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The Recycling Corner:
Resale Shops
The best form of recycling is passing an item on to someone who will reuse it. The easiest way to do this for most household goods and furniture is to donate your items to a charitable resale shop, where your items will be resold to someone who wants them. You get a receipt for your taxes, and any small profit will be gained by the charity.
Some of the most likely places to find a charity to take your household goods are:
Churches (either periodic "rummage sales" or ongoing thrift shops). Some will pick up furniture items before a big sale.
Hospital or medical cause-related thrift shops.
Senior centers
Salvation Army (will often pick up items, including furniture).
Pick your charity based on a cause you can believe in, but also on:
Location & hours of operation (a place where you can drop things off on the way home from the store or work is sometimes more convenient than a pick-up that only happens once every few months)
Type of items they take (toys, furniture, electronics are not accepted by everyone, so check before bringing them)
How easy it is to get a receipt for your taxes (most make it very easy, but sometimes you have to go online or call to get a receipt).
If you think you would prefer to sell your items yourself, see my article on Yard Sale Tips. But if a yard sale seems like too much work, is not feasible given where you live, or is just "not you", a donation to a resale shop can be quick and easy. Your items will go to people who really want them, and you'll be helping out a good cause. Kind of makes you want to sort through your things right now, doesn't it? |
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A Place for Everything
is a 4-week class on how to get your life better organized and clear the clutter. I've taught this class many times, and people always love it! Come join us. Sign up at:
Thursdays, 9/30-10/21
6:30 - 8:30 pm
Call 508 759-7711 ext. 211 to register. |
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| Dear ,
August can be a busy month. What with vacation trips, guests coming to visit (especially here on Cape Cod!), and back-to-school planning, it's a natural time to think about getting everything more organized - not as a big chore, but as an opportunity to enjoy your time and your home more!
Lighten up your load of household items with a yard sale or a trip to a resale shop. When the weather is hot, cleaning out your naturally cool basement can feel great. On a cooler day like today, clearing out a shed or yard can make it more useable the whole rest of the year!
Consider lightening up your schedule as well. Participating in fewer activities this fall could allow you to enjoy each of them more. See "Never Enough Time?" below for more ideas about how to make time for the things you really want to do.
 Don't go crazy with the cleanout work - it is vacation season, after all. But take some time to pass things on, using some of the resources I've listed. Then go have an ice cream and relax in the shade. It's still summer, so lighten up and enjoy it!
- Maryann Murphy
Your Personal Organizing Expert |
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Yard Sale Tips
Yard sales are a great way to make some money and get rid of things you no longer use without having to travel any farther than your own driveway. They can be fun in the right circumstances, but they are also a lot of work, and they're not for everyone. If your main goal is to get rid of things to create more space in your home, yard sales are usually not the best choice because they take advance planning, you usually won't get rid of everything, and you may be better off spending your time organizing the things you plan to keep instead. But if you want to give it a try, follow the tips below.
Consider a yard sale if:
q You have a good location, easily visible from the street and with easy parking for shoppers.
q You enjoy selling - describing your items in glowing terms and helping people realize how useful an item will be for them (even though you don't find it useful any more).
q You won't be offended if strangers pick through your things, occasionally make rude comments about them, and consistently try to get cheaper prices for them.
q You have some help, especially at the beginning of the day when "earlybirds" arrive before you thought they would, and can overwhelm you.
q You are willing to take the time to clean everything at least superficially (no cobwebs), price it all ahead of time, and set it out so it's convenient and attractive for customers to look through.
q You have the right attitude - the goal is to get things out of your home or storage area, into someone else's home where they can use it, and make a little money in the process. If you plan to make huge profits on your items, or even get your money back given what you paid for them originally, a yard sale is probably not the way to go.
Tips for yard sale success:
q Advertise ahead of time. Most local newspapers have yard sale sections, and many customers make a map of the day's sales before going out. Be sure to get on their list!
q Post clear signs with your address, directions and/or arrows around your neighborhood and especially in front of your house. Be careful not to post signs illegally on others' property.
q Set things out in categories - jewelry, clothes, kitchen items, books, music, etc.
q Pre-price EVERYTHING. A lack of pricetags will cause many shoppers to walk away.
See my website at www.maryannmurphymsw.com for more yard sale tips. A yard sale can be a lot of work, but it can be fun as well. Good luck with your sale, and remember to use the proceeds on things you won't realize you have to get rid of again at the next one! |
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Never Enough Time to Do what you Want?
 Brian Tracy, Productivity Expert and author of "Time Power" and "Eat That Frog! 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time" says: "Before you start something new, you must discontinue something old. You can gain control of your life only to the degree to which you stop doing things that are no longer as valuable or as important to you as other things you could be doing."
So if you there's something you want to be doing, think about what else you could stop doing to make the time. It sounds difficult, but here are some suggestions:
This rule applies to the things you own as well. To make room for new things you want in your life, it helps a lot to get rid of the things you no longer want or use. So if you'll really never do that crafts project you've held on to for 10 years without starting, pass it on to someone who will use it, and free up the time you spend thinking about it to begin doing something new that you will enjoy. |
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 Please call me at 508 292-6706 if you need additional help organizing your home, your office, or your schedule. I can come to your home or office and help you there, or do coaching by phone. I also conduct trainings and do public speaking for corporations and community groups on Organizing, Time Management and Public Speaking.
As always, your feedback is important to me. Please let me know what topics you are interested in so that I can address your questions and comments in future editions. My business relies on referrals, so please forward this to anyone you think might benefit from it. Thanks! |
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Sincerely,
Maryann Murphy, MSW
Professional Organizer, Speaker, Trainer
(508) 292-6706
Director of Professional Development, NAPO-NE
Chronic Disorganization Specialist, NSGCD
Division F Governor,Toastmasters International District 31
Member, National Speakers Association (NSA)
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