Dear   ,    

Happy Thanksgiving!  I am so grateful for your interest in my thoughts and suggestions each month, and I thank you for your comments and responses over the years.  I love being part of your lives in this little way each month, and hope you find these tips helpful.  At this time of year we're all trying to get organized for some of our most fun ('though sometimes most stressful) holidays.  I wish you all a peaceful and happy holiday surrounded by your favorite people.

- Maryann Murphy 

Take the No-Clutter Holiday Challenge

The annual holiday shopping frenzy has started.  Black Friday is almost here and the newspapers, television and internet are full of ads trying to convince us we should buy more things.  But how do you make sure the things you buy don't just become clutter for you or anyone else?

1. Try to identify what they really want and will use.  Take the Thanksgiving holiday to do some research about their favorite colors, sizes, brands, what tools are missing from their kitchen or workbench, whether they're a PC or a Mac, etc.  Do this before you go shopping.  Make a list; check it twice.
2. Consider giving experiences they wouldn't otherwise get for themselves:
• Tickets to a show or sporting event
• Gift certificate to their favorite restaurant, a local spa, a trip around the world (okay, maybe that one's a little outside your budget, but a girl can dream, can't she?)
• A coupon book you make up yourself for things you will do together with them or for them (a night of bowling, babysitting on a Saturday night, letting them pick the movie whenever they choose, etc.).
• A gift certificate for some organizing services?  (I'm just saying!)
3. Consider consumable gifts - these are very special and appreciated, but they get used up and disappear, leaving very little clutter behind:
• A fruit basket, or for something really unusual - fruit arrangements (check out www.EdibleArrangements.com, www.HarryandDavid.com, or www.1800flowers.com for delicious fruit arranged into bouquets or fun shapes.)  You can even make your own if you're crafty and have the time.  Check out www.wikihow.com/Make-Edible-Fruit-Arrangements  for the basic techniques.
• Calendars make great gifts because most people need several of them, they can be personalized to their special interests, and people usually get rid of the old one when the year is up.  One of the best presents I ever gave was a calendar for my husband featuring photos from our anniversary trip to Hawaii.  Every month he has been reminded of a wonderful experience we shared, and I designed it all myself (with help from the Shutterfly templates), so it's completely personalized to highlight our special memories.  Try an online service like www.Shutterfly.com (now offering 40% off), www.snapfish.com (offering a special gift pack of 3 personalized calendars for $26.99 - gift sleeves included), or www.VistaPrint.com (50% off, 1 as low as $7.99).  These are incredibly thoughtful gifts because they're completely unique and tailored just for your special someone(s).
• And of course, chocolate, cheese baskets, nuts, specialty popcorn, cookies, wines, hot cocoas, or any of a thousand other choices of foods and drinks they love!
4. Finally, always give gift receipts with your gifts.  Just in case your choice wasn't quite perfect, or they already received 3 of them, make it easy for your friends and family to return things so they know where to go to get the right size, color, refund, or alternative.

I love getting and giving presents wrapped in pretty paper and bows, so I'm not saying to eliminate those special, fun or practical gifts that are tangible (hint, hint, Dan), but I do suggest we all take the challenge to reduce the clutter this Christmas and Hannukkah, and change at least one or two of those tangible gifts for something that will leave more happy memories than unused stuff.