Can the Canisters -- Unless you store things in them that are used daily, canisters take up valuable kitchen counter space and they increase your cleaning time. The same goes for small appliances: keep only those out that you use all the time and store the rest. Yes, sexy high tech appliances and decorative canisters look nice on those home design shows, but this is real life.

Junk your Junk Mail -- If you can, sort your mail near a trash can BEFORE you bring it into the house. Also open your bills, keeping only statements and mailing envelopes; throw the other inserts away. Take what remains to your home office. This will help you keep advertisements, catalogs and flyers from piling up on your entry hall or kitchen tables. A word of caution: bring in any junk mail such as credit card or loan applications and immediately place them in your "shred" pile. These may contain personal information that could result in identity theft if thrown away whole. The same goes for old credit card, banking and loan statements. Make sure you shred these before disposal.

Think Small -- Sometimes the task of decluttering a space can be overwhelming, so start with something manageable such as a drawer, a shelf or a small closet. Plan to spend only 15 minutes on the project. Have a box prepared for items that "don't belong." If you can't find a logical place for these things AND you don't use them within the next 30 days, it's likely that they are candidates for the trash or your next fabulous garage sale or eBay auction.

The Emperor's Old Clothes -- We know you've heard this one a million times before, but it "bares" repeating. Get rid of ALL clothing that: (1) doesn't fit; (2) you don't wear on a regular basis; and (3) doesn't look absolutely stunning on you. The same goes for shoes, purses and other accessories. Unless you are planning for multiple pregnancies, it is folly to keep a "fat" wardrobe when your goal is to maintain or trim your current weight. The same goes for "skinny" clothes, especially if you have to lose more than 10 lbs to fit into them. Cutting the Crap™ is about reality. If by some miracle you do slim down to fit into those pink suede hot pants you've been saving since your disco days, your family will probably put you on one of those humiliating talk shows for an intervention-style makeover.

Check back each week for new helpful tips. If you have ideas that you would like to share, I'd love to hear from you. Email me at maria@cutthecrapNOW.com