Need a Clutter Coach?! Get Some Decluttering Tough Love from Cas!! 

“ if you’re drowning, we’re not worrying about your swimming technique.” GOLD!

You aren't coming across as angry to me. You are coming across as passionate, based on your own experiences.

I LOVE the 'Squatter' analogy. Here is a quote that is so on point: "Clutter Is Nothing More Than Postponed Decisions" Barbara Hemphill.

"You got your money's worth," and, "It's going to end up in a landfill someday anyway" are such freeing statements for throwing stuff away guilt-free in those times when I just can't deal with getting rid of it "properly." Thank you for that!

I’m sure that you get a lot of feedback that you are angry or intense but that’s what I need. You have legit changed my life. Don’t stop being you. We need you

I'm a retired empty nester who lives alone. I love listening to you while I do chores around the house, and I've learned from you. I'm working on decluttering, but just wanted to add some things that I've found helpful for others in my stage of life. In my 70's, I just plain don't want to clean anymore. Of course, I do the dishes and any small cleaning jobs that need to be done. However, I have a retirement job I love and I'd rather earn money to have cleaners do the main cleaning for me. A wonderful young couple comes for two hours every other week and do the major cleaning for me. And guess what? That has been the best thing I've done for myself and my happiness -- and it also helps with decluttering!!! I want them to see that I've made progress between their visits, so I accomplish some of my sorting and decluttering. I'm figuring out what I really want to keep in this stage of life, as well as what I want to check with my kids to see if something is of value to them -- and then get rid of the rest! Sometimes when my cleaners come, my sorting is in the worse before it gets better stage -- and they will even neaten up what I'm working on which also inspires me! I'm glad I saved all kinds of memorabilia for this stage of life. I'm FINALLY sorting through it -- and throwing a lot out! But I'm making scrapbooks for my kids and sending out notes to friends and family with photos inside reminding us of our younger days. Also, as a single person, I want to own enough towels and bedding for guests -- and for full loads of laundry! So many times I've heard the suggestion to have no more than two sets of sheets and towels per person from many declutter experts, but you might be better off when older having more in your linen closet -- and your underwear drawer -- and you will reduce the frequency of doing laundry as well as save time by doing bigger loads instead of tiny loads each week. Just wanted to add some thoughts from a different life stage! I appreciate how you let us know it's not about minimalism and that it's okay to have multiples of things you actually use (one thing I have a lot of is mixing bowls for my Christmas cookie baking binge -- and there are other times when I use an unusual number of mixing bowls!) Maybe some time you can do a podcast especially for us empty-nesters!

One of my music teachers used to get in our faces when we were being timid in our playing and say, "Who's playing who? Are you playing that horn or is that horn playing you?" For Cass, it's, "Who owns who? Do you own your space, or does your space own you?" 😉🙃

This is one of the best videos I have ever seen that explains why we need to declutter on a continuous basis. Thanks Cass!

You say it in every video, but it finally clicked during the all-day-declutter and I’m over my plateau. “Find things that Can go” So I’ve been decluttering for like 2 years now, and I’ve been donating tons and tons of things, but I’ve still been over my clutter threshold in my small house with two little kids and I was like I don’t even know what else there *is* to let go. So I started hunting for things, because of your advice. Digging and digging in every drawer and cabinet and bookshelf and corner until I found something, anything that I didn’t mind parting with, or that we would be okay without. And now that I’m really getting rid of those kinds of things, it’s really making an impact finally on how our daily life is functioning. It’s not like “does this have a home” or “where would I look for it” or even “would I remember I have one” or “is there enough space for this” it’s *what is there in this space that can go* And now I can just look in there like “ooh, this can go, this can go, this can go” So I got rid of 8 bags during the All Day, and 3 bags today.

Your "tough love" videos are always my favorite! I will listen to them especially on those days when I'm just not feeling it. A kick in the pants is needed from time to time, and I appreciate it. :)

I declutterred my entire living room during this podcast. It feels amazing 😭🙏🏽

Cas!!!!!! Oh my goodness!!! I’m in the middle of the story and wow….. “the tiny condominiums we buy for them, storage totes”… that’s my downfall. It has officially hit me!!! (Also, so sorry for your parents and anyone who deals with squatters)

I can safely say once I sent my adult kids’ stuff to them and my ex hoarder moved out that the new found space I had was life changing. I’ve started to organise my house and sheds to work for me and making functional furniture and items along and changing up my spaces. In the last few weeks, my mindset shifted and suddenly my old teenage habit of keeping my room tidy has kicked in. While I’m still doing a lot of projects around the house and still organising, it’s automatic to leave each room tidier than when I walked in to it. The cleaning side hasn’t kicked in again yet but I’m working on it.

This is absolutely mindest changing, thank you. When you started and said to declutter while listening, I got up while everyone is still sleeping and decided to tackle that misc just in case big storage bin that has been on my to do list for nearly 2 years now. Every time we need something that may be in there, I don't even want to open it. So we haven't used anything in there for over 2 years but moved with it twice. I keep thinking if I just organize it well enough, we may actually start using these things when we need something. And then you started the story. So far I went with our stuff is inventory I need to manage from Dawn but now I will always think our stuff as renters and it's time to get rid of the squatters! Amazing. 15 min into the video and I'm done - only kept the drill and the iron. Everything else bye bye squatters. The excess kitchen bin is next - I bet I can get it done befoe this video is over 😉 Thank you Cas for the tough love.

I say this a lot, “That pile isn’t hurting me”… YES IT IS! thank you Cass, I needed that!!

Squatter condominiums!!! I’m a landlord to squatter condos. I have to evict them!

"you piled it on yourself" omg this hits home

This video is a home run Cas. One of your best!

When I do something that serves my future self like load my dishwasher before going to bed.. i thank my past self in the morning. This midset shift helps me do the things TODAY.

This is one of your best podcasts ever

Squatter laws and eviction laws all desperately need to be changed.

You are giving me life today! " I USED TO BE A HOARDER" BUT, to be honest I still am! I realized today it is starting again😢❤ 🤗 Dana K white's 5 steps is a miracle worker alongside your pep talks/ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS and Dawn the minimal mom's minimalist input. I swear the three of you getting together and creating a community is the best thing that ever happened to a lot of us! It is most definitely not easy, stuff shuffle is mine and others death. You are absolutely correct "THE ONLY WAY OUT IS TO GET THINGS OUT!" CAS THE CLUTTERBUG THANK YOU!!!! YOU ARE CHANGING LIVES! 🙏

You were fired up and motivating. I didn’t feel like you were screaming or yelling at us!

OMG love the comment about storage bins being squatter condos 😂 LoL

Cas, your Tough Love videos are my favorite. They really motivate me and get me to view things differently. Please keep giving us your great advice. No more squatter condominiums for me!

I'm watching, pausing the video, trashing things, playing again, pausing... and so it goes 😂

If its today, or 100 years from now everything you own now will eventually end up at the landfill. THAT is so FREEING. Thank you!

Up until a few months ago, I was indeed drowning by always trying to do the right thing. I am STILL finding trash that I had bagged up for recycling years ago. Right now I am just trying to swim. Right now it feels good to just be able to get stuff out, including some of the clothing that is bullying me and causing anxiety. Started decluttering my yarn today before I turned this video on and so far have almost 3 bags ready to donate. I have to destashify until it all fits in the container that I had preselected for yarn storage. No excuses, no exceptions.

Squatter condominiums! Bahaha 😂😂😂 Love it!

I’m finding doubling up on jobs is working well. If I’m taking the kitchen trash out, I’ll accidentally pick up my gloves, branch clippers and put on my boots and start filling the green waste bin or take out some weeds for a few minutes. I hate gardening and while it’s not the best to have that stuff in the foyer, it’s there ready to go (and I’m the only one here so it’s not in anyone’s way). I consider this doing an extra bonus job around the place and didn’t get stressed over a spontaneous chore that always needs doing. ❤

You're not screamy or coming across as angry. You're PASSIONATE and youre trying to show people and tell people about this "life preserver" or "life vest" and they're out to sea drowing and youre trying to get the news out to them that the way not to drown is by putting on that "life vest" that is right next to them. It's like someone is in a paddle boat or canoe in the middle of the lake or ocean and there's a leak and it's filling with water and while the person is curling up in a ball, feeling lost or "done for" and because you've been in their place before.....you're trying with all your might with how defeated they feel and how loud the waves and noise is, to tell them that there is a way out...and it will be hard work....but they will overcome in the end....if they would just PICK UP THE BUCKET THAT'S NEXT TO THEM IN THE BOAT AND START BAILING THE WATER!! They will overcome and life is calmer and way less chaotic on the shore.

The most powerful words I've ever heard from you! I am crying! I appreciate this "tough love" and it's exactly what I needed to hear at this moment in my life. Thank you from the very bottom of my heart, Cass!

This all applies to your outbuildings too. If you have a garden shed or a storage unit or a garage, all of those spaces need this same attention as your house does. Your house obviously comes first priority, but once you have decluttered your house, move on to any outbuildings you have. I live on a farm and have thoroughly decluttered my house, so now I'm working on our workshop, quansit, and storage sheds. There are SO many places to store clutter when living on a farm! And of course your vehicle needs this TLC as well!

It’s real not tough. You are incredibly kind, funny, genuine and respectful. ❤

This was such a helpful video! Thank you so much. I took your advice and cleaned out my dining room. It now actually looks like a dining room. I kept reminding myself that my future self would thank me for the work I did today. It really helped me to keep going.

I just had a ridiculous epiphany. I tend to keep and store things just in case, maybe I’ll use it in the future, maybe I can give it to someone when they have a baby, etc. And then I realized if I got rid of it and needed it again, I could just go to a store. The store stores things. Not my home. It is called a store!!! Why am I storing things when that is a purpose of a STORE! Mind blown.

Thanks for the motivation Cas! I got a trunk worth of donations into my car while listening to this.💪🏻

OMG! This is so motivating! One thing that helped me with indecision was to create an under bed bin for a FEW clothes, and a basket in my garage for a FEW kitchen utensils, labeled “Temporary Separation.” I’ve taken one or two things out of each and enjoyed wearing or using them so I’m not ready to toss them yet. It feels like a security blanket.

Don’t say/be sorry. You are so amazing!!! Love, love, love you! I have a 4,000 sq ft clutter… you have helped me, room by room take it back! My mind has to believe I am donating 😉

I finally realized I was super stressed and honestly angry with our house situation when someone asked me what I would take if my house caught on fire. Realistically, I'd want my family and pets to be safe and the rest can burn. I would want pictures but honestly, I wouldn't have time to grab them all. I'm even a painter. In the past I used to say I'd want my paintings. But then, I heard something, "if someone were to steal your paintings or your house burned down with your paintings inside, that does not extinguish the skill you have. The paintings you made before will not be the best painting you'll ever make"... Completely changed my perspective. But yeah, I'm so pissed that prior me couldn't let go. She was so afraid. And honestly, it's freaking liberating to get rid of stuff!!! It is such an amazing feeling yet, it is so hard to get over the feeling of fear and shame and guilt. But, we got this!!!

Love when you said don't worry about recycling and putting everything in the right place today. Just get it OUT!! and when you get sorted, then you can work at that👍 You are just wonderful to listen to!! And come across as such a genuine fun person. Love from Ireland.🇮🇪

Wow the cage analogy is awesome cause.We're being caged in by all of our clutter.We can't even use the things that we need to use because of the junk that we don't need or we're afraid to get rid of. yeah this genius cas. thank you

Hi Cas, have you or would you ever (Please) possibly share with us how you personally started to turn your clutter around ( in your place that you described that only had paths & cluuter high and really dirty dishes)? It just felt like sharing how you might have dug out of your situation there at that point of overload, and maybe how long it took to get to a manageable level or amount of items would really help alot of us, hear how you did it. TIA.

My dad had a tenant that played that game when they were evicted due to dragging all his nonhoused druggie friends in and not paying rent/ tearing stuff up. The police told him the same thing. It was the dead of winter. My dad took a hammer and busteed out every window. They were out in 2 hours. My dad said they wouldve busted the windows out anyways🤷

“It isn’t a cat.” 😂😂😂

Thank you Cas, because your saying that out "stuff" is like a squatter not paying rent, hit home so true to me. I have a whole room full of such things downstairs, plus a spare bedroom also the same. For the last 7 years I have been weighed down with all this stuff - well no more my friends! Like the song goes "Today this could be, the greatest day of your life" so be it! Things have to change for me. xxx

Cass your analogy about you parents squatter and our stuff squatters gave me shivers and made me feel like crying, thank you. I’m so sorry your mom and stepdad went through that. I’m going to listen to it again ❤

Wow Cass!!!!! You brought it HOME!!! Your parent’s story gripped our hearts and your squatter analogy released the chains of our mindset. Thank you!!!!!! 💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼❤️❤️❤️🔥🔥🔥

I need to listen to your tough love before I start. I need the motivation and you provide that, Cass. The great thing is that I need it a little less than when I 1st started 6 months ago. I see my changes and I thank you for that!

So much life altering nuggets of wisdom here. Gonna save this to listen to during my decluttering sessions. Listened today while I was cleaning my fridge. It is so clean and I got rid of all the things that were nagging me to find a new/different way to use up. It’s so freeing. Thank you so much Cas!

I have to say I’ve watched a lot of decluttering videos and this really hit home. This is probably of the best pep talks I’ve ever heard!! This just gave me the motivation I needed to do the hard things! Because it’s all so true every bit of it I really like the squatter analogy!

Best advice yet! Thanks for permission to declutter stuff without worrying where it will go. The squatter idea is super! Thanks Cas!

Loved this video Cassandra!!! Excellent video! I started decluttering in 2016. Got rid of tons. Never again will I let the squatters in to take over. Lol. I love my home. You are so great at what you do here. 💜💛💙

“You don’t have to sell it… you got your money’s worth because you used it.” Hugely important.

Cas, you are a life changer to me. I continue to follow your guidance and you are right. I decided that Im curoius about the value of collectibles, but yard sale candidate stuff takes upon too much research time that I dont have to value, then find a buyer. The household real estate needs to hold a higher value than these squatting objects.🤨

I would love it if you did more of tough love videos and also some that are a real time cleaning without specific instructions. I loose motivation so quickly but hearing things like: you're almost there, you only have a little more to go, push yourself just a bit more, take a deep breath and keep going. I know it's overwhelming you can do it. Clear your mind of thinking you've failed becaused you let it get to this point and keep moving. Don't stress when you pull out the couch and see old chips and toys behind it. Just keep on etc... these are the things I tell myself but would love to be able to play an episode like that, you have such a soothing voice. You content has helped me a lot but need at least one episode where I'm constantly reminded I'm not a failure and I can push through minute by minute ❤

I got divorced this past year and moved into a tiny house. I'm binge watching decluttering videos as I go through my STUFF !

Renters - I had a young couple do the same thing to me! It resulted in my bankruptcy, my damaged house foreclosed and I had no where to live. I, like your parents, rented my home for security and it left me destitute. Some people just suck!!! Since then I have been afraid of real estate.

You know what I’m hearing and realizing is people who have too much stuff tend to be super caring, conscientious, overly responsible, good folks. ❤😊

I love you,You have helped me so much .I got rid of so much stuff .My life is so much freeer.Its so easy to keep up now .I just love declutterring because I know how much better it is .Thank you. You have a gift .

I am loving your podcast! It’s part of my getting back on track routine. Today I’m listening while I tackle the mess of not yet unpacked things that have set in our basement for months (we moved in February). I need a basement I can store things in without worrying about stuff getting lost in the chaos… that makes the rest of the house more cluttered than it should be. 🫣

I’m so sorry to hear about what your mum and stepdad went through. That guy was horrible!!! I do appreciate the tough love from determined Cas!!! You tell it like it is.

Truth Bombs! OUCH! Excellent tough love talk, Cass!

Hi Cas, hearing your story about what happened to your parents reminded me of an old Michael Keaton movie made in 1990 called Pacific Heights! Love your channel, you have been very motivating for me and I'm trying to get my mom onboard with your philosophy! My husband came home one day and wanted to know who I was watching because he said our house looks empty and that I'm getting rid of all our stuff! 😂 I really like things simpler! 👍

Years ago, I had the same clutter you described -- so much stuff, all I had was pathways from the bedroom door to the bed to thecloset. I've always had trouble sleeping, so I got in the habit of getting out of bed and decluttering in the middle of the night. I got an astonishing amount done. I have moved twice (decluttered and downsized twice), and still have WAY more stuff than I can use or store. Since I still can't sleep, I'm getting up during the night again and cleaning/decluttering. The idea of 'squatters' is really helpful. I've saved this video in my Watch Later list so I can find it easily, and will keep listening to it for encouragement. Thanks, Cas! 😊❤😊

This was more profound and touching than I expected. Thank you

Wow, the comparison to drowning is so very spot on. I’ve never thought about it that way. Thank you! 😮

I truly enjoy and NEED these pep talks. Thank you! 🫶🏽

Keep up the great work Cass!!!! LOVE THIS!! You are so sweet, hilarious and amazingly helpful with mindset shifts!!! Thank you for inspiring us and challenging us to grow in such beautiful ways.

That's just brilliant, Cas! What a mind-blowing analogy! You're so eloquent and wise! Thanks for your incredible job inspiring people! ❤😊

'You stuff can be a squatter' great analogy that I can remember. Love it.

I wish I could send pictures, this weekend I went through my storage area and back room….. so much stuff I haven’t used in YEARS!!! I borrowed a friend’s dump trailer and I filled it!! I got rid of like 90% of everything in them areas!! It looks sooo much better and feels soooo good!!! ❤

I have been listening and watching your videos as I’m decluttering my house. I have been really purging and cleaning. I could go hours and not get tired.

The floor is lava!!!! That's exactly one of my biggest problems currently. I have a very tiny apt with not much storage, so I've piled the perimeter with stuff. 🙄 I have learned the most from this particular podcast. I've been decluttering for the past couple of weeks and always listen to decluttering videos while I'm working. Cas, you reasonate with me the best. I absolutely love your analogies. My mind thinks better in pictures. You have made a huge positive impact in my life. 30+ years of clutter, finally making headway and breaking the cycle. I owe you a huge debt of gratitude. 💜

you brought me to tears. I am going to clear out a bunch of stuff to prepare for a yard sale! Making it happen this weekend!!! Tough because I am also a reseller and have a hoarder husband.

Thank you so much, Cas! After years of listening to your videos about decluttering, I am finally ready to start major decluttering decades worth of "squatters". Thank you for giving me permission to throw things out. Yes, I'm a perfectionist and dread not getting rid of stuff in the "right" way.

Thank you for this “Tough love “ motivation declutter . It got me started!

Everytime I see one of these I really go and start looking everywhere for stuff to throw out. I still do a bit a reshuffel because some things belong to my husband or my son and I can't just get rid of it without their concent. But even the rest of it started to make a difference for all of us. So a big thank you.

Thank you for being so vulnerable! I’m going to save this video to play when I get in my room to remind me to be ruthless haha!

One day I had some money to buy something and I instead sent a friend that was struggling that money. What a good feeling.

I’m at home…neck hurts … on the heating pad…BUT I will replay it and your other video too!!!! Really love the whole house declutter with me! Thank you

The hard words I needed to hear. You’re the best, Cas ❤️

Squatter condos....omg-so true!

Thanks to you, I donated my first carload of clutter to a thrift store this morning 😊

Thank you Cass! So needed this tough love today. So many gems in this podcast . Thank you again

Im only 4 minutes in and you hit the nail on the head im lay in a hospital bed in the uk with meny health problems .watching this and already stressed about the home i have to go back to,i love my husbands and young children, but im struggling like you said to keep afloat, im just moving things around and i never have the energy to get to the main cleaning, and to top it off we got what we can afford and it full of unfinished projects. We have minimised but it still feels we need to go further ❤

So powerful Cass...I am making the trade for tomorrow's me 🙏🏻..... I've been decluttering for a long time now and videos like this one really help me to keep motivated. Thank you ❤

I see Cas, I click. 👍

That is probably the best analogy I have ever heard! Never thought of my stuff as being squatters that aren't paying rent! Priceless! I feel like I have been set free! Thank you so much!

Thank you, thank you! I am so moved and have decluttered. The way you have explained it works. Shout it out! We need to be told. Again, thank you

Thank you! Good to hear this again today. Working in basement. Very clutterblind here! No more!!!! Love your stories :) So encouraging! I am making a difference! Off to the dump.... Yeh!!!!

Yesss… I need my bedroom back… I want to change.. I need motivated…❤❤❤ Thank you ❤❤❤

That was so wonderful, so honest, with a true passion that yes involves a bit of anger because this issue is crippling people's lives so its okay to get a bit passionate about that and to be frank there are already enough neutral or sanitized videos out there about decluterring that just are not enough for some people. The way you told your story and your advice was so real, down to Earth and heartfelt.

Thank you Cas!!!

You have just the right level of intensity please don’t change! Your content is so motivating and I absolutely love the rolling commentary as you declutter because it helps me say the same things to help myself get rid of items! ❤

Today, I am listening but will rewatch in a couple of days, when my body is in shape to declutter (can't even stand up or sit for long right now... Just ate breakfast and must go lay back down). Post lumbar puncture syndrome sucks 😭

Wow I found you at the perfect time! I started working in my guest/2nd craft room a few days ago and boy has it been full days of work🤪. Trying not to think about the fact that I have more rooms or spaces that I have to tackle! I can’t wait to get it all done so that I can just work on keeping it that way🎉

I think the best advice ever is the reminder that everything eventually ends up in a landfill.

Wow, what a great explanation! That really makes me think about "stuff" in a new way!

Wow! The story of our stuff being SQUATTERS is PRICELESS!!!