Ice Cube Trays

With an ice maker, many of us no longer have to make ice cubes and end up storing our ice cube trays in the back of a cabinet, the basement, or any other catch-all place. Rather than them collecting dust somewhere and having to buy some kind of organizing product, pull out those trays and re-use and re-purpose them. They can be used for anything small which needs to stay sorted and stored. A few examples would be jewelry and children’s treasures. Think of the money and time you will save. Do you have any ideas you’d like to share with us?

Buying Storage Containers

So, you think you can't organize?  Whenever I do a workshop, I am invariably asked if you have to be born with an organizing gene.  My answer to that question is no, but I do think that all of us have gifts in different areas of life, and hence, we can all learn from each other. 

One of the tips that I always give my clients, workshop attendees, or anyone else who has a question about organizing is NOT to buy any containers until you see what you need.   Until you know what you are going to keep after sorting and purging (this includes donating, recycling, shredding), how would you know what size container to buy?  You want to make sure it is the right size, right color, and will fit into the space where you’ve assigned these items.  Invariably, you will even have containers leftover after you’ve gone through the sorting and purging steps. 

Do yourself and your wallet a favor.  Don’t spend the time buying something that you may not need.  If you do buy something and don’t use it, are you going to remember where you put the receipt?  And, then, if you do find the receipt, you are going to have to spend even more time returning the item to the store.  Wouldn't you rather spend your money and time on what you really want? 

Rather than buying the product first and then trying to see if it works for what you need, figure out your need first and then figure out the solution.  When was the last time an inanimate object like a basket or plastic storage container organized you? 

BB's Clutter Solutions is located in Cherry Hill, NJ and serves New Jersey (north and south), Philadelphia and its Pennsylvania suburbs, and New York City. www.bb-clutter-solutions.com, info@bb-clutter-solutions.com, 856-912-0077.

Bread Bag Clips

Re-using and re-purposing items that we already have is a great way to save money.  How many of us have cords that we plug into outlets and then don’t know what goes to what device?  I just read something very interesting.  Use bread bag clips to label cords (courtesy of The Chive).  Please share any ideas for items that you have re-used and re-purposed.

A Professional Organizer Needing The Help Of A Professional Organizer!

HELP!!  I just returned from my national organization’s annual conference in Baltimore, I have no food in the house, I have a ton of laundry to do, and I can’t see my office floor, or even walk into my office for that matter.  Doesn’t that sound funny coming from a Professional Organizer?  I am a Professional Organizer, and I am feeling so overwhelmed right now that I want to hire one of me to help me organize my clutter. 

Before I go on with my story, some of you may not know what our national organization is and what a Professional Organizer can do for you.  The National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) was founded over 25 years ago and is a group of more than 4,000 Professional Organizers committed to helping individuals and businesses bring order and efficiency to their lives.  NAPO’s mission is to develop, lead, and promote Professional Organizers and the organizing industry. 

So, with that being said, I now had to tackle my office, my laundry, and my empty refrigerator.  I am going to fast forward in my story (laundry is under control and food is in the refrigerator) to talk about my incredibly messy office.  Since I really didn’t want to trip and hurt myself, I decided to follow my own 5 basic steps to get things under control. 

1. I sorted everything I had thrown all over my desk and the floor, putting like with like.  For those of you who have been to conferences, you know how many goodies you bring home with you.
2. I purged what I knew I didn’t need or wasn’t ever going to use.  Okay, things are looking a little better.  I don’t seem to have as much as I did when I got started. 
3. I containerized my new workshop materials and products.  After sorting and purging, I knew what I needed to house everything.  I did not have to buy anything new since I already had containers from one of my other de-cluttering and organizing projects. 
4. I found a home in my office for my new items.  I am even ready to start using some of them immediately. 
5. I was also able to maintain my original system.  I knew of  homes that I already had  for materials and products from other events.  Already having homes means I was placing the things where they should be, thereby, maintaining my existing system. 

I set aside time in my schedule to organize, and I made sure that I followed my own advice of setting SMART goals (specific, measureable, achievable, realistic, and timely).  I did not bite off more than I could chew, meaning I didn’t start cleaning out a file drawer that had nothing to do with organizing my conference materials.  And, guess what!  I also had fun.  I can now begin my week organized and ready to go. 

I won my clutter battle, and so can you!  As you can see, even Professional Organizers have the challenge of staying organized.  As I say to my clients, I go to the gym and attend classes so an instructor, my Accountability Partner, can help me exercise for a certain amount of time.  Left to my own devices, I would probably lift weights for 10 minutes, get bored, and leave. 

I can be your Accountability Partner.  By working with you one-on-one, I can keep you motivated and on track.  I help you decide what to keep and what not to keep and develop systems and strategies for you that are easy to maintain.  All this is done without judgment because my hope is for you to be organized so that you have the time to do the things you want to do and not feel stressed or overwhelmed by your clutter.  Another outcome of being organized is that you will also save money and time by knowing what you have and where things are. 

And the best part about this is that we can have FUN!!! 

P.S. If you look to the right of this picture, you will see that Takoda, my cat, also wants to see what new products I brought home with me. 

Ready Set Go from Bedlam to Brilliance!

BB’s Clutter Solutions is located in Cherry Hill, NJ and serves New Jersey (north and south), Philadelphia and its Pennsylvania suburbs, and New York City.  Contact information: www.bb-clutter-solutions.com, info@bb-clutter-solutions.com, 856-912-0077.

Getting Your Ducks In A Row!

As I write this article on preparing for the future, I can’t help but think how many of us are in a similar situation.   I realize there are many things out of our control and that we should not even worry about them, but the one thing we can control is making sure we have all the information we need about our friends and family upon their deaths.  This is definitely not one of those topics which we like to talk about, but being prepared will save a lot of time and stress when we have to take care of all the financial matters that come with this stage of life.  This pertains to all ages – you may have parents, elderly relatives, or friends for whom you are responsible, and/or you may have children, siblings, or friends that need to know about your information. 

For those of you who have been following my articles, I have a 95-year old father who lives at home with full-time help now.  We are very lucky that he is mentally acute, so getting all this information together, although a little challenging, has not been as difficult as it could have been had he not started compiling all this information many years ago. 

My father started his list that he called his “autobiography”.  It was type-written and included the following: 

• His birthdate, social security number, home telephone number, email address (even though he is not on his computer anymore), password, user name, driver’s license number (even though he is not driving anymore), and passport number with the issue date and expiration date (even though he is not traveling anymore).
• His credit card names and numbers.
• His health insurance policies and numbers (both Medicare and supplemental medical, as well as long-term care) and all related contact information such as addresses and phone numbers.
• His homeowner’s insurance policy number and contact phone numbers.
• His life insurance policy numbers and contact phone numbers.
• His banking and other financial information, including account numbers and contact phone numbers and addresses.  This includes the safety deposit box number and where the key is located.
• His accountant’s name and contact information.
• His lawyer’s name and contact information.
• And, last but not least, the cemetery information. 

You would think I would be totally prepared for when the time comes, but believe it or not, I have been putting an inordinate amount of time in now making sure I understand everything and what I am going to have to do in the future.  I realize I am very fortunate my father is around to guide me through this maze.  Could I have done it without him?  Without a doubt, but it would have been that much harder and certainly at a time when I am going to be very sad.  We have also begun talking about real estate agents when we have to sell the house, people who do appraisals on those items that have value, and clean-out companies for the “junk” (that which cannot even be donated).  I already know I am going to use http://phillyjunk.com/. 

My father typed his information out.  You can create an Excel spreadsheet to include this information.  You can even hand-write this on paper. 

In addition, there are products available that really have helped a lot of people keep this information organized.  A couple of my colleagues recommended a workbook and CD by Maggie Watson called “A Graceful Farewell” (http://www.agracefulfarewell.com/index.htm).   Something that has been developed with instructions may be what you are looking for or need.  But, whatever you use, use something. 

One other thing I’d like to mention is that if you do not have to do this alone, don’t.  You may have siblings, other family members, and/or friends who are involved.  If possible, decide who could be doing what.  This can help so it doesn’t all have to fall on your shoulders.  Of course, it is easier if everyone lives in the area and you all get along, but it might be useful to at least have the conversation.  You won’t know until you try. 

These are not fun conversations to have, and when we do, I always ask my father if he is going somewhere soon (he tells me no).  It is part of being a responsible adult.  I now know that I have to get my own information organized as well for that person who needs to do for me what I am doing for my father.

READY, SET, GO From Bedlam to Brilliance!!!

BB’s Clutter Solutions is located in Cherry Hill, NJ and serves New Jersey (north and south), Philadelphia and its Pennsylvania suburbs, and New York City.  Contact information: www.bb-clutter-solutions.com, info@bb-clutter-solutions.com, 856-912-0077.