Fun Products to Get You Back to School the Joyful Organizer Way!

It's crazy to think back to school has hit us.  I have the pleasure of sharing  another guest post from the Joyful Organizer herself,  Bonnie Joy Dewkett, a Certified Professional Organizer.  She has a innate knack for organizing whatever life throws at you.  Her tips have been featured in Good Housekeeping and Family Circle (to name just a few). Below are great product reviews that may add a little sanity to your crazy day.

Please note I received samples of some of these items to test out and write the reviews.  My opinions are my own were not influenced in any way.

Summer is fully upon us and while it's not so fun to think about, school is just around the corner.  So, this month I figured I'd bring you some products designed to help you start the school year off on the right foot, and, of course, ORGANIZED!

The Sigg Thermos is something I'm not sure how I lived without previously.  It's not just any thermos.  First of all, its sleek design makes it look amazing on your table or desk.  It's available in a few colors and all models are BPA and Phthalates free.  The model I tried had an attached cup, making packing a lunch SO much easier!  What I love the most is the tea filter.  Finally a thermos that makes it easy to drink loose leaf tea!  The thermos keeps things hot for up to 8 hours.  I tried it and it's true!  I work from home but I still love to gill this with tea in the morning and sip throughout the day!  It's made with stainless and doesn't add any taste to your beverage.  You might want more than one of these.

Not all lunch boxes are created equal.  This metal lunch box is not only stylish (it comes in pink and blue), it's super functional.  Take your snacks in this container and you'll keep them fresh. The top opens up so you can easily grab its contents.  I like that it's not too big and not too small-perfect to avoid container eating.  The contents stay fresh and when you get home, the whole container is easily washable.  This is also for grade school kids who might drop their lunch box.  It's also awesome for older kids who want something cool to carry their lunch in.  I love it for the office because it's sophisticated and just plain cute.  If you don't want to use it for food, it also makes a great container for office supplies!

Okay, this is the year you're going to stop wasting plastic bags.  You just needed the right tool.  It's the (re)zip bags by Blue Avocado.  They are side just like traditional snack and sandwich bags.  However, they are reusable.  They are made of food safe, FDA approved PEVA material.  A pack of two sandwich sized bags is $8.99.  Use these more than a month and you'll be saving money.  They are freezer safe and have a secure "zipper" at the top to keep your food fresh.  They are LEAD, PVC and BPA free too!  I will tell you these are AWESOME for any small item you want to keep organized.  I love them when I travel to snacks on the plane, cosmetics, or even office supplies.  You'll find a million uses for these!

Sigg has some of the CUTEST water bottles out there.  Adults love them too of course, but they offer some adorable and unique kids' patterns.  Not only are they durable to stand up to school's wear and tear, they are unique enough to stand out from their peer's water bottles.  I love the travel series in particular.  They come in a number of countries with both girls and boys featured.  It holds about .4 liters…not too big and not too small.  The cap even has a protective covering to keep it dirt and germ free.  (A much needed feature for little kids!)

If your child is a little too grown up for these bottles, Sigg has a design series, perfect for young adults.  Check them out here.  Don't forget the cleaning tablets and Sigg brush!  Just drop a tablet in and let it do the cleaning for you.  Your bottles are sparkling queen, fresh smelling and the fear of germs is gone!  I tried cleaning my Sigg bottles for years without these tools.  When I got them, they rocked my world and I wonder why I struggled with inferior cleaning products for so long!

If you are going to be washing water bottles, lunch boxes and other food storage conners after sending them to school with your child, you need Name Bubble's water proof labels.  The small rectangular labels are easily affixed to just about any surface. I thought they would have trouble sticking to silicone or the bottom of a coffee cup, but they stick firmly and stay in place even with washing (both hand and dishwasher).  These are awesome to know what belong to you among the other kids and even in the break room refrigerator. Protect your investments and label things!  They come in adorable colors, and can even be customized with designs!

This next product has to be the cutest way of reminding someone to do something that I've ever seen.  It's a customizable wrist band from Knock Knock that boasts a small prewritten message and a spot to record your reminder.  Some of the messages on the bands are; friendly reminder, you got this, checkboxes for to do or to don't and even one that says pssst..  These are great for husbands and kids alike.  They can be put around a wrist but they also work for the handle of a purse or work bag.  They come in sets of 25 and are just $6!  You'll love these!

The first item is inexpensive, adorable and will keep your water bottle (or anything else you stick it to) safe all year through.  It's a customized sticker from Etsy seller, MNWMonograms.  The sticker includes your choice of initials and your choice of color.  It's 4.5" by 4.5" and it won't come off in the dishwasher or if your water bottle condenses. It's a pretty awesome way to customize your great while looking cute doing it.  And, it's just $5!

For packing lunches to head to school or the office, do it the healthy way with Frego.  While plastic is durable, glass is the least toxic and an old reliable friend.  Frego takes it one step further and protects the glass with a  silicone casing.  It's colorful and fun, but it adds a level of durability.  It won't slide out of your hands and when you want to heat up its contents, you can put the silicone sleeve on to protect your hands.  I love these for snacks, road trips, lunches or even leftovers.  I want a whole set of them!  Oh and all pieces are dishwasher safe :)

School means germs.  And germs mean lots of hand washing.  I'm in love with Beesential's All Natural Grapefruit and Lemongrass Foaming Hand Soap. Made from coconut, hemp and olive oils, it's an all natural alternative to detergent based soaps made from petroleum products.  This kills germs and is gentle to your hands!

Speaking of germs, save yourself a trip out later and stock up on Kleenex when buying school supplies.  Not only do they have anti viral tissues, they even have speciality boxes designed with patterns that will make you smile.  I personally love their travel pouches. They come in so many pretty designs, they look cute when you pull them out.  They are small and thin enough to fit into a pocket, a purse and of course, a school bag.  Stock up, you'll be glad you did!

 If you take your computer, iPad, or phone chargers with you anywhere, there is a good chance you can get them mixed up with someone else's.  Whooz is a fun line of charger decals that help you identify your charger.  They come in various sizes to fit all of your chargers.  The designs are whimsical and will make you smile every time you use your charger.  My favorite designs?  Mr. T and Rufus the dog.  Kids and adults alike will love these!

Sustainability meets cuteness with spbang's lunch bags.  These bags are better than any sandwich bag you have ever used.  Made of durable materials with adorable patterns and available in a wide array of colors, these will save you money and save the Earth.  They are made in the US and are about 7 inches by 7 inches.  They are lead free, Phthalate free and BPA free.  They are waterproof too.  They close with a tab closure.  It takes a moment to get used to but it creates a real seal to keep your food fresh.  If you want an extra bonus, pop it in the freezer before use and your food will stay cool and fresh.  In my opinion, here's the best part-they are dishwasher safe!  No more fishing crumbs out!

These are something that will help you get organized, but Wacky Winderz are just too cute not to include.  Make back to school l(or a day at the office) a little more fun with these four unique wind up pencil toppers.  These will also make great stocking stuffers!

They also make a great pick me up for someone having a bad day :)

 This lunch box by Laptop Lunches is going to change the way you pack lunch.  Not only is there plenty of space to pack things (two compartments which I love for utensils, a juice box and of course a note :) It's fully insulated and contains no lead, BPA, phthalates or PVC.  It has a handle AND a removable shoulder strap (awesome in case your lunch box doesn't fit into your backpack).  The bento box on the bottom is awesome.  It's made of 100% post-consumer PET and printed with soy ink so you can feel great about these bags.  The bento box that fits into the bottom of the lunch bag is also just as safe and is dishwasher and microwave safe.  It keeps all of your kid's food separate and safe so it's just as tasty and pretty as when you packed it in the morning.  These are awesome lunch bags that make packing lunch easy, and look good!

Okay this isn't a back to school item specifically.  However, it's a great treat for the end of the day, or to sneak in a lunch box.   (IF gum is allowed at your child's school.)  Tree Hugger Bubble Gum is the best gum you'll ever taste.  Their all natural flavors are long lasting and the pieces are generous in size.  There are no artificial colors either!  It's also gluten free, all natural, vegan, non gmo and comes in a variety of flavors and packages. From individually wrapped pieces of gum to the traditional bubble gum "strip" there is a package that meets your size needs.  There are traditional flavors like classic bubble gum, but some of the most delicious are  the fun ones, like Wildberry.

Connect with Bonnie through a variety of media outlets: 

The Joyful Organizer®, LLC

bonnie@thejoyfulorganizer.com
http://www.thejoyfulorganizer.com
http://thejoyfulorganizer.com/blog

Looking for free organizing tips?  Subscribe to The Joy of Organizing Radio Show on iTunes!
http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-joy-organizing-blog-talk/id352871697

Connect With Us:

http://www.facebook.com/thejoyfulorganizer

http://www.facebook.com/thejoyoforganizing
http://www.twitter.com/thejoyfulorg
http://www.linkedin.com/in/thejoyfulorganizer
https://pinterest.com/BonnieJDewkett/

The Joyful Organizer Says Preparation is Key for Successful Back to School

It's crazy to think back to school has hit us.  I have the pleasure of sharing this guest post from the Joyful Organizer herself,  Bonnie Joy Dewkett, a Certified Professional Organizer.  She has a innate knack for organizing whatever life throws at you.  Her tips have been featured in Good Housekeeping and Family Circle (just to name a few). Below are great life tips that may add a little sanity to your crazy day.

Going from summer break to a school routine isn’t easy on anyone.  The summer months bring a lot of fun, beautiful weather, and a lackadaisical routine that is just not easy to break when school starts again.  However, this year you can make the necessary changes gradually, and avoid the stress that normally comes with the arrival of the yellow school bus.  By making the transition slowly, and with a positive attitude, the school year can get started off on the right foot!

Shopping:

Back to school shopping can be fun, if you are not under stress to get it done.  Start by having your child go through their closet and determine what clothes are still in good condition and still fit.  Depending on their age, you may want to assist them with this task.  Remember, the weather in September is usually warm enough to wear shorts, skirts, and tee shirts.  So there is no need to run our and buy winter clothes.  However, if you want to start shopping early, start in July when the back to school sales start to appear in stores.  The back to school season hosts the second largest sales of the year (second to Christmas).

Second, take inventory of your child’s school supplies from the year before.  If they have tons of pencils, crayons, etc, there is no need to buy more.  Save yourself time, money, and clutter by checking first.

If your school does not supply a local store with the necessary supply list, call your child’s teacher for it.  This will also allow you an opportunity to introduce yourself and become acquainted before the academic year begins.  If your school accepts donations, this may also be a good time to ask the teacher if there are any supplies they would like for their classroom for the coming year.  Keep in mind that some supplies, such as lunch boxes, are hard to find during other times of the year.  Consider purchasing two if your child is rough on these items.

Start buying your child’s school supplies on your weekly trips to the grocery store, or super stores.  Involve your child in the process.  Have them calculate the amount they have spent on supplies, have them pick colors they enjoy, and have them pick a planner that will fit their academic needs and their personal style.  If your child feels invested with their supplies they will be more likely to take care of them, not lose them, and most importantly to use them effectively.

One of the most important supplies that you will buy your child is their planner/organizer.  It is very important that they like the planner they are using.  Keep in mind that some districts require students to use their school’s planner, or a particular brand.  Make sure that your child understands how to use their planner, and they have a system for the following: writing down tests, quizzes, homework, reading, and long term projects.  Starting these good habits at the beginning of the year will ensure that they are followed throughout the school year.

One of the easiest, and most effective planners, to use is a teacher’s planning book.  These have open weeks so you can put the dates in yourself, and you can quickly switch between weeks.  The pages are large, and therefore give you a great visual of the work your child has to do.  I recommend using different colored inks or highlighters for different subjects.  Or if you child is older, you can consider using different colors of highlighter for different academic significance.  For example, quizzes are highlighted in yellow, projects in green, tests in pink, and long term papers in blue.

Morning Routine:

The morning routine is one of the most stressful parts of the day for most families.  Start developing good routines and habits during the summer months, and they will naturally take effect during the school year.

Develop a place in your home for your child’s backpack.  This should be a place by the door, such as the entryway, or a hallway.  This is where they should keep their backpack at all times.  Your child can remove their homework, books, and other necessary supplies to complete their assigned schoolwork.   When they are done with these items, they should be returned to the backpack to be grabbed on the way out the door in the morning.

Develop a place for permission slips and other items that need to be read, signed, or need attention.  This too can be in the entryway or hallway.  Purchase a small wall mounted file, or magazine rack.  (Insert product suggestion here.)  Have one slot for incoming, where your child can put anything that needs your attention.  It is very important you check this slot daily, take any required action, and then place them in a second slot for outgoing items.  Your child must check this slot daily and take any applicable papers back to school.  Many teachers require students to have a designated folder for items of this nature.

Get your child into the habit of taking their lunch box out of the backpack every night and bringing to the kitchen for a refill.  Have them pick it up from the kitchen in the morning and place it back into their backpack.

If your kids sleep later in the summer months, start getting them back on a normal schedule slowly.  Get them up 10 minutes earlier each morning until you have comfortably reached your morning wake up time.

If your kids have a hard time getting dressed in the morning, have them plan and lay out their clothes the night before.  Purchase an organizer that has the days of the week printed on it.  (Insert product suggestion here.)  Have your child assist you in picking out the week’s worth of clothing at the beginning of the week.  This ensures the clothing your child wants to wear is clean and avoids unnecessary loads of laundry mid-week.

If your child is a little older and wishes for more independence, consider having a fashion show night at your house.  Set up holiday lights as runway light, play music and have your child try on lots of different outfits.  Take pictures and have them printed.  Mount them on a bulletin board near the closet.  This will help make quick outfits during the week, and it will help inspire creativity.

Even with clothes and outfits laid out of the week, your child can use their creativity.  Place boxes full of scarves, sunglasses, hair accessories, and jewelry close by.  Your child can chose from these in the morning, as long as they do not take too long to do it.

Some website even offer wardrobe planners where you can track the clothing you have, its color, and size.  This may help you track what you have and what will need to be replaced soon.  It will also give you an idea of what your child has too much of at any one time.  The trick with these lists, however is to keep them up-to-date.

If your child is small and or often loses clothes and accessories, now is the time to write their name in everything to give it a fighting chance of coming back home.

Daily Maintenance:

It is important that you maintain your daily routines with consistency and an upbeat attitude.  Nothing makes a tough morning worse than complaining and being negative.

In the evenings, do your homework while they do theirs. While your kids are studying, sign their permission slips, pay bills, clean, etc.  This will help designate the time as serious and necessary.  Kids learn by example and if they see you working hard, they will follow suit.

If your kids need help with their homework, it is helpful if you are in the area.  If your kids cannot do homework in their rooms or need your assistance, designate a place in the house where homework will always be done, such as the kitchen table.  In order avoid running for supplies, purchase your child a shower caddy and fill it with all necessary supplies, such as a ruler, calculator, pencils, glue sticks etc.  Check the supply level regularly and make sure it is clean and organized.

Maintain a family calendar with everyone’s schedules, appointments, field trips, sporting events, etc.  A wipe off magnetic one works great and can be stored on the fridge in plain sight.  (Insert product example here.)

Instead of leaving all of the laundry for the weekend, consider doing loads every day during the week.  Putting the laundry in or switching it to the dryer are both small chores your children can do for you while you cook dinner.

Consider maintaining a meal plan and calendar.  This will help you with grocery shopping, and more importantly, deciding what is for dinner after a long day.

If meal preparation is a challenge for you, consider researching meal preparation businesses in your area.  These businesses allow you to prepare and freeze multiple portion meals for your family that are then stored in your freezer, and accessed when you need them.

Having a stress free and successful school year starts with preparation.  Get started the right away this year.  Avoid the back to school rush and the stress of transitioning from summer frolicking to academic routines.  Just by changing a few habits you can make your academic year a successful, happy one!

If you’re looking for adorable and functional back to school products, visit Office Candy.

And if you are looking for a great resource for Back to School with Special Needs, check out Carolyn Dalgiesh's guest post on the Joyful Orgnaziers blog!

Connect with Bonnie through a variety of media outlets: 

The Joyful Organizer®, LLC

bonnie@thejoyfulorganizer.com
http://www.thejoyfulorganizer.com
http://thejoyfulorganizer.com/blog

Looking for free organizing tips?  Subscribe to The Joy of Organizing Radio Show on iTunes!
http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-joy-organizing-blog-talk/id352871697

Connect With Us:

http://www.facebook.com/thejoyfulorganizer

http://www.facebook.com/thejoyoforganizing
http://www.twitter.com/thejoyfulorg
http://www.linkedin.com/in/thejoyfulorganizer
https://pinterest.com/BonnieJDewkett/

Tech Tip: Get rid of visual clutter on your iOS device, quick

I have a two-fold tech tip for today. I have shared this with many people, with at least 95% of them enjoying the easier to read screens on their iPhones, iPads, and iPods.

First: Change the background.

I know most people like having the picture of thier kids or puppies or mountains in the background, but the complex visual nature of the picture really does nothing to enhance the apps, folders and fonts.  In fact, I found it really annoying, especially when the iOS 7 platform came out. So...

Step 1. Take a picture of something black. Heck, just place your iPhone or iPad on the table, and take the black picture. Unfortunately, Apple has not added a basic, plain black background as an option, so I just did this.

Step 2: Go to Settings. Then Wallpapers and Backgrounds Tab

 Step 3: Touch the Choose Wallpaper section

Step 4: Select your Camera Roll
Step 5: Select the Black photo and SET YOUR WALLPAPER ONLY.  You can keep your Lock Screen to your favorite picture.

 Voila.  Already looks way more manageable, right?

But wait, there's more.

Did you notice the iOS 7 platform gave you the thinnest font ever? Well….
Go to Settings….

 General…..

 Accessibility…..
and Choose BOLD TEXT

Yes, this will restart your device, but it is super quick so go on and press continue.
When your device comes to life, the type face will be just a little bit thicker, helping (my older) eyes see just a little bit more easily.

Now, doesn't that look much better?

Before

After

Back to School Advice from a Professional, other than me Guest Blogger The Joyful Organizer

Bonnie Dewkett is The Joyful Organizer.  You can like her on Facebook, Twitter and check out her website for further advice and helpful tips.

            Going from summer break to a school routine isn't easy on anyone.  The summer months bring a lot of fun, beautiful weather, and a lackadaisical routine that is just not easy to break when school starts again.  However, this year you can make the necessary changes gradually, and avoid the stress that normally comes with the arrival of the yellow school bus.  By making the transition slowly, and with a positive attitude, the school year can get started off on the right foot!

Shopping:

            Back to school shopping can be fun, if you are not under stress to get it done.  Start by having your child go through their closet and determine what clothes are still in good condition and still fit.  Depending on their age, you may want to assist them with this task.  Remember, the weather in September is usually warm enough to wear shorts, skirts, and tee shirts.  So there is no need to run our and buy winter clothes.  However, if you want to start shopping early, start in July when the back to school sales start to appear in stores.  The back to school season hosts the second largest sales of the year (second to Christmas). 

            Second, take inventory of your child's school supplies from the year before.  If they have tons of pencils, crayons, etc, there is no need to buy more.  Save yourself time, money, and clutter by checking first.

            If your school does not supply a local store with the necessary supply list, call your child's teacher for it.  This will also allow you an opportunity to introduce yourself and become acquainted before the academic year begins.  If your school accepts donations, this may also be a good time to ask the teacher if there are any supplies they would like for their classroom for the coming year.  Keep in mind that some supplies, such as lunch boxes, are hard to find during other times of the year.  Consider purchasing two if your child is rough on these items. 

            Start buying your child's school supplies on your weekly trips to the grocery store, or super stores.  Involve your child in the process.  Have them calculate the amount they have spent on supplies, have them pick colors they enjoy, and have them pick a planner that will fit their academic needs and their personal style.  If your child feels invested with their supplies they will be more likely to take care of them, not lose them, and most importantly to use them effectively. 

            One of the most important supplies that you will buy your child is their planner/organizer.  It is very important that they like the planner they are using.  Keep in mind that some districts require students to use their school's planner, or a particular brand.  Make sure that your child understands how to use their planner, and they have a system for the following: writing down tests, quizzes, homework, reading, and long term projects.  Starting these good habits at the beginning of the year will ensure that they are followed throughout the school year.

One of the easiest, and most effective planners, to use is a teacher's planning book.  These have open weeks so you can put the dates in yourself, and you can quickly switch between weeks.  The pages are large, and therefore give you a great visual of the work your child has to do.  I recommend using different colored inks or highlighters for different subjects.  Or if you child is older, you can consider using different colors of highlighter for different academic significance.  For example, quizzes are highlighted in yellow, projects in green, tests in pink, and long term papers in blue. 

Morning Routine:

            The morning routine is one of the most stressful parts of the day for most families.  Start developing good routines and habits during the summer months, and they will naturally take effect during the school year.

            Develop a place in your home for your child's backpack.  This should be a place by the door, such as the entryway, or a hallway.  This is where they should keep their backpack at all times.  Your child can remove their homework, books, and other necessary supplies to complete their assigned schoolwork.   When they are done with these items, they should be returned to the backpack to be grabbed on the way out the door in the morning.

            Develop a place for permission slips and other items that need to be read, signed, or need attention.  This too can be in the entryway or hallway.  Purchase a small wall mounted file, or magazine rack.   Have one slot for incoming, where your child can put anything that needs your attention.  It is very important you check this slot daily, take any required action, and then place them in a second slot for outgoing items.  Your child must check this slot daily and take any applicable papers back to school.  Many teachers require students to have a designated folder for items of this nature. 

            Get your child into the habit of taking their lunch box out of the backpack every night and bringing to the kitchen for a refill.  Have them pick it up from the kitchen in the morning and place it back into their backpack. 

            If your kids sleep later in the summer months, start getting them back on a normal schedule slowly.  Get them up 10 minutes earlier each morning until you have comfortably reached your morning wake up time. 

If your kids have a hard time getting dressed in the morning, have them plan and lay out their clothes the night before.  Purchase an organizer that has the days of the week printed on it.   Have your child assist you in picking out the week's worth of clothing at the beginning of the week.  This ensures the clothing your child wants to wear is clean and avoids unnecessary loads of laundry mid-week.

            If your child is a little older and wishes for more independence, consider having a fashion show night at your house.  Set up holiday lights as runway light, play music and have your child try on lots of different outfits.  Take pictures and have them printed.  Mount them on a bulletin board near the closet.  This will help make quick outfits during the week, and it will help inspire creativity. 

            Even with clothes and outfits laid out of the week, your child can use their creativity.  Place boxes full of scarves, sunglasses, hair accessories, and jewelry close by.  Your child can chose from these in the morning, as long as they do not take too long to do it. 

            Some website even offer wardrobe planners where you can track the clothing you have, its color, and size.  This may help you track what you have and what will need to be replaced soon.  It will also give you an idea of what your child has too much of at any one time.  The trick with these lists, however is to keep them up-to-date. 

            If your child is small and or often loses clothes and accessories, now is the time to write their name in everything to give it a fighting chance of coming back home. 

Daily Maintenance:

           

It is important that you maintain your daily routines with consistency and an upbeat attitude.  Nothing makes a tough morning worse than complaining and being negative.

In the evenings, do your homework while they do theirs. While your kids are studying, sign their permission slips, pay bills, clean, etc.  This will help designate the time as serious and necessary.  Kids learn by example and if they see you working hard, they will follow suit. 

If your kids need help with their homework, it is helpful if you are in the area.  If your kids cannot do homework in their rooms or need your assistance, designate a place in the house where homework will always be done, such as the kitchen table.  In order avoid running for supplies, purchase your child a shower caddy and fill it with all necessary supplies, such as a ruler, calculator, pencils, glue sticks etc.  Check the supply level regularly and make sure it is clean and organized. 

            Maintain a family calendar with everyone's schedules, appointments, field trips, sporting events, etc.  A wipe off magnetic one works great and can be stored on the fridge in plain sight. 

            Instead of leaving all of the laundry for the weekend, consider doing loads every day during the week.  Putting the laundry in or switching it to the dryer are both small chores your children can do for you while you cook dinner.

            Consider maintaining a meal plan and calendar.  This will help you with grocery shopping, and more importantly, deciding what is for dinner after a long day. 

If meal preparation is a challenge for you, consider researching meal preparation businesses in your area.  These businesses allow you to prepare and freeze multiple portion meals for your family that are then stored in your freezer, and accessed when you need them. 

Having a stress free and successful school year starts with preparation.  Get started the right away this year.  Avoid the back to school rush and the stress of transitioning from summer frolicking to academic routines.  Just by changing a few habits you can make your academic year a successful, happy one! 

Getting Rid of Your Stuff

With yard sale season beginning its downhill decent and school is just around the corner, I just wanted to share a  great guest post from organizing guru, Bonnie Dewkett, The Joyful Organizer.

It seems as if we all have too much stuff and not enough space.  It doesn’t matter how much you make, or how big your house is, we all fight the battle of clutter day in and day out.  So its time to really think about what is taking up space in your home.  Do you love your possessions?  Do you use them?  Many times, knowing that someone will be able to use your items better than you can is enough to help you get rid of some of those under used or unwanted items.  Below you will find some ways to donate and even make some money from your old items.

Craig’s List

Craig’s List is a free website that allows you to list items for sale and for free.  Each city and state has their own site so do a search to find the one closest to you.  We have all heard that you should use caution when using Craig’s List and that’s true.  Don’t give out personal information such as your address to strangers.  Protect yourself first and foremost.  However, because Craig’s List is a high traffic site, you will be able to sell or give away items very quickly and easily.

  

Free Cycle

Like Craig’s List, Freecycle.org is area specific.  Items on this site are completely free.  The purpose of the site is to keep items out of the landfill and keep them in use by someone.  You will be shocked as to what someone may want.  On Freecycle its very true that what is trash to one person, is treasure to another.  For example, broken china may be trash to you, but a wonderful find for an artist. 

Recycle

We all know its great to recycle, but not many of us know where we can recycle items such as light bulbs, batteries and computers.  Earth911 (http://earth911.com/) can answer all of those questions for you.  Use the search option on the site to search for item specific recycling centers in your geographic area.

eBay

Everyone has heard of eBay.  Many of us have made purchases on it.  However, it’s a great way to get rid of your unwanted items.  Do a quick search for the item you want to sell to see what it, or like items, are selling for on the site.  You will want to price your items accordingly.  All you need to do to get started is take a few photos, make sure you have a clear description and determine what value you want from your item.  Remember, if its being unused in your home, getting ANYTHING from it is more than you have now.

Shelters

While everyone has heard of The Salvation Army and Goodwill, there are lots of organizations that reply on donations to survive.  Close to my home, I have a women’s shelter that assists women going through difficult times in their life.  Call around and find your local shelters and ask what they will take.  Many shelters are always in need of toiletry items.  Clean out your travel sizes and donate them!

eBay Stores

If you think your items may have value but you don’t want to take the time to sell them yourself, find a local eBay store.  These stores will accept your items and will sell them on your behalf.  My local store will photograph the item, manage the auction and ship it when the auction ends.  They do take a percentage, but that is well worth the time I have saved my clients. 

Find a Charity

If none of the above options appeal to you, use Charity Navigator to find a charity to accept your donations.  The site, (http://www.charitynavigator.org/) will help you find a charity in your area that accepts your items.  This is a great solution if you have a hard time parting with items.  Search for a charity that is meaningful to you and donating your items will seem much easier.

Remember, there isn’t a one size fits all donation location.  It will take a little time and effort.  However, knowing that your possessions are being used and loved by others will make it all worthwhile. If you need a little assistance, contact a professional organizer. 

Resource Box:  Bonnie Joy Dewkett is the owner and operator of The Joyful Organizer.  She offers professional organization services to help you organize your home and your life.  Email The Joyful Organizer at bonnie@thejoyfulorganizer.com for your free home organization guide or to schedule your free organizational consultation.

If only Shaggy and Scooby had one of these...

One of the best things I did for semi self sufficiency is make a snack drawer. Located in our little pantry closet is a 3 drawer Sterilite container. Top drawer, a thousand boxes of pasta and rice. The bottom, a million packets of Carnation Instant Breakfast and dinosaur oatmeal. But it is the middle drawer that is parenting gold. The snack drawer.

In it is a plethora a mostly healthy things. Some prepackaged, like Clif Z bars, Quaker granola bars, Planters Nutrition Trail Mix, and Healthy Option fruit snacks. But when I had to divvy up the boxed and bagged things, I had a semi moral dilemma. The green mom in me wanted to use reusable containers, but the kids wouldn't choose them because they couldn't readily see what was inside. I also noticed freshness was an issue, getting stale quickly. So then the practical mom in me conceded and decided to use zip top snack bags. I love them. Portion control. Freshness. And viewable contents. So in go goldfish, Cheezits, popcorn, whatever...

Now the kids just ask to grab a snack or I go tell them to get something from the snack drawer. And because I filled it, I don't care what they pick.

And what's even better is that I can store the good stuff like our cherished Milanos where they can't reach, on another shelf...

Five Minutes or Less

The following is the first of a monthly snip it from The Joyful Organizer herself, Bonnie Joy Dewkett

No one has enough time.  However, we can all find a few minutes here and there.  You can accomplish a lot more than you think in just five minutes.  By keeping a list of items you can accomplish in five minutes or less, you can quickly attack them when you have time. I’ve compiled a list of things you can get done in five minutes or less below.  Keep in mind that it is easy to get off task and doing so will make the task more time consuming.  Stay focused and keep moving.  The most important thing is to realize that you can move mountains a little bit at a time. 

Clean out Your Wallet

Get rid of old receipts.  Put extra change in a jar or bank someplace else in your home.  Make sure all credit cards are current and make sure gift cards still have value.

Kitchen

Throw out expired food from the pantry.  Clean out the fridge.  Clean out freezer.  Refill hand soap.  Refill Jet Dry.  Wipe down counters.  Put snacks into plastic baggies so they are ready to go for lunches during the week.  Clean out the pet bowl.  Refill sugar, flour or other canister items.  Clean out coffee pot.  Clean out the microwave.  Run and or empty the dishwasher. 

Kid’s Room

Sort through old crayons and dispose of broken ones.  Make sure all socks have a match.  Dispose of games or puzzles that are missing pieces.  Have kids pick up toys.  Check under bed for lost toys.  Mount a shelf to add storage. 

Misc. 

Take out trash.  Start a load of laundry.  Sew a button.  Sweep or vacuum a room.  Sort through today’s mail.  Call and remove yourself from a catalog mailing list.  Go through the car wash.  Pay a bill.  Cancel an appointment.  Make an appointment. 

Living Room

Put DVDs and Video Games back into their cases.  Fold throw blankets.  Fluff pillows.  Remove dishes.  Program your thermostat to save money on heating and cooling costs. 

Bedroom

Put dirty laundry in the hamper.  Pick up clothes off the floor.  Put shoes back in closet.  Clean jewelry.  Go through undergarments and get rid of worn out items.  Make the bed.

Bathroom

Change out hand towels.  Clean toilet.  Clean sink.  Change to a new toothbrush.   Dispose of old makeup.  Clean out medicine cabinet and throw away expired medication.  Change the roll of toilet paper.  Dry or fluff your bath mat. 

Every house functions differently and has a different configuation of rooms and family members.  The above items are ideas to get you moving in the right direction.  Once you have a functioning list of five minute tasks, you can dispense them to family members to do on a daily or weekly basis.  Getting these little items done will really make sure you can function better on a daily basis and will also help you live a better, and less stressful life!

Bonnie Joy Dewkett is the owner and operator of The Joyful Organizer.  She offers professional organization services to help you organize your home and your life.  Email The Joyful Organizer at bonnie@thejoyfulorganizer.com for your free home organization guide or to schedule your free organizational consultation.