Common Clutter Culprits- How to Bust Through Clutter
Paper
1. You may already be in the habit of filing important papers. Protect your manicure by weeding out your filing system at least once a year, purging papers you no longer need to keep. Ask your accountant exactly how long you need to keep documents. A general rule of thumb is:
Tax related papers= 7 years
Credit card statements = 3 years
Investment records = 6 years after sale of investment
Utility Bills (non tax-deductible) = 1 year
Receipts = for big purchases, keep as long as you have the item. Otherwise, purge unless you plan on returning the item.
Rules may vary according to different tax professionals. Ask your accountant.
Space
Every house has storage space that goes unused. Find that space and put it to work!
2. Think vertical. Use valuable wall space. Extend cabinets all the way to the ceiling. Install shelving. Not all shelving has to be wire. Mount two beautiful sconces with a piece of marble or wood on top. Hang shoe pocket bags on the backs of doors to collect small items.
3. Clear off your kitchen counters. Everyone has large appliances that go unused. If you don't use the wafflemaker, juicer, rolling pins, kitchen-aid, toaster, crockpot regularly, sell it, donate it, or dump it. This applies to all flat surfaces (i.e., desks, tables).
Time
4. Avoid last minute scrambles by creating essential checklists. List trip essentials, babysitter instructions, gym bag or diaper bag supplies, and what to take back and forth between houses for joint-custody situations. Save the lists on your computer and keep several copies.
5. Remember future events with 1-31 and monthly dividers. Put the birthday cards you need to send, RSVPs, directions, and furniture delivery schedules in the corresponding months.
Rebekah Slatkin is a professional organizer dedicated to getting people organized through hands-on decluttering sessions, teleconferencing, coaching, and her website http://www.best-organizing-products-superstore.com Visit http://www.best-organizing-products-superstore.com to subscribe to Organewz, her ezine dedicated to organized living and get organizing tips and downloads- free.
MORE RESOURCES:
Northfield Storm Water Prevention Seminar May 22 Wilmette Life These seminars will give residents the opportunity to ask experts on storm water engineering, landscaping, gardening and more about ways to minimize storm water damage to their property as well as provide “how-to” tips to home owners. |
Army pledge support to DepEd's Brigada Eskwela Philippine Information Agency The troopers will extend services like masonry, carpentry, painting, plumbing, electrical, landscaping/gardening, and ordinary labor (cleaning). The 8th Infantry believes that education is one of the solutions to our security problem and will help ... |
Expo shows off Snohomish County's outdoor recreation The Seattle Times ... Department sponsors the expo and will be on hand with information on county programs and facilities, along with vendors and recreation groups with displays and demonstrations on camping, fishing, landscaping, gardening, climbing and boating. |
Myers Park home to nation's largest Earth-Kind research program Celina Record The Earth-Kind Environmental Stewardship Program is an American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS)-recognized educational program focused on protecting the environment and conserving natural resources through research-based landscaping, gardening ... |
 Oman Daily Observer | Largest sewage treatment plant Oman Daily Observer The quality of treated water produced at Al Ansab STP is so good that it can be used for various purposes such as irrigation, beautification, landscaping, gardening, cleaning, toilet flushing and other industrial requirements. |
Better Homes and Gardens' presenter Jason Hodges to create Australian Garden ... - North Shore Times
 North Shore Times | Better Homes and Gardens' presenter Jason Hodges to create Australian Garden ... North Shore Times Mr Hodges started his landscaping gardening maintenance business, Greenart Gardens 20 years ago with a ute from his parents' Willoughby home. “I find the north shore to be one of the most appreciative communities in Australia for general space and ... |
Home and Garden Show Bayshore Broadcasting News Centre The 29th annual Port Elgin Rotary Home and Garden Show has about 80 vendors at the Plex and takes place from 10 AM to 4 PM today (SAT) and tomorrow (SUN). Both shows feature landscaping, gardening and home renovation businesses. |
Google News
The Organized Move: Packing Made Simple
(This is the second in a series of three articles on "The Organized Move")Does the thought of packing all your belongings make you want to run for the hills? Homeowners who are moving on their own (as opposed to a corporate relocation where an employer is paying all the bills) find themselves with the dilemma of whether to do the packing themselves or contract out this huge task.A packing crew can be a good fit for an overscheduled family, a long-distance move where you may already be living in the destination city, or individuals with physical limitations.
Can You Make a "Torpedo" Out of Personal Junk? How to Optimize What You Have
"Junkyard Wars," a TV series showed two teams of experts contending for a title. The aim of the competition was for teams to construct a torpedo that can hit a target.
Organization Tips - How To Get Things Done
What stops you from 'getting things done?'Have you ever started your day with good intentions of completing a task or project only to find that by the end of the day you've hardly worked on it?Or have you ever set a goal to attend a seminar, learn a new skill or just have more time out for you?I'm sure you have. I'm not going to write a long-winded explanation about the art of procrastination or "putting things off" but what I will do is share with you the secret of actually "getting things done".
Six ADD Tips for Organizing Everyday Things
Life with ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) can be a constant hassle. Little things like lost car keys, tools that stick or don't cut well, papers that go missing all add to the general level of tension.
10 Simple Steps to a More Organized Household
1. Divide big jobs into smaller jobs.
Overwhelmed? Try the Red Zone Tactic
Some people seem to be born organized. You probably remember them from school: the ones who always had well-organized pencil cases equipped with erasers, sharpeners, pens, scissors and glue-sticks (probably in duplicate).
Get Organised and Transform Your Life
It takes effort to get results, and not just any effort, it takes smart effort. You cannot expect to achieve anything without doing something.
Do You Have A To-Do list?
I have a huge white board in my home office, about 4ft x 3ft..
3 Simple Filing Guidelines
One of the most basic ways to find papers when you need them is to retrieve them from an effective filing system. A good filing system will allow you to find what you're looking for in 10 seconds or less.
Improve Your Workplace to Make Your Life Better
What does "quality of life" mean to you? If you want to improve it, you have to define and measure it. Most people think of it in terms of lodging, car, financial income, medical services, and social position.
Clutter Campaign - Maintain Your Success
To want in one's heart to do a thing for its own sake; to enjoy doing it; to concentrate all one's energies upon it-that's not only the surest guarantee of success. It is also being true to oneself.
Organizing Tips to Help You Conquer the Laundry Monster
Laundry. You sort, you wash, you fold, you blink - and the pile of dirty clothes has grown all over again.
Memorabilia -- Use It or Lose It!
What do you do with those special items that have been passed down to you? Put them in the hall closet and hope the door will shut? Probably not a good choice for several reasons. First, you are unnecessarily creating clutter; second, if the item is very old and unstable, you will further the aging process; finally, and most importantly, what's the point of keeping these special items if the only time you enjoy them is when you move or get the bug to clean out a closet! This summer my grandmother passed away and I was the recipient of many beautiful things, especially table linens.
Introducing the Power Hour Concept to Plough Through Mountainous Tasks
Have you ever been totally overwhelmed by a massive task confronting you? Ever felt daunted by the thought of even making a start on such a massive quest? I thought so. Read on.
Clutter Control
Remember when you charged into the office that first day, all primed to make the new year the best ever. You made a New Year's Resolution that you would definitely get organised to start the coming year with a bang! So what did you do? You cleaned out all the clutter that had accumulated throughout the past year and in some instances, the past decade!And once you had completed this mammoth task, you felt fantastic.
Declutter Your Home in 11 Easy Steps
Feeling overwhelmed at the thought of organizing your home? Start on a smaller scale instead and it will be a whole lot easier.For example, instead of starting with the entire house, commit to starting with one room.
What Clutter Clearing Can Do For You
You can get a pretty good idea of the benefits of clutter clearing simply by imagining your life free of all the negative effects of clutter: lack of focus and clarity; feelings of being professionally, creatively, spiritually, and/or romantically stuck; insufficient time and attention for self and family; increased stress, irritability and depression. Wouldn't it be great to be free of all these?No matter what other factors may be dragging you down, I guarantee you that clearing your clutter will dramatically improve your mood and energy.
8 Signs Your Home is Out of Control -- and What to Do About It
It happens without warning. One day you notice your home has turned into a collage of papers, junk, and stuff - everywhere.
Get Organized -- Every Home Needs An Office
EVERY HOME NEEDS AN OFFICEYes, it is true that every home needs an office to handle the business of running a household. There are bills to pay, health records to maintain, an assortment of receipts, bank and financial statements all with tax implication.
Daily Systems Keep You Organized
Ever wonder how they do it? How a short-order cook prepares tasty meals in a hectic, rush-rush environment, and does it all with a smile? The answer is simple: A system. The next time you are in a little diner for lunch purposefully sit in a place where you can see the short-order cook preparing the food.
