The simple life. Make it so.

Don't wait until you list your home to simplify your surroundings. Clean up your space, simplify your life and keep your home in show home condition all year long. But so often with lifestyle changes, people don't always know how to start or where to start, and if you have a lot of stuff, what do you keep and what should you get rid of?

Here's a little check list of action items to help get you started to living large with less:

Make a List

Grab a notebook or a piece of paper and write down all the reasons why life would be better if you made it simpler. Your reasons don't have to be stuff-related. It can be anything that would make life easier, such as living without debt. Lack of hours in the day to do what you want. More sleep, less food. A nicer boss. You make not be able to make the connection right this minute but not to worry. These things are the reason why you want your life to be better. The reasons on your list is your motivation and this list will keep you going through this process.

Throw out Duplicate Items

Take an empty box and see what duplicates you might have. For example, two sets of measuring cups, two soup ladles, two muffin tins, double sets of books or DVDs. Do you really need them? How often does that second set come in handy? If it's only once a year, really think hard. Not sure if you can't live without that item? Fill your box with duplicates then put it somewhere out of sight for a month. If you lived without those items, then it is probably safe to donate the whole box to your nearest thrift shop.

Start with one Clutter-Free Territory

What area of your Edmonton home is the easiest for you to keep free of clutter? Maybe your dining room table, the counter next to your stove, the bedside table, the top of a bureau. Declare one area off-limits to "stuff." How does it feel looking at that space? Can you breathe easier? If you like it, slowly expand that space a little bit each day or each week. Maybe it's each month — after all, this is not a race. The clutter-free table top could become a clutter-free dining room then a clutter-free main floor and so on.

Travel with Less

One of the delights of renting a condo on holidays or staying in a hotel is that the room is free of extraneous stuff. No bills, no extra clothes, no out-of-season sports equipment and weeks' worth of newspapers. So why bring unnecessary stuff with you. Travel light, vacation simply. Take half the clothes you think you might need. You can wear the same things twice or wash out undies in the bathroom sink. Why not? If you go crazy you can always buy things while you're away.

Clutter-Free Closets

You might wonder what the big deal is with closets, because if the closet door is closed no one is going to see the jumble that is your clothes closet. But it matters because a full closet can be stressful. Out of season clothes, clothes that are too small, duplicate clothes (how many blue sweaters do you really need?) and clothes with sentimental value (think football jerseys) can take up too much space. Keep summer clothes in a box during the winter and visa versa. There is a minimalist theory that you only need 33 things for three months, including shoes and accessories. Do you have such a large variety of clothes because you like them or because you're afraid that people will notice you're wearing the same clothes all the time? Chances are, they won't notice.

Clutter-free Meals

Food can be complicated. All the ingredients you need, all the items you keep on hand for those "just in case" times. Food items take up space, planning meals and shopping takes up time and wouldn't you rather create the meal and eat with loved ones with your time? As an experiment, plan your week like this: Eat the same breakfast and lunch all week, then have two or three meals and rotate them. Then revisit the idea over Sunday dinner and see how it went. If your pantry was less crowded, if making decisions was easier, if the 5:00 pm household rush hour was a little less burdened maybe simple meals might work for you.

Simple Money Management

An emergency fund is practical, but it can also unburden your mind. Try saving $1,000. It might take a year. Shave off $10 every time you go grocery shopping and put it away. If you're paying off debt make just the minimum monthly payment until that $1,000 is put away or stop going for coffee. If you give up 200 lattes in a year that's four a week which is $1,000.