10, 20, & 30 Minute Decluttering Projects

Mark your calendar for Monday, Nov 22^nd. It's National Declutter Day, a day to remove some of the "stuff" from your home. Here are a few organizing project ideas, depending on how much time you have for this venture.

10 Minutes:

Quick decluttering: Walk through your home carrying a large garbage bag. Put in the bag any belongings that you don't use or love. Donate or toss the full bag.

Organize a utensil drawer. Use a drawer organizer to separate utensils by use. Donate gadgets and utensils that aren't used. Store utensils that are used only at the holidays with holiday decorations, leaving more space for what you need.

Decrease your junk mail by removing your name from mailing lists. Include all forms of your name. Within three months, there will be a reduction in junk mail. Write to:

Mail Preference Service
Attn: Preference Service Manager
Direct Marketing Association
PO Box 3079
Grand Central Station, NY

20 Minutes:

Clear out the junk drawer. Get rid of anything that has been sitting there, unused, for more than a year. Put back only what you use in the kitchen. Put away items that belong in other areas of the home.

Eliminate some paper. Recycle catalogs, magazines, newspapers.

30 Minutes:

Select the 2 to 3 most packed shelves in the linen closet. Pull out items, sorting into categories. Determine how many towels & sheet sets you need. Eliminate the excess. Could sheet sets be stored in the bedroom where they are used? Fold and return needed items to the shelves.

Grab a donation bag and head to a clothing closets & dressers. Toss in any clothing/shoes that you haven't worn and you don't feel comfortable in.

Take a little time to do some decluttering then stand back and enjoy the order you've created!

Simplify Holiday Shopping

With the holiday season fast approaching, now is the time to start planning a shopping strategy.

1. Make a list of people you will be buying for. Try using a chart format. (See sample below.) List names across the top. (For a Holiday Shopping List Chart, email pam@simplespacesorg.com.)

2. Decide what you would like to give each person on the list. Using the chart, write the store you will shop at on the far left and the item to purchase under the name and across from the store.

Consider consumable gifts: gift certificates to a favorite restaurant, tickets to a special event, a magazine subscription, and food. Children love coupons. Be creative. Consider what the child would enjoy: an afternoon at the beach, stay in your pajamas until noon, desert before lunch.

Sample Shopping List:

Name Store	Child		Husband		Neighbor	Home
Target	Basketball				Picture frame
Toys R US	Lego car
Best Buy			A new gadget
Dollar Store	Stocking stuffers					Wrapping paper, Ribbon
Make	Coupons				Coupon for babysitting

3. Plan the shopping to prevent multiple trips to the same store. Remember to use your list at the store. Mark off those gifts you purchase and highlight those you didn't find. See if those items may be available at another store on your list.

4. Shop efficiently. Shop stores that are in the same area at the same time and when you have a bigger block of time to shop. Stop at an isolated store when you are in the area for another activity or when you have a short time to shop.

5. Relax and enjoy the holidays!