Saving for a Rainy Day

I recently read a blog post by Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project, that referenced one of her “personal commandments:” Spend out.

No, it doesn’t mean you should go spend money, it means to stop holding onto something, or, as she says, “to trust in abundance.” 

“I find myself saving things, even when it makes no sense. Not long ago, my last pair of jeans started falling to pieces. I made myself go shopping, bought two pairs -- and yet, I've still only worn one of the pairs. Why am I saving the others? Not wearing clothes is just as wasteful as throwing good clothes away.”  -Gretchen Rubin

Often I encounter clients who share that reaction. One type buys something with the intention of using it “someday,” yet can’t identify when that day will be. The other type thinks they don’t deserve to use an item they have.

I can relate to that thinking even though I don’t agree with it.

I have always enjoyed writing letters and have purchased or received stationery and note cards over the years. Although I like to write notes and send them in the mail, I would save my “good” stationery and buy cheap cards to send instead. I loved looking at the beautiful papers and I was afraid that I would lose something when it was all gone; I was waited for an occasion worthy of using it.

One day I finally realized that if I liked the stationery so much, I should share it with the people I wrote to. When I got down to the last note card or sheet of paper, I promised myself I could save it as a “souvenir.” After a while, I figured out that I didn’t need to hold onto the paper anymore. It wasn’t adding any value to my life and it just took up space.

Now I use up the cards I have, instead of hanging onto them. I don't anticipate there being a worldwide shortage of writing papers.  When I finish what I have, there will be something else out there that is just as nice.  Last week I got a box of cards with designs from Frank Lloyd Wright that I am eager to start sending.

You can read Gretchen’s post for the entire definition of Spend out http://www.happiness-project.com/happiness_project/2007/10/what-it-means-t.html

Are you saving something that you could be using? How can you spend out? Click on Post a Comment, below, and tell us.

Organized by Marcie: Getting you organized so you have time to do what you love to do!

Follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/organizedmarcie

And if you like this info, share it using the links below!

Saving for a Rainy Day

I recently read a blog post by Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project, that referenced one of her “personal commandments:” Spend out.

No, it doesn’t mean you should go spend money, it means to stop holding onto something, or, as she says, “to trust in abundance.” 

“I find myself saving things, even when it makes no sense. Not long ago, my last pair of jeans started falling to pieces. I made myself go shopping, bought two pairs -- and yet, I've still only worn one of the pairs. Why am I saving the others? Not wearing clothes is just as wasteful as throwing good clothes away.”  -Gretchen Rubin

Often I encounter clients who share that reaction. One type buys something with the intention of using it “someday,” yet can’t identify when that day will be. The other type thinks they don’t deserve to use an item they have.

I can relate to that thinking even though I don’t agree with it.

I have always enjoyed writing letters and have purchased or received stationery and note cards over the years. Although I like to write notes and send them in the mail, I would save my “good” stationery and buy cheap cards to send instead. I loved looking at the beautiful papers and I was afraid that I would lose something when it was all gone; I was waited for an occasion worthy of using it.

One day I finally realized that if I liked the stationery so much, I should share it with the people I wrote to. When I got down to the last note card or sheet of paper, I promised myself I could save it as a “souvenir.” After a while, I figured out that I didn’t need to hold onto the paper anymore. It wasn’t adding any value to my life and it just took up space.

Now I use up the cards I have, instead of hanging onto them. I don't anticipate there being a worldwide shortage of writing papers.  When I finish what I have, there will be something else out there that is just as nice.  Last week I got a box of cards with designs from Frank Lloyd Wright that I am eager to start sending.

You can read Gretchen’s post for the entire definition of Spend out http://www.happiness-project.com/happiness_project/2007/10/what-it-means-t.html

Are you saving something that you could be using? How can you spend out? Click on Post a Comment, below, and tell us.

Organized by Marcie: Getting you organized so you have time to do what you love to do!

Follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/organizedmarcie

And if you like this info, share it using the links below!

Clean House

I do not like to clean. That may surprise people who mistakenly believe that being organized is the same as being clean and tidy.

My house is well organized, due in large part to putting things away when they’re no longer needed; however, I don’t enjoy spending time cleaning, dusting and vacuuming.

I do like to live in a clean house, though, so I have had to figure out ways to clean quickly and easily and make it seem less burdensome.

Yesterday I treated myself to a Reveal spray mop  from Rubbermaid because my trusty Swiffer mop finally gave out after 10 years. It appealed to me because you can use whatever liquid you want in the bottle and you can reuse the pad. I cannot calculate how much I have spent on disposable pads, not to mention that they ended up in the trash. The nature girl in me feels good about this purchase.

Nature girl also likes to avoid chemicals, whenever possible. I tend to use vinegar, water and baking soda for a lot of my cleaning, so my house smells like a salad when I’m finished. I still use chemicals in the bathroom because I have been convinced they kill germs.

Time for a change. Last week I splurged on method spray cleaner. It costs more than my usual chemical cleaner, but I’ve already become a fan. I love the grapefruit smell, it worked on some stains I had given up on, and I don’t feel like I’m contaminating the planet when I use it.

I can’t say that these changes make me look forward to cleaning, but now I don’t dislike it as much. What do you do to make cleaning more pleasant? Click on Post a Comment, below, and tell us.

Organized by Marcie: Getting you organized so you have time to do what you love to do!

Follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/organizedmarcie

And if you like this info, share it using the links below!

Clean House

I do not like to clean. That may surprise people who mistakenly believe that being organized is the same as being clean and tidy.

My house is well organized, due in large part to putting things away when they’re no longer needed; however, I don’t enjoy spending time cleaning, dusting and vacuuming.

I do like to live in a clean house, though, so I have had to figure out ways to clean quickly and easily and make it seem less burdensome.

Yesterday I treated myself to a Reveal spray mop  from Rubbermaid because my trusty Swiffer mop finally gave out after 10 years. It appealed to me because you can use whatever liquid you want in the bottle and you can reuse the pad. I cannot calculate how much I have spent on disposable pads, not to mention that they ended up in the trash. The nature girl in me feels good about this purchase.

Nature girl also likes to avoid chemicals, whenever possible. I tend to use vinegar, water and baking soda for a lot of my cleaning, so my house smells like a salad when I’m finished. I still use chemicals in the bathroom because I have been convinced they kill germs.

Time for a change. Last week I splurged on method spray cleaner. It costs more than my usual chemical cleaner, but I’ve already become a fan. I love the grapefruit smell, it worked on some stains I had given up on, and I don’t feel like I’m contaminating the planet when I use it.

I can’t say that these changes make me look forward to cleaning, but now I don’t dislike it as much. What do you do to make cleaning more pleasant? Click on Post a Comment, below, and tell us.

Organized by Marcie: Getting you organized so you have time to do what you love to do!

Follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/organizedmarcie

And if you like this info, share it using the links below!

Blog Action Day

Today is Blog Action Day and the focus this year is water. While this might seem to be unrelated to organizing, it does have a lot to do with over consumption. In my speaking and writing I urge people to think about the resources they consume.

The average American uses 159 gallons of water every day; more than 15 times the average person in the developing world. Bathing, washing dishes, clothes and cars, watering lawns and drinking all use a lot of water. The average five-minute shower, for example will use about 10 gallons of water.

The things you buy use water in their production, too. It takes 6 gallons of water to produce one hamburger, 400 gallons of water to produce a cotton t-shirt and 1800 gallons for a pair of jeans.

People in the US drink an average of 200 bottles of water per person each year. Over 17 million barrels of oil are needed to manufacture those water bottles, 86 percent of which will never be recycled.

The average person uses 125 gallons of water each day. You can find out how much water you use, with the calculator at www.h2oconserve.org/?page_id=503.

There may be plenty of water on Earth to, but it doesn’t always get to the people who need it. Think about how much water it takes to make the things you spend your money on. How can you change your shopping and consuming habits to save water? Click on Post a Comment, below, and tell us.

Organized by Marcie: Getting you organized so you have time to do what you love to do!
Follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/organizedmarcie
And if you like this info, share it using the links below!

Blog Action Day

Today is Blog Action Day and the focus this year is water. While this might seem to be unrelated to organizing, it does have a lot to do with over consumption. In my speaking and writing I urge people to think about the resources they consume.

The average American uses 159 gallons of water every day; more than 15 times the average person in the developing world. Bathing, washing dishes, clothes and cars, watering lawns and drinking all use a lot of water. The average five-minute shower, for example will use about 10 gallons of water.

The things you buy use water in their production, too. It takes 6 gallons of water to produce one hamburger, 400 gallons of water to produce a cotton t-shirt and 1800 gallons for a pair of jeans.

People in the US drink an average of 200 bottles of water per person each year. Over 17 million barrels of oil are needed to manufacture those water bottles, 86 percent of which will never be recycled.

The average person uses 125 gallons of water each day. You can find out how much water you use, with the calculator at www.h2oconserve.org/?page_id=503.

There may be plenty of water on Earth to, but it doesn’t always get to the people who need it. Think about how much water it takes to make the things you spend your money on. How can you change your shopping and consuming habits to save water? Click on Post a Comment, below, and tell us.

Organized by Marcie: Getting you organized so you have time to do what you love to do!
Follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/organizedmarcie
And if you like this info, share it using the links below!

The Money’s Already Spent

I worked with a client recently who was concerned about donating things to charity because she wasn’t “getting any money from it.”

I tried to explain that when you donate to a qualified charity, you are eligible to receive a tax deduction. She didn’t see how that would benefit her. Like many of my clients, this one thought she should be able to get cash back for things that she had bought and used.

Some people are successful selling at yard sales or taking their things to consignment shops; however, they will not get back the full value of what they paid. Unless you have things that have increased in value tremendously over the years, you will generally get what the item would go for at a thrift shop. People who shop at yard sales are looking for bargains; consignment shops are looking for things that appeal to their customers, and will give you a portion of the sale amount.

The same question came up at a class I taught last week. One of the participants brought everyone back to reality when she shared that she had to sell everything from her in-laws’ estate and their (very expensive) adjustable bed sold for $25. To the buyer, it was a used piece of furniture.

While it’s often difficult to part with things you own, but don’t use, don’t get bogged down by what you paid for it. The money’s already been spent. You got some use out of it. Let someone else get some value from it.

How do you justify passing things on that you don’t need? Click on Post a Comment, below, and tell us.

Organized by Marcie: Getting you organized so you have time to do what you love to do!

Follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/organizedmarcie

And if you like this info, share it using the links below!

The Money’s Already Spent

I worked with a client recently who was concerned about donating things to charity because she wasn’t “getting any money from it.”

I tried to explain that when you donate to a qualified charity, you are eligible to receive a tax deduction. She didn’t see how that would benefit her. Like many of my clients, this one thought she should be able to get cash back for things that she had bought and used.

Some people are successful selling at yard sales or taking their things to consignment shops; however, they will not get back the full value of what they paid. Unless you have things that have increased in value tremendously over the years, you will generally get what the item would go for at a thrift shop. People who shop at yard sales are looking for bargains; consignment shops are looking for things that appeal to their customers, and will give you a portion of the sale amount.

The same question came up at a class I taught last week. One of the participants brought everyone back to reality when she shared that she had to sell everything from her in-laws’ estate and their (very expensive) adjustable bed sold for $25. To the buyer, it was a used piece of furniture.

While it’s often difficult to part with things you own, but don’t use, don’t get bogged down by what you paid for it. The money’s already been spent. You got some use out of it. Let someone else get some value from it.

How do you justify passing things on that you don’t need? Click on Post a Comment, below, and tell us.

Organized by Marcie: Getting you organized so you have time to do what you love to do!

Follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/organizedmarcie

And if you like this info, share it using the links below!

New Year, New Planner

It might seem a little early to be thinking about next year's calendar, but people often order their office calendars and planner in advance, to make sure they get them before the year ends.

I have used the Franklin Covey planner system for almost 20 years. I am currently using the pocket size, with the two-page per week layout. It has served me well and although it is fairly expensive, I hadn’t found anything else that I liked as much.

Until now.

I received a Quo Vadis Equology planner from Karen Doherty at Exaclair, Inc. Although the company is 50 years old, I had not heard of Quo Vadis until very recently. The removable planner is made in the USA with 100% post-consumer recycled paper, which appeals to the nature girl in me. The cover is made of a recycled material, as well.

It has the tear-off corners, to identify the current week, like Week-at-a-Glance; however it is much more attractive. I would definitely recommend this to clients, especially because it’s at a comparable price point.

The Quo Vadis has appointment times from 8 AM to 9 PM, with room to capture your daily priority at the top of each day. One of the features I like most is that it has a lot of room for notes that don’t fit into specific appointment times.

Like the Franklin Covey, the Quo Vadis also comes with all kinds of international information, maps and places to record finances.

Once you pick the size you like (the one I have is 6 1/4"w x 9 3/8"h), you choose the cover and the insert. You also get a removable address book.

To see the entire collection, go to http://quovadisplanners.com/

Do you prefer paper or electronic organizers? What type do you use? Click on Post a Comment, below, and tell us.

Organized by Marcie: Getting you organized so you have time to do what you love to do!

Follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/organizedmarcie

And if you like this info, share it using the links below!

New Year, New Planner

It might seem a little early to be thinking about next year's calendar, but people often order their office calendars and planner in advance, to make sure they get them before the year ends.

I have used the Franklin Covey planner system for almost 20 years. I am currently using the pocket size, with the two-page per week layout. It has served me well and although it is fairly expensive, I hadn’t found anything else that I liked as much.

Until now.

I received a Quo Vadis Equology planner from Karen Doherty at Exaclair, Inc. Although the company is 50 years old, I had not heard of Quo Vadis until very recently. The removable planner is made in the USA with 100% post-consumer recycled paper, which appeals to the nature girl in me. The cover is made of a recycled material, as well.

It has the tear-off corners, to identify the current week, like Week-at-a-Glance; however it is much more attractive. I would definitely recommend this to clients, especially because it’s at a comparable price point.

The Quo Vadis has appointment times from 8 AM to 9 PM, with room to capture your daily priority at the top of each day. One of the features I like most is that it has a lot of room for notes that don’t fit into specific appointment times.

Like the Franklin Covey, the Quo Vadis also comes with all kinds of international information, maps and places to record finances.

Once you pick the size you like (the one I have is 6 1/4"w x 9 3/8"h), you choose the cover and the insert. You also get a removable address book.

To see the entire collection, go to http://quovadisplanners.com/

Do you prefer paper or electronic organizers? What type do you use? Click on Post a Comment, below, and tell us.

Organized by Marcie: Getting you organized so you have time to do what you love to do!

Follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/organizedmarcie

And if you like this info, share it using the links below!