How to Organize Your Kitchen Drawer in 10 Minutes or Less

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I’d like to introduce you to Sinea.  She blogs over at Ducks in a Row and loves to be organized.  Here’s her step by step method for organizing a kitchen drawer: 

Many thanks to Angela for the privilege of guest posting on The Grocery Shrink.  I was thrilled when I found out that April was “Organizing Month”. Though my house might not always show it, organizing is my thing and I love to make it simple and easy enough for anyone to do! 

So, let’s take on a project that takes no time at all:  a kitchen drawer.  My kitchen has several drawers.  One for cooking utensils, one for silverware and then there’s the “other one”. 

The “other one” has been unfortunately named “The Junk Drawer”, for obvious reasons. I think it believes it, too.  It gets junkie really fast.  It should contain pens, pencils, scotch tape, safety pins, glue stick, new birthday candles, bottle opener, can opener, screw driver and maybe a notepad.  What it often contains is beyond imagination.  When I found out that I would be guest blogging, this topic was the obvious choice.  The Junk Drawer needs to be brought back under control!

Organizing a drawer shouldn’t be a big deal.  After all, it is just one drawer!  Then, why do we let them get so out of hand?

First of all, it’s not our fault.  Kitchen drawers are handled many times a day by a number of users.  Each person has a different interest in its contents and doesn’t care at all what condition it’s left in, just as long as they find what they need.  With that many “helpers”, it doesn’t take long for a neat, organized drawer to become a tangled mess.

Second, clutter sneaks up on you.  You don’t notice it until it gets really bad.

The Great Organizing Secret: when life is spinning out of control, clean a drawer. That’s right. Organizing even one drawer gives you a momentary success, sense of accomplishment and peace. It is proof that there is at least one thing that you can control. Organizing a drawer can be downright therapeutic! 

Now, get ready for my little “disaster area”:

 

What a mess! 

*When I emptied the drawer I was horrified to find that as much stuff had slipped underneath the dividers than what could be seen on top.

Wait till you see the pile!

  

How to turn it around:

Multi-task. Select a moment that you will be waiting in the kitchen, anyway.  While the coffee is brewing is a likely choice.  Or, how about when you’re waiting for something in the oven to get done? Those are good times to tackle this little project.  It should take 10 minutes, or less. 

  1. Clear a space on the kitchen counter or table. 
  2. Lay a dishtowel out and tip the drawer over onto it.  (If you use kitchen drawer dividers, pull them out and tip their contents onto the towel, then scoop out the rest of the drawer’s contents to add to the pile.)
  3. Tilt the empty drawer over the sink or waste basket to get out the crumbs and residue.
  4. Take a damp sponge, soaked with Orange Cleaner and clean the drawer out.  Dry it.
  5. 5.       Do the same for your separators.  Soap them up, rinse them and dry them. (If they are made of wood, use Pledge or wood cleaner instead of soapy water.)
  6. Put the drawer back in place.
  7. Add the clean dividers.

 

Now, turn your attention to the kitchen counter.

You will be sorting three groups:   1. throw away   2. put away   3. back in drawer

 

 

 

 

 

See what I mean? 

 

Who would have thought so much would be hiding in that little drawer?

 

1. Throw away

Bring your waste basket right up next to you. Start picking out the scrap papers, old plastic bag ties, expired coupons and other trash. Quickly rifle through it, sorting out the trash and toss it in the garbage.

2. Put away

Some things undoubtedly have shown up in that drawer that don’t belong there. Use a bowl or small basket for the “put away” group.  If they go in a different drawer in the kitchen, quickly lay them aside on the counter to take care of in a minute.  The items that don’t belong in the kitchen go in the basket to be carted to where they do belong when this job is over.

3. Back in drawer

Finally, put the items back that do belong in the drawer.  Make it neat. Stand back and look.  Ahhh.  Feels good. Ten minutes and the job is done! 

It really did take 10 minutes.

Except for stopping as my family kept asking me what I was doing…and with a camera, no less! 

Many blessings to the Coffman family as they welcome the arrival of their new baby.

Open invitation to Angela and her many readers: please stop by my blog, Ducks ‘n a Row, anytime!

I’d love to hear from you.   www.ducksnarow.com

‘Till we meet again…

Sinea

Declutting Begins in Your Brain Part 3

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Here’s the final installment from Jill Farris on Decluttering.  I don’t know about you, but my house is already looking a ton better!  I can’t wait to see what’s next:

Continue to go room by room getting rid of thirty-one items a day. Don’t be dismayed if it seems like there is still a lot to do even though you are discarding huge amounts of stuff. Some of us have layers of items to remove!

Once you have the obvious areas of the room de-cluttered, then you can begin with the hidden sources of frustration. For example, I got the floor, book baskets and bookshelves in our bedroom culled of clutter but the desk caused me the greatest amount of frustration because I couldn’t find needed bills in a timely fashion. Cleaning out the rest of the room freed me up to focus on the all-so-important desk!

There are several things I have noticed as I’ve moved around the room and my brain needs to think about them to prevent future clutter.

1)      I had at least three copies of the same bill because I knew I couldn’t pay them on time and avoided looking at them (note to self, open the envelopes and file immediately and toss the late notices in the trash).

2)      I have too many books. I have boxes of books in the garage but I don’t remember what I have (note to self, if I want to reread a good book I will be able to find it again. I don’t have to OWN all my favorites).

3)      The ironing board and iron take up too much space and should not be left out constantly in our room (note to self, either use the little hand- held steamer that my thoughtful oldest son gave me for Christmas or iron clothes on one or two days and put them away).

4)      Because I like reading at night I end up with a pile of books and papers near the bed (note to self, get a night stand and a basket to put near the bed to contain clutter).

5)      Put a trash can in this room. Why have I never kept a trash can near the desk-I generate lots of trash there? (Note to self…I hate plastic trash cans like the one we have in the bathroom-maybe I can find a prettier basket to use and get over this trash can avoidance phobia!).

It’s time to get back to the regular schedule of the day. As I walk out of my less cluttered bedroom I stop for one more glance around the room. I know the rest of our house will assail me with clutter and projects but I tell myself that I will get to it all eventually 31 items at a time because de-cluttering starts in our brain and my brain has decided it likes a neater, more peaceful house!

Decluttering Begins in Your Brain Part 2

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Jill Farris is back today with part two of her series on Decluttering. You can read part 1 here.

Are you ready to begin? Begin with the end in mind. Decide now how you are going to dispose of your stuff. Remember, it’s the perfectly good items that cause most of the problems (and we all have lots of very nice things that are filling up our homes).

 Picture in your minds eye an uncluttered room, a garage with boxes neatly labeled and stored, peacefully bare surfaces; in other words a home with room for people, activities, joy!

Again, let’s begin with the end in mind. Where will you put the bags and boxes of stuff you will collect as you purge each room? If you are in serious clutter trouble and struggle with letting go of your material possessions I urge you to take your clutter straight to a thrift store at the end of the day. Do not store it overnight and do not plan on having a garage sale…it will slowly leak back out and make its way back into your home (ask me how I know!).

If you are generally in control of the level of clutter in your home and it’s gotten temporarily out of hand, you may want to sort your clutter into separate drop offs (clothing to a consignment store, toys to donate to a preschool, new but unused items to a friend etc.).  Be forewarned that this can be dangerous if you get busy and don’t get around to it.  Your goal is to get rid of your stuff….don’t make it your primary goal to make money at this time.

If you are great at de-cluttering and don’t struggle with “de-clutterers remorse” you might want to box up your salable items for a future garage sale (emphasis on the word future…be sure that you actually have the garage sale!).

Today’s goal is simply to de-clutter. Repeat after me “People are more important than things.” Your home cannot be a sanctuary for the people you love if you are continually frustrated by too many things.

Not motivated? I have a suggestion for you; invite overnight guests to stay with you. Tell them to come soon! Do not invite your very best friend from high school who has a far messier house than you do and doesn’t care where she stays. No! You need to invite some strangers (missionaries traveling through who need a place to stay, perhaps?) or (better yet) some well-to-do relatives who live in an immaculate, well-kept home.

I have been dragged out of a bad case of housecleaning doldrums by knowing that someone is coming to stay overnight.

  • Start your with entryway or wherever you enter your home. That way if you only get part of your house done you’ll still feel good every time you enter your home.
  • Because May has 31 days in it, I am challenging you to take 31 items out of each room.

 

  • Working quickly, focus on the areas of the room that attract clutter. In my home they are the book baskets, the hall closet and the toy cupboard. Give yourself a half hour or less to cull the room. Do you have thirty-one items yet? If not, move on!

 

  • Next, hit the overflow room of the house. We all have one. Ours is the master bedroom which catches all the laundry from the nearby laundry room. Move quickly around the room DECISIVELY picking up and stuffing items into a bag. I do not count real trash as part of the items but it is up to you! Thirty-one items as fast as you can…can you do it?

 

As soon as you have reached your limit, take the bags and boxes out to the car. If you have time, deliver them to their destinations.

 *You deserve a reward! Make yourself a cup of tea or coffee and enjoy the feeling of knowing that you are one step closer to a peaceful, restful, home!

Interview: Sweet Little Blessings

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Cloth diapering is one of the easiest ways to save money on a new baby (second to nursing.)  One of our advertisers, Sweet Little Blessings, is a cloth diaper expert (She has 12 children!) and I’ve asked her a few questions to help us make the best diapering decisions.  Here’s Coleen:

Q.  How did you get the idea to start Sweet Little Blessings?

 
A.  I had always wanted to start my own business but every idea that I came up with required me to make something to sell.  I knew I wouldn’t be able to find the time with our large family.  I finally decided that
I had LOTS of experience with cloth diapers and in July of 2008 started Sweet Little Blessings.
 
Q.  How did you decide on what products to include in your store?
 
A.  I started with the brands that I was most familiar with and was using on our children.  I added other
brands after trying them out myself. 
 
Q.  Explain the different types of diapers.
 
A.  There are so many choices!  First, you need to decide whether you prefer sized diapers or one size diapers.  Sized diapers are going to be trimmer on little ones, but the one size can be used from about 8 pounds through potty training.  Then, you need to think about whether you like snaps or velcro.  I think that velcro is easier to fasten on a wiggly baby and more adjustable, but it does show wear quicker than snaps.  Some people also prefer snaps since they make it harder for your baby to get their diaper off themselves. 
 
There are 3 main types of diapers. 
1. Prefolds and covers are the most economical choice.  You can either fold the prefold in thirds and lay it in the cover or fasten it with a Snappi.  The great thing about prefolds is that if the cover doesn’t get soiled, you can reuse it for several changes.
2. Pocket diapers have an insert that you stuff into a pocket.  They go on in one piece just like a disposable and you will need a new diaper for each change.  They dry quickly and are easy to use.
3. All in Ones/All in Twos are most like disposables.  They are all one piece and don’t need to be stuffed.  All in Twos have an insert that snaps to the cover.  Some versions do take longer to dry, but they are very convenient. 
 
Q.  How does using cloth diapers save money?
 
A.  Using prefolds and covers is going to save you the most money, but even all in ones will eventually pay for themselves.  Especially if you plan to have more than one child.  It is a big investment all at once, but it
will end up saving money.  You can even sell or donate your diapers when you are finished with them!
 
Q.  How many diapers should someone buy?
 
A.  It depends on how often you want to wash, but 18-24 diapers is a nice amount.  A newborn is going to use more than a toddler.
 
Q.  Is there a special way to wash and care for the diapers?
 
A.  I recommend a cold water rinse, then a hot water wash with an extra rinse.  There are lots of detergent options available, but I just use our regular detergent.  Just remember not to use too much detergent, it can build up and cause your diapers to smell terrible!
 
Q.  Is it hard to travel with cloth diapers?
 
A.  I don’t think it is any more difficult.  There are small wet bags that you can put in your diaper bag for the soiled diapers.  Just throw them in the diaper pail when you get home.
 
Q.  How do you control odors?
 
A.  I would say using the correct amount of detergent.  As I mentioned, you don’t want to use so much detergent that it builds up, but you need enough to get them clean.  Smell the diapers when they come out of the washer.  Do they smell clean?  If they don’t, you need to use more detergent.  If they do, but then smell terrible whenever your baby wets, then you are probably using too much detergent.
 
Q.  What are the benefits from ordering from Sweet Little Blessings instead of another company?
 
A.  I would say there aren’t very many people who have had as much diapering experience as I do….we have 12 children!  I also try to ship out all orders within 24 hours and am happy to answer any questions.
 
Q.  What advice would you give a new mother considering cloth diapers?
 
A.  I know all the options can be overwhelming, but it is really not that hard and it will save you money.  Plus they are just so cute!  I would also recommend that you give cloth wipes a try to save even more.  Remember that you will have to change more often than disposables to avoid leaks, but that is better for your baby anyway!

Guest Post: Heather Boyd from the Cozy Cape

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Hi Friends over at The Grocery Shrink!
First, I want to offer my Congratulations to the Coffman family on their new addition! That’s so exciting… which brings me to why I’m over here at Angela’s blog today. This month Angela has asked several bloggers to tackle the topic of organization while she’s on maternity leave. I first discovered Angela’s ol’ blog when she wrote this guest post for Layla and Kevin Palmer.  You see, when I’m not blogging over at The Cozy Cape, I produce the television program The 700 Club. I had Kevin and Layla on the show more than a year ago (see their segment here). Then when I read Angela’s frugal food tips, I knew she’d make a perfect guest for the show. So, we flew her out and she did a great job (See her two segments here & here).  

During Angela’s time in Virginia Beach, I learned that she needed guest posts during her maternity leave, so here I am.
Angela asked that I write about organization. Let’s get one thing straight—I do not claim to be an organizer extraordinaire. In fact, I’m quite the opposite by nature. (Angela’s Note:  That’s exactly why we want to hear from you–grin.  If you can do it; we can too.) However, living in an older home (1950’s Cape Cod) has forced me to get creative. Things are still crazy and disorganized at the Boyd casa at times, but I do my best to find ways to know where things are and to minimize stress. So today, I thought I’d share simple tips that I’ve learned along the way that will help in the organization department.
Tip #1: Our Pantry.
Our pantry looked like this at one time…

I knew I had to get it under control. I had great shelving space but it was a jumbled mess. So I headed to The Dollar Store where I picked out these fabulous and colorful baskets.


15 baskets equaled 15 bucks. Score! These baskets caught my eye because the plastic makes for easy clean-up. Plus, their holes make it simple to spot what’s hiding in those baskets. I whipped up some cute labels using chalkboard sticker tags from Leen the Graphics Queen and some spare scrapbook paper that I had on hand.

Now everything has a spot.

And if I ever need to change the contents of the baskets, the chalkboard tags allow me to change the labels with one wipe of a paper towel (shh, don’t tell Angela that I haven’t given up my paper towel obsession. I’m still working on that!)
Tip #2: Speaking of Chalkboard tags
I had two tags leftover from my pantry makeover… so I slapped those babies onto two glass containers and filled them up with sugar and flour.

A simple and clean look in a matter of seconds! And we’ll say it’s a bonus that my flour and sugar now stay fresh and it freed up some room in the cabinet above. Oh, and if anyone is wondering, those glass jars were purchased at Walmart on the cheap.
Tip #3: Decorating Doubles
About a year I began redecorating our home on a budget… and I haven’t stopped since (see our living room makeover here.) As I planned out the new look for our home, I always looked for furniture that had more than one use. Here are some examples:
Storage ottomans purchased from Target:


They live by our front door. When they are pushed together, they act as a bench where we can put on our shoes. Then, when we are entertaining we can pull them out for extra seating. And when we want to sit back and relax, we pull them in front of our sofa so we can curl up and watch a movie.

What’s that, did you say it was cold in here? Well, no problem. The tops open right up so we can house (and hide) blankets for those cold winter nights.


Tip #4: Dishwasher Despair?
This tip revolutionized my life. Okay, well maybe that’s an overstatement… but it certainly cut down my kitchen cleaning time. As you load your silverware, put all the silverware’s mates in the same compartment. Knives go together; forks go together; spoons go together. You get the idea.

Then, when it’s time to empty the dishwasher, you can put away all of the forks in one fell swoop. Rinse and repeat with the rest of the silverware.
Tip #5: Closet Claustrophobia
Yep, that’s right. I have closet claustrophobia! We have small closets and I’ve wracked my brain in an attempt to find a solution. I thought I’d leave you with a project that I’d like to do to in an attempt to remedy my small closet issues. I came across this post from Ana White of “Knock off Wood.” Ana expanded her daughter’s storage space with a few 2×4’s.
Here’s the finished project. (The next 3 photos are from ana-white.com)

If you’d like the 4-1-1 on the full project, head on over to Ana’s blog. You can get the full how-to right here.

I look forward to seeing some of you at The Cozy Cape. Angela, thanks for having me. I enjoyed my stay!

Heather

5 Habits to Reduce Cleaning

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Window Squeegee

1.  Use a squeege on the shower walls and floor after each use.  It only takes a minute and prevents soap scum build up and mold from forming.  You may never have to clean more than this if you are consistent.

Before getting in your shower, squirt a dallop of cheap shampoo into your toilet.  When you are done with your shower, swish around a bit with the toilet brush and flush.  Your toilet will always be clean with very little effort.

2.  Change your bathroom hand towel every day, but before you do wipe down the counter and sink with it.  It’s best done after your morning routine.  Your sink will always be sparkling!

3.  Try to take care of something while it is in your hands, instead of just laying it around to deal with later.  Then set certain times throughout the day for a 5 minute pickup of the items that escaped.

4.  Clean up any spills or messes when they happen.  This includes a spill in the fridge, on the floor, or at the table.  This is not my normal way of proceeding and I’ve paid for it later with dried on sticky messes that are very time consuming to remove.

I remember one of my favorite babysitting jobs.  There were 4 children two older girls aged 6 and 8 and two toddlers.  We were watching a movie in the living room together when the 6 year old jumped up, threw the cushions off the sofa and grabbed the vacuum.  She vacuumed up the couch, put the cushions back, put the vacuum away and continued to watch the movie.  I was the only one surprised!

She had dropped her popcorn bowl on the couch and the piece were running between the cushions.  She did what she had been trained to do–clean up after yourself right away.  Their house was always company ready and it didn’t seem stressful for anyone living there.  A big part of that training was their mom’s example.

5.  Always keep your dishwasher dirty.  Huh?  I mean, empty it as soon as it is clean, so it is always ready to accept dirty dishes.  That way you can train your family to rinse and load their dishes as soon as they are done with them.  Also keep a clean dish tub under the sink to hold rinsed dishes when the dishwasher is running.

5 Ideas for Frugal Decorating

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Decorating is a lot of fun, but it can also be expensive.  With a creative twist you can have a house that looks great without spending a fortune.  Here are 5 ideas to think about:

1.  Repurposing:  The most frugal way to repurpose is to use something you already have, but it’s also possible to snag a deal at a garage sale or craigslist and change it a bit for your purposes.  Sometimes all the item needs is some sanding and a fresh coat of paint.  Or perhaps the flower pot would make a better umbrella stand.  Instead of window planters, maybe they are perfect towel holders.  Could removing the mirror from the dresser create the perfect sofa table?

Love the scallop on the drawer

After

2.  Trade up:  I like to sell the items that I no longer need and use the money to buy what I really want.  The net result is less clutter, and no new money spent.

3.  Use inexpensive materials.  I (with the help of friends, family and my kids) just finished making a beautiful wreath from a $1 straw frame and 3 packages of coffee filters.  Including all the hot glue it required, the project cost about $6, but the effect is very impressive.  I got the idea from the Nester here.  I used an 18 inch form and about 500 coffee filters.  It took me way more than an hour, but was worth it.   

Another inexpensive project was the IQ hanging lamps made from 2 sheets of drafting vellum and a Hemma lamp cord from Ikea.

Other inexpensive materials that pack a punch in decorating:  canvas drop cloths; beadboard wallpaper; Baer Paint; muslin fabric; twine; felt

4.  Rearrange:  Changing the arrangement of the pieces you already have can make everything feel new and fresh.  Perhaps the flower arrangement in the living room would look great in the kitchen or the mirror in the hall would make the bathroom pop.  What if all the furniture in your living room was set on an angle?  None of these changes have to be permanent, so if you decide you don’t like it, you can always change it back. 

5.  Cover:  Do your sofa pillows feel dated and worn.  New pillows are really expensive, but you can stitch new covers for very little money and slip the old pillows inside.  You’ve saved the hassle of getting rid of the old and the expensive of new pillow forms (priced those things lately?)  I don’t even take off the old pillow cover (which is often permanent) to do this trick.  Other types of covers might include:  tablecloths (not just for eating areas, they work for end tables too); duvet covers (just slip the tired quilt or comforter inside); curtains; and chair cushions or quilt pads.  These are simple ways to add a pop of color and change of pace.  I like keeping my walls and furniture neutral so I can make these little changes whenever I feel like it.

Green and yellow pillows with ruffles and pleats.Brown pillow with brown belt cinched around the middleGreen pillow with band of patterned fabricbrown and blue pillow with buttons

Click here for the instructions and even more ideas for pillow covers.

Getting Your Children to Keep their Rooms Clean

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I know the struggle of keeping children’s rooms clean!  Here’s a picture to prove it–that’s me trying to hold my cool while we dig out—again.

Before

This is a mild mess for what our every day norm was.  I was constantly frustrated with the children and had a sick feeling just passing by their door.  Every few months, I’d help them dig out and then make them promise to keep it clean.  But in just a few days we were right back to the mess. 

Once Darren and I sent the kids to Grandma’s for the weekend and we boxed up every toy and put it in the garage. They were able to choose one toy each and that was it.  Oh, there was crying and wailing, but things were better for awhile.  Then birthdays and Christmas came and a mountain of toys from well meaning friends and family.  It didn’t feel right taking away their new things and after awhile, it was a huge mess again.

I started to notice the mess just wasn’t just toys, it was candy wrappers, kleenex balls, tiny beads, broken crayons, cute erasers, and bits of things. Gross!  Now when I see things like this just lef t on the ground, I take care of it for them and bury it deep in the trash.  They aren’t emotionally mature enough to recognize trash and hold on to each bit of fluff as a memory.  They don’t notice when it’s gone.

After

I also noticed it wasn’t fair for me to expect them to keep their rooms clean, because there was so much stuff, there wasn’t a place to put it.  I sat down with the girls and asked them what was most important to them.  I gave them each 3 toy drawers and a basket for dolls and let them choose their favorite things to keep.  I paid them cash for the items they were willing to part with and marked them for the garage sale with  my initials on them.  That way if they sold or didn’t, the kids still got the money for it.  Sometimes they needed help parting with things and I was very discreet and sensitive about when and how I took care of it.

Then we labeled the drawers very carefully:  Polly Pockets, 18 inch dolls, Only Hearts Club, Stuffed Animals Etc.  And we set up some ground rules:  Any toy in a bin or drawer not labeled for that toy, would end up in toy jail for tresspassing!  Any toy in jail can be bailed out for $.10 each, but toys not redeemed after a month go to the thrift store.  Toys left in living spaces after bed also end up in toy jail.

Not only did we purge toys, but we purged clothes too.  I only let them keep what fit, they loved to wear, and what fit in their drawers and closet without crowding.  It’s so much easier to put clean things away now and keep the drawers clean.

The secret to keeping it clean is time with mama.  Now that there is a place for everything and simple rules, I can go in to their rooms several times a day and remind them of what to pick up.  So if I check on their school and see their pajamas on the floor, I ask them to fix it right then.  And before bed we do a thorough pick up.  I check under their dressing table and in the floor of the closet.  I make sure the bins only have in them what’s on the label and if the children refuse to cooperate, I take the offending toys off to jail.  Mostly it’s a cheerful time, and only takes about 15 minutes.  After it’s done I lay on the bed with them and tell stories about childhood or answer their questions about the coming baby.  The rooms are alwasy ready for an unexpected guest now and once a week, it’s easy to go in and vacuum and dust a bit.

One more inspriation:  The kids never know when the House Fairy will show up!  Have you heard of her?  If not, click here.

What to do with the stuff?

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If you are serious about purging, stuff can start to pile up all around you.  It’s stuff you don’t want, but how do you get rid of it in a reasonable fashion without filling up your trash bin?  I do 4 things with my unwanted stuff:

1.  Garage Sale it–Most of my items end up here *(See the star at the end of the post to find out why I don’t just donate it.)

2.  Donate it–this is for items that I can’t put in a garage sale or I might hurt someone’s feelings, or for what’s left after our sale

3.  Consign it–This is for clothing and accessory items that are name brand, like new, and still in high style.  (I don’t have a lot of these types of things, but I’d like to try to consign some of my newer maternity clothes this year.)

4.  List it online–I sell online in 4 different venues:

Craigslist–for furniture and other things too big to ship

 Ebay–For collectibles and high value merchandise that is shipable

 Homeschool Classifieds–curriculum or other teaching aids

Etsy–Sewing patterns, craft items, handmade items, and fabric and notions stash

When you are purging things, have 4 boxes labeled:  Garage Sale; Thrift Store; Consign; and Sell Online.  Then place each item in the appropriate box.  Before you place the items in the garage sale box, have price tags ready to go. 

Price the item before it hits the box, then stack the boxes labeled garage sale in a corner of the garage.  I don’t know about you, but garage sale set up day always sneaks up on me and I’m rarely ready with my items priced.  Now that I have neat boxes of ready priced items, the only garage sale prep. I have to do is to lay out the items on the tables.

Now mark on your calendar:  When is your garage sale?  What day will you devote to listing your items online?  When will you visit the consignment store?  When will you drop off your items at the thrift store?

My new favorite way to make a lot of price tags quickly is to print them on Avery style address labels.  You can make templates at Avery.com and save them as PDF files to your hard drive so printing another page is fast and easy. I print entire sheets of $.10, $.25, $.50, and $1 tags with my initials on them.  It’s always a great idea to include a 2 letter initial code on your address labels, because the most effective (and fun) way to have a sale is with a friend.  When your tags are labeled with your code, it’s easy to tell who earned the sale at check out time.

*We have several garage sales a year and I usually make around $400 at each one.  When the sale is over, I donate what’s left to the thrift store.  It’s a lot of work to have a sale, but the cost benefits are worth it for my family.  I also view having a sale as a ministry.  Thrift stores tend to mark prices up so high that a person in need can’t afford it.  I like to give people a chance to buy the things at a reasonable price, and still have plenty to donate when it’s all done.  Plus I get to meet lots of neighbors and build connections with people in our area.

Set Personal Organization Boundaries

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I do better when there are rules.  They don’t have to apply to anyone else, but if I know they are there, it makes a difference.  Here are some that I’ve been tossing around:

1.  Only keep on the kitchen counters what I use every day.

2.  Put an item away when it leaves my hands, not just down.

3.  Clear counters of personal papers before dinner.

 

4.  When a new item comes in the house a similar one leaves.

5.  Clean up completely after each project.

6.  Clean up a spill when it happens.

7.  Spotless room before sleep.

Do you have any rule ideas to help keep me clutter free?