Tag: stuff

Do Your Seasonal Shopping Sustainably

Posted on by Jordank

Part of living a #clutter-free lifestyle is to keep only the things you use, wear and otherwise enjoy. But you can eliminate #clutter on the front end, too, by shopping more sustainably — and this is especially important  to remember when giving #gifts during the #holiday season.

The supply chain demands huge amounts of resources to get those special somethings delivered to your door. Make an effort to shop smaller local businesses for gifts, a practice that reduces the carbon footprint of whatever you buy. Or exercise your creativity to make some of your gifts rather than buying mass-marketed products.

Gifts don’t have to take a physical form at all, says Sustainability Victoria. You can give an experience such as a massage or facial, a cooking class, a yoga session or a dinner out rather than a product. Or you can make a charitable #donation in a person’s name; whatever you choose, chances are good that someone on your gift list doesn’t need more #stuff.

You can also shop the local #thrift stores — many of which supplied by generous #donations to ClothingDonations.org. “Upcycling” gifts can save money and keep more quality goods out of landfills.

“Buying secondhand clothing helps preserve the earth’s natural resources and prevents the additional pollution created by producing new garments,” Maryville University says. “Thrift stores provide shoppers with excellent bargains [and] often sell nearly new clothing alongside unique vintage pieces.”

Gift wrapping is one of the most wasteful aspects of holiday giving. Substitute newspaper and reusable packaging such as bags, baskets and tins for single-use wrapping paper, California Environmental Voters suggests. And try to buy gifts that are packaged in sustainable materials such as bamboo, recycled plastic and biodegradable paperboard rather than plastic clamshells.

Finally, be intentional about gifting and perform your due diligence, Bloom & Spark says. Figure out which businesses follow sustainable practices and how far your purchases need to travel to get a spot under the tree. Consider your giftees’ priorities, too; nobody wants another gewgaw that they don’t know what to do with. With a little forethought, you can reduce the environmental impact of giving — and make your home environment more clutter-free, too!

The Ultimate No-Clutter November

Posted on by Jordank

With #Halloween in the rearview and temperatures dropping fast, it’s on to November and the #holidays. ’Tis the season that you’ll see more #stuff than ever, as you give and get gifts, bake up platters of cookies, prepare your home for guests, get the good China out and put up the decorations.

But November can also be a month of measured austerity. The Great American Smokeout happens mid-month every year, and No-Shave November encourages cancer prevention and awareness. But there’s an unofficial cause you can take up in the effort to lead a calmer, more stress-free life: #No-Clutter November.

You can start with décor items that don’t get used, Organize Your Stuff Now says. As you #decorate for the fall and winter #holidays, take a good look at the stuff that doesn’t make the cut. You don’t need to save that stuff for next year — you aren’t using it, so get rid of it now. When you pack the decorations away again in January, they will take a lot less space.

Chances are you’ll be spending more time in the kitchen, too, making cookies, a dish to pass or hosting a full feast yourself. As you prepare, have a box handy and throw any shabby kitchen towels, hot pads and oven mitts in it. Do the same as you go through your drawers and cabinets; there are probably utensils that you haven’t used in years.

It’s also a great time to assess your cold-weather #clothing, much of which you’ll be getting out for the first time in November. “We recommend people #declutter their collection of hats, scarves and gloves,” professional organizer Diane Quintana told Homes & Gardens. “Look at these items critically. If they are in good condition but [you don’t] want to use them anymore, release them so someone else can benefit from them.”

To attack No-Cutter November aggressively, First for Women suggests, eliminate one item on Nov. 1, two on Nov. 2 and so on. You’ll eventually have a pile of 465 items that you don’t want or use, and you can #trash, give away or #donate them to ClothingDonations.org by arranging a #free #donation #pickup. By the end of the month, your home will be #decluttered and #streamlined — and you’ll be ready to meet the holidays head-on.

It’s Time to Take Inventory of Your Stuff

Posted on by Jordank

Businesses of all sizes regularly take #inventory to make sure they have supplies sufficient to function and enough goods to sell. But you, too, can take inventory of your stuff, and chances are that you’ll find you have more than you need.

Whether you own or rent, taking inventory of your stuff has an obvious benefit: If you ever need to replace #possessions following a flood, fire or burglary, you can file an insurance claim that requests the full replacement value.

To get started, categorize what you own and enter the details in a spreadsheet or app such as NestEgg. Take pictures of individual high-value item such as jewelry, artwork or musical instruments; document purchases’ serial numbers and save receipts.

If you find that you have more of an item than you really need, you can start to #declutter. You may find that you only need five pairs of shoes instead of 15, or two saucepans instead of five. You probably have just a few “favorites” in any category that get used.

The things you see as essential, have used in the past year and enjoy having are the things you can feel good about keeping, says the Minimal Mom. Anything that you’re saving for “someday,” your fantasy self or sentimentality is something you can get rid of.

If you really want to streamline, work one room at a time, says Cut Clutter With Scissors. Look at your inventory spreadsheet and photos and “ask yourself which items you would replace in case of a disaster or burglary. If you wouldn’t replace the item, you probably don’t need it.”

If those extra things are worn, torn or shabby, they can go directly into the trash. If they still might be of use to someone else, they can go into a box or bag for #donation. Contact ClothingDonations.org for a free #pickup, and you’ll be rid of them forever.

You can sell the more expensive items you no longer need, of course, and use the money to fund a special treat for yourself. But you’ll have less stuff to take care of on a daily basis, and fewer worries as a result.

Donate the Stuff That Doesn’t Sell

Posted on by Jordank

Perhaps the most important secret to garage-sale success is to avoid reintegrating anything you marked for sale into your home after it ends. Think about it: You were ready to let those things go because they were no longer of any use to you; the fact that they didn’t sell at a low price doesn’t make them any more useful. Do yourself a favor: Before you make your first dollar, #schedule a #free #donation #pickup at ClothingDonations.org for the days after the #garage, #yard or #tag #sale. A truck will whisk that extra #stuff away, and the #clutter will be gone from your life for good. #GarageSaleSuccess

Pick the Best Day for Your Garage Sale

Posted on by Jordank

The day or days you choose to hold a #garage or #tag sale can impact its success. Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings are considered to be the best times to hold a sale, and the first weekend of the month is often when people have the most money to spend, according to personal finance specialists Ramsey Solutions. Get an early start if you expect hot weather, and try to avoid rainy days. Make sure you have plenty of small bills and coins to make change, or consider accepting digital payments via smartphone by downloading an app such as Venmo, Zelle or PayPal. Just be sure your Wi-Fi signal is strong! #GarageSaleSuccess