Monday, November 24, 2008

Black Friday

The day after Thanksgiving, or Black Friday is traditionally the hottest shopping day of the year, the day that all of the stores are "in the black." There is also a movement to make it "Buy Nothing Day." Whatever you decide to do on November 28, have a happy Thanksgiving and enjoy the spirit of the holidays.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Peter Walsh on Oprah

Expert organizer Peter Walsh was featured on Oprah this week. See his clutter tips online at http://www.oprah.com/contributor/home/peterwalsh.

Monday, November 10, 2008

Presentation at Middletown Library

Sara Long Organizing will be presenting a program entitled "What Do I Do With All the Paper" on Friday, November 14, at 10 a.m. at Middletown Free Library. To RSVP, call Meg from Lion's MANE at 610-627-7234.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Save Money by Clearing the Clutter

In this troubling economy, we all are looking for ways to save money. Here are some ways in which getting organized can actually help you find extra funds.

Avoid late fees. If you paperwork is in order and you have a reliable schedule for paying bills, you will reduce late fees. You may even get a better view of where your money is going and how to save a bit here and there.

Discover gift cards and certificates. While clearing up your files, dressers, and closets, you may find forgotten gift cards and gift certificates. Use them for your daily needs or for upcoming holiday gifts.

Find items to return. If you are cleaning out closets and storage rooms, see if you find any unwanted items that you recently bought that still have tags and/or receipts with them. Return these items to the stores for extra money, or use store credit for holiday gift purchases.

Unearth items to sell. While clearing out the clutter, you may find older items that you don’t really need. Consider selling them on eBay or Craig’s List or consigning them at your local thrift shop.

Prevent buying things twice. Often while you’re organizing, you will come across items that you forgot you had bought. Maybe you already bought a second one (which you can return or sell), or you were just about to buy a second one. It’s a great feeling when you’ve found something, because you’ve saved the money you would have spent buying it again!

Rack up tax deductions. Donating items to thrift shops can give you more tax deductions. You can get a receipt from the donation center. If you get a receipt or not, remember to keep a list of what you donate and their estimated fair market values. It adds up!

Once you clear out the clutter and develop organization systems, it will be easier to determine what you have and what you need. Being organized saves you money, and it also saves you time. So pick a place to start organizing today!