day. Most people will never use those items before they expire. So, again, you are contributing to waste and wasting money. AND you have to find a spot for all those extra items in your home. Odds are you shove them to the back of a closet or cabinet and forget they are there, inevitably buying it again.
Ready to turn spending overwhelm into mindful order? Blair and The Organized Mommy Co. offer in-home organizing and decluttering services across Orange County, California, including cities like Anaheim, Brea, Buena Park, Carlsbad, Costa Mesa, Cypress, Dana Point, Fountain Valley, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Irvine, La Habra, La Palma, Laguna Beach / Hills / Niguel / Woods, Lake Forest, Los Alamitos, Mission Viejo, Newport Beach, Oceanside, Orange, Placentia, Rancho Santa Margarita, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Santa Ana, Seal Beach, Stanton, Tustin, Villa Park, Vista, Westminster, and Yorba Linda.
You can reach Blair at (949) 547-1760, or visit The Organized Mommy Co. website to send a message or schedule a consult.