Clutter Control and Yard Sale Benefits 2010

Day 2: Clutter and Yard Sale Benefits

Options to Clear Clutter:

• Throw the clutter away
• Recycle it
• Donate it
• Sell it

How to decide what to do with your clutter:

Get boxes or garbage bags

Place each item into container for:

1. Garbage
2. Recycle
3. Donate
4. Selling

• Yard sale
• Resale
• Consignment

TIP: Have a Keep Box, Bin, Container or laundry basket to put items into

Clutter Control Questions To Ask:

1. How long has it been since I used this item?
2. Do I like/love it?
3. Does it serve a purpose in my life now?
4. Do I have duplicates? How many do I need?
a. If I decide to Keep an item:
5. What will I get rid of to make room for the new item?

TIP: I do not know about you but it is easier to have a
“buddy, spouse, friend, expert” to help make clutter/organizing decisions.

For documents you want to throw away, it is ideal to
tear up, shred or burn to protect yourself against identity theft.

How I conducted my garage sale…

It was a time in my life August of 2009 that I had to empty out
A storage unit that I paid 120.00 for a month. In order to
Cut my budget it was easier to empty it and bring it to
My home. The unit I rented was 15*10 and so by emptying
It I have myself 1,440.00 a year.
I rented a U Haul Truck that was 17” which cost me
135.00 Plus gas 25.00 which totaled 160.00. I was able to
Load and unload my entire storage unit with one other person
Helping me do the work. I had this unit for at least 15 years.
I was then able to sort into piles for the garage sale. I sold 500.00
Dollars of my “junk” in three days: cash. So, if I minus the U Haul
and the gas I made: 340.00. This is not bad considering I was able
then to make decisions to sell, donate, or throw away. The relief I had
when this tasks was finished was indescribable. The positive thing is
that I was able to organize the Keep bins and now I know where
everything is.
Each Item must have a “Home.”

1. Put like items together

a. Steps:

i.Look for related items and gather them together
ii.Throw away what no longer serves a purpose for you now
iii.Purchase drawer organizers and place items back

Organize School Papers:

For each child, I created a different colored binder.
I bought sheet protectors from Staples.
I put each child’s daily papers, art work, etc into the binder.
Dead Storage is those items you must keep but seldom refer to.
For example take old tax records, collectables, mementos or baby
items;

For your grand kids to the garage, basement or storage in the
attic.

Types of Storage areas include:

2. Closet
3. Attic
4. Garage
5. Basement
6. File cabinet
7. Book shelves

Over the years I had been buying plastic storage bins or
containers to Store “stuff” and put into my storage unit. It was easier to move
It all when it came time to bring it to my house.

My advice: Buy Clear Plastic Containers, it’s easier to see what is
in them.

I had to label each container and open it and look into it.

Today clear plastic bins are cheap to buy and I also
Use red bins for all of my Christmas things to store, orange for
Halloween,
And I created a different color bin for each of those items I wanted
to keep.
You can also try this for Kids: let them pick the color container
they want to
Keep their toys in. If a toy or item was not put into the proper bin
I would
Take away the toy(s) for one week to start teaching my child early
how to
Keep track of toys and stay organized.
TIP : For keeping magazine articles, recipes or other written
material I want to keep
But can’t read or get to: I put into a binder and put into clear
plastic sheets.
Another point I want to make is: If your house was on FIRE what
would you
Take with you? Those are Most valuable to you. Thus, having
insurance should
Be your number one priority any place you live.

LESSON: LESS IS MORE, just start small and watch your project become the accomplishment of your dreams