Donna Smallin Kuper's Blog: The One-Minute Organizer Blog, page 11

Strangers in Your Home

photo credit: Happy New Year via photopin (license)

A week ago, we were ringing in the new year and singing Auld Lang Syne, an old Scottish song about remembering friends from our past and not letting them be forgotten.

Should old acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind? Should old acquaintance be forgot, and auld lang syne.

I’m often asked for advice about how to let go of sentimental things – things from auld lang syne or times gone by. It’s something that’s easier for some than others.

In my book Secrets of Professional Organizers (Volume 1): Leading Experts Talk About Chronic Disorganization and Hoarding, I interviewed Judith Kolberg who’s known for her work with people who are challenged by disorganization. She explained how the people she works with tend to have more of an emotional attachment to their stuff than other people do. And then she told this story of a woman whose house was overrun by things she had collected that far exceeded her need.

She just couldn’t seem to part with anything, especially since much of it was still in pretty good condition.  Together, we went through her cabinets. I asked, “Is this container a friend? Is it an acquaintance? Or is it a stranger?” Friends, as people would know in their gut, are the best containers – the ones that have been by their side for a long time and are very serviceable, very handy, however you want to describe them. She isolated the containers she thought were her best friends.

Acquaintances, as I reminded her, come and go. They visit and then they move on. They don’t linger in your home. They might come back another time, but they don’t stay. These are the things that you keep moving along. Then we have things you could call strangers. You don’t know why they are in your home. In this case, they are the containers that are stained or warped and the ones you never use, because you can’t find the lids.

So we sorted things as friends, acquaintances, and strangers. We kicked out the strangers. The friends stayed. The acquaintances passed out of her life; they went to the local women’s shelter and were given to women who were moving into their first homes and didn’t have containers or the means to buy them. 

What worked was giving her different categories to use other than the traditional “do you want it or do you need it” approach.

I was reminded of this story a few days ago when one of the members in my free organizing support group on Facebook posted: Advice please. How do you get rid of sentimental items? When I asked if she could give an example of a sentimental item for her, she told me she had a lot of stuffed animals that had been given to her over the years. Following are some of the responses from other members who shared the wisdom of their experiences:

Take a picture of the item. Or write up a memory about each item and put it in a scrapbook. Don’t think of it as “getting rid of” but more like “re-homing” – sending the item off to a new home where it can give joy to someone else.

I keep these items in a box; now and then, I peek in the box to enjoy the memories, and one day, the item does not tug at my heart and I can finally let it go.

I kept a few pieces of my grandmother’s  china and the rest was gifted to those I thought would appreciate it. I took the plaques off my husband’s high school and college trophies and put them in a shadow box. I am the keeper of family pictures so I had them all scanned and returned the originals to all my family members (without frames which I donated). I made a keepsake box for each of my kids with baby clothes, special toys/books, report cards, artwork, etc. and that was one of their Christmas presents so they had to take them home!

One thing that has worked for me on a couple of items was to create a new sentiment as the item gets a new home. My mothers Krum Kake Iron (for making a Norwegian Christmas cookie) is now in my niece’s possession following a hands-on cooking class on how to make them at my house. Now when I think of the item, it is with good thoughts.

We think it has to be all or nothing sometimes. Or we stray to more than less. If you have 50 stuffed animals, can you think about an appropriate ratio to keep? Maybe 5-10 of your most appreciated?

Konmari method helped me with this. She suggests thanking it for its service and moving forward – not living in the past. Reading it made sense to me and helped me get rid of some things. It seems like you want to get rid of it so acknowledge the place it had in your life and let it go.

I, too, take photos. It is odd but once that decision is made to give it away and the photo is taken, I feel much better. Amazing how “out of sight out, of mind” is true. Sometimes when I look at photos of stuff I agonized over getting rid of, I can’t even remember them! I have yet to regret giving something away.

When I really am in doubt about getting rid of something, I’ll re-home it by giving it to a family member, relative or friend who expressed interest in it. Then I feel I can visit it if necessary. For me it takes away any guilt I had because the item was given to me by someone I care about, and now it is being passed to another person I care about.

I encourage you to look at this new year as a fresh beginning to the rest of your life. Hold fast to your good friends, allow acquaintances to move on, and find the courage to kick out those strangers! If you need some support and encouragement from others who have resolved to declutter their homes, join us on Facebook!

Here’s to your happy home in the new year!

 

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Quick Question

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I have a quick question and I’m hoping you might be able to help. One of my goals for 2016 is to make sure I’m writing and sharing information with you that’s really interesting and relevant.

I put together a super-quick 7-question survey to learn more about your decluttering, organizing and cleaning challenges. Would you be willing to help me out by telling me what you’d be most interested in learning about in the coming year?

It should take less than three minutes to complete the survey, and your responses will help make my blog posts even better and more helpful.

Take the survey now.  Thank you!

In other cool news, I’m excited to share that I was selected by Sparefoot as one of 10 Top Professional Organizers Who Might Just Change Your Life. What a surprise and honor!

Here’s hoping that your responses to my survey will allow me to help change your life!

 

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3 Strategies to Clear Mental Clutter

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As a professional organizer, I see all kinds of clutter. I’m usually called in to help clients clear physical clutter. Things just need to be straightened, purged and streamlined and they’re on their way to a more organized space.

But sometimes, what I find is that the physical clutter is preceded by mental clutter – and dealing with mental clutter is a roadblock to true change and freedom.

I see three forms of mental clutter – regretting the past, comparing ourselves to others, and negative self-talk. All of these keep us from moving forward and living the best life we can.

I have personally experienced all three forms of mental clutter in my life. Today, I recognize them and realize that they don’t move me forward or help me enjoy my life. I have forgotten the past, embraced who I am, and focus on only thinking and speaking positively of myself. These three strategies have helped me to move past the mental clutter and you can do it, too!

Strategy for getting past regrets 

For years, I regretted not completing my bachelor’s degree. I had married young and started a family soon after. One day, my younger daughter overheard me mention it yet again and said, “Just do it. Go back and finish.” That was the catalyst that made me return to school and complete my degree. What I did was take that regret and put it into action.

If you can do something about any regrets you have, then just do it! The other side of the coin is letting go of the regrets that you cannot do anything about. Realize that those regrets serve no purpose and hold you back from enjoying life. Decide today to forget what lies behind and press on to the good things that are waiting for you.

Strategy for embracing ourselves  

The second type of mental clutter is comparing ourselves to others, resulting in us feeling inferior or trying to be more like other people. For years I compared myself, thinking I wasn’t smart enough or didn’t have the skills I needed to start my own business. Now I know differently.

Does it seem to you that others are smarter, prettier, more organized, or more successful than you? It helps to recognize and accept that there will always be people who are greater and lesser than ourselves in every way. Real happiness comes from finding the path that was intended specifically for you and embracing it. You won’t succeed at being anyone other than yourself. And, in fact, the world is waiting for you to share what only YOU can share.

Strategy for dealing with negative self-talk

Negative self-talk can really hold us back from living a fantastic life. I challenge my organizing and coaching clients to look at things in a different way. This technique is called “re-framing” – expressing words, concepts, or plans in a different way.

First, you acknowledge (through self-awareness) that negative self-talk is counter-productive. Next, you re-frame those negative thoughts or words and replace them with positive ones. When I hear clients say “I’ll never change,” I encourage them to only speak positively about themselves, even if they don’t believe it yet. “I’ll never change” can be re-framed as “I am learning and getting better at this every day.”

The words we speak can be self-fulfilling prophesy. When we begin to re-frame those negative thoughts and words and turn them into positive ones, we are making an intentional decision to shape a better present and future.

Laurie Malloy is a Professional Organizer and a Personal Life Coach currently seeking credentialing through the International Coach Federation (ICF). She and her daughter have co-owned Simple Spaces, LLC since 2010. She is passionate about helping people clear mental, physical and financial clutter from their lives. Learn more about Laurie and the work she is doing at Simplespaces.us

 

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Organizing Tips Newsletter – December 2015

ORGANIZING PLAIN & SIMPLE MONTHLY

Tips & Inspiration for Organizing a Simpler Life

December 2015 – Vol. 14 No. 8


Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better. ~ Maya Angelou.


6 ways to reduce daily clutter

photo credit: stafford mailbox (3) via photopin (license)

“What you do every day matters more than what you do every once in awhile,” says Gretchin Rubin, author of The Happiness Project. That’s especially true when it comes to decluttering. And that’s why, when people ask me where they should start, I suggest getting today’s stuff organized before delving into yesterday’s stuff.

How would it feel to not see that overwhelming pile of mail on the dining room table or kitchen counter? Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to get dressed in a matter of minutes because you feel great wearing anything you pull from your closet and drawers? Or always have basic food staples on hand so you can make a healthy dinner instead of spending money going out to eat?

Here are six simple things you can do to start getting your everyday life under control:

1. Quick-sort your mail. Take 20 seconds to sort mail into five categories:1) Important (like bills to pay, letters that require follow-up on your part), 2) To File (statements, insurance policies to file), 3) Not Mine (mail for other family members), 4) To Read (magazines and catalogs, for example), and 5) Junk.

You know what to do with the junk – trash or recycle it all. Don’t give it a second thought because more is already on the way. If it doesn’t have a first-class stamp, it’s probably junk. Also trash all of the outer envelopes and inserts that come with statements and bills. This will reduce the volume of paper by about 75%. Better yet, sign up to get paperless bills and statements and eliminate the paper altogether!

Create a place to put your incoming mail until you are ready to to sort it – a basket or bin perhaps or this stackable organizer. Use the top basket as a temporary storage place for unsorted mail and label the other baskets for mail you deem “Important,” “To File” and “Your Spouse’s Name” if applicable. Or just use labeled folders that you keep together in a vertical organizer. Take items “to read” to the place you are most likely to read them – your nightstand, favorite chair, or briefcase.

2. Do the dinner dishes.  It’s tempting to leave those dirty dinner dishes until tomorrow, especially when you’re so tired after a long day. But waking up to yesterday’s unfinished business is a real drag. My mother started delegating the washing up to me when I was 11 – is there anyone you can delegate to? If not, time how long it takes you to do dishes tonight.

Sometimes we put off tasks we don’t like doing because they SEEM to take forever. It’s easier to get started when you know you will be done in just “x” minutes. Try it – time how long it takes to do the dishes, unload the dishwasher, make your bed, or vacuum your home. Then remind yourself how quickly you will be done if you start right now.

3. Clean out your pantry.  I once organized a pantry for a family that had 13 cans of green beans – and no one in that family even liked green beans! Now is a great time of year to donate (unopened) food you’re not likely to eat because you don’t like it, it’s close to the expiration date, or you don’t remember why you bought it in the first place.

Toss items to donate in a grocery bag and put them in your car to drop off at a food pantry. (Click here to find a food bank in your area). Then think about the five meals you make most often (or would if you had the ingredients on hand). What ingredients do you need to purchase to make those meals? Make a shopping list.

I found this nifty free grocery list online – and it’s editable so you can customize it for your family (I had to save the file before I could open it as an editable PDF file). I love a grocery list form because you can print it out, tape it to the inside of a pantry or cabinet door to check off what you need as you run out or run low, and then take it to the store.

4. Start a donation box. The next time you try on a piece of clothing and decide not to wear it because you don’t like how it fits, looks, or feels, drop it in your donation box. When the box gets full, bag up the contents and deliver them to the nearest clothing donation bin. You may want to consider setting up a family donation box for non-clothing items as well. Hint: You can use it as a strategy for little ones to put away their toys or you will put them away in the donation box!

5. Make an appointment with yourself. Carve out 15 to 30 minutes one day this week for a decluttering session. Record this appointment on your calendar and show up for it as you would any other appointment. Set a timer. If you feel like continuing after 15-30 minutes, go for it! The important thing is to show up.

6. Give yourself a gold star every day! Start marking your calendar with a star for every day that you do ANY amount of decluttering. Make a promise to give yourself a bouquet of flowers, warm bath, or guilt-free relaxation time at the end of each week or month or both. Write that gift on your calendar where you can see it every day.

How to beat the holiday blues

I was interviewed a few weeks back for an article about simplifying the holidays as a strategy for staving off the blues that are sometimes part of the package. The article is titled “7 Simple Ways to Fight the Holiday Blues” and if you’re interested, you can hop over to the Psychology Today blog to read it.

Favorite products and resources + giveaway

As a professional organizer and certified House Cleaning Technician, I’ve used and recommended a lot of products, services and resources over the years. Every month in this column, I share new and old favorites.

This month, I’d like to introduce you to the Scrigit Scraper. This is one of those products you don’t realize you need until you try it. I used it last night to scrape price stickers off the bottom of a couple new beverage glasses I purchased over the weekend. Wow. That was easy – so easy that I decided to try it on a mug that’s had the remnants of a sticker on it for nearly a year now. Gone in seconds without sacrificing my fingernails!

The Scrigit Scraper is a quick, safe and convenient way to remove small amounts of common substances such as food, candle wax, soap buildup, paint, adhesive labels, even bird droppings and pine tar from windshields. It’s actually two scrapers in one. The flat edge at one end is best for flat surfaces, larger areas, tight edges, plumbing putty, and shower door tracks. The rounded edge is best for curved surfaces, smaller spots, crevices, sinks and toilets, labels and tape.

You’ll find lots of uses for this versatile tool at Scrigit-Scraper.com. I’m not associated with this product in any way – I just think it’s a cool product and a clever stocking stuffer idea. And I wanted to help out the inventor by spreading the word. Enter below to win a pack of Scrigit Scrapers! First prize is a 5-pack of Scrigit Scrapers plus a $10 Amazon Gift Card! Second and third prize winners get a 2-pack of Scrigit Scrapers plus a $10 Amazon Gift Card. No purchase necessary.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Shameless promotion: Clutter-Free Holiday Gift Guide

Whether your holiday gift budget is zilch or ends with a number of zeroes, the last thing you want to do is give the gift of clutter, right?

Check out my Clutter-Free Holiday Gift Guide for some ideas and please feel free to add your own in the comments!

That’s all for this month. Until next month, keep it simple.

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FULL DISCLOSURE: Some links in this organizing tips newsletter may be affiliate links, meaning if you make a purchase through one of these links, I may earn a small commission. These earnings go toward the continuation of this complimentary newsletter which is free to you, but does cost to distribute. Please note that I only recommend products that I would recommend whether I got paid or not.

 

 

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Clutter-Free Holiday Gift Guide

You know how it feels to get a gift you really don’t want or need. And I’m guessing you don’t want to give gifts that clutter up someone else’s home. That’s why I put together this clutter-free holiday gift guide with some of my favorite ideas, including gifts that don’t cost a dime!

For Kids

Kids love getting mail. Consider a subscription to one of the magazines on this list of Parents’ Choice Award Winning Magazines. Teach kids to recycle the old issue when the new issue arrives – or order digital versions that can be read on a Kindle, another clutter-free gift idea.

Or how about a subscription to Little Passports? Two years ago, I gave this gift of adventure to our youngest granddaughter and she loved it. She received The Discovery Kit right away – complete with a wall-sized map, disposable camera, scavenger hunt, and other projects. Each month, new adventure packages arrive with learning activities galore. Choose from the USA edition or world version.

Food & Beverage

You generally can’t go wrong giving edible gifts whether it’s something special from your kitchen or something you buy like gourmet coffee or tea, hot chocolate mix, craft beer, wine or champagne. Present one item as a small gift or create a gift basket by incorporating other items that pair well such as wine and cheese or tea and cookies. (If you’re concerned that the basket might become clutter, cover a box with holiday wrapping paper and fill it, tucking tissue paper in-between items.)

I often give gifts of dried cherry almond biscotti or cranberry orange bread. I make the bread in mini loaf pans and include a recipe card wrapped up with the bread. Cookie mix in a jar is another popular and appreciated homemade gift. And here’s something I plan to give selected friends this year – a blend of spices that I mix up to make Crockpot Jambalaya – my absolute favorite crockpot recipe which I’ll include with my gift.

Restaurant gift cards are always appreciated. If you have gift cards you aren’t using, re-gift them to someone who will! And did you know? You can sell gift cards (even partially used ones) and purchase new ones at a discount at PlasticJungle.com (one of hundreds of tips for turning clutter into cash in my book How to Declutter and Make Money Now).

For Home Organizing Help

Give the gift of organization with a gift certificate to OrganizedAtoZ.com. (Just click to add to your cart, select email or printed certificate, and then choose the denomination you want – starting at $15.) Or choose a gift to give directly.

One item that I think would make a great gift for any gal is this Lay-n-Go Cosmetic Bag. What I love about OrganizedAtoZ.com is that all of the products are sourced by professional organizers who know what works and what doesn’t. The Lay-n-Go bag is a winner in my book!

If you know someone who talks about getting photos organized, but never gets around to it, a Fotobridge gift card would make a great gift. Or if you have access to a scanner, you can gift your personal scanner, you can gift your services. (Get this: I recently discovered that the general public is welcome to use the photo scanners available at the Mormon’s church’s family history centers – for free.)

For the women on your list, how about a purse organizer that lets you change purses in an instant? Just lift the Purse Perfector out of one purse and put it in another – no need to remove individual items and re-organize your purse. The flexible design lets you configure it how it works best for you. Genius!

For Fitness Enthusiasts

As a fitness fanatic, here are two gifts I would be excited to get this year. (Gee, I hope my family members are reading this blog!).

Road ID enables you to put emergency contact and medical information on a variety of products including wrist bands, ankle bands, FitBit bracelets, and more. With Road ID, your loved one is never really alone on the road.

FlipBelt is a lightweight, stretchy belt with openings to stash your phone, ID, money, keys and more. Wear it running, hiking, dog walking, dancing, to the gym, traveling, wherever. You can choose to keep your valuables tucked inside for security or flip it to the other side for easy access. (I keep seeing ads on Facebook offering a 10% discount code when you use the coupon code FB10 – give it a try!)

Here’s an idea for people who are always participating in races – and have the T-shirts to prove it. If they never wear them, have a T-shirt quilt made! I’ve had two T-shirt quilts made and they came out beautifully. Check out TShirtQuilts.com or CampusQuilt.com. Or make your own (you can find free patterns online).

Other ideas include gift certificates for a round of golf, skiing/snowboarding lift tickets, or fitness classes for those you know are inclined toward those activities. Or a gift certificate for a massage! Ahhh, yes.

Experiences

Experience gifts are my favorite gifts to give. Check out Groupon or Living Social for great deals on white water rafting, scuba diving lessons, dance classes, hot air balloon rides, a romantic weekend getaway at a local hotel, tickets to a concert or sporting event, and more.

Movie tickets are always a hit. Search Fandango for theaters available at your recipient’s location and then purchase a gift card.

Gifts That Keep Giving

A really special gift is one that repeats! Through 1800Flowers.com, you can send three months of flowers, chocolate-covered strawberries, cookies – you name it. Harry & David offers fruit-of-the-month gifts plus a slew of other edible gifts.

Just recently, I learned about a new subscription wine club called Wine Awesomeness. You can gift a prepaid membership of 3, 6 or 9 months (or a box of wine). Each selection of wines comes with tasting notes, background information, and recipes to pair with each bottle making it an adventure for the wine connoisseur on your list.

Another subscription club – NatureBox – regularly delivers wholesome savory and sweet snacks like nut mixes, dried fruits, gourmet popcorn, crackers, and more – all with no artificial ingredients. Each serving is 200 calories or less with no high fructose corn syrup and no hydrogenated oils. And they’re super delicious! (I’m nibbling on cinnamon yogurt mini grahams as I write!) I think this would be a great gift for a busy family.

And then there’s Hello Fresh, one of several meal subscriptions for people who want to enjoy home-cooked meals, but are short on time to plan meals or shop for groceries – think parents with newborns, young adults working overtime at new careers. Each week, recipients receive all the ingredients needed to make three meals for two to four people plus easy-to-follow recipes and “how to” tips for cooking. Hello Fresh makes it easy to give a full week of food by ordering a gift card – or you can purchase an ongoing weekly subscription and cancel at any time.

A different kind of gift that keeps giving is a membership to a favorite local attraction like a museum, zoo, or amusement park – or a National Parks Pass that allows free admission to your favorite parks for an entire year.

For Anyone

Who do you know who needs a little pampering? At SpaFinder, you can purchase a gift certificate for a spa service such as a massage, manicure/pedicure, or facial that is accepted at salons and spas all across the country.

Or for someone who spends a lot of time on their feet, make this peppermint foot scrub as a gift.

Even if your holiday gift budget is zero, you can can give a really valuable gift – the gift of your service! For someone who loves your cooking, consider giving a gift certificate for a home-cooked dinner at his/her home, complete with clean-up service. Or offer your services as a babysitter, pet sitter, editor, or car washer. Create a gift certificate and present it in a gift-wrapped box or reusable tin.

Another gift idea that costs nothing except your time is to write a letter of appreciation for someone you love. Roll it like a scroll and tie a ribbon around it.

And for the person who has everything? Name a star for him or her – for free – at Staracle. Then print your star name certificate with coordinates for your star.

New drivers and young adults might appreciate a gift card for a gas station that can be tucked away in glove box. Maybe gift the card along with an emergency road kit.

And for anyone like me who prefers online shopping over in-store shopping, give the gift of an Amazon gift card. These cards have no added fees and no expiration dates.

Last but not least, if you really have no idea what to give someone, consider giving a SuperCertificate Gift. These certificates can be redeemed for one or more gift cards, making it the perfect gift every time.

Feel free to add your own suggestions in the comments below – and please share this blog post on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media channels to generate more clutter-free gift ideas for the holidays or any day.

Please note that some of the links in this post are affiliate links. If you click on these links and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. All proceeds go toward the costs associated with publishing this blog. Thanks in advance for your support.

 

 

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Organizing Tips Newsletter – November 2015

ORGANIZING PLAIN & SIMPLE MONTHLY

Tips & Inspiration for Organizing a Simpler Life

November 2015 – Vol. 14 No. 7


Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can. ~Arthur Ashe


5 places to get help getting organized

Sometimes you need a little help to get started on what seems like a monumental project. Other times, you just need to have some accountability to keep you on track. Or maybe you need to work one on one with a professional to guide you through the process of decluttering and organizing your home.

Following are the top five places I recommend for getting help getting organized.

On the web site of the National Association of Professional Organizers, you can find a professional organizer near you. Yes, it costs to get professional help, but there are also costs associated with NOT getting help.

If you or a loved one is struggling with more than the average amount of stuff, I recommend downloading the Clutter-Hoarding Scale, an assessment tool developed by the Institute of Chronic Disorganization and the Quick Reference Guide that goes with it. On this site (under the Resources tab), you can also click to Find an ICD Organizer who is trained to work with people who have hoarding issues. You’ll find other resources on the site as well.

Clutterers Anonymous is committed to helping members stop cluttering one day at a time. The program is designed along the same lines as Alcoholics Anonymous with heavy emphasis on being accountable and supporting one another.

My Facebook support group is another, less structured option. Join nearly 3,000 members in this closed group where we share our challenges and achievements and cheer each other on to a less cluttered home and more organized life.

Several people in my Facebook support group have mentioned using 1-800-GOT-JUNK to help them clean out their homes – and they were very happy they did. This is a fee-based service that hauls away household junk for disposal or recycling. You just point to what you want gone and they take it.

3 expert cleaning tips to save the day!

November 15 is National Clean Your Refrigerator Day. I kid you not! Seriously, if you can’t remember the last time you cleaned your fridge, it’s time. Here’s my 15-minute plan for cleaning the refrigerator as published on Today.com.

And another thing I was asked about recently. What’s the right way to wash towels? Check out this RealSimple.com article on 5 ways you’re ruining your towels.

Finally, what if you spilled red wine on the carpet and it left a stain that’s been there for some time? Learn how to get rid of that stain and decades-old dirt, grime and stains in this Oprah.com article – Cleaning the impossible. (My tip is on how to remove stains from porcelain sinks, tubs, and toilets.)

Favorite organizing products and resources

As a professional organizer for the last 14 years, I’ve used and recommended a lot of organizing products, services and resources. Every month in this column, I share my favorites.

In the last issue, I invited you to look at SendOutCards, a program I use to send real paper greeting cards right from my laptop. I’m not talking about e-cards. These are cards that you order online and they are printed, stuffed, stamped and mailed for you for as little as 93 cents plus the cost of a stamp.

With SendOutCards, you can send holiday cards to everyone on your list in minutes instead of hours. I’ve been using this program for 9 years and love it.  If you want to check it out, you’re welcome to send a few cards on me with no obligation. Let me know what you think!

This month, I want to remind you about the Holiday JOY Challenge. November is the start of the holiday season, which means that friends and family will be ringing your doorbell throughout the next couple months. If you’re starting to panic with the thought of guests visiting your home and seeing your mes, don’t fret. It’s time to join the JOY (Just Organize Yourself) Challenge.

Whether you have a back-entry mudroom, front entry with closet, or a teeny-tiny entryway with no closet, the JOY Challenge will provide tips for all types of spaces. You’ll need to clear the way for guests’ coats, and no matter where you live, winter is on the way, so boots (whether rain or snow) are coming! Not to mention finding a home for hats, mittens, scarves, and bags. Luckily, the challenge provides a super simple plan to get that entryway in tip-top shape.

There is no pressure—you work at your own pace, and can ask questions at any time. You’ll also receive helpful (and inspiring) downloadables throughout the challenge to keep you motivated, plus access to a private Facebook group with other challenge takers. You can work on the challenge any time between mid-November and mid-December, but sign up now so you get all the goodies! To learn more or to join the challenge, visit TimeToOrganize.com/JOY. Take $10 OFF through November 10 with coupon code JOY10.

Shameless promotion: Turn clutter into cash for the holidays (free download)

Revised edition on sale now!

When I wrote the original version of How to Declutter and Make Money Now, the U.S. economy was still in recovery mode. Fast forward to today. Many people are still struggling to make ends meet.

And yet, according to a market research study by NPD Group, the average American home contains $7,000 worth of unused items – items that could be soled to generate cash or donated as a tax write-off.

In the newly revised edition of How to Declutter and Make Money Now, I lay out a plan in Chapter 1 for how you can get started turning clutter into cash for the holidays. This entire chapter is one of the many additions to the revised version. And I want you to have that information. Download Chapter 1 for free HERE.

In Chapters 2-9, you’ll learn about the many ways to sell things that are just taking up valuable space in your home. Wouldn’t you rather have the cash? Did you know that your can take a picture with your smartphone and sell stuff that way? Or that you can re-sell anything that is already for sale on Amazon (like my book)? In Chapter 8, you’ll learn all about swapping which is the next best thing to making money. Trade something you no longer love or use for something you really want!

Grab your copy of the book HERE at the special introductory price!

That’s all for this month. Until next month, keep it simple.

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FULL DISCLOSURE: Some links in this organizing tips newsletter may be affiliate links, meaning if you make a purchase through one of these links, I may earn a small commission. These earnings go toward the continuation of this complimentary newsletter which is free to you, but does cost to distribute. Please note that I only recommend products that I would recommend whether I got paid or not.

 

 

 

 

 

Organize Your Entryway Challenge + Free Gift

November is the start of the holiday season, which means that friends and family will be ringing your doorbell throughout the next couple months. But are you starting to panic with the thought of guests visiting your home, seeing your mess? Don’t fret! It’s time to join the JOY (Just Organize Yourself) Challenge.

Holiday JOY Challenge: Organize Your Entryway

When your guests arrive on your doorstep, the entryway sets the tone for their experience in your home. Is the area clutter-free? Is the space organized and well planned? Is it warm and welcoming? First impressions count!

Whether you have a back-entry mudroom, front entry with closet, or a teeny-tiny entryway with no closet, the JOY Challenge will provide tips for all types of spaces. You’ll need to clear the way for guests’ coats, and no matter where you live, winter is on the way, so boots (whether rain or snow) are coming! Not to mention finding a home for hats, mittens, scarves, and bags. Luckily, the challenge provides a super simple plan to get that entryway in tip-top shape.

This season’s challenge will help you maximize the space you have in the entryway and make sure everything you keep there is helpful and intentional. You’ll be guided to clear out the hall closet if you have one, or create lovely storage space if you don’t. You’ll even receive design tips to make this space gorgeous for you and your holiday guests! You’ll see this space whipped into shape in no time, and your entryway will give you (and your guests) a warm greeting each time you come through the door.

When you sign up for the Holiday JOY Challenge, you’ll get access to a private Pinterest page (that shows products, projects, space layouts, and DIYs), and a private FB group where you can ask questions, share challenges, and join in the camaraderie as you work through your space.

You’ll also receive clear, concise handouts that explain a veteran professional organizer’s proven-to-work organizing process and tips. There is no pressure—you work at your own pace, and can ask questions at any time. You’ll also receive helpful (and inspiring) downloadables throughout the challenge to keep you motivated.

The JOY Challenge is a fun way to get organized just in time for the busy holiday season. You can work on the challenge any time between mid-November and mid-December, but sign up now so you get all the goodies! Join us and feel confident as you welcome holiday guests into your home.

Special Offer for Donna’s Blog Subscribers:

Take $10 OFF through November 10 with coupon code JOY10

To learn more or to join the Holiday JOY Challenge to organize your entryway, visit TimeToOrganize.com/JOY

Grab your FREE GIFT!

Want a sneak peek at one of the handouts? Download a “50 Things That You Can Toss” tip sheet for FREE when you visit the Challenge website! No purchase required.

About the JOY Challenge Creator: Sara Pedersen, Professional Organizer, lives in Shoreview, Minnesota with her husband, two children, and tabby cat, Mulligan. Since 2000, her organizing company, Time to Organize, has offered hands-on organizing assistance for countless Twin Cities residents. She helps them organize, simplify, and discover time to do the things they love. She also coaches new and prospective professional organizers. When she’s not working with clients, she enjoys finding new and creative ways to organize and decorate her home! She also loves to dig in the garden, take evening walks, eat chocolate, and explore the North Shore of Minnesota.

FULL DISCLOSURE: Links in this blog post are what’s called affiliate links, which means that if you make a purchase after clicking through, I receive a commission for referring you. But know this – I only recommend products and services that I would recommend to my followers whether I got paid or not. All proceeds go toward the continuation of your no-cost subscription to this blog.

 

The post Organize Your Entryway Challenge + Free Gift appeared first on Declutter Your Life with Donna Smallin Kuper.

My Dirty Little Secrets

photo credit: 20141231_191605 via photopin (license)

I’m not lazy when it comes to cleaning. I’m just into cleaning smarter, not harder.

I was thinking the other day about how I do things differently from many people and decided to share “my dirty little secrets.” Here are just some of the ways that I save time and effort by cleaning less.

1. I hide dirty dishes under the sink. Yeah, that’s right. If you stop by unannounced, chances are good that you will find dirty dishes – but only if you go looking. If we have only a few dirty dishes, I rinse them and put them in a dishpan that is under the sink. When the dishpan gets full, I wash dishes. (I don’t have a dishwasher.)

2. I don’t use antibacterial soap. Turns out that the active ingredient in antibacterial soap (Triclosan) has been banned in Minnesota and other states are following suit. Apparently, this chemical has long-term effects on human health as well as the environment. That’s okay. Good old-fashioned soap and water is all you need to kill 99% of germs. So that’s what I stick with.

3. I don’t fold underwear. I used to, but then I decided that life is too short to fold underwear! I also don’t fold exercise clothing – I have one drawer for tops and one drawer for bottoms. They don’t wrinkle, so why fold them? And I don’t bother to fold sheets. I just wash them and put them back on the bed.

4. I wear clothes multiple times before washing. Over-washing clothing shortens its life. So unless I get sweaty or spill something on whatever I’m wearing, I hang it to air overnight. Then I put it away.

5. I avoid washing my dark wash jeans.  See #4 above. When the jeans look like they need a little refreshing, just fold them and insert into a large zippered plastic bag – and put them in the freezer for a week. Freezing will kill any living organisms that might be hiding out. (If you can’t resist washing jeans, turn them inside out and wash in cold water.)

6. I haven’t ironed anything in 2 1/2 years. But that doesn’t mean I wear wrinkled clothing! I make a point of buying clothing that doesn’t require ironing. If something does get wrinkled, I spray it with wrinkle releaser that I make by mixing one tablespoon of fabric softener with 16 ounces of water in a laundry spray bottle.

7. I only wash my hair once or twice a week. I have naturally curly hair and curly hair specialists say that too much washing can damage curly hair. So I just wet it every day in the shower and condition it. When I do wash my hair, I use a sulfate-free shampoo. Works for me!

8. I do most of my cleaning with water only. Water is proven to clean as well, if not better than commercial cleaners. In a University of California-Davis study, it was concluded that cleaning with a microfiber cloth and water alone was 99% effective at removing not only soil and grime, but also germs.

9. I don’t polish silver. I store sterling silver jewelry in little plastic zip baggies. Silver tarnishes through oxidation which results from prolonged exposure to air. So if you store it properly, you never have to clean or polish it.

Okay, enough about me. What are some things you do to clean smarter, not harder? Or is this all just crazy talk to you?

 

 

 

The post My Dirty Little Secrets appeared first on Declutter Your Life with Donna Smallin Kuper.

How to Turn Clutter into Cash

I don’t know about you, but it’s a lot easier for me to let go of stuff I no longer want or need when someone is willing to pay me for it.

Sure I could give stuff away, which I’ve done. Or donate it (been there, done that too). But call me crazy…I much prefer when clutter goes out the door and money comes in!

That’s what I call getting paid to declutter – and I’ve been doing it for years. In fact, I wrote a book about it back in 2012. You may remember me telling you about that book – it’s called How to Declutter and Make Money Now. In this book, I shared everything I knew about how to sell all kinds of things from alarm clocks to zebra-print furniture.

Revised edition on sale now!

Then, after downsizing in a big way in 2013, I discovered even more ways to turn clutter into cash!

So what did I do? Yup. I updated and expanded my original work. This second edition is on sale now in your choice of two formats, both at special introductory prices for a limited time only!

Kindle book – Special Introductory Price $4.99

Paperback – Special Introductory Price $9.95

(Ironically, if you choose to buy the paperback, you can use my tips on selling used books to re-sell it when you’re done! How cool is that?)

The new edition includes a simple system to de-clutter any room (Chapter 1) plus a Marketplace Resale Guide (Chapter 7) with expert advice for where to sell what.

One of my favorite tips in How to Declutter and Make Money Now is how to cross-sell on Craigslist. If you have multiple ads, include a line in each that says something like “Search UNCLUTTER123 to see my other listings.” That’s what I call cross-selling and it can be very effective. If your buyer likes one item, he/she might be interested in something else you have for sale, which increases the total sale per visitor.

Also, did you know that there’s an online comparison site where you can get instant buyback quotes on your old cell phones? Or that you can exchange unused gift cards for cash? Thinking about having a garage sale? Learn where you can advertise it for free and how to maximize your earnings. What are your options if you can’t have a garage sale where you live? You’ll find the answers to all these questions and more in this book.  

You’ll also find a chapter on swapping which is the next best thing to getting cash for that stuff you no longer love or use. And, in another chapter, you’ll learn how donating everything can result in a bigger net gain than selling (it’s also the quickest way to declutter your home).

It’s all in the book – how and where to sell anything and get the best price for it. I can just see the big smile on your face as you start getting paid to declutter your home. Grab your copy of the book here – TODAY – at the special introductory price!

Thanks, as always, for supporting my work. You are the best readers an author could ever wish for. Seriously.

 

 

 

The post How to Turn Clutter into Cash appeared first on Declutter Your Life with Donna Smallin Kuper.

How to turn clutter into cash

I don’t know about you, but it’s a lot easier for me to let go of stuff I no longer want or need when someone is willing to pay me for it.

Sure I could give stuff away, which I’ve done. Or donate it (been there, done that too). But call me crazy…I much prefer when clutter goes out the door and money comes in!

That’s what I call getting paid to declutter – and I’ve been doing it for years. In fact, I wrote a book about it back in 2012. You may remember me telling you about that book – it’s called How to Declutter and Make Money Now. In this book, I shared everything I knew about how to sell all kinds of things from alarm clocks to zebra-print furniture.

Revised edition on sale now!

Then, after downsizing in a big way in 2013, I discovered even more ways to turn clutter into cash!

So what did I do? Yup. I updated and expanded my original work. This second edition is on sale now in your choice of two formats, both at special introductory prices for a limited time only!

Kindle book – Special Introductory Price $4.99

Paperback – Special Introductory Price $9.95

(Ironically, if you choose to buy the paperback, you can use my tips on selling used books to re-sell it when you’re done! How cool is that?)

The new edition includes a simple system to de-clutter any room (Chapter 1) plus a Marketplace Resale Guide (Chapter 7) with expert advice for where to sell what.

One of my favorite tips in How to Declutter and Make Money Now is how to cross-sell on Craigslist. If you have multiple ads, include a line in each that says something like “Search UNCLUTTER123 to see my other listings.” That’s what I call cross-selling and it can be very effective. If your buyer likes one item, he/she might be interested in something else you have for sale, which increases the total sale per visitor.

Also, did you know that there’s an online comparison site where you can get instant buyback quotes on your old cell phones? Or that you can exchange unused gift cards for cash? Thinking about having a garage sale? Learn where you can advertise it for free and how to maximize your earnings. What are your options if you can’t have a garage sale where you live? You’ll find the answers to all these questions and more in this book.  

You’ll also find a chapter on swapping which is the next best thing to getting cash for that stuff you no longer love or use. And, in another chapter, you’ll learn how donating everything can result in a bigger net gain than selling (it’s also the quickest way to declutter your home).

It’s all in the book – how and where to sell anything and get the best price for it. I can just see the big smile on your face as you start getting paid to declutter your home. Grab your copy of the book here – TODAY – at the special introductory price!

Thanks, as always, for supporting my work. You are the best readers an author could ever wish for. Seriously.

 

 

 

The post How to turn clutter into cash appeared first on Declutter Your Life with Donna Smallin Kuper.