Memorial Day

Thank you to all the service members who gave their lives to guarantee our freedoms and to those who still work toward that goal.

I wish everyone a lovely Memorial Day, spent with people you enjoy, doing things you value. 

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Memorial Day

Thank you to all the service members who gave their lives to guarantee our freedoms and to those who still work toward that goal.

I wish everyone a lovely Memorial Day, spent with people you enjoy, doing things you value. 

Organized by MarcieTM: Save time and money by letting go of what you don't need and finding room for what you value
Follow me on twitter and facebook

And if you like what you've read, share it using the links below!

Reader question: Expiring points/miles

People often ask what they should do with frequent-flyer miles that are about to expire.  Last week a reader asked what to do with credit-card points that she earned but would lose if she didn’t use them for something.  Her husband, not wanting the points to go to waste, ordered magazines that neither of them wants or reads.

Instead of using your expiring points for something you don’t want, consider who else could use them.

This Sunday is Memorial Day and one of the ways you can honor fallen service members is to donate your unused miles to those who need medical care.   Fisher Houseprovides free airline tickets to allow military personnel to travel for treatment at a military medical center.  This program also enables family members to visit the injured service member who is being treated.

You can also donate miles to  Angels Donate Frequent Flyer Miles, which coordinates air travel for patients who need specialized medical care far from home.

Make a Wish Foundationmakes use of donated airline miles, too.  Children with life-threatening medical conditions are treated to a special event, which often includes travel.  Your miles could help make a child’s wish come true.

Individual airlines may even allow you to donate directly from their Web sites.  Click on the link that allows you to redeem your miles and look for a “donate” option.

If you don’t have enough miles to donate or you feel that you don’t have any other option than to redeem your points for magazines, consider donating subscriptions to a VA hospital, convalescent center or nursing home.

Are you aware of other nonprofits who can use frequent-flyer miles?  Click on Post a Comment, below, and tell us.

Organized by MarcieTM: Save time and money by letting go of what you don't need and finding room for what you value
Follow me on twitterand facebook

And if you like what you've read, share it using the links below!

Reader question: Expiring points/miles

People often ask what they should do with frequent-flyer miles that are about to expire.  Last week a reader asked what to do with credit-card points that she earned but would lose if she didn’t use them for something.  Her husband, not wanting the points to go to waste, ordered magazines that neither of them wants or reads.

Instead of using your expiring points for something you don’t want, consider who else could use them.

This Sunday is Memorial Day and one of the ways you can honor fallen service members is to donate your unused miles to those who need medical care.   Fisher House provides free airline tickets to allow military personnel to travel for treatment at a military medical center.  This program also enables family members to visit the injured service member who is being treated.

You can also donate miles to  Angels Donate Frequent Flyer Miles , which coordinates air travel for patients who need specialized medical care far from home.

Make a Wish Foundation makes use of donated airline miles, too.  Children with life-threatening medical conditions are treated to a special event, which often includes travel.  Your miles could help make a child’s wish come true.

Individual airlines may even allow you to donate directly from their Web sites.  Click on the link that allows you to redeem your miles and look for a “donate” option.

If you don’t have enough miles to donate or you feel that you don’t have any other option than to redeem your points for magazines, consider donating subscriptions to a VA hospital, convalescent center or nursing home.

Are you aware of other nonprofits who can use frequent-flyer miles?  Click on Post a Comment, below, and tell us.

Organized by MarcieTM: Save time and money by letting go of what you don't need and finding room for what you value
Follow me on twitter and facebook

And if you like what you've read, share it using the links below!

Product Review – Out of Sight, Top of Mind

Clients often ask me for product suggestions to solve specific problems.  One of the objections I hear regularly is that they don’t want to file papers because they’re afraid they won’t find them.  Or, as many of them say, “Out of sight,  out of mind.”

I discovered a toolthat holds paper you need to access at specific times, allowing you to keep it out of sight, but available when you do need it.

For example, you get an invitation and you want to respond to it, but you think you might have another commitment that day.  Put the invitation behind a date for the week before responses are due.  You should know by then whether you’re available that day.

Sticking with the invitation example, you respond that you are attending but you want to keep the invitation because it has directions, along with the location and time.  Put the invitation behind the date of the event.  When you are ready to leave, you will find the information you need.

You can use the sorter to hold bills that need to be paid on a specific date or to remind you to follow up on an action.  You might have heard this technique referred to as using a “tickler” or “holding” file.

You can create the same effect by labeling 12 folders January through December and 31 folders 1 through 31.  I like the Smead Desk File/Sorter because it’s sturdy and it’s one piece.  You can keep it out on top of your desk, but I prefer to have it standing up in the front of the file drawer.

Of course, like any other tool, this one will only work if you create a habit around using it.  I suggest checking it daily, when you check your calendar in preparation for the next day. 

Have you used a tickler file?  Did you find it useful?  Click on Post a Comment, below, and tell us.

Organized by MarcieTM: Save time and money by letting go of what you don't need and finding room for what you value
Follow me on twitterand facebook

And if you like what you've read, share it using the links below!

Product Review – Out of Sight, Top of Mind

Clients often ask me for product suggestions to solve specific problems.  One of the objections I hear regularly is that they don’t want to file papers because they’re afraid they won’t find them.  Or, as many of them say, “Out of sight,  out of mind.”

I discovered a tool that holds paper you need to access at specific times, allowing you to keep it out of sight, but available when you do need it.

For example, you get an invitation and you want to respond to it, but you think you might have another commitment that day.  Put the invitation behind a date for the week before responses are due.  You should know by then whether you’re available that day.

Sticking with the invitation example, you respond that you are attending but you want to keep the invitation because it has directions, along with the location and time.  Put the invitation behind the date of the event.  When you are ready to leave, you will find the information you need.

You can use the sorter to hold bills that need to be paid on a specific date or to remind you to follow up on an action.  You might have heard this technique referred to as using a “tickler” or “holding” file.

You can create the same effect by labeling 12 folders January through December and 31 folders 1 through 31.  I like the Smead Desk File/Sorter because it’s sturdy and it’s one piece.  You can keep it out on top of your desk, but I prefer to have it standing up in the front of the file drawer.

Of course, like any other tool, this one will only work if you create a habit around using it.  I suggest checking it daily, when you check your calendar in preparation for the next day. 

Have you used a tickler file?  Did you find it useful?  Click on Post a Comment, below, and tell us.

Organized by MarcieTM: Save time and money by letting go of what you don't need and finding room for what you value
Follow me on twitter and facebook

And if you like what you've read, share it using the links below!

Living Without It – Clutter or Not

Last week I had a handyman over to fix a few minor things. While he was installing a light fixture in the bathroom, the cabinet over the toilet fell off the wall.  And everything fell out of it.

Of all the stuff in there (and it was quite full), only two things broke and had to be trashed.  One was a marble jar that had been in my bathroom when I was kid and the other was an antique perfume bottle, which was a gift from a beloved friend.  Neither of them can be – or will be – replaced. 

Why? Because they’re just things.  Was I sad that they broke?  Yes.  Was I overwhelmed with grief?  No. Thankfully, no one got hurt and the damage was minimal. 

Like most things I have let go of, I probably will not miss either of them now that they’re gone.  They were lovely reminders of another time and they were decorative, but they weren’t essential.  I never considered them clutter, though, since I enjoyed having them and they were useful; however, I will find something else to hold cotton balls and my life will continue.

When you have a lot of stuff, think about how you would feel if you were forced to part with something because it broke.  Can you let go of the guilt, remorse or anger? Now, can you let go of the object?  Click on Post a Comment, below, and tell us.

Organized by MarcieTM: Save time and money by letting go of what you don't need and finding room for what you value
Follow me on twitterand facebook
And if you like what you've read, share it using the links below.

Living Without It – Clutter or Not

Last week I had a handyman over to fix a few minor things. While he was installing a light fixture in the bathroom, the cabinet over the toilet fell off the wall.  And everything fell out of it.

Of all the stuff in there (and it was quite full), only two things broke and had to be trashed.  One was a marble jar that had been in my bathroom when I was kid and the other was an antique perfume bottle, which was a gift from a beloved friend.  Neither of them can be – or will be – replaced. 

Why? Because they’re just things.  Was I sad that they broke?  Yes.  Was I overwhelmed with grief?  No. Thankfully, no one got hurt and the damage was minimal. 

Like most things I have let go of, I probably will not miss either of them now that they’re gone.  They were lovely reminders of another time and they were decorative, but they weren’t essential.  I never considered them clutter, though, since I enjoyed having them and they were useful; however, I will find something else to hold cotton balls and my life will continue.

When you have a lot of stuff, think about how you would feel if you were forced to part with something because it broke.  Can you let go of the guilt, remorse or anger? Now, can you let go of the object?  Click on Post a Comment, below, and tell us.

Organized by MarcieTM: Save time and money by letting go of what you don't need and finding room for what you value
Follow me on twitter and facebook
And if you like what you've read, share it using the links below.