Support for the Organizationally-Challenged

This is THE year. One of our New Year's goals is to get organized at home and do some very serious de-cluttering. For an organized person as I tend to be, combining two lives at mid-life in a less than large place, has been a huge challenge. I've never lived this way...and neither has he. It took a huge truck to move me here. We had a vinyl shed out back that a storm took down and there's still left overs out there. Inside, we're living in half the space that we could be due to plastic bins, etc. To look at it you'd think I just moved in. I'm so ashamed....and disgusted. We both know there's a psychological effect in coming home to this. We put in a new pellet stove in the living room right after Thanksgiving last year. So everything that could....came out....into the dining room!!! This year we hope to add on a room through the living room. We know this will help somewhat. Anyway, all that just to say....I'm overwhelmed. Part of it is simply having time to do anything at all these days. I'd love to have us share some tips on Spring cleaning, decluttering and the like. HELP!!!!!

If you can´t use it..loose it. A friend told me this once and I use the thought when I can get down to cleaning out clutter..it´s toughest with my beloved books..but I do try.

Someone else once told me..if you haven´t used it within the year..then you don´t need it..or was it within it 5yrs..I don´t remember. Perhaps you can set your own limit. It really does help!

GOOOOOD Luck!!!!

This is one of my favorite subjects, next to finance, so I'll try and find some good resources for you, or just give my two cents worth.

In the meantime, if you have a lot of books and you don't want to go to the trouble of selling them on "half-off.com" (is that right Princess?) or Ebay, or anywhere else (I sold a lot of books on Amazon)...then you could try this site:

http://www.paperbackswap.com/

It's free to join (for now) and all you do is assume the cost of shipping the books someone might want (usually around 2.16). It's a great way to get rid of books and GET books if you want them.

I'll see what else I can find. I applaud you for taking action!

…and make a point to not put anything in your hands twice. Decide then and there what to do with it.

I once had a house to sell with hundreds of knick-knacks, which the couple collected during their worldly travels. Finally we got a buyer, but the sellers withdrew their house from the market because they couldn't downsize and get rid of their stuff. They were miserable with their decision, but they couldn’t let go.

The moral of the story? Control your clutter, before it controls you.
(Believe me… I can identify more with the couple then I would like to.)

Quote:

---

http://www.paperbackswap.com/

---

This is a swapping site, so you would accumulate credits if you didn't request books. Send the books to me, instead - (gims says with twinkles in her eyes while she rubs her hands in anticipation).

You can donate books to your local library, then they can sell them to raise money for their system.

You can take them to a charity thrift store, but don't look at their things (which are at mere pennies on the dollar), or you might be taking more stuff home with you.

You can give them to a children's group (i.e. girlscouts) or a church for a fund raiser (i.e. yard sale) they might be having.

You can www.freecycle.com them, or www.craigslist.com them.

But, never throw them away.

As for the tubs... unload one a day, after creating boxes for:
'keep and store'
'give away'
'throw away'
'do not know what to do with just yet'
and of course, 'to be put up'...