47. Finding a Home for Purged Items.

You are more likely to purge items if you have a place to send them. This will help you to feel better about getting rid of items and will also keep them from returning to your space. Use the list below to find a donation location for your unwanted items:

BOOKS:

Recycle Reads: 5335 Burnet Road, 78756 http://recycledreadsaustin.wordpress.com/

Austin Public Library Bookstore: http://www.austinlibrary.org/site/PageServer?pagename=friend_bstore

www.cash4books.net

VIDEO GAMES:

Game Stop: www.gamestop.com

DVDs/CDs:

www.secondsping.com

www.swap.com

UNUSED GIFT CARDS:

www.plasticjungle.com

JEWELRY:

www.americangemsociety.org

WASTE/BATTERIES:

City of Austin Recycling: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/sws/default.htm

Austin’s Household Hazardous Waste Facility: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/sws/residential_hazardous_waste.htm

Batteries Plus: http://www.batteriesplus.com/

CFL Light Bulbs: Home Depot or IKEA

Oil/Oil Filters/Car Batteries: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/sws/zerowaste_recycling_motoroil.htm

TOYS:

Anna’s Toy Depot: 2620 South Lamar, 78704 http://www.annastoydepot.com/

Stuffed Animals For Emergencies (stuffed animals): http://www.stuffedanimalsforemergencies.org/Home.html

Call your local preschool.

ELECTRONICS:

- Best Buy Electronic Recycling: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/null/Recycling-Electronics/pcmcat149900050025.c?id=pcmcat149900050025&DCMP=rdr0001422

- National Cristina Foundation: http://www.cristina.org/

Cell Phones For Soldiers: http://www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com/

Texas Take Back: http://texastakeback.com/

Cell For Cash: www.cellforcash.com offers cash for outdated phones.

www.gazelle.com

CLOTHING:

GoodWill: http://www.austingoodwill.org/

Nike Reuse-A-Shoe: http://www.nikereuseashoe.com/

SafePlace: http://ww.safeplace.org

The Prom Shop Project (evening wear, shoes & accessories): http://www.promshopproject.com/donate.html

Dress For Success (business attire): http://www.dressforsuccess.org/home.aspx

Sweet Peas: http://www.yelp.com/biz/sweet-peas-childrens-consignment-lakeway

Second Time Around Boutique: http://www.secondtimearoundatx.com

Plato’s Closet: http://www.platoscloset.com/

EYEGLASSES:

One Sight: http://www.onesight.org/na/

PENCILS/SCHOOL SUPPLIES:

The Pencil Project: http://thepencilproject.com/resources.html

HOUSEHOLD ITEMS:

-Wire Hangers: Any neighborhood Dry Cleaner

-Austin Humane Society (blankets, towels & pet supplies): http://www.austinhumanesociety.org/

-BabyEarth (baby items): http://www.babyearth.com/renew

-Building Materials: Habitat For Humanity ReStore http://www.Re-Store.com/index.php

-Cosmetic Containers: turn in six used MAC containers to a MAC store and get a free lipstick, http://www.maccosmetics.com. Origins, http://www.origins.com and Aveda, http://www.aveda.com stores accept all types of cosmetic containers for recycling.

-Paint: Household Hazardous Waste Facility, www.ci.austin.tx.us/sws/hhw.htm

-Refrigerators/Freezers: http://www.austinenergy.com/Energy%20Efficiency/Programs/Refrigerator%20Recycling/index.htm

SPORTING EQUIPMENT:

-Play It Again Sports: http://www.playitagainsports.com/

-Swap Me Sports: http://www.swapmesports.com/

-Austin Humane Society (tennis balls): http://www.austinhumanesociety.org/

OFFICE & ART SUPPLIES:

-Austin Children’s Theater: http://austinchildrenstheater.org/donate/

-Austin Creative Reuse: http://austincreativereuse.org

-Ink and Toner Cartridges:

http://www.staples.com/sbd/cre/products/perm/ink_toner_recycling/ https://www.officemaxperks.com/RecyclingProgram.aspx

46. Get Organized on Daylight Savings day

Daylight Savings constitutes a changing of our clocks twice per year. With this change, you can set an organizing schedule to follow that would be easy to remember. Simple...twice per year you should:

-check your carbon dioxide and smoke detector batteries

-replace batteries in your flashlights

-clean out the refrigerator of expired items

-clear out expired medicine

-pull out the fridge and clean behind it

-re-evaluate your emergency exit strategies

-replace food/water in your emergency kits

-update emergency phone numbers

-replace missing items from your first aid kit

-get the guest room ready for holiday out-of-town guest

-change all your passwords

-have your heating/air-conditioning unit tuned for the upcoming season

most important....change your clocks.

45. Organize your Halloween Costumes & Decorations

Now that Halloween is over, it is time to organize the costumes and decorations from the holiday. Take a sweep through the house and yard and gather all of your decorations and costumes.

Now is a perfect time to purge items that are broken, worn or are needing replacement. Examine each item carefully to determine if you plan to use it again.

You can donate unwanted costumes/decorations to:

-area schools who will continue to use them for future plays

-local community theater groups

-Medieval and Renaissance era costumes would be accepted by the Society of Creative Anachronism (SCA)

-TDF Costume Collection

-Local Goodwill and Salvation Army stores

-sell on craigslist or eBay

Many store will offer discounts on their remaining Halloween stock giving you an opportunity to pick up some new decorations at a great price. Remember to purge something old prior to bringing in something new. This will help to keep the clutter under control.

It is important to store all the decorations in one place so they will be easy to locate and use the following year. Choose a storage box that will protect the items and help to maintain their original shape. If they box is opaque, clearly label the outside "Halloween Decorations" or list the contents of the box.