Tag Archive for: reducing

Donation Challenge – Part 4

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donationsWe all tend to hold on to things for a variety of reasons, for example, it was a gift, it was passed on to me, it was expensive, etc.  However, if we don’t use and value the items in our possession there is no valid reason to keep them.  I’ve summarized the items we donated to this worthy cause (H.O.P.E. Program of Boston Children’s Hospital) in the hope that it may motivate you to let go of things, or at the very least prompt you to look at the items in your space from a different perspective.

Summary of items donated:

Origin:

  • Received as a gift, but didn’t really like. Regifted 37 items.
  • Used items passed on to us. We didn’t use them, so we passed on 18 items to be used by someone else.
  • Items that were originally purchased by us, but were no longer used or appreciated by us. Donated 46 items.

Usage:

  • Possessions that were never used by us. 41 items let go to have a chance to be useful to someone else.
  • Items that were used within the past five years, but most likely wouldn’t be used within the next five years. Passed on 28 things to be reused.
  • 32 items donated that were not used within the past five years.

Reason:

  • Items that were given to us but we never used. 26 items let go to have a chance to be useful to someone else.
  • Number of items that were intended as gifts but never given:  7
  • Donated 13 things that were purchased by us for our use, but never used.
  • 55 items were donated that were used in the past, but are no longer wanted or used.

© June 2013, Janine Cavanaugh, Certified Professional Organizer® All rights reserved

NAPO

Proud member of NAPO

Donation Challenge – Part 3

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101#I was so energized and motivated from the removal of 50 unwanted, unneeded and unused items from our space, I wanted to challenge myself even more.  Could I reach the 100 item mark?  Yes, I decided to go for it.  Maybe, just maybe, I was getting carried away, but I will admit, I was having fun with it.  It was very liberating, allowing myself to donate items to a worthy cause (H.O.P.E. Program of Boston Children’s Hospital) while purging our space of items that were no longer important in our current lives.
Our list of donated items is printed below. It may prompt you to think of items that you have in your household that you could donate.  If that is the case, please share those items with me.

Items 51 & 52 =  two racket ball rackets, admitted we’d never use again
53 =  new kids puzzle, decided not to wait to give as gift
54 – 58 =  five new kids games, decided not to wait to give as gift
59 =  travel size tweezer kit, never used
60 =  small gravy boat, decided 2 is too many
61 =  mini cookie cutters, gift, never used
62 =  manual aerator tool, never used
63 & 64 =  two large hooks, never used
65 =  snowman table runner
66 & 67 =  2 sets of cloth napkins & place-mats, gift, never used
68 -71 =  four demitasse cups and saucers, already donated espresso maker
72 =  soap dish, not being used
73 =  container with pour spout, never used
74 =  Holiday bowl, admitted we’d never use again

75 & 76 =  Set of two holiday glasses, admitted we’d never use again
77 =  LP albums, no player to listen to them
78 =  set of 10 luau leis, admitted we’d never use again
79 =  grass skirt, admitted I’d never use again
80 =  set of 10 paper lanterns, admitted we’d never use again
81 =  Aloha sign, admitted we’d never use again
82 =  orange and black basket, not being used
83 =  travel coffee mug, decided 5 is enough
84 =  purple ice bucket,  decided 2 is enough
85 =  bed dust ruffle, admitted we’d never use again
86 7 87 =  small bowls, never used
88 =  pewter milk pitcher, gift, never used
89 =  pewter sugar bowl, gift, never used
90 =  RedSox key chain bottle opener, decided 3 is enough
92 & 93 =  two spreader knives, decided 4 is enough
94 =  set of snowman stirrers, never used
95 =  set of wine tags, gift, never used
96 =  timer, decided 3 is enough
97 =  rolling pin, admitted we’d never use again
98 =  tiny whisk, too small
99 =  bread knife, decided one is enough
100 =  small sock coin purse, decided 3 is enough
101 =  bag of Duplo toys

© June 2013, Janine Cavanaugh, Certified Professional Organizer®  All rights reserved

NAPO

Proud member of NAPO

Yard Sale Details:  Saturday, June 22, 2013, 8:00AM to 2:00PM
North Attleboro, MA 02670
All Proceeds go to H.O.P.E Program at Boston Children’s Hospital

Donation Challenge – Part 2

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putting donations in carBeing pleased with myself for not giving into the temptation to donate items that belonged to my husband, I shared my mini triumph with my him.  I asked him if he thought he could do it, get rid of 10 things.  He said, “Easily!”  So, he went through his CD collection and picked out 15 CDs to donate.  Humm!  Was that an easy way out?
Easy or not, I was pleased.  I wanted to capitalize on his generous state.  I wanted to test our limits.  I started asking about particular items that I knew we haven’t used in several years, like the 3 tennis rackets that we made a specific home for in the garage.  Would we be willing to part with them, especially since this fundraiser is for such a good cause (H.O.P.E. Program of Boston Children’s Hospital)?  Yes!  What I’ve learned from my clients is, that, it’s easier to part with something when you know it’s for a good cause.
Once I realized his willingness to donate, we quickly thought of more items of which we could let go.  I was careful to get his approval on anything that I considered joint property.  Our pile soon grew to 50 denote-able items, listed below.

11 – 25 =  fifteen CDs, moved all music wanted to save to computer
26 – 28 =  three tennis rackets, admitted we’d never play again
29 – 32 =  four pot holders, decided 10 is too many
33 & 34 =  two canisters not being used
35 =  small two wheel cart, only used once
36 & 37 =  two large round green candles that are too big for my holders
38 =  collapsable bag, received as gift more than 5 years ago, never used
39 =  small stuffed bunny was going to give as gift, but didn’t
40 =  Bread maker, admitted we’d never use again
41 =  Apple baker, new, never used
42 =  Expresso machine, admitted we’d never use again
43 =  Seed spreader, admitted we’d never use again
44 & 45 =  2 pairs of binoculars that we were given, but never used
46 =  oval serving bowl, new, never used
47 =  tin bucket that a gift came in, never used
48 =  hanging rod for closet, admitted we’d never use
49 & 50 =  two piece slide projector, decided 2 is too many

© May 2013, Janine Cavanaugh, Certified Professional Organizer®  All rights reserved

NAPO

Proud member of NAPO

Yard Sale Details:  Saturday, June 22, 2013, 8:00AM to 2:00PM
North Attleboro, MA 02670
All Proceeds go to H.O.P.E Program at Boston Children’s Hospital

Janine with donation box

Donation Challenge – Part 1

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donationsA client of mine hosts an annual yard sale fundraiser for the H.O.P.E. Program at Boston Children’s Hospital.  She asks for donations from all her neighbors, friends, and family, and 100% of the proceeds support this program.  In the past I’ve given her items that I’ve collected from my clients.  This year I had my car packed with items ready to bring to her, and suddenly thought, what could I donate?  Me?  Personally?  Not things from the house or my husbands stuff, although I must admit, it was easy to think of items that belonged to him that I wanted to remove from the house.  You will probably agree, it’s much easier to get rid of someone else’s belongings than your own.  So, I challenged myself to find 10 items that belonged to me, to donate to this worthy cause.
My list of donated items is printed below. It may prompt you to think of items that you have in your household that you could donate.  If that is the case, please share those items with me.

List of Donations:
Items 1 & 2 =  two used camera parts that I was given, but never used
Items 3 & 4 =  two picture frames, one empty for three or more years,
the second emptied to move photo to scrapbook
Item 5 =  one computer chair, decided 3 is too many to have for 2 people
Items 6 & 7 =  two clip boards – decided 4 is too many to have for 2 people
Item 8 =  new Calphalon potato masher received as grab bag gift, never
used, like the one I have
Items 9 & 10 =  two water bottles received as gift more than 5 years ago,
used once, but didn’t like

© May 2013, Janine Cavanaugh, Certified Professional Organizer®  All rights reserved

NAPO

Proud member of NAPO

 

Yard Sale Details:  Saturday, June 22, 2013, 8:00AM to 2:00PM
North Attleboro, MA 02670
All Proceeds go to H.O.P.E Program at Boston Children’s Hospital

Reducing Mail

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mailboxI was at the National Association of Professional Organizers Conference for 5 days and guess how many pieces of mail I received?  Only 9!  In addition, I did receive one local newspaper and one packet of flyers. Out of those nine pieces of mail, two were really good, a check and a copy of the news article in which I was quoted.  Not bad, right?  Would you  like to know the secret of how you can receive less mail?  Below are my top 3 tips on how to reduce the amount of mail you receive:

Tip #1.  Get your name removed from mailing lists for newspapers, magazines, catalogs and solicitations.  Please note it can take up to 6 months to be removed from a mailing list.  Some websites to try:
www.privacycouncil.org
www.junkmailstopper.com
www.dmaconsumers.org
www.catalogchoice.org
Tip #2.  Go paperless with monthly statements, bills, and newsletters.
Tip #3.  Go high tech and use nooks, kindles and phone apps for newspapers, magazines, etc.

© April 2013, Janine Cavanaugh, Certified Professional Organizer® All rights reserved

NAPO

Proud member of NAPO