Springtime downsizing

Spring is upon us. And with spring comes new life. In order to transfer that feeling to your home, consider purging some unnecessary objects. Once the downsizing has been accomplished, you will discover the renewal associated with spring.

Clearing out closets and removing clutter is a wonderful way to feel better about yourself. You will be surprised at how free you will feel when you have more available space and less chaos. 

To get started, set up bins for sorting – keep, throw away and donate/sell.

Ask yourself the following questions:

Do you use the item? 

Has it been used within the last year? 

If not, is it just wasting space in your home?

Do you have two objects that do the same thing? 

If one works better than the other, can you get rid of the lesser item?

Is it a decorative item? 

Is it enhancing your home or adding to your weekly dusting? 

Might it look better hanging on someone else’s wall, or on another person’s shelf?

As the seasons change, people often change their wardrobe. Now is the perfect time to go through the closets and purge. Most of us change sizes throughout our adult lives. How many items in the closet actually fit? Ideally, the only items in your bedroom closet should be the ones you wear now. Things that no longer fit or rarely worn items can go in less desirable locations, if you are not willing to part with them.

It is not necessary to do everything in one day. Trying to do too much makes the task feel overwhelming. Try to clean out one closet at a time. When you break the tasks into smaller chunks, it becomes a lot more manageable and less daunting.

If you are a parent, I am guessing that you would rather not have to nag your children to clean up their rooms.  By reducing the volume in their rooms, it could make for a much happier home. Less clutter could equal less nagging!

When cleaning bigger areas, start small, like the entryway of your home. What belongs? What should go? Is anything broken?

Keep your standards high. Does this deserve to be in your home? Is it worthy? Consider each unnecessary object. Does the piece deserve a place in your home? Is it helpful? Is artwork, or other decoration, beautiful?

At the end of your downsizing, go through the sale/donate box. Items that you feel are worth the effort to consign, list on ebay or Craig’s List should have a “due by” date so that they are not hanging around too long collecting more dust. Once the due date arrives, it can be donated. It is a win/win to donate items to those in need and benefit from the tax donation receipt.

Do not take your clutter into the next season. Downsizing will cleanse your soul and your home. At the same time, it might even add to your wallet.

"My Shopping Addiction"

April Benson has a website called ShopaholicNoMore.com and I follow her regularly. I see over-shopping as an issue for many of my clients and I like to learn all I can about the struggles that affect the clients I serve.

Just the other day, April announced a new show coming to reality TV - "My Shopping Addiction" on Oxygen beginning on October 15th.  According to the show's website:

          "From an heiress who spends an average of $30,000 per month to a woman who packs her      home full of products from the 99 cent store, this series will capture an intimate look into the lives of young people facing a crisis brought on by a dangerous addiction to shopping. Viewers will witness what happens when their obsession causes their finances and lives to spiral out of control."

I don't often see the extremes of shopping that will likely be featured on the show, but I look forward to some attention in the area of compulsive buying/addictive shopping.  One of the common causes of clutter is definitely over-shopping and if a person can learn strategies to step away from the temptation of shopping, their homes and their budgets will dramatically improve.

The show airs at 11 pm EST and I invite you to watch the show and let me know what you think. Pop me an email at cindy@aim4order.com.

Warm woolen mittens.....

BABY IT'S COLD OUTSIDE!

I just came in from walking the dog and realized that it’s already time to pull out the winter wear and get everything organized. There’s nothing more guilt-producing than your child asking for gloves because they’re freezing during recess! Just follow these simple guidelines and YOUR child will be the envy of the playground (or possibly share one of their gloves with a friend).

1.  Gather/find all the scarves, hats, gloves, mittens and boots in the house.
Invite (or order) each family member to try on their boots hats and gloves to make sure they still fit.
2.  Toss all the unwanted items in a donation bag (and either place in your car for a drop off or contact a charity to pick them up or check out a consignment store). Just heard about a great on line store Dashing Bee.
3.  If your children are ‘particular’ and not into sharing their items, then take a giant zip lock bag or lidded box or even a plastic case that your new blanket came in, and label it and put that child’s mittens, gloves, hats and scarves in there. Another option is to have 1 bag for scarves, 1 bag for gloves, 1 bag for hats and 1 bag for gloves and mittens. Main thing is that when they are sorted by sex or size or type, it’s a lot faster and easier to get them.
4.  Store boots in a large clear box or large clear zipper bag, but be brutal in limiting how many pairs per person. The more options you have, the more stress you get. Less is more in all matters relating to winter wear, toys, clothes (catch my drift here?).
5.  Find a place to store the winter stuff - a place that’s near the morning departure location (mud room, laundry room, hall closet) and if you don’t have a place, think about finding a piece of furniture that may house the items.
6.  Enjoy the peace and serenity that will come on the next chilly morning when you can direct your children to their bag or box of stuff while you sip happily on your hot tea.

Senior Downsizing Made Simple

While it is never too early to get rid of the clutter, there comes a time when getting organized is a necessity. If you or your parent are suddenly living alone, they sometimes need to move to a smaller place. Whether it is because of finances, health or other reasons, the move can be a stressful one.

This is a very tough time. Frustration and sadness can add to an already tense situation. Try taking photos of some of the items that will not be going to the new home. Having pictures can make things easier for the person. Know that emotions are running high and try not to argue, get angry or make things more difficult. This can be the hardest part of the move.

The first step in senior downsizing is to figure out a plan of attack. Set some realistic goals. How much time can you spend on this each day or each week? Who else will pitch in to make this happen? Do you need to hire a professional organizer to help you get started or formulate a plan? Who will pack and move everything?

Find a relatively clear, staging area where sorting can be done. Sort items into four categories: keep, sell, give away (or donate) and trash. If there is no good staging space, an alternative is to use brightly colored stickers for each of the four categories. You will simply walk around the house and apply the appropriately colored sticker to each item.

Be smart about what stays and what goes. Where is the person moving? Will they still have a use for cooking utensils or dishes? Maybe they only need a few dishes, mugs and glasses for snack items and drinks, and will take their meals in a common room.

How much furniture will fit? Look into the size of the new home. Think about what items will physically fit in the new location and which will not. Paying a mover to relocate belongings is expensive. You don’t want to pay for things that won’t fit in the new place.

Plan for family members to get together and see what they might want from the sell or give away items. Selling a treasured family object could cause hurt feelings among relatives. It would be much nicer to have a loved one keep certain items that have special meaning to the family or individual.

Once the family has gone through the items, think about selling or giving away what is not going to the new home. There are times when donating items can be easier and even more lucrative than selling them. There is a tax write off for donations, while selling can take precious time and may not bring in the amount of money expected. That being said, any suspected valuable antiques, jewelry or other items may be worth a lot of money. Having some things appraised might prove to be a good idea.

When the time comes to move yourself or your senior family member into a smaller home, keep these tips in mind. It could be to your advantage to get rid of the clutter sooner rather than later. We recommend that everyone declutter regularly, at least once every three to five years, to keep things organized and under control.