Frugal Friends Podcast: 3-Day Digital Declutter Guide | Professional Organizer Explains with Tara Bremmer

Release Date: June 27, 2025

In this enlightening episode of the Frugal Friends Podcast, hosts Jen Smith and Jill Sirianni delve into the often-overlooked realm of digital clutter. Joined by professional organizer Tara Bremmer, the trio explores practical strategies to streamline your digital life, ultimately fostering financial control and mental well-being through effective decluttering.

1. Introduction to Digital Decluttering

Jen and Jill kick off the episode by highlighting their personal struggles with digital clutter. Jen humorously shares her chaotic home screen as a testament to the pervasive nature of digital disorganization.

Jen: "You should see the home screen I have. Well, yeah, you have. Hopefully by the time this releases it won't be. But it is a hot mess right now."
Timestamp: [03:05]

2. The Impact of Digital Clutter

The discussion underscores how digital clutter can be as financially and mentally burdensome as physical disorganization. Jen points out the hidden costs, such as time wasted searching for information and unnecessary subscriptions draining budgets.

Jen: "What are some of the actual costs of some of this digital clutter?"
Timestamp: [12:43]

Jill: "But I think also the cost is time not being able to find what you need."
Timestamp: [13:47]

3. Tara Bremmer’s Expertise and Insights

Tara Bremmer, CEO of House Peace, brings her extensive background in psychology and counseling to the discussion, emphasizing the psychological aspects of decluttering. Her approach integrates mental well-being with organizational strategies, making her insights invaluable for listeners.

Jen: "She holds a BA in Psychology from Purdue and she also has a master's in Counseling from Moravian Theological Seminary."
Timestamp: [05:20]

4. Strategies for Digital Decluttering

a. Email Decluttering

Tara emphasizes the importance of tackling the most stressful aspects of digital clutter first—emails. She suggests unsubscribing from unnecessary newsletters and using filters to manage incoming messages.

Jill: "I think that just doing mass deletions like that ... And that will be probably hundreds. And I will do that with Amazon."
Timestamp: [18:19]

Jen: "I have my 20,000 emails, I've got my 20,000 probably pictures."
Timestamp: [14:28]

b. Photo Decluttering

Photos often accumulate unnoticed, creating significant digital clutter. Tara recommends using apps like Tidy Gallery, which gamify the deletion process, making it both efficient and enjoyable.

Jill: "It's swipe left to delete, swipe right to keep like a, like a dating app. It's Tinder for your pictures."
Timestamp: [26:21]

Jen: "It's so perfect. It's boundaries, it's fun, it's productive."
Timestamp: [49:10]

c. Organizing Devices

Streamlining the apps on your phone and organizing desktop folders are critical steps. Tara advocates for limiting the number of visible folders to reduce overwhelm and enhance accessibility.

Jill: "I like to keep just the apps I use all the time on the front page... everything is in folders."
Timestamp: [32:44]

Jen: "What's the three folders on your desktop, like on your home?"
Timestamp: [36:05]

Jill: "My three folders are House Peace, My Business, Family, and House Therapy."
Timestamp: [36:10]

d. Privacy Measures

Implementing privacy screens on devices can minimize distractions and protect personal information, aligning with the principles of digital minimalism.

Jen: "How do you like your screen, like, privacy screen on your phone."
Timestamp: [30:37]

Jill: "This is like my greatest life hack for, like, kids or public transportation."
Timestamp: [31:21]

5. Maintenance Routines for Long-Term Success

Tara advises establishing personal rules and regular maintenance schedules to sustain the benefits of decluttering. Writing down these rules ensures they remain top of mind and are consistently followed.

Jill: "If you establish some rules for yourself, that can be really helpful... write them down."
Timestamp: [37:13]

6. Gamifying the Decluttering Process

To make decluttering less daunting, Tara introduces the concept of "Eat and Delete"—a fun, social activity where participants delete digital clutter while enjoying a meal together. This method fosters community and makes the process enjoyable.

Jill: "Sometimes I need to do... called Eat and Delete... we'd all bring our phones out... there's a prize for whoever deletes the most photos and video."
Timestamp: [28:00]

Jen: "It's boundaries, it's fun, it's productive."
Timestamp: [49:10]

7. Additional Tips and Tools

Beyond the primary strategies, Tara recommends exploring other apps and resources to aid in digital decluttering. She highlights the importance of customization based on individual needs and preferences.

Jill: "There are some other ones... you could just do a little search. Photo decluttering."
Timestamp: [38:14]

8. Conclusion and Key Takeaways

The episode wraps up with hosts and Tara reiterating the importance of digital decluttering in achieving financial control and reducing stress. They emphasize the lasting benefits of maintaining an organized digital space through regular routines and enjoyable methods.

Jen: "If you have a bill that you did not enjoy paying and you just want to call and commiserate with us, we are here for that."
Timestamp: [42:25]

Jill: "It's easy to do it by category sometimes."
Timestamp: [12:41]

Key Takeaways:

• Prioritize Stressors: Start decluttering with the digital aspects that cause the most stress, such as email.
• Use the Right Tools: Leverage apps like Tidy Gallery to make the process efficient and enjoyable.
• Establish Rules: Create personal guidelines to maintain digital organization long-term.
• Make It Social: Engage friends or family in gamified decluttering activities to add fun and accountability.
• Regular Maintenance: Schedule periodic check-ins to keep digital spaces tidy and manageable.

Notable Quotes:

• Jill: "I have to mark it unread and that way it will stay at the forefront of my attention."
  Timestamp: [19:22]

• Jen: "It's like a birthday memory... it's okay to keep what truly matters."
  Timestamp: [09:18]

• Jill: "Once we start getting to about 2 or 3,000 photos on my phone, I'm gonna quickly call and then I'm gonna upload the keeps the curated to Amazon photos and then delete them off my phone."
  Timestamp: [37:13]

This episode serves as a comprehensive guide for anyone looking to regain control over their digital lives. By implementing the strategies discussed, listeners can reduce financial waste, alleviate stress, and create a more organized and peaceful digital environment.