Clutter - Organizing Happiness

kathy.b April 12, 2013

Paintball And Other Outdoor Sports

My family is big (see about me) and we have produced lots of boys and one girl. Through out the years our garages have been full of…..

balls, bats, mitts, tennis rackets, surfboards, wetsuits, skis, golf clubs, snowboards, skate boards, bikes, bowling balls, ping pong tables, exercise equipment, and more.

Without a doubt those items helped create wonderful memories and were well worth the cost.

But the time has come to reevaluate what is being used and what needs to be passed down to kids, grandkids or given away to other family members that could use them.

The two big questions to ask yourself when making the big decision, keep or not to keep is….

1.When was the last time this item was used?

2. Could someone else be using this and creating new memories?

Many of these sports are seasonal. It is possible that a year or two went by with no use and then that third year the snow was good and you could finally get out the skis and snowboards. The problem we had is our wood skis were so old and new stuff had been invented so we would end up renting the new stuff while the old stuff stayed on top of the garage. But, we kept them.

If your stuff is real old you might be up against new technology. The newer stuff may make you better or at least look better.

Talk to friends and family that have kids that may be interested in your sporting equipment if you haven’t used in years. You could also post in the classifieds or you may be lucky enough to have a second hand sporting good shop in your area. They sell things on consignment.

If you haven’t used in 5 , 10, 15 or even 20 years or more, why are you keeping the stuff? Remember, most of you have the proof with photographs and good memories. The stuff is now just taking up space and the chances of using again are slim.

The more you give away, the less you will buy.

Giving away changes your spending habits. Instead of buying the latest and the greatest think about renting sporting equipment. It’s cheaper and with new technology it might even make you better at the sport.

Filed Under: Clutter, Garage, Life, Minimalism, Outside, Recylcing Leave a Comment

kathy.b April 8, 2013

Are You An Organized Hoarder?

“Nothing good happens after 12 midnight” is a line from one of my lectures to all of the teenage boys in the family. They tell me I just don’t understand because I go to bed early and I’m up early.

Last Saturday was no exception, although it was a little earlier than usual. We are dog sitting and one of the dogs heard something on the front porch and went bonkers. It was a raccoon. After a cup of coffee it was time to plan the weekend.

There were a few movies we wanted to see but my big goal was to continue organizing the garage. In order to be successful in organizing the garage, several things will have to go. Just doing the household shuffle, or in this case the garage shuffle, would be a waste of time.

Having things off the ground and hanging is the way to go. If you ever look at those magazines that do garage makeovers, notice the floors are shiny and empty. Another amazing thing about those makeovers is they make it so you can actually park your car in the garage.

Recently a family member, who parks his car (unlocked) in the driveway, had his garage door opener stolen out of his car. Two lessons learned, try and park in your garage and if you can’t, at least lock your car.

Would it be possible to park in your garage if things were hanging rather than on the ground? If you have already purged things from your garage that you will never use again then it is time to organize.

It is a toss up between Home Depot and Bed Bath & Beyond. I don’t get out much but when I do, Home Depot is the place for me. They have all sorts of hooks and shelves for garages. Epoxy coating, to tiles and plastic bins, all to make your garage look spectacular.

Word of caution about containers. The stores make them look so organized in the pictures but for those who are trying to simplify they can be a real trap. Storing Christmas decorations that you use every year makes sense but what else are you storing? If it isn’t see through plastic or at least labeled you will waste time trying to remember what the heck those containers are storing. You don’t want to go out and buy stuff only to find out later you had it hiding in your organized mess.

Are you an organized hoarder?

I remember an episode of Hoarders where the woman had everything labeled in boxes. It was quite impressive. The problem was she would not have been able to use all of it in a lifetime.

The blue hanging organizer was in the closet for years and one day I looked at it with new eyes and realized I didn’t use most of what it was storing.

Start looking at your stuff with new eyes.

Closets and garages are a challenge. Start looking at your stuff with new eyes. Get up early this weekend and before you organize, declutter the containers.

Filed Under: Bedroom, Christmas, Closet, Clutter, Garage, Minimalism Leave a Comment

kathy.b March 30, 2013

The More You Give Away The Less You Will Spend

This statement appeared in a blog I recently posted and several of you were confused and a few of you disagreed. So I will try making my case with the following story.

A few years ago I made a trip to the Burbank Airport to pick up my mom. Traffic can be hard to gage so I left in plenty of time and as luck would have it, I sailed through with no traffic. Close by the airport is a BIG store with everything a house could want, along with a little food court. With an hour to spare I headed over there to get a coke and walk through the store.

I don’t know what they teach in marketing school, but it works. As I walked through that store, I wanted to buy. The bargains were unbelievable and if I didn’t buy I would never have that opportunity again. Why, you ask?

Because the sign said so.

That is when I spotted a blue duvet with a touch of yellow for $19.99. What a bargain! After all, changing a bedspread is kind of exciting plus it was new, clean and affordable. It was fun buying and I couldn’t wait to get home to put the duvet cover on the bedspread to enjoy the new look.

I picked up my mom at the airport, dropped her off at her home, went straight back to my house and remade the bed with my new purchase. It wasn’t until I remade the bed that I realised the new duvet didn’t match the bed skirt so I made a quick trip to BBB to buy a bed skirt that would match. Ouch, this was costing a little more than I wanted it to but at least the first item was on sale.

The duvet cover was washed several times throughout the year and it was such a hassle to put on that I decided one day to stick it up with the rest of the sheets and use the original bedspread. I had every intention of using it again, just not that week. The week turned into months and the months turned into a year. Since then, that $19.99 duvet cover and new bed skirt have been stored.

Every time I go to change sheets and see that duvet cover I get mad at myself for buying it in the first place.

I really started to seriously declutter last April and the more I give away, the more I realize that I don’t need more. Therefore, I buy less.

My Three Big Mistakes.

1. Passing Free Time With Shopping. If you have free time don’t spend it shopping. Save money!

2. Impulse Buying. Impulse buying is never smart.

3. Allowing Myself To Be Tricked By Clever Marketing. Am I really that gullible? Really?

Getting rid of what you don’t use makes you more aware of what you don’t need to buy. You don’t need a duvet to be happy. Lesson learned.

Filed Under: Bedroom, Clutter, Finances, Life Leave a Comment

kathy.b March 26, 2013

What To Do With Trophies

I have kept my son’s trophies and ribbons for many years and it is time to take them out and make a decision.

Fortunately or unfortunately there weren’t that many.

Just for the record, I know there were more than 4 but I’m not sure where they ended up.

Let’s ask the same three questions.

1. Do I use them?

2. Do I need them?

3. Do I enjoy them?

Number 3 is the most likely when it comes to trophies and ribbons. If you have them on display and you enjoy them, then keep.

If they are stored in a box in the garage then think about donating.

Most of these trophies that are awarded for kids sports have a label attached by sticky glue that is easy to peel off.

If you donate I recommend peeling off your kids name.

Take a picture then Recycle and Donate.

Filed Under: Clutter, Garage, Gifts, Life, Outside Leave a Comment

kathy.b March 20, 2013

What To Do With Unusual Party Gifts

Unusual and clever party gifts are fun! The laughs they get, along with the photo ops are memorable. They are hard to get rid of because we think we might be able to re-gift it back at the next party or even use it or wear it.

This hat was given to us while we lived in South Africa. The weather there is great but there are times when it got really hot. The sun would hit the little solar panel on top of the hat and then the fan would start to go and cool you down.

This fan hat actually worked!

My husband wore it a few times and it was often a conversation piece. After the summer was over it went up in the closet with the rest of the hats. He hasn’t worn it in years.

Someone out there will get this and hopefully enjoy more than we have. It served it’s purpose for a season but was now taking up space. Think about clever gifts or gag gifts you have received over the years. Where are you storing them?

Going to a birthday party, 30th, 40th or more, where many of the gifts are prune juice and denture cream, can be a blast. Lots of laughing and joking. Many of those gifts you can actually use but so many end up under the sink or in the closet.

One idea is to re-gift it back when it’s their birthday.

In an effort to get organized you can ask yourself the same questions as before.

When was the last time I used this gift?

When was the last time I enjoyed this gift?

Can I give away to someone else who will enjoy or appreciate?

Your choices.

Keep.

Give away.

Throw away.

¡Arriba, abajo, al centro, pa’ dentro!

Filed Under: Christmas, Clutter, Gifts, Outside, Relationships Leave a Comment

kathy.b March 15, 2013

What To Do With Pretty Boxes

Or maybe not so pretty. I saved this box for years. Not sure why. It held coins for awhile, but for the most part, it was empty. Every year at work we get candy, cookies, cheese and crackers from vendors, thanking us for the business and every year they come in the prettiest packages. Whether it is a weaved basket or a pretty box, it is so tempting to keep around after the goods are gone. I’m thinking this is where this box originally came from but I actually don’t remember for sure.

Keeping boxes are a trap.

They usually hold things we don’t use. Marketing people continue to come up with ways to hoard stuff. At least if the boxes are the clear plastic ones then you can see what’s in there. But if you have boxes you can’t see through and are not labeled then it makes it hard to know what you are storing.

Boxes are the organized hoarders best device. Don’t fall for it.

Take today and look around your house at all of the boxes. Ask yourself two questions.

1. Do I know what is in the box?

2. When was the last time I used the contents of the box?

IT’S ALL ABOUT HONESTY

If you haven’t used in years then think about donating.

If you want to make an effort to get organized please don’t go out and buy a bunch of boxes. You are setting yourself up for failure. Yes, there are things we keep in boxes that are used through out the year. Like holiday decorations and stuff from your jewelry box.

In determining whether or not you should keep stuff in the pretty boxes, use the same system as before.

Questions.

1. Do I use it?

2. Do I need it?

3. Do I enjoy it?

If you empty and/or declutter the contents of the box using the system then consider getting rid of the box itself.

Pretty or not you don’t need that many boxes.

Filed Under: Christmas, Closet, Clutter, Garage, Life, Minimalism, Recylcing Leave a Comment

kathy.b March 12, 2013

Who Is That In The Picture?

Pictures can be wonderful and they can be depressing. (weight and hair)Your home has hundreds of them. If they are in order they tell the most amazing stories that are worth passing down to each generation. If they are not in order, now is the time to tackle them.

My brother David loves taking pictures. I only remember him being in trouble 2 times growing up. The first time was when we made a trip to Baskin Robins and he ordered vanilla ice cream. My mom didn’t think it was worth spending 35 cents on vanilla when he could get that at Thrifty Drug Store across the street for 5 cents. I don’t remember how it ended but I know David wasn’t happy.

The second time he got in trouble was when my mom gave him a camera and a roll of film to take to camp. We were excited to get it developed and when we picked them up he had taken 36 pictures of grass and other scenery. We were expecting to see people,not just scenery. Again my mom and I thought…what a waste of a roll of film.

Fast forward 40 years and he is still taking pictures of scenery and it is truly amazing photography. The two differences now are they are digital and there are thousands of them.

Most people I know use digital cameras but that doesn’t automatically mean you have them in order. In fact, now that we all use digital we take more pictures than we used to. There are so many ways to organize these but like everything else, it gets put on the back burner for another time.

Slides

Starting with old slides from our parents and grandparents. There are places including Costco that will transfer onto Cd’s and/or print them.

Older pictures that are fragile

Old pictures can also be scanned and with a little photo shopping you can transfer onto CD’s to preserve them.

Newer pictures

About 20 years ago I went to my first creative memory party and I was hooked. I have several albums with stickers, stamps and colorful paper that tell stories. We love looking through those albums but unfortunately this last decade is unaccounted for. That is because we all switched to digital.

Digital pictures

Shutterfly and other companies make it possible to do bound books online by uploading the digital pictures and this also gives the opportunity to write down stories as well as identifying people in the pictures. I am currently going through photographs that belonged to my grandmother. Most of them don’t have any details written on the back side to say, who, what, when and where. That’s a problem.

Printing Digital

Most computers and printers can print right from the camera or you can take out the little card and insert into computer. If you can’t figure that out then take down to FedEx Kinkos and use the machines to print. You can ask for help, just go when it’s not crowded.

Who in the world is that?

Think how sad it will be if in 10, 20 or 30 years from now your great great grandchildren have to throw away photographs because there are so many and none of them are marked or in order.

Do your family a favor and organize all of those boxes of photographs that could potentially tell the most amazing stories!

Filed Under: Clutter, Life, Relationships Leave a Comment

kathy.b March 8, 2013

What To Do With The Clutter On Top Of The Refrigerator

The only reason the top of my refrigerator looks like this, is because I have a 3 year old that visits me a lot. The house is already baby proofed, but he still manages to find things he shouldn’t have. When I see him going for one of those, I quickly grab it and stick up high, where he can’t reach.

This morning before going to work it caught my eye. Everything up there does have a place, even if it is the Goodwill bag. So for today, this was going to be my project.

Timing myself is something I occasionally do, and it took less than 10 minutes. No doubt, in another month it will be cluttered with new stuff and I will again be decluttering that area. My rule for me is when I declutter an area I donate and/or at least toss something in the trash.

I spotted something in that mess that I haven’t used, ever, it was a set of glass coasters for the living room. The attraction for 3 year old was that fact that they were glass and shiny. Someone out there would really like to have these so they went into the goodwill bag.

I’m often asked by women… Where should I start? My answer is usually… Start with what bugs you the most. This morning for me it was the top of our refrigerator.

Done, Success, and it didn’t even take a full 10 minutes!

Filed Under: Clutter, Kitchen, Life Leave a Comment

kathy.b March 4, 2013

What To Do With Throw Pillows

Decoration or just an irritating tiny pillow?

I have 4 white ones that I hesitate to use because they will quickly get dirty. They are kept up high in a closet and occasionally come out if company is coming over. The problem is, when the company comes over they are put on the ground beside the couch because they take up an entire seat on the couch.

Why am I keeping those pillows? Because they were expensive.

We are now creating a pile for a garage sale. This will most likely be the one and only garage sale that I will host. Other family members are in charge but getting a dollar for those pillows plus not having to see them on top of the closet is enough incentive for me.

Pillows in general, eventually need to go. Dirt, bacteria and scary looking bugs under the microscope would convince you of that.

Is it time to get rid of the throw pillows around your house?

Do you use them?

Do you need them?

Do you enjoy them?

Filed Under: Bedroom, Clutter, Life, Living Room Leave a Comment

kathy.b February 20, 2013

Kids Toys From Fast Food Places

It is amazing the things we collect and keep. The marketing people at fast food places are hard at work to try and figure out how to get you into their restaurants and they use the little kids toys to do it. Like a good grandma, I take the kids to the places that have the play area and order the meals with toys. Before you know it, you too have a goal to collect the collection.

How can we avoid this trap?

The last thing we want to do is train our kids to be hoarders. This is a hard one because many of the fast food places with playgrounds, make those of us entertaining a 3 year old, much easier. Those marketing people know human nature. When one kid looks like he is having a blast with the toy on the commercial or on the poster, all of the other kids want it. They just do.

Perhaps it isn’t just the kids with their toys but us adults with our toys. This is a good time to remind readers that there is nothing sinful about stuff. Stuff can make life easier and more efficient. Thank God for the dishwasher and washing machine.

Sporting good stuff can help make life fun and teach life long lessons.

Supplies are needed to make beautiful art and I know first hand the stuff I need to create a beautiful garden.

garden The key is to use and enjoy

Don’t spin your wheels with stuff you no longer use. That goes for those fast food toys as well.

If the kids are playing with them or trading them, then let them enjoy for the season. Once the season is over and the toys are mostly destroyed with missing arms and legs then think about tossing them.

I like recycling as much as the next person but don’t be afraid to throw away the broken stuff.

Don’t be afraid to throw away.

Filed Under: Clutter, Gifts, Minimalism Leave a Comment