Tip: Everyone should own and use a shredder. Daily shred unwanted mail and solicitations. Monthly shred unnecessary receipts and reconsiled ATM slips. Yearly, after taxes have been filed, shred old utility bills, credit card statements, and pay stubs. For a list of paper retention guidelines email me.
Please note that any guidelines listed are overruled by the advise of your personal CPA and should comply with your personal comfort level for paper retention.
I 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
Proud member of NAPO
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I wanted to share some eco-friendly habits that I’ve personally initiated in the past few years. I added them gradually to my life, so they didn’t seem drastic or overwhelming. Maybe you’ve done the same or something similar. Please share. If you’d like more details, please just ask.
Eco-Friendly Habits:
1. Recycle more – it’s so easy to do, especially since my town offers all-in-one curbside weekly
pick up.
2. Stopped buying water bottles. Instead I use Tupperware refillable bottles.
3. Stopped buying paper napkins. Instead I use cloth napkins. My nieces and nephews love it, and it’s usually their first exposure to cloth napkins.
4. Use reusable shopping bags more often. I used to just use them at the grocery store. Now I use them everywhere, when I remember, but the more I do it the more I remember.
5. Use reusable produce bags.
6. Stopped buying saran wrap. Hate the stuff. Instead I use my reusable produce bags.
7. Started a compost bin. I purchased it from my town hall.
8. Use rain barrels. I also purchased them from my town hall.
9. Use the water that collects in my de-humidifier to water my plants.
10. Use on-line bill pay and went paperless with as many bills and statements that I could. Some times it’s the little things that have the most impact.
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Tip: The best way to organize a junk drawer is to follow the guidelines listed below and to use utensil or desk drawer divided trays. You can find these products at kitchen supply stores, office supply stores, department stores and the Container Store.
By combining efforts of organizing and spring cleaning the benefits will be twofold. Here are four ways you can combine your efforts.
1. While you’re getting out your spring and summer clothes purge those items that you didn’t wear last year and any items that are a bit too snug. Donate to a local charity or look into a consignment shop.
2. While getting out your grilling tools and uncovering your grill, weed out and pare down your recipes and cookbooks. Pick a number and only save that many, and make a vow not to print any more from the internet.
3. While tackling your spring yard work, sort through your lawn and garden tools. Get rid of rusty tools and duplicates. Keep only the ones that you really use.
4. While airing out the house, sort through your linens. You only need three sets of sheets per bed and three sets of towels per person. Donate any extra to an animal shelter.
© March 2013 Janine Cavanaugh, Certified Professional Organizer®. All rights reserved
Proud member of NAPO
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