Tag Archive for: reducing

Donation Challenge – Part 2

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

Donation Challenge – Part 1

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

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

Manageable Amount

Janine’s list of manageable amount.

I’m sharing these numbers to help you establish a guideline for yourself. I understand that everyone has different sized homes, lifestyles and family requirements.

Number Janine currently has followed by Janine’s recommended manageable amount.

bath towels  –  3 sets /  2 sets per person
sets of sheets  –  3 sets /   2 sets per bed
coffee mugs  –  6 / 3 per coffee drinker
light bulbs  –  12 / 2 per kind
items on bathroom vanity –  0 because only have pedestal sink / 5
umbrellas  –  3 / 1 per person + 1 per car
vases  –  8  / 2 per size
items on daily to do list  –  5 / no more than 5
pocketbooks  4 / 1 per season
home improvement projects started  –  2 / no more than 3
cleaning products  – 8 / 10
vacuums  –  1 / 1 per floor
sets of dishes  – 1 set of 12 / 3 sets at most
beach towels  –  5 / 2 per person
spatulas  –  4 / 2 per size
hats  –  5 summer hats, 5 winter hats / 4 per person
containers for leftovers  –  25 / no more than 35
craft projects started  –  4 / 3
open bottles of shampoo  –  2 / 2
conditioner  –  1 / 2
dish detergent  –  1 / 1
laundry detergent  –  1 / 1
hand soap  –  2 / 1 per sink
items on refrigerator  –  10 / leave 2/3 of fridge uncovered
boxes of holiday decorations  –  14 small in size / no more than 7 large bins
salt & pepper shakers  –  1 / 2
pairs of glasses  –  2 /3
flash lights  –  5 / 2 per floor + 1 per car
plastic bags from grocery store  –  10 / 30

 

©2021  Janine Cavanaugh, Certified Professional Organizer |  All Rights Reserved