Reader Question – How to Deal With School Papers

Once school is out for the summer, many families ignore the stack of papers that have been brought home over the course of the school year. Backpacks remain stuffed with old assignments and somewhere there’s a pile of projects that seemed important to keep.

A reader asked what to do with all the paperwork that accumulates during the school year, given that it’s going to start again in the fall.

One of the things I caution parents is that you can’t keep everything your child does. When you start to scrutinize each piece of paper that comes home, you notice that many are similar and that few truly are gems.

I suggest that each child have a box for school papers that display firsts – first spelling test, first A on a quiz, first time using multiplication, etc. Programs from performances your child participated in are fun to remember, as are exciting moments, like newspaper clippings showing a dignitary visiting the school.

In short, keep the best and toss the rest. You don’t need to keep every paper your child signed, but do keep representative samples of that signature so you can appreciate the changes over the years.

The same principles apply to artwork. I recently dedicated a blog post to that subject.

The way to keep papers from piling up is to make decisions about them immediately. You might want to post a worksheet on the refrigerator or a bulletin board for a period of time. After that, determine whether it merits a place in the keepsake box or if you can let it go.

Some people who have trouble making decisions hold on to everything and address it at the end of each term or the end of the school year. You might find it easier to pull just a few pieces when you have a large collection to choose from.

Whether you tackle the project once a year or weekly, make it a habit to go through kids’ papers. As they get older, have them participate in the process so they can learn to determine what is worth keeping.

Do you have an organizing or productivity question? Let me know and I’ll answer it in an upcoming post.

Organized by Marcie^TM: Save time and money by letting go of what you don't need and finding room for what you value
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And if you like what you've read, share it using the links below!

Reader Question – How to Deal With School Papers

Once school is out for the summer, many families ignore the stack of papers that have been brought home over the course of the school year. Backpacks remain stuffed with old assignments and somewhere there’s a pile of projects that seemed important to keep.

A reader asked what to do with all the paperwork that accumulates during the school year, given that it’s going to start again in the fall.

One of the things I caution parents is that you can’t keep everything your child does. When you start to scrutinize each piece of paper that comes home, you notice that many are similar and that few truly are gems.

I suggest that each child have a box for school papers that display firsts – first spelling test, first A on a quiz, first time using multiplication, etc. Programs from performances your child participated in are fun to remember, as are exciting moments, like newspaper clippings showing a dignitary visiting the school.

In short, keep the best and toss the rest. You don’t need to keep every paper your child signed, but do keep representative samples of that signature so you can appreciate the changes over the years.

The same principles apply to artwork. I recently dedicated a blog post to that subject.

The way to keep papers from piling up is to make decisions about them immediately. You might want to post a worksheet on the refrigerator or a bulletin board for a period of time. After that, determine whether it merits a place in the keepsake box or if you can let it go.

Some people who have trouble making decisions hold on to everything and address it at the end of each term or the end of the school year. You might find it easier to pull just a few pieces when you have a large collection to choose from.

Whether you tackle the project once a year or weekly, make it a habit to go through kids’ papers. As they get older, have them participate in the process so they can learn to determine what is worth keeping.

Do you have an organizing or productivity question? Let me know and I’ll answer it in an upcoming post.

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

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

Coming Clean on Clutter

Last month I made some true confessions, a result of exhaustion and overwork. Now I'm going to dish some more dirt.

You may be aware that my mother moved almost two months ago and that I’ve been spending a lot of time working on her condo, getting it ready for sale. I’m delighted to report that it sold in four days, for the asking price. I’m convinced that it sold quickly because we took the time to clear it out, freshen it up and stage it.

Unfortunately, there wasn’t a lot of time to think about what to do with stuff. My mother took what she wanted with her to her new, much smaller, home. I gave items to family members that had meaning to them and donated a tremendous amount to charity.

That left things like my mother’s sewing machine, my father’s binoculars, the movie projector, movie reels and photographs. A LOT of photographs. My mother had them squirreled away everywhere. I’ve been going through the photos, giving as many as possible to family members and throwing away a few, too. Yes, you can throw out photographs. If you don’t know who the people are, or you don’t have contact with them anymore, there’s no reason to hang onto old photos.

There are the wooden blocks, puzzles, Lincoln Logs and Tinkertoys of ours that my mother kept for her grandkids to play with. I can’t imagine giving them to some future grandchild, saying, “These were mine when I was little,” but I’m not ready to give them up yet.

So now my house looks like a yard sale. There’s a bag for my brother, one for my sister, one for my cousin, one to take to my mother. There’s a pile of household goods for my nephew to take back to college with him, for his new apartment. In July. There are boxes that I still have to open and make decisions about.

Sometimes I adorn the dining room table with treasures, then donate them after living with them for a week or two. I have a client who calls the process “auditioning” and I thought it was charming until I started doing it myself. Now it feels like living in a time warp. A cluttered time warp.

I think this is just a process I have to go through. I’m making progress. I’ll get through all the boxes soon. But first I have to find a place in my cupboard for a set of soup mugs.

Organized by Marcie TM: 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!

Coming Clean on Clutter

Last month I made some true confessions, a result of exhaustion and overwork. Now I'm going to dish some more dirt.

You may be aware that my mother moved almost two months ago and that I’ve been spending a lot of time working on her condo, getting it ready for sale. I’m delighted to report that it sold in four days, for the asking price. I’m convinced that it sold quickly because we took the time to clear it out, freshen it up and stage it.

Unfortunately, there wasn’t a lot of time to think about what to do with stuff. My mother took what she wanted with her to her new, much smaller, home. I gave items to family members that had meaning to them and donated a tremendous amount to charity.

That left things like my mother’s sewing machine, my father’s binoculars, the movie projector, movie reels and photographs. A LOT of photographs. My mother had them squirreled away everywhere. I’ve been going through the photos, giving as many as possible to family members and throwing away a few, too. Yes, you can throw out photographs. If you don’t know who the people are, or you don’t have contact with them anymore, there’s no reason to hang onto old photos.

There are the wooden blocks, puzzles, Lincoln Logs and Tinkertoys of ours that my mother kept for her grandkids to play with. I can’t imagine giving them to some future grandchild, saying, “These were mine when I was little,” but I’m not ready to give them up yet.

So now my house looks like a yard sale. There’s a bag for my brother, one for my sister, one for my cousin, one to take to my mother. There’s a pile of household goods for my nephew to take back to college with him, for his new apartment. In July. There are boxes that I still have to open and make decisions about.

Sometimes I adorn the dining room table with treasures, then donate them after living with them for a week or two. I have a client who calls the process “auditioning” and I thought it was charming until I started doing it myself. Now it feels like living in a time warp. A cluttered time warp.

I think this is just a process I have to go through. I’m making progress. I’ll get through all the boxes soon. But first I have to find a place in my cupboard for a set of soup mugs.

Organized by Marcie TM: Save time and money by letting go of what you don't need and finding room for what you value
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And if you like what you've read, share it using the links below!

Having Enough

Fonts from pinterest

After my computer crashed in July, I realized that I lost all the extra fonts I had downloaded over time. In the last few weeks, I have been adding fonts greedily to my collection.

Then I realized something.

I am “collecting” fonts like many of my clients collect stuff. It doesn’t cost anything. It doesn’t take up any space. I might need it someday. This one’s pretty. This one’s cute. I definitely could use this one for a project I’m thinking about.

How much time did I spend “shopping” for fonts that could have been used for something more productive?

Will I really use them all? How many is enough?

Are you collecting something that doesn’t take up much space or that didn't cost you anything? Do you make use of your collections? 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
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And if you like what you've read, share it using the links below!

Having Enough

Fonts from pinterest

After my computer crashed in July, I realized that I lost all the extra fonts I had downloaded over time. In the last few weeks, I have been adding fonts greedily to my collection.

Then I realized something.

I am “collecting” fonts like many of my clients collect stuff. It doesn’t cost anything. It doesn’t take up any space. I might need it someday. This one’s pretty. This one’s cute. I definitely could use this one for a project I’m thinking about.

How much time did I spend “shopping” for fonts that could have been used for something more productive?

Will I really use them all? How many is enough?

Are you collecting something that doesn’t take up much space or that didn't cost you anything? Do you make use of your collections? 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
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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
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And if you like what you've read, share it using the links below.

The Difference Between a Collector and a Hoarder

Photo from Charlotte Lee / Associated Press

An article I read recently reminded me how people get emotionally attached to their stuff. 

Something that looks like clutter to you might be someone else’s beloved collection.  What separates collectors from hoarders is the collector’s ability to maintain the acquisitions, often cataloguing them, then displaying them for his or her enjoyment.

There is a fine line, however, between maintaining a collection and having it become an obsession.  The homeowners who were interviewed for the story admit that they work to keep their collections from overtaking their homes.

“We seem like normal people, until you see our basement.” - Charlotte Lee

In the article, interior designer Sandra Espinet encourages people to live with their collections, although she does recommend rotating items in the collection and editing so that the best examples are displayed.

Do you have a collection that you enjoy?  How do you display it? 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
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And if you like what you've read, share it using the links below!

The Difference Between a Collector and a Hoarder

Photo from Charlotte Lee / Associated Press

An article I read recently reminded me how people get emotionally attached to their stuff. 

Something that looks like clutter to you might be someone else’s beloved collection.  What separates collectors from hoarders is the collector’s ability to maintain the acquisitions, often cataloguing them, then displaying them for his or her enjoyment.

There is a fine line, however, between maintaining a collection and having it become an obsession.  The homeowners who were interviewed for the story admit that they work to keep their collections from overtaking their homes.

“We seem like normal people, until you see our basement.” - Charlotte Lee

In the article, interior designer Sandra Espinet encourages people to live with their collections, although she does recommend rotating items in the collection and editing so that the best examples are displayed.

Do you have a collection that you enjoy?  How do you display it? 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!

Information Hoarding

A recent question on an organizers’ e-chat about people who hoard information made me think about my clients who have trouble letting to of printed material.  Magazines, newspapers, brochures, product specifications, newsletters, announcements, bills and drafts of reports all had some value at one time but are no longer useful. 

Most of these clients are extremely intelligent and very well read, yet they believe that discarding the accumulated paper is like losing the information.  Even though I explain that the paperwork they are holding onto is outdated or duplicated, they are unable to release it. 

Holly Uverity, Certified Professional Organizer® and founder of Office Organizers, makes the point that “…you can’t throw the information away – all you can do is throw away the paper the information is printed on. I make the distinction between the information and the method of delivery – the paper has no value, it’s what is ON the paper that has the value.  So, how can one throw information away? It’s always available and it’s always changing and being updated with NEW information.”

You can safely discard stacks of paper that you probably don’t look at, but are afraid to toss.  The information is still available, but it won’t be taking up room in your space any longer. Having printed materials in your possession does not make you solely responsible for them. 

I have clients who guarantee that the things they are storing cannot be found elsewhere.  If it has been printed, you probably can find it on the Internet, at a research library or by contacting the organization that produced it.  You might have a document that you believe has historical or literary significance.  In that case, find out if someone can use it. 

If you created and printed a document, how many copies do you need to keep?  You can discard early versions that you’ve written once you have completed the assignment.  Unless you write or design for a living, you don’t need to maintain printed samples of your work. 

Can you discard written material that you once thought was important? Click on Post a Comment, below, and tell us.

Organized by MarcieTM: Saving you time and money by helping you let go of what you don't need and find 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!

Information Hoarding

A recent question on an organizers’ e-chat about people who hoard information made me think about my clients who have trouble letting to of printed material.  Magazines, newspapers, brochures, product specifications, newsletters, announcements, bills and drafts of reports all had some value at one time but are no longer useful. 

Most of these clients are extremely intelligent and very well read, yet they believe that discarding the accumulated paper is like losing the information.  Even though I explain that the paperwork they are holding onto is outdated or duplicated, they are unable to release it. 

Holly Uverity, Certified Professional Organizer® and founder of Office Organizers, makes the point that “…you can’t throw the information away – all you can do is throw away the paper the information is printed on. I make the distinction between the information and the method of delivery – the paper has no value, it’s what is ON the paper that has the value.  So, how can one throw information away? It’s always available and it’s always changing and being updated with NEW information.”

You can safely discard stacks of paper that you probably don’t look at, but are afraid to toss.  The information is still available, but it won’t be taking up room in your space any longer. Having printed materials in your possession does not make you solely responsible for them. 

I have clients who guarantee that the things they are storing cannot be found elsewhere.  If it has been printed, you probably can find it on the Internet, at a research library or by contacting the organization that produced it.  You might have a document that you believe has historical or literary significance.  In that case, find out if someone can use it. 

If you created and printed a document, how many copies do you need to keep?  You can discard early versions that you’ve written once you have completed the assignment.  Unless you write or design for a living, you don’t need to maintain printed samples of your work. 

Can you discard written material that you once thought was important? Click on Post a Comment, below, and tell us.

Organized by MarcieTM: Saving you time and money by helping you let go of what you don't need and find room for what you value

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And if you like what you've read, 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!

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!

Clutter vs Collections

I was at the grocery store yesterday and I picked up a home decorating magazine while I waited to check out. The cover featured a breathtakingly beautiful room, the walls of which were filled with floor-to-ceiling open bookcases. The shelving was painted a bright white and held a collection of blue and green vintage pottery.

The vases, bowls and other pieces were artfully arranged, with lots of room between them. I was instantly hit with the idea that I wanted to live that way, surrounded by those beautiful ceramic objects. I could find them at flea markets and thrift shops and I could display them on open shelving in my living room.

Then I snapped out of it.

What was I thinking? I don’t want to live that way. I don’t like to dust stuff. I don’t want to have things, even if they are beautiful, that I don’t use on a regular basis. And I can’t see myself spending time sitting in my living room, admiring the walls.

I actually have a few pieces of vintage pottery, but I use them; I don’t see them as a “collection.” The idea of starting a collection of things just to look at makes me feel uncomfortable. I used to have lots of collections, from teapots to baskets to quilts. I got rid of most of them, keeping one or two things that I really liked. The problem with collecting is that you always need to have “one more.” Now I am satisfied with what I have.

Do you have a collection? What do you collect? How do you display them? How do your collections make you feel? 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

Clutter vs Collections

I was at the grocery store yesterday and I picked up a home decorating magazine while I waited to check out. The cover featured a breathtakingly beautiful room, the walls of which were filled with floor-to-ceiling open bookcases. The shelving was painted a bright white and held a collection of blue and green vintage pottery.

The vases, bowls and other pieces were artfully arranged, with lots of room between them. I was instantly hit with the idea that I wanted to live that way, surrounded by those beautiful ceramic objects. I could find them at flea markets and thrift shops and I could display them on open shelving in my living room.

Then I snapped out of it.

What was I thinking? I don’t want to live that way. I don’t like to dust stuff. I don’t want to have things, even if they are beautiful, that I don’t use on a regular basis. And I can’t see myself spending time sitting in my living room, admiring the walls.

I actually have a few pieces of vintage pottery, but I use them; I don’t see them as a “collection.” The idea of starting a collection of things just to look at makes me feel uncomfortable. I used to have lots of collections, from teapots to baskets to quilts. I got rid of most of them, keeping one or two things that I really liked. The problem with collecting is that you always need to have “one more.” Now I am satisfied with what I have.

Do you have a collection? What do you collect? How do you display them? How do your collections make you feel? 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

What’s in Your Closet?

Recently I have been working with clients who did big clothing purges. They can’t figure out how they had so much clothing to begin with, and are amazed when they see the amount of clothes they chose not to keep. Shopping mistakes, gaining or losing weight, or just changing taste all contribute to clothing overflow if you put off dealing with them.

What’s most astounding is that there is still plenty of clothing left for them to wear after they pick the things they want to keep. I have not yet had a client who needed to restock after a clothing purge; rather, they found that they were able to access and enjoy the clothes that made them look good and feel good without having to search through things they weren’t wearing at all.

Research shows that we wear 20% of our clothes 80% of the time. If you are hanging onto clothes that don’t fit, don’t look good or don’t feel good, ask yourself if it’s time to pass them on. Someone else can benefit from the things you aren’t wearing and you gain space.

Full disclosure: I still have a teal textured leather miniskirt that I know I will never wear again. I had so much fun with it, 25 years ago, when it fit. I cannot imagine wearing it again, but when I see it hanging in the closet, it makes me smile. I think it’s time to let it find a new home.What’s in your closet that you’ll never wear? 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

What’s in Your Closet?

Recently I have been working with clients who did big clothing purges. They can’t figure out how they had so much clothing to begin with, and are amazed when they see the amount of clothes they chose not to keep. Shopping mistakes, gaining or losing weight, or just changing taste all contribute to clothing overflow if you put off dealing with them.

What’s most astounding is that there is still plenty of clothing left for them to wear after they pick the things they want to keep. I have not yet had a client who needed to restock after a clothing purge; rather, they found that they were able to access and enjoy the clothes that made them look good and feel good without having to search through things they weren’t wearing at all.

Research shows that we wear 20% of our clothes 80% of the time. If you are hanging onto clothes that don’t fit, don’t look good or don’t feel good, ask yourself if it’s time to pass them on. Someone else can benefit from the things you aren’t wearing and you gain space.

Full disclosure: I still have a teal textured leather miniskirt that I know I will never wear again. I had so much fun with it, 25 years ago, when it fit. I cannot imagine wearing it again, but when I see it hanging in the closet, it makes me smile. I think it’s time to let it find a new home.What’s in your closet that you’ll never wear? 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

Keep Nostalgia and Sentiment, Lose the Clutter

In a recent blog post, Erin Doland, of unclutterer.com, wrote about why people hang on to sentimental items to the point of their becoming clutter tinyurl.com/yhhb29g.

I have had challenges with clients who believe that everything from their past, or from a loved one who has died, represents a strong memory and that they would lose the memory without the object.

In her article, Erin suggests taking pictures of the objects or writing about them to keep the memory and then releasing the item. She also suggests limiting yourself to a predetermined amount of space as a way to limit the collection.

If, for example, you have inherited a collection of objects from your grandmother and are having trouble parting with them, keep one that you like the most and see if other family members want the rest. If you can’t give them away to people who knew her, you can donate them and know that someone who really needs them will make good use of them.

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

Keep Nostalgia and Sentiment, Lose the Clutter

In a recent blog post, Erin Doland, of unclutterer.com, wrote about why people hang on to sentimental items to the point of their becoming clutter tinyurl.com/yhhb29g.

I have had challenges with clients who believe that everything from their past, or from a loved one who has died, represents a strong memory and that they would lose the memory without the object.

In her article, Erin suggests taking pictures of the objects or writing about them to keep the memory and then releasing the item. She also suggests limiting yourself to a predetermined amount of space as a way to limit the collection.

If, for example, you have inherited a collection of objects from your grandmother and are having trouble parting with them, keep one that you like the most and see if other family members want the rest. If you can’t give them away to people who knew her, you can donate them and know that someone who really needs them will make good use of them.

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