ThriftyFun News
Volume Eight, Number 5, February 10, 2006
http://www.ThriftyFun.com
Hello,
Today's issue is about cleaning with an emphasis on clutter control. We also created a poll on this subject on the website: Do have problems eliminating clutter in your household?
Post your answer:
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Have a nice weekend,
Susan
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Contest ends February 28, 2006
Tips
Avoiding Magazine Build Up
To avoid magazine build up I follow this rule. I have until the last day of the month the magazine is dated to keep it. At the first of the month all magazines from the previous month get recycled. That keeps things from piling up and keeps me from spending money on magazines I don't read.
By Dominique from Lincoln Park, MI
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Don't Get Bit by the Clutterbug!
By Maria Gracia It starts off as small as a sticky note. Soon, it's a pile of stuff. Then, just when you least expect it, you discover that the clutterbug is running amuck, all over your home and office.
If you don't watch out, you'll get bit. The consequences are stress, lost time, lost productivity, embarrassment, arguments, depression and environmental chaos--just to name a few.
Read More: Click Here
Creating Labels for Storage Boxes
When you are storing items within a larger box (such as what reams of paper are housed in) for long-term storage, make the label of the contents on the computer, and then do a copy-and-paste two additional times so that you have 3 identical labels. Tape one on the top, one on the long side and one on the short side or end of the box.
This way, no matter how you stack the boxes, you will be able to see what is in it. Just make sure all the labels are complete on one page. This is great way to use up junk mail letters that are only used on one side.
Additionally, if you will use the sharper edge of a 12 inch ruler to "rip" the excess off, you can avoid the tedious job of cutting the labels out. Put enough pressure on the ruler as you rip the paper to hold it securely during the operation. Makes very short work of trimming out the labels.
By Ronsan from southwest Missouri
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Clean Up Your Bill Clutter Once and For All
By Roxanna Ward An unorganized bill system can bring havoc to your finances. You have to create a system and keep it in place so that it works for you. Somebody else's system will never work for you. But you may be able to take some ideas from others in order to create your own.
Read More: Click Here
Create Cleaning Incentives
If you are a reforming clutteraholic, like myself, you probably need something like a 12 second reminder to stay focused on a task, just to get it done.
Recently, I began timing myself and husband, turning it into quite a fun game. We had a total of 6 countertops to get cleaned and cleared so I gave us literally minutes on the clock for each counter. If we finished sooner, we could add those minutes to the next counters minutes and select a prize from our treat bowls. No, it's not what you think. Our treat bowl consist of desires and wants that we both have like, foot massage or have spouse run a bubble bath or even "quiet time" for those of you with kids. My husbands favorite treat is blueberry pancakes for breakfast, mine is to get a foot massage!
We do the tasks together and that makes it so much better and fun. Then, we get to sit down and enjoy the fruits of our labor, literally!
By Felicia from Apache Junction, Az
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Tips from a Reforming Pack Rat
This is an organizing tip from a reforming pack rat that will also save you lots of money. It is a fun challenging idea. We love it!
My husband and I made a decision not to buy anything for one entire year except bare necessities, for example gas, water, groceries, unless we could exchange it for something we already had, but never used.
(People, you know who you are!)
1. Use a large plastic container to store all of your receipts for purchases made within the last 3 months or more, for example clothing store and grocery and home depot, Walmart and other store receipts.
2. Keep it in a easily accessible location, so you can develop the habit of emptying your receipts when you come in.
3. Pick a closet or dresser to clean out. Recently I found $75.00 worth of clothing from the same store that I had never worn, purchased in August. Here it is January 2006!
I put all of the clothing with receipts in a storage container with a lid, and just checked it if I was running errands (paying bills) and knew I'd be near one of those stores. I saw a skirt that I loved and asked when it would be marked down. Turns out, the following week. I traded it in and got a gorgeous denim skirt, which I wear and cost the full amount of my original purchase.
If by chance you don't have your receipt, most stores will give you credit at the current cost of that item. Having your receipt makes it easier to prove what you spent and less stressful.
What a wonderful reward for my efforts (Cleaning and Decluttering)!
This even works with buying books. I have a ton of them at home, half I have read the others I got from yard sales. There is a wonderful trade in program at a second hand Bookstore in a nearby town. I took in enough books to have credit built up of $50.00.
I kept a list of books I wanted to get and kept it in my purse. The next time I wanted to get some books, it cost me nothing but the time it took to clean off the shelfs at home.
Not only did this improve the Feng (how do you say) Shui, giving us less clutter. It also helped us stick to our commitment not to purchase impulsively.
I could go on forever with ways that we have saved by adopting this clean and trade policy in our household.
Lastly, I wanted to paint the kitchen and we all know that can be costly. I took three different colored paints and mixed them to get the desired color I wanted (Salmon). Warning do not do this without first calling the paint dept of your local paint store or Home Depot. Or you might be forced to spend money to fix the error.
After calling HD, I opened three cans of paint and began to slowly mix them with the off white that I had. These paints had been in the closet for months! My kitchen looks so cute! And it cost me all of $15.00 (spent last year) to paint. (I used to shop in the Oops section of the paint department). Now those cans of Oops have turned my kitchen to FAB! Not only did organizing the paint closet help me realize I had enough supplies to paint the entire house. It helped to create one great color out of three not so great.
Think collecting receipts does not pay? We recently realized we have $1,000.00 in merchandise from Costco that we never used, from our wedding. Look out Costco, here we come!
By Felicia from Apache Junction
Editor's Note: Keep us posted Felicia. This is a great project.
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Keep the Clutter Down, Don't Let it Overflow
One way to keep clutter down is to provide dedicated space/containers - baskets, shelf space, plastic tubs, hangers, hooks - for items which tend to accumulate.
Now this doesn't sound new, but the system won't stay uncluttered unless you commit to NEVER LETTING IT OVERFLOW! Art supplies spilling out of the tub? Thin them out. Your daughter has three robes but only two hooks? Donate one. Too many magazines for the basket? Time to take them to the library or used book store. Bought too many cake mixes on sale? Have a tea party and invite all your friends or bake the extras and meet your neighbors with gift in hand.
If you don't exceed the dedicated space for stored items, you won't find yourself in piles of overgrowth. Now, all you need to do is go through the house and sort your belongings, choose the best storage solution for you, and then never let it get bigger than your containers.
By Padma Raga
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