Tag: stuff

Garage Sale, Giveaway or Garbage

Posted on by Jordank

As peak #garage #sale season begins, it’s time to start thinking about the many things in your home that you don’t really need. Some of those items may be worth money to your neighbors — money you that could spend on an experience such as a #summer #vacation.

Before you decide to host a garage sale, you’ll want to revisit the tried-and-true “Keep, Donate, Trash” strategy for #decluttering, which dictates that you sort your #stuff into three piles and act accordingly.

Once you figure out what you definitely want to keep and put it away neatly, however, The Organizing Blog suggests you try a new strategy that our expert researchers have developed expressly in preparation for a #yard or #tag sale: Garage Sale, Giveaway or Garbage.

This strategy separates the wheat from the chaff, so to speak, to ensure that any sale you stage doesn’t showcase a lot of #junk that nobody wants. You’ve probably been to yard sales like this — ones where almost everything on offer is cheap, dirty and/or broken.

A successful garage sale has multiple useable items that #thrifty shoppers want, whatever the variety of tchotchkes, household goods, sports equipment, yard tools and clothing is on display. You will sort these items into the Garage Sale pile.

The things you absolutely want to get rid of but just aren’t worth pricing should go into the Giveaway pile. You can attempt to sell them in bulk (used kids’ clothing, 5 pieces/$1, for example) or offer them as freebies to attract attention to your sale.

The Garbage category will include things that are too broken, well-used or incomplete to be of much use to anyone. Appliances that don’t work, chipped dinnerware, stained/worn clothing and puzzles with pieces missing are just a few examples. Don’t even make a pile for these items — put them directly into the bin.

Once you have everything sorted, price the #stuff you’re selling and put up signs directing people to your sale. The Organizing Blog’s Garage Sale, Giveaway or Garbage system will ensure that more of the merchandise you put out actually sells.

Few garage sales sell out of everything, of course, so schedule a free #donation #pickup from ClothingDonations.org for whatever’s left. We’ll make sure that you never have to deal with that stuff again and #donate the proceeds to #veterans.

Shopping the Memorial Day Sales?

Posted on by Jordank

Like so many American holidays, Memorial Day is a great day to shop for deals on big-ticket items such as automobiles, mattresses and furniture. While we at The Organizing Blog would rather be eating hot dogs and barbecue beans, #cleaning the #garage and playing a round of bags, we won’t judge if you shop the long-weekend sales on furniture, outdoor gear and other products. Just remember the cardinal rule of #decluttering when you take delivery: To keep your amount of #stuff from getting unmanageable, get rid of one similar item (or two) for every new item you bring into your home. #MemorialDay

Donate as You Spring-Clean

Posted on by Jordank

If you’re feeling more energetic and optimistic lately, it’s likely a physical response to the expanded daylight hours and warmer weather that has come to be known as spring fever. Embrace it, says Lakeview Regional Medical Center, and expand upon those good feelings. Open the windows, plant a garden, leave work early, exercise or go for a hike outdoors, and get together with your friends without screens in-between. Or use that spring fever to do some #spring #cleaning — and #donate any extra #stuff you don’t need to ClothingDonations.org. #SpringFever

Make the Most of a Spring Break

Posted on by Jordank

With school spring breaks and Easter celebrations, many students will have a full week off this month to spend with their families or take a trip. That kind of down time is rare to get, so if you have (or can take) the week off together, make the most of it.

There are plenty of options for a cost-effective trip for the entire family, Family Destinations says, from spring skiing in Colorado and Upstate New York to soaking up the sun in Puerto Rico, Cancun or Jamaica.

Thriftier still — but just as fun — are road trips and camping trips. Whether you want to sleep under the stars or see the city lights, there’s likely an option within a day’s drive of home. Try Roadtrippers and other apps to plan your adventure.

The thriftiest and safest option, of course, is the staycation. While it might be a letdown for kids with wanderlust, you can make it special by planning leisure activities that you don’t normally make time for on school days.

Hikes, scavenger hunts, museum visits and art projects are all fair game. Or visit the library, camp out in the backyard or make your own film festival, National Heritage Academies suggests.

Another good idea is to spend a day or two #decluttering and #cleaning up your house in order to get it ready for the busy summer season. Chances are that there’s a lot of #stuff that needs to find a new home, not to mention some dirt and grime from the winter.

Sort through that stuff, and #donate whatever you don’t want to ClothingDonations.org. Challenge your kids to sort through, #organize and #declutter their possessions, too; there may be any number of school outfits that no longer fit or toys that get ignored.

Then, reward them (and/or yourself) with a special #spring-break outing! You’ll come home to a #cleaner, more #clutter-free place.

Declutter by Category to Make Organization Easy

Posted on by Jordank

#Decluttering and #organizing go hand-in-hand, according to organizing expert Marie Kondo. Decluttering by category (clothing, books, papers, komono or miscellany, and sentimental items) allows a person to get an accurate picture of their entire inventory of #stuff, The Creative Cottage says, helping avoid duplication. Once you pare each category down to the essentials and #organize them so you can quickly find anything you need, keeping even a small space such as an apartment or condo #clean will no longer require a lot of effort. Just don’t fall into old habits and buy things that don’t bring you joy — or allow any new possessions you bring in to build up, uncategorized and untidied, over time.