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Organizing Tips Newsletter – December 2014

ORGANIZING PLAIN & SIMPLE MONTHLY

Tips & Inspiration for Organizing a Simpler Life

December 2014 – Vol. 13 No. 9
The secret to getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks and then starting on the first one. ~ Mark Twain


Give yourself the gift of organization

Courtesy of OrganizedGreetings.com

I read a great article the other day on what professional organizers do and how they can help. It’s worth a read if you’re curious about that.

It occurred to me as I was reading the article that when you hire the services of a professional organizer, you give yourself the gift of organization. Now that’s a gift that keeps on giving!

You might think that you can’t afford a professional organizer. And you might be right. Or you might be wrong.

What if getting organized could save you money? That would make the cost to hire a professional organizer money well spent, right? Following are seven ways that disorganization may be costing you more than you think.

1. If you waste even just 15 minutes a day looking for stuff, and you earn $20/hour, you waste the equivalent of $5 a day or $140/month or $1,680 a year.

2. If you misplace bills or don’t have a good bill paying system in place and end up paying bills late, you could get hit with late fees. If your credit card payment is late, the lender may decide to raise your interest rate to 25% or more which will cost you even more money every month from that date forward.

3. If you’re not organized, you might end up paying more money for certain events (charity walks or conferences for example) that have discounts for early registration.

4. Disorganization may cause you to misplace checks or forget to deposit them, which could subject your account to bank overdraft fees.

5. A lot of people end up re-buying stuff only to find the original stuff later. Example: If your closet is disorganized, you might end up buying clothes or shoes that are similar to ones you forgot you had. This happens a lot!

6. When you keep a running list of foodstuffs you need and bring it to the grocery store with you, you are more likely to buy only what you need. Furthermore, you have a well-stocked pantry which means less need to order out because you can’t put dinner on the table with what you’ve got.

7. Having a system for organizing coupons can save you lots of money on everything from groceries to department store items to dinner out.

Ready to get some help? To find a professional organizer near you, visit the web site of the National Association of Professional Organizers. You may find several organizers in your area. Speak with a few to find the one that’s the best fit for you. Ask if they offer any package discounts. Then, if a certain someone wants to know what you want for Christmas this year, you can ask for the gift of organization.

Two ways to get organizing help for free

I know you enjoy the organizing tips I share in this blog, but there are two other ways you can get organizing help from me – for free.

1. Join my Unclutter.com Organizing Support Group on Facebook. It’s a closed group, which means that only other members can see your posts. Whether you need help getting started or with a specific project like organizing your craft room, just introduce yourself and tell us what you need. We have a very supportive group of members who encourage and cheer each other on. I also post helpful links and files for group members. Click JOIN to request to be added to the group. One of the group admins will add you within 24 hours – more often within minutes!

2. Use the search icon you’ll find at the top right of every page on my web site to search for help with a particular issue. Your search results will include all blog posts and newsletters in which that phrase appears. For example, if you search for “paper clutter,” you’ll find last week’s Your Questions Answered blog post, plus a super guest blog post from Andrea Brundage on Paper Piles – Delayed Decision Disorder (DDD), another post on 3 Ways to Go Paperless, and more.

72 clutter-free gift ideas

If you are struggling with holiday gift ideas, check out this list of 72 clutter-free gifts from Getting Organized magazine. One thing missing from the list – a gift to Getting Organized magazine! Should you decide to order (or ask for it as a holiday gift!), be sure to use the special coupon code GETORG2014 to get a 15% discount off your first year’s subscription (for new subscribers only).

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.

Last month, I recommended what was the best filing system I’ve ever tried – the Freedom Filer system. It’s a ready-made system that you can implement immediately using the pre-printed file folder tab labels. It also comes with blank labels so you can customize your system to fit your needs.

What I love about this filing system is that it’s set up to be self-purging with email reminders from the company about what to do at the end of each year. Take a look and see for yourself what you think. Read what others say about it. Check out some of the videos to see it in action. And then maybe, just maybe, you’ll want to purchase Freedom Filer to organize your files in a way that makes it easy to file and retrieve your important papers from today forward. (Look for the Ready-Made Systems.)

This month, I want to introduce you to a way you can scan all of your photos without buying a scanner or paying someone to scan them for you. You can rent a photo scanner from EZ Photo Scan and do it yourself, saving yourself a lot of money in the process. They offer 3-day and 7-day rentals. Imagine having all of your photos digitized in a matter of days!

I need to tell you that I have not tried this service, but I am very comfortable recommending EZ Photo Scan after speaking recently with a representative at the company which is, by the way, a corporate member of the National Association of Professional Organizers and also a Better Business Bureau accredited business. Here’s an idea: maybe you can go in with a family member, friend, or group on the cost of the rental.

Shameless promotion: Listen up!

If you’ve got the time (about 47 minutes), you might want to give a listen to this audio podcast  with me being interviewed about how to turn clutter into cash.

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

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FULL DISCLOSURE: Some links in this post may be affiliate links, meaning if you make a purchase through one of these links, I may earn a small commission which goes toward the continuation of this complimentary newsletter. Please note that I only recommend products that I would recommend whether I got paid or not.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The post Organizing Tips Newsletter – December 2014 appeared first on Declutter Your Life with Donna Smallin Kuper.

Your Questions Answered

photo credit: opensourceway via photopin cc

A few weeks ago, I promised that if you would tell me your biggest question or challenge about cleaning, decluttering, and/or organizing your home or life, I would respond to the top three.

I received 51 responses to the survey and got another 21 responses in the comments of my original Ask Me Anything post, five of which I responded to. (Click here to read those questions and answers.) Read on to see if I answer YOUR question in this post!

QUESTION #1: What to do about paper clutter? 

Elaine wrote: The PAPERS!!!! I do try to toss any unnecessary mail daily, but it’s the rest of the stuff… that I’ll need to think about or get to later on, and it just piles up on every horizontal surface in my house.

Mike wrote: What is the best method for filing or organizing your important papers? How long do you keep them?

Terri wrote: Paper trail that seems to litter my entire house! Esp medical bills, insurance EOBs, etc. I just don’t have a handle on a good system for how to file, how to address the stack while waiting to pay, etc. Then when I have to reference something, I end up wasting tons of time going from stack to stack to find the (usually unopened) document I need. ugh. It’s truly an ongoing nightmare.

Trish wrote: I am still lost in the paper war! I throw stuff out, but turn around and there is more!

And that’s just a sampling of the questions I got about paper clutter. I could write an entire book about this subject, but the bottom line is that there are a few simple things you can do to get out from underneath paper clutter.

1. Stop the inflow. The less you have coming in, the less you have to deal with. Opt for paperless billing statements from credit card and utility companies. Toss the junk mail immediately (if you didn’t ask for it, consider it junk). If you get a lot of junk mail and catalogs you rarely read, get off those mailing lists at www.dmachoice.org. Opt out of credit card and insurance offers at www.optoutprescreen.com.

2. Purge frequently. Keep receipts from daily purchases like groceries and restaurants just long enough to check that the amount is correct on your bank or credit card account (I check my account online every day or so). Set up a folder to file all receipts for recently purchased items. If you need to return something or if it breaks under warranty, you’ll know where to find the receipt. Periodically, go through your file and toss receipts for items you no longer own. Better yet, scan or take photos of receipts and store them safely and securely online. I use Shoeboxed.com. You might also check out OneReceipt.com. Both programs have an app that lets you take photos of receipts with your smartphone.

3. Think: Out with the old. You don’t need to save old utility and phone bills. If you paid them, your cancelled check is proof. When you receive new vehicle and home insurance documents, shred the old ones. Explanation of Benefit (EOB) forms can be tossed after they serve their purpose – to confirm amounts owed to medical offices and facilities. If you’re tracking deductibles, you might want to keep the most current one. Or if you have an ongoing claim, set up a folder or binder to store them until all payments have been made. But you should know that many insurance companies now offer easy access to EOBs online and, in fact, you can opt out of receiving paper EOBs.

4. Make a decision. The biggest reason why paper piles up is because of delayed decisions. We don’t know if we should keep or toss a document, so we set it aside. Click here for a great article from Consumer Reports with a list of documents and how long to keep them. Do be sure to shred papers with personally identifiable information like your name and address AND an account number or social security number.

5. Set up a simple system. What do you do with incoming mail? If you don’t open it every day, do you put it all in one place? Where do you put bills to pay? What do you do with statements after paying bills? Creating a system will improve your workflow and reduce clutter. To deal with a backlog of unfiled papers, sort into two boxes – one for papers you know are important and one for all the others. Recycle or shred as you go. Then set aside 15 minutes a day to sort important papers into things to do (like pay bills) and documents to file. Keep your filing system simple with just a hanging folder and tab for a few major categories. Or buy a ready-made, self-purging filing system from Freedom Filer.

QUESTION #2: I’m organized. He/she/they are not. Help!

One reader wrote: I will say that I am pretty organized, both at home and at work. However, my husband is another story! Any strategy suggestions on getting him onboard the declutter train?

Another reader asked: How do I get the family to help keep the house (kitchen table, living room tables, laundry room) in shape once I get everything decluttered? I’ve tried scooping their items up and stacking them in their room/office, but then there are just piles elsewhere… Any advice on getting the family to buy in?

My answer? Let them know how much it would mean to you to have an uncluttered counter, table, laundry room or whatever. With a spouse, negotiate. What are you willing to offer in exchange for your spouse decluttering that space? Start this decluttering project with a single room or space and build out from there. Maybe you can successfully negotiate for even just one clutter-free zone or room that can be your happy place. If all else fails, try to remember why you fell in love with your spouse in the first place!

With kids, the best thing you can do is set a good example. The worst thing you can do is do the work for them. Teach “responsibility for your stuff” by tying privileges with set expectations. For example, if they are leaving schoolwork and backpacks on the table, set a rule that they need to be removed before dinner or they don’t eat. Just kidding!

Seriously, you’re the one who wants a decluttered home. What’s in it for them? Think about what might make it fun. Maybe you can set a timer for five minutes for a game of “Beat the Clock” every night with the reward of earning the privilege to stay up late on Saturday night.

QUESTION #3. Is there a way to clean pet urine stains from carpet?

A reader wrote that she is buying a new house and there are “dog” stains on a white carpet. Short of replacing the carpet, she wondered if there are any good solutions. I chose this question because I learned a really nifty trick from a certified carpet cleaner that you might find useful. It works best on fresh stains, but can also remove older stains. What you need: 3% hydrogen peroxide, clean white towels, a steam iron, and a little patience.

Blot up the excess with a towel (or a wet/dry vacuum cleaner). Pour 3% hydrogen peroxide on the stain. It will not bleach the carpet (test it in an inconspicuous area if you don’t believe me). Cover the area with a clean, white, wet towel. Heat a steam iron on the cotton setting. Press and hold on the wet towel for about 15-20 seconds. Lift and look at the bottom of the towel. You should see some transfer of the stain to the towel. Repeat until the stain is gone or is no longer transferring to the towel. Take care not to burn the carpet and be sure to turn your face away from the steam. Cover the area with a clean, dry white towel and set something heavy like a skillet on it. Leave it overnight. The rest of the stain should be gone by morning.

MY QUESTION: Did you enjoy this post?

This was a challenging post to write, but now that it’s done, I enjoyed writing it. Maybe we should do this Q & A thing again? What do you think?

 

NOTE: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links which means if you click on them and purchase something, I may get a small commission, which goes toward the costs of publishing this blog. Thanks for your support!

The post Your Questions Answered appeared first on Declutter Your Life with Donna Smallin Kuper.

Count Your Blessings

Courtesy OrganizedGreetings.com

As I count my blessings this Thanksgiving, I want to take this time to tell you how thankful I am for you.

Thank you for being one of my favorite subscribers. (Shhhh…don’t tell the other 14,000!) Seriously, I might not know you personally, but I really care about you.

I made a decision a long time ago to do everything I could to take care of my subscribers and followers. Thank you for the loyalty and trust you’ve shown in return over the years.

Thanks for encouraging me to keep sharing my discoveries about cleaning, decluttering, and organizing. And thanks for correcting me on the rare occasions when I make a mistake.

Thanks for inspiring me with your questions and challenges. As long as you need me, I’ll be here for you, working on answers and solutions. Meanwhile, count your blessings!

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!

 

The post Count Your Blessings appeared first on Declutter Your Life with Donna Smallin Kuper.

Organizing Tips Newsletter – November 2014

ORGANIZING PLAIN & SIMPLE MONTHLY

Tips & Inspiration for Organizing a Simpler Life

November 2014 – Vol. 13 No. 8
I will clean house when Sears comes out with a riding vacuum cleaner. ~ Roseanne Barr


What I didn’t know I didn’t know about cleaning

photo credit: boltron- via photopin cc

Earlier this month, I flew to Orlando to attend a two-day course to become a certified House Cleaning Technician. I’d never heard of this program and, as it turns out, it’s fairly new. There are currently only about 200 HCTs nationwide, most of them professional home cleaners.

After taking this course, I realized that there were some things I didn’t know about cleaning. And I’m a cleaning expert! Did you know…?

Cleaning products don’t last forever. Bleach, for example, starts to deteriorate six months after purchasing it. Liquid laundry detergent has a shelf life of six months if opened and nine months to a year even if unopened. Outdated cleaning products can still be used; they just become less effective. So if you want to clean your home with confidence, start by cleaning out your cleaning closet. Check product lot codes for expiration dates.

Vacuuming more often results in cleaner air. Much like your furnace filter, your carpet filters or traps dust and other allergens. But it can only do its job when it’s clean. Carpet manufacturers recommend vacuuming once a week for each person living in your home. That means vacuuming four times a week if you’ve got a family of four! At the very least, vacuum high-traffic areas daily and have your carpets deep cleaned every 12 to 18 months to remove trapped soils.

“Silvering” of mirrors can be prevented.  Always spray glass cleaner on your cloth, not the mirror to prevent moisture from running into the frame of the mirror or between panels of glass. That’s what causes damage to the silvering. (I always wondered about that!) It’s a good practice to always spray your cloth rather than the item you are cleaning to avoid overspray damage to wallpaper, furniture, or other items.

It’s important to read labels on cleaning products. In particular, know how long to allow a product to sit or dwell. It’s not just a suggestion. It’s what make the product effective at what it does.

Mop buckets spread dirt and germs. The second you put a dirty mop back into the mop bucket, you contaminate the water – and you can’t clean with dirty water. Instead, use a mop with a microfiber head. Wet and then squeeze dry the mop head before attaching to the mop. Lightly spray the floor in front of you with your choice of cleaning solution prior to each swipe. Change your mop head when the front edge starts to look dirty. You may need 3-4 mop heads to clean an average size kitchen floor.

Microfiber cloths should not be washed with other items. I knew not to wash microfiber cloths with fabric softener or dry on high heat. But now I know that you should always wash microfiber cloths separately because lint will readily attach to the frizzy ends of the microfiber material rendering it ineffective as a cleaning cloth. (I’ve seen this happen and wondered why I still had streaks on my mirrors and why fuzz was left behind.) Wash in hot water with a gentle detergent, no bleach, and no fabric softener. If you have too few for a decent size wash load, wash by hand. Hang to dry or tumble dry on the low or delicate setting.

5 quick organizing tips to get holiday-ready

* Before getting out your holiday decorations, put away some of your everyday decorations to place more emphasis on holiday decor without cluttering up your rooms.

* Do a quick purge of closets, drawers, and cabinets now, before the end of the year, and donate items you no longer love or use to a charitable organization. Include holiday decorations you haven’t used in years. Someone, somewhere will be happy to have them. Call to schedule a pick-up by a local charitable organization.

* Create a wrapping station to make it faster, easier to wrap presents. Your station should include paper, bows, tape, scissors, gift tags, and anything you need. I love the WrapiT Gift Wrap Organizer. You can hang it in a closet or slide it under your bed and pull it out as needed. (And if you use the discount code, DONNAUNCLUTTER25 at checkout, you can get it for 25% off.)

* Get ahead of yourself – clean and prepare your guest room now well in advance for overnight visitors. Make and freeze cookie dough for baking later. Set your holiday table the day before.

* Consider hiring a maid service to come in and clean up before or after the holidays as a gift to yourself!

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.

Last month, I encouraged you to take a look at the only magazine dedicated entirely to getting organized, aptly named Getting Organized. Getting Organized is published quarterly and it’s available in print or digital form. Should you decide to order now (or ask for it as a holiday gift!), be sure to use the special coupon code GETORG2014 to get a 15% discount off your first year’s subscription (for new subscribers only). Plus, get a free ebook with your subscription: 5 Painful Time Management Mistakes That People Typically Make.

This month, I want to talk about organizing your paper files. If you’re ready to take the leap and go paperless, more power to you! I did it and have not looked back. But prior to that, the best filing system I ever had and still recommend is Freedom Filer.

What I love about this filing system is that it’s set up to be self-purging with email reminders from the company about what to do at the end of each year. And it’s a ready-made system that you can implement immediately using the pre-printed file folder tab labels. It also comes with blank labels to customize your system to fit your needs.

Take a look and see for yourself what you think. Read what others say about it. Check out some of the videos to see it in action. And then maybe, just maybe, you’ll want to purchase Freedom Filer to organize your files in a way that makes it easy to file and retrieve your important papers from today forward.

Shameless promotion: They call me a “master of maintenance”

If you happened to see the November issue of Real Simple, did you read the article on page 87 about 8 Cleaning Mistakes You’re Probably Making? If not, click on the title to read the article and check out the “masters of maintenance” they interviewed. Yup. I’m one of them!

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

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FULL DISCLOSURE: Some links in this post may be affiliate links, meaning if you make a purchase through one of these links, I may earn a small commission which goes toward the continuation of this complimentary newsletter. Please note that I only recommend products that I would recommend whether I got paid or not.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The post Organizing Tips Newsletter – November 2014 appeared first on Declutter Your Life with Donna Smallin Kuper.

Ask Me Anything! I’d Love to Help :-)

Courtesy www.OrganizedGreetings.com

If we could sit down face to face, what questions would you have for me about cleaning, decluttering, and/or organizing your home or life? Is there something in particular you’re struggling with right now? I’d really like to know, because I’d love to lend a hand!

Ask me anything! Simply click on this link to respond anonymously or post your response publicly in the comments section below.

It would be so great to hear from you. I may not be able to respond personally to every question, but I’ll do my best. And I will definitely get back to you in a new blog post next week with my answers to the top 3 questions received by midnight Saturday, November 22.

Thanks for the privilege of letting me know how I can help you.

 

The post Ask Me Anything! I’d Love to Help :-) appeared first on Declutter Your Life with Donna Smallin Kuper.

What’s Your Organizing Style?

A member of my organizing support group on Facebook (I’ll call her Denise) recently posted a photo of the “messy” kitchen awaiting her after being away for two days. She got right to work cleaning it up and posted a second photo 90 minutes later showing her beautiful kitchen with the counters completely clear of everything except a coffee maker.

Everyone was impressed. Two members commented that it looked like a show-ready home. But one member made a comment that prompted me to write this post.

Linda (not her real name) commented that the kitchen looked beautiful, but maybe “uncluttered” means different things to different people because having nothing out at all just didn’t feel comfortable to her. And you know what? She’s right. But does that make Denise wrong? Of course not! They are just different people with different organizing styles.

What about you? Do you lean more toward Denise’s style of “nothing out” or are you more of an “everything out” person when it comes to organizing your space?

Years ago, a new employee came into my office and sat down. As we chatted, I noticed that he was looking around. Finally he said, “Your office doesn’t give me any clues at all about who you are.” That’s because I am, at my core, a minimalist.

We minimalists don’t like to be tied down by our belongings. Often, the places we live and work in may not seem to have any personality, because we would rather maintain a small, functional footprint rather than invest time and money in decorative trappings. My co-worker’s comment made me more conscious of what my environment says about me and because of it, I now decorate my home with color, patterns, art, and furnishings that express my personality.

The opposite of a minimalist is a saver. As you might imagine, minimalists and savers have very different beliefs when it comes to the value of “stuff.” Savers keep things for sentimental reasons and also because they think that those things might come in handy someday.

Don’t get me wrong. There’s nothing wrong with saving! And savers don’t need to throw everything out to get organized. They do need to figure out what’s really important to them, so they can make decisions about what to keep and what to toss based on what they value. In addition, savers often need emotional support as well as good systems to help them keep their accumulations under control.

When it comes to assigning value to things, where do you fall on the scale? Are you more of a minimalist or more of a saver?

I often joke that I grew up with two of the world’s most organized people – my parents. My mother once confessed to me that she used to get stressed out if the silverware was not neatly stacked in the silverware tray. When I was a new bride, I can remember re-arranging the coasters on the coffee table so they were just so (we’re talking a millimeter in one direction or the other). I’m a lot more relaxed these days, but I still don’t tolerate clutter well.

Ironically, my husband and I live at opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to our tolerance for disorder. I can’t work unless my home is neat and clean. I believe in having a place for everything and everything in its place and that place depends on how often I use a thing and where I use it. My husband (whom I love dearly) just puts things away wherever and as a result, he regularly asks if I know where this or that is. He’s what you call a “no rules” kind of guy when it comes to straightening up.

How well do you tolerate disorder? Are you a straightener like me? Or a “no rules” gal or guy like my husband?

There are no right or wrong answers to the bolded questions above – only what’s right or wrong for you. But what is true for all of us is that when we understand our natural styles, we can make more efficient and effective use of our time and space.

What if the reason why you struggle with getting organized – and staying organized – is because you’ve been working against your natural style? What if you’ve been attempting to achieve the possible with an impossible set of rules? What if you were to discover that you’ve had the power all along just as Dorothy had the power to get herself back to Kansas by clicking the heels of her ruby red slippers?

The key to getting organized is understanding YOU!

When you know yourself better, you’re better able to arrange your time and space to suit your natural style which will reduce your stress and help you feel more calm and in control. Makes sense, right?

A few months ago, I discovered the Time & Space Style Inventory™ (TSSI™). This is an assessment tool designed to empower people to accept themselves as they are, with all of their natural skills and talents.

The Time & Space Style Inventory™ includes a full report with personalized feedback PLUS premium access to the TSSI™ Hub. Here you’ll find instructional videos and printable information to help you better understand your natural preferences, including the action steps you need to take to get into your natural flow. It’s like a mini-course on organizing your time and space!

Ready to embrace your natural style? Take the Time & Space Style Inventory™ assessment for yourself to get your report — plus access to tons of information in the TSSI™ Hub.  Be sure to print your report or save it so you can refer back to it.  

 

Full disclosure: I am an affiliate of the Time & Space Style Inventory which means that if you click through my affiliate link, I will be paid a small commission for referring you. Please know that I would recommend this product whether I got paid or not – it’s that good. Affiliate commissions are applied to the costs of researching, writing, publishing, and delivering blog updates.

The post What’s Your Organizing Style? appeared first on Declutter Your Life with Donna Smallin Kuper.

Organizing Survey: How Does Organizing Affect Your Life?

How does organizing (or lack of organizing) affect your everyday life?The National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) is conducting a survey to learn what the public thinks about organizing and productivity. What do YOU think? Your opinion matters, which is why I’m inviting you to participate. When I get the results, I’ll be sure to share them with you.

This quick organizing survey, which consists of about 40 questions, is designed to capture data about:

Organizing at home
Organizing at work
Time management
The use of technology
Disposal of unwanted items
Awareness of organizing
Awareness of NAPO

Click here to take the organizing survey or, if you prefer, scan the QR code below and take the survey right from your smartphone.

The survey will remain open until Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2014 at 5:00 P.M. Eastern.

The post Organizing Survey: How Does Organizing Affect Your Life? appeared first on Declutter Your Life with Donna Smallin Kuper.

Organizing Tips Newsletter – October 2014

ORGANIZING PLAIN & SIMPLE MONTHLY

Tips & Inspiration for Organizing a Simpler Life

October 2014 – Vol. 13 No. 7

I try to take it one day at a time, but sometimes several days attack me at once. ~ Ashleigh Brilliant



Home sweet organized home for the holidays

Cartoon courtesy OrganizedGreetings.com

Okay, I know that we are still anticipating trick-or-treaters and I’m not one to rush the seasons. But there are some simple things you can do right now that can make the difference between a stress-FULL or a stress-FREE holiday season this year.

If you do nothing else, declutter your kitchen.  It’s the hub of activity in your home all year long, but especially during the holidays. Give yourself more room to work and entertain by doing a quick declutter of your kitchen countertops.

I say: If you use it every day it gets to stay, otherwise put it away. So your toaster and coffeemaker are probably okay, but that breadmaker you haven’t used in forever? Find a new home for it, which might be someone else’s home! Seriously, consider donating it if you’re not using it.

But what about the paper that collects on your countertops, you ask? Ah, yes. I have two suggestions:

1. Designate a large basket for corraling all your papers. That way, if you’re looking for something, you know where to find it.

2. Use the inside of your cabinet doors. I use this Post-It(R) Self-Stick Wall Pocket to stash things coupons for takeout restaurants, meal plans, and other papers.

While you’re at it, make some room in your pantry by donating food you’re never going to eat.

Another must is a holiday planner. Get a small notebook and some sticky page tabs from your local office store to create three sections:

Holiday Gift Giving – Use this section to make a list of the people you want to give gifts to along with gift ideas. Don’t forget to add a page for your own Christmas wish list!

Holiday Entertaining – In this section, jot down party menus and items you need to buy such as festive napkins and plates.

General Holiday To-Dos – Make notes here to remind yourself of things you need to do – and by when like write holiday cards, bake cookies, get tickets to your favorite holiday show, send dinner invitations, stock up on adult beverages – that kind of thing.

Tip: Keep your holiday planner in your purse or briefcase so you’ll always have it with you to jot down ideas as inspiration hits or pick up items on the fly.

Get ahead of the game. If you’re planning to bake cookies, why not mix up a batch or two of cookie dough now and freeze it to bake later? Or bake now and freeze the cookies. Another thing you can do: clean your guest room 2-4 weeks ahead. Set your holiday table a day or two before. And instead of pulling an all-nighter wrapping presents, spend 15 minutes each night. By the way, a great place to hide presents is in a locked suitcase because you know, every home has at least one snoop!

Get in the habit of taking 5 minutes to clear clutter every night. I recommend using a laundry basket for nightly clean-ups and for quick clutter clearing when company’s coming. This is the laundry basket that I use. It’s got a handy shoulder strap, leaving both hands free to clean up twice as fast! A laundry basket is also handy for carting holiday packages to/from your car.

Make the holidays brighter for a family in need. Now’s a good time to donate some of your kids’ old toys and games – and some of your own stuff. As you open drawers, cabinets and closets over the next few weeks, be on the lookout for things you no longer use, including holiday decorations and pantry items. Bag them up and drop them off at a donation center. Or schedule a pick-up by the Vietnam Veterans of America at ScheduleAPickup.com.

My favorite tip is to set an early deadline. Plan to have everything done two days early so you can relax with your family and guests. And don’t feel that YOU have do everything. Reserve a couple of little tasks that your guests can do when they arrive – they’re going to ask, right? And the chance to help out will make them feel more comfortable and at home.

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.

Last month, I suggested that you take a look at the Neat Desk scanner. If there was a fire, or a flood, or even just a power surge that fried your computer, would you still have your valuable files for your home or business?

With a Neat Desk scanner, you can protect your tax documents, financial information and other valuable information. It scans up to 24 pages a minute so you can turn those piles of papers into organized digital files. Then use it continue to scan incoming receipts and other papers and never have to file paper again. It’s a much easier alternative to scanning individual pages on your printer scanner (if you even have one). Plus it’s less expensive to buy the scanner and do it yourself vs. paying someone to scan all your documents. Learn more here.

This month, I encourage you to take a look at the only magazine dedicated entirely to getting organized, aptly named Getting Organized. Check out this sneak-peak article on photo organizing. (Give it a minute to load – it’s a sizeable article.)

I just finished reading the current issue and I really enjoyed the article on organizing a clothing swap written by a woman who spends about 20% of what the average family spends on clothing. I also learned about a new app called Pocket that I have already downloaded and look forward to using.

Getting Organized is published quarterly and it’s available in print or digital form. Should you decide to order now (or ask for it as a holiday gift!), be sure to use the special coupon code GETORG2014 to get a 15% discount off your first year’s subscription (for new subscribers only). Plus, get a free ebook with your subscription: 5 Painful Time Management Mistakes That People Typically Make.

Six videos, dozens of cleaning tips!

Have I told you lately how much I love my work? I do! A few months ago, my friends at Better Homes & Gardens invited me to share some cleaning tips and oh, what fun we had filming these quick videos:

1. The Dirtiest Places in Your Kitchen

2. Clean With What You Already Have

3. The Trick to Cleaning Faster

4. Cleaning Hardwood Floors: The Tricks That Work

5. Are You Cleaning It Wrong?

6. Sneaky Ways to Clean Your Home Less Often

Shameless promotion: Upcoming seminar in San Diego

While in San Diego, I thought it would be fun to organize a seminar on how to turn clutter into cash. If you’re in the area, I hope you’ll plan to join me on Saturday, November 8. In this 60-minute presentation, you’ll learn what sells, where to sell it, and how to get top dollar for stuff that’s just taking up valuable space in their homes. You can read more about this event and reserve your seat here.

If you’d like me to come and speak in your area, let’s make that happen! Maybe your employer would like to sponsor a “Lunch and Learn” seminar. Or maybe your church or non-profit organization would like to host an event in which we share the profits. If so, please email me at donna@unclutter.com, okay?

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

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FULL DISCLOSURE: Some links in this post may be affiliate links, meaning if you make a purchase through one of these links, I may earn a small commission which goes toward the continuation of this complimentary newsletter. Please note that I only recommend products that I would recommend whether I got paid or not.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The post Organizing Tips Newsletter – October 2014 appeared first on Declutter Your Life with Donna Smallin Kuper.

Is Free Stuff Really Free?

photo credit: hugovk via photopin cc

I remember reading once a long time ago that “free” is one of the most powerful words in the modern world. I agree. “Free” is sexy and enticing. Who doesn’t want to get something for nothing?

But is free stuff really free?

I got to thinking about the real cost of “free” and came up with the following six situations where “free” comes with a hidden price tag.

Free shipping - I love to order from Amazon. You, too? Okay, how many times have you added one or more items to your cart just to get the free shipping?

You go online to buy a book for $11.95 and then you search for something that will bring your total purchase up to $25 or more – the magic number to get free shipping. So you end up spending an extra $13.05 minimum to save $3.95 on shipping!

The real cost of free? Today’s unplanned purchases become tomorrow’s clutter. And we all know how clearing clutter – even just thinking about clearing clutter! – robs us of joy.

Free magazine subscriptions - You buy something online and lo and behold, your purchase qualifies you for not one, but three free subscriptions to your favorite magazines. Free? Really? Sign me up! Wait. What happens after the free subscription ends? Right. You get billed for the renewal.

But the real cost of free in this case comes when you end up with so many subscriptions that you don’t have the time to read the subscriptions you’ve already paid for.

Food for thought: The average person can keep up with three monthly subscriptions. Instead of adding to your magazine pile (or piles), consider canceling a few subscriptions and requesting a refund for the unused portion.

Free gift with email subscriptions - Do you have a tendency to subscribe to email lists because you can’t resist the free guides, ebooks, videos and what-have-you? Yeah, me too. What you end up with is digital overload. The real cost of free downloads is the added time it takes to wade through your email messages every day.

Here’s a tip for you: With Unroll.me, you can quickly review all of your subscriptions periodically and unsubscribe from the ones you rarely, if ever, read. (Ironically, it’s free.)

Free promotional items - How many coffee cups, key rings, and tote bags do you need? Wait. Let me rephrase that question. Do you need more than you already have? Yeah. I didn’t think so. Real cost of free? Cluttered spaces that could be better used as cozy homes for things you love and use.

Try this the next time you are offered a freebie: Just say “No, thank you!” with a big smile. No further explanation is needed. As for what to do with all the freebies that are cluttering up your drawers? Donate them. Give them away. Get rid of them.

Buy one, get one free offers – “Buy one, get one free” can be a good deal. But what happens when you buy more than you need on a regular basis? Before long, your home starts to look like a warehouse. And if you’re stockpiling, you may be overspending.

Next time you find yourself considering a “buy one, get one free” deal, ask yourself: Do I really need two of these right now; i.e., can I use two within a reasonable amount of time? If yes, do I have the room to store the second item? Where exactly will I store it?

Free samples - My husband and I went to our favorite farmers’ market today. Most of the vendors there offer free samples. Do you know why they do that? For the same reason a salesperson will have you try on that beautiful hat or test drive that flashy sports car. They know that when people try, they are more likely to buy.

Armed with that knowledge at the market today, I sampled some handmade chocolate, a green smoothie, coconut milk, nectarines, plums, jalapeno relish (whoa, that was hot stuff!), garlic spread on pita bread, and goat cheese. What did I end up buying? Only the goat cheese because it was the only thing I sampled that was on my shopping list. You do make and bring a shopping list and stick to it, right?

I will confess that it took a lot of willpower not to buy the dark chocolate bar with almonds and hibiscus. The real cost of that free sample? Six dollars for a small bar. Maybe next time.

 

The post Is Free Stuff Really Free? appeared first on Declutter Your Life with Donna Smallin Kuper.

Help with Clutter: A Flow Chart

As a professional organizer, I realized that many of my clients struggled with the same questions: Is this clutter? Why can’t I part with my clutter? What should I do with my clutter? What if, despite my best intentions, I am still living with clutter?

And then, one day, it occurred to me that I could create a flow chart that would help people answer these questions. That’s when The Original Clutter Flow Chart was born.

Let me show you how this clutter flow chart can help with clutter by helping you make decisions about what to keep and what to toss.  Simply follow along with the chart above (click to enlarge).

For any object, ask yourself:

Do I use it? Really? How often? Be honest.

Do I love it? Consider this: If you love it so much, why is it out in the garage in a box where it may be deteriorating, and you can’t even get to it, much less enjoy it?

Do I need to keep it? Okay, but can you find it when you need it? How many do you need to keep? How difficult/easy would it be to replace if you didn’t keep it and really needed it later?

If the answer is yes — you use, love, or need to keep it — wonderful! I stays! Just be sure to display it, enjoy using it, or store it in an organized manner.

Why can’t I part with my clutter?

Here are some reasons why this is difficult for many:

It was a gift. Great, so it’s yours to do with what you want, right?

I inherited it. Is it a priceless family heirloom? Or is it an everyday object that just happened to belong to a loved one? How many other things do you have to remember them by?

I paid good money for it. So what? Don’t clutter your present with past mistakes!

I’m saving it for my children. They probably don’t want it…but if they are adults, now is the perfect time to ask them! If they do want it, tell them to come get it, or send it to them.

It reminds me of a good thing. Great! Why not use it or display it? Or take a photo to remember it by, and then donate it?

It reminds me of a bad thing. All the more reason to get rid of it now.

My friend/neighbor/coworker might want it. Great! Ask them. Give it to them now.

I might be able to sell it. If you are already an avid eBayer, yardsaler, or reseller, great! However, if you aren’t, save yourself the hassle and just donate it.

My favorite charity might want it. Okay, great! Just keep in mind that the more individual charities you have in mind for donating specific items to, the less likely it is that you’ll actually get your stuff to any of them.

The bottom line: If you don’t use, love, or need to keep it, it’s clutter.

What should I do with my clutter?

This one’s easy: Toss, Recycle, Sell, Gift or Donate it. All of it.

What if, despite my best intentions, I am still living with clutter?

If a month (or other self-imposed deadline) has gone by since you decided to try to find the perfect home for it, or try to sell it, and you haven’t managed to do so, ask yourself: Is it in good enough condition to donate to Goodwill, or another default (maybe not perfect) charity that takes a wide variety of donations? If so, pack it up and take it there TODAY! If the answer is no, it isn’t good enough, throw it in the trash or recycle it NOW!

Still with me?

Congratulations! You are on the road to becoming clutter-free!

If you need help, call a professional organizer. It is a myth that a professional organizer will make you get rid of all your stuff. A good one will help you identify what you use, love, and need to keep, and will help you store or display it in an organized manner.

Hazel Thornton is a professional organizer and the founder of Organized For Life in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She created The Clutter Flow Chart Collection to help clutter flow right out of your home and life. Subscribe to Org4life News and get a free Original Clutter Flow Chart module, the first of 15 modules in all including paper clutter, mental clutter, and to-do list clutter flow charts – all complete with companion articles, worksheets, and resources. Learn more about Hazel at www.org4life.com and follow her on her blog, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

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