Tip: Keep a child memory box for each child in an easily accessible place. A child memory box is a container that is used to store memory items that you wish to preserve. Some items that may be worth preserving are report cards, mementos, special greeting cards, and meaningful school papers.
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Tip: When doing back to school shopping, always shop with a list. Go to the store with a clear idea of what you need and work from the supply list provided by the school. Stay focused, limit your time browsing and stick to your list. This will prevent over buying and impulse buying. It’s also helpful to take inventory of the school/office supplies you already have at home before heading to the store. You may already have some of the supplies that you thought you needed to purchase.
Tip: When packing for a summer vacation have a staging area for your suitcase. Put it out two weeks before your vacation and every time you think of something you want to bring, put it in the suitcase. Also, create a master list of essential items to bring on vacation and keep the list for future years. Need help making that list?
We 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. In the end 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:
Origin:
Number of items donated that we originally received as a gift: 37
Number of items donated that were originally used by someone else: 18
Number of items donated that were originally purchased by us: 46
Usage:
Number of items donated that were never used by us: 41
Number of items donated that were used within the past five years: 28
Number of items donated that were not used within the past five years: 32
Reason:
Number of items donated that were given to us but we never used: 26
Number of items donated that were intended as gifts but never given: 7
Number of items donated that were purchased by us for our use, but never used: 13
Number of items donated that were used, but are no longer wanted or used: 55
© June 2013, Janine Cavanaugh, Certified Professional Organizer® All rights reserved
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