48. Organize Your Sewing Patterns

If you are a sewing aficionado you probably have accumulated several patterns. They are expensive and it is hard to purge knowing how much you paid for them. They will clutter up your sewing space quickly unless you periodically go through and purge.

Gather all of the patterns you own into one space. Carefully review each one and determine if you want to keep or recycle. Be honest with yourself, will you ever use that pattern again? Is the fashion out of date? Has your family outgrown the sizes?

You have several options to recycling the patterns you have chosen to discard.

-Since they are made of paper, you can place them in your recycle bin

- Try selling them online at

www.ebay.com

www.rustyzipper.com

www.momspatterns.com

www.debsrecycledsewingpatterns.com

www.craigslist.com

- Donate them to:

your local high school or college theater department

sewing classes

museums

thrifts shops and vintage clothing stores.

Organize the remaining patterns into categories that will be easy for you to locate later. "Costumes", "Household", "Women's Fashions", "Men's Fashions", "Baby". Pick categories that work best for you. Store into plastic containers and then label the outside of the containers with your chosen categories. You can then store the containers on a shelf or under your bed depending on your space restrictions.

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.

44. Organize your Business Cards

Do you need to keep business cards but don't want to deal with an old fashioned rolodex? Try scanning them into your computer. There are several scanners available for business cards making it ease to search and categorize once they are scanned. Search for a program that is compatible with your computer and has the functions that will be easy use. Following are a few I've heard having great reviews:

Evernote - Take a photo of the card. Once you upload the photo, you can search for it through Evernote. You can use it online, on iPads and iPhones.

Neat Receipts - Does a great job unless there are too many graphics on the business card.

CardScan - Has the capability to scan both sides of the card. Once scaned, you can edit the stored information. Can export and sync with programs like Excel and Outlook.

After you scan the cards, recycle the waste.

43. Organize Your Outdoor Storage Shed

Now that the wether is getting cooler, it is the perfect time to organize and purge your outdoor storage shed.

- Pull everything out of the shed and thoroughly clean out all the dirt, cobwebs and anything else that has made its way into the shed uninvited. This would be a perfect opportunity to use a fogging bug spray or hire a pest control service.

- While the shed is empty, take accurate measurements of the space inside. This will be handy when locating shelving and storage bins.

- Take inventory of the items needing to be returned to the shed. Decide if you want to store the items on the wall, on a shelve, in a box, etc. Inspect everything to insure they need to be returned to the shed. Will the yard tools survive another season? Do they need to be replaced? Has the can of paint dried? Purge as much as possible.

- Group all like items together: Tools, Paints/Chemicals, Planting and lawn equipment, Sports equipment, Car Care, Seasonal Decorations, etc.

- Organize your items by using nails on the wall, shelving, pegboards/hooks, a tool box, plastic boxes. You do not have to spend a lot of money on organizational items. Be creative with what you already have on hand.

- When placing the items back into the shed, consider the items that will be used the most. Place those items closest to the door for easy access.

- Secure the door with a lock to keep children and hopefully thieves out.

42. Organize Your Music CD's

Music CD's can take up a lot of space. Most people have converted to mp3's but can't part with their precious CD's. You have several choices on how to organize your music.

1. Gather all of your CD's and alphabetize them to store in a wall CD organizer. This will give you quick and easy access to your music if you still plan to play the music off of your CD's. You can find several different styles to choose from ranging in price of $15 to several hundred dollars.

2. Download all of your music onto your computer and purge the actual CD's. Of the purged CD's you can sell, trade, or give them away. There are multiple onlines choices for you to list and sell your music online including amazon.com, eBay, craigslist, cashforCDs.com, secondspin.com, etc. Also check with local music stores in your area to see if they have a buy back program. Trading your CD's is another great option that can be done

at swap.com. You list the CD's that you have available and the items you are wanting. Once they find a match for your swap, you are given instructions on where to mail your CD. Very easy.

3. Organize your music in a CD binder and recycle the jewel cases if you choose to hold onto the CD's but do not want to look at them every day. They will be neatly stored and take up less room.

41. Organize Your Medication

With cold and flu season approaching, it is time to purge and organize your medication.

Gather all of the medicine and vitamins around the house. Check the expiration dates on everything and pull out expired medication.

The Center for Disease Control has a list of list of medications recommended for disposal by flushing. Do NOT flush all medication. The FDA suggests most medications can be disposed of in the trash after mixing them with an unappealing substance (ex. kitty liter, coffee grounds) and sealing them in a container.

September 25th, 2010 is Prescription Drug Take Back Day. Take unused and expired medicine in all forms to a collection site near you. The DEA will later incinerate the medicine.

Medicine and Vitamin bottles can be recycled with curbside recycling, but make sure you remove all labels and the lids. Hot soapy water will help in removing the labels.

You can also check with veterinarian offices to use for animal prescriptions or animal shelters may take them to help with their operating costs.

Now you can store your medication.

-Store all medication in a dry place out of sunlight unless noted otherwise on the bottle.

-Make sure you keep medication in it's original container.

-Store OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN.

-Find a container that would be easy for you to reach and carry.

- Determine if you need a locked or unlocked container.

40. Keeping Medical Records Organized.

Keeping accurate records for family medical care is essential. This will help you keep track of appointments, financial information, personal information and needed health updates. I have found several tools to make this much easier to pull all the information into one place rather than using bulky binders. Each one is customizable for each member of the family.

-www.AboutOne.com: this can be accessed from anywhere and is easy to print out reports on vital information to give to new doctors.

-www.carebinders.com: has features to remind you of appointments, keep track of visits, medication, health history and information. Also tracks insurance claims.

-www.911medicalid.com. Load information and store on the USB drive. Carry in your wallet, purse or on a hang on a lanyard around your neck.

Don't forget to keep all receipts and financial paperwork including insurance EOB's.

39. What To Do With All Those Stuffed Animals??

Kids (and some adults) LOVE stuffed animals. Before you know it, your collection can take over a space. Over time, they can accumulate dust mites and can be harmful to people with allergies or asthma problems.

Organizing your stuffed animal collection is easy. Purge, Purge, Purge. Donate your purged stuffed animals to the following locations:

Stuffed Animals For Emergencies

Project Night Light

Local Goodwill or Salvation Army stores.

Please check with their requirements before sending stuffed animals.

Once you've settled on the stuffed animals you would like to keep, determine the best way to store your collection that would be easy for you to maintain. Some of my favorite options are:

- Hang a shelf on the wall to display your collection.

-Store in a toy chest, Rubbermaid container, or over the door plastic shoe racks.

-I found this Animal Bag storage chair online. It is like a bean bag but is sold without the stuffing. You fill it with your own stuffed animals. Your stuffed animals are gathered all in one location while creating some extra seating your room at the same time. I think this is a perfect solution for the stuffed animals that your children just can't seem to part with right now.

I also suggest, purging the stuffed animals when the kids are away. You will be able to get rid of so much more without any distractions or someone throwing a tantrum because they want to keep Pooh Bear.

Good luck!

38. Purge Your Keys

Are you afraid to throw away old keys for fear you may need them? If you haven't used the key in a few years, chances are, you probably won't. Time to purge those keys! I bet you have keys on your keychain right now that you have no idea what they open. Or maybe you have the keys to an old car, house or locker thrown in a drawer somewhere.

Check in drawers, the garage, the basement, your keychain and collect all the old keys in your house.

You can recycle the keys at most recycling stations in their mixed metal bins, place an ad on craigslist and give them away, donate them to Key For Hope. You can get creative and use the extra keys to make a wind chime, decorate a picture frame, or any other craft project you come up with.

37. Purge Your Bath Towels

We all seem to have an abundance of towels. I'm going out on a limb here, but I would say 3 towels per family member would be plenty. While one is in the wash, you still have a supply for use. Imagine all the space you will create once you purge all the extra towels out of your linen closets. I'm positive most of your towels need purging anyway......starting to fray, fade, have holes?

You can donate the purged towels to homeless shelters, animal shelters, your church may have a family needing help setting up a household, a young couple starting out, or a student going off to school in the Fall.

36. Go Paperless

Take a look around you. Most of the paperwork that surrounds you can be found online. Not only will it be eco-friendly to rid yourself of unnecessary paperwork, but it will free you of unnecessary clutter.

Set up an online bill paying system with your bank. You can receive your bills online and then turn around and pay the bills online. Wa-La! No more paperwork. Plus you don't have to buy a stamp. Link this to your Quicken account and you rid yourself of having to keep track of a checkbook.

35. De-clutter your pens and pencils

For some reason we all have an abundance of pens and pencils. Seriously, how many does one person need? Take some time today to purge your pens and pencils.

First start by discarding pens that no longer work. Simply scribble on a piece of paper with each pen to test it. Second go through your pencils and discard ones that have dwindled down to short little nubs or have lost their eraser.

Go through the remaining stash and purge again. Many of us are particular about what types of pens we like to write with, so go ahead, purge the rest.

After the purging process you can sharpen the pencils you have decided to keep.

Donate all of your purged pens/pencils to The Pencil Project or your local school.

34. Keep A Donation Box Handy

Keep a "donation box" in a designated place in your home. Encourage all family members to place items they no longer want or need in the box. When the box is full, take it to the charity or recycling center of your choice.

Don't forget to get a tax receipt.

33. Create A Babysitter Information Sheet

Peace of mind will come when you are prepared for the babysitter. Create a standard babysitter information sheet to use when you are hiring childcare in your home. Give this to the sitter prior to leaving the home. I like to place it by the home phone since this is where they would probably run in an emergency.

The info sheet should contain the following items:

- Names of children and their ages

- Home address and phone number

- Contact numbers for you and your spouse

- Pediatrician name and number

- Name of your destination that night

- Name and number of a neighbor in case of emergency

- Special instruction: bedtime, food allergies, is your child on any medication, bedtime routines, etc.

Here is a template for you to use.

32. Un-clutter Your Email

Are you receiving too many emails on a daily basis? Unsubscribe from all emails that do not bring you value or your usually delete before reading. This will remove you from their distribution list and keep those annoying emails out of your inbox.

31. Organize Your Bills

Keeping track of your bills is a huge task that many people hand off to their spouse. It is important that both the husband and wife have a grasp on what bills need to be paid, when to pay the bills, where to find important documents, and where all the investments are for the family.

If you would prefer to have your spouse handle the day to day bill paying, you should have them keep a record of all transactions so you are able to take over without any problem.

Make a list of all monthly bills, investments, passwords. Keep all important documents in one location and show your spouse where you keep this list. Make sure to include any instructions or addresses of safety deposit boxes, names of account/financial advisor on your list. Keep a copy of your updated Will with this list would be beneficial.

30. Organize Your Schedule

With Back-To-School in full swing, it is essential to get your family's schedule organized. The best way it to keep track of all your activities, appointments, birthdays, holidays, etc is on a family calendar. Pick ONE calendar for the family to use. Having multiple calendars creates too much room for error. It would be easy to double book yourself unless you are using one system.

There are many types of calendars to choose. Wall calendars, desk calendars, electronic calendars, pockets calendars or even magnetic dry-erase calendars. Each variety offers day, week or month at a glance options. Pick a system that would be easy for you and your family to update.

I found this great FREE online calendar that would be perfect for a busy family. www.cozi.com It can be updated and viewed from any computer with internet access. Some of the features include sending reminder messages of upcoming events, sync with Microsoft Outlook, add shopping or To Do list, add photos and keep a family journal. I love this idea since mom can add/delete appointments and dad can easily view the calendar from work. No more missed communication.

29. Organize Your Past Tax Returns

The IRS will challenge you up to 6 years on any past tax returns, so keep these returns and supporting documents on hand. Anything beyond that can be shredded and discarded. Free up your filing cabinets from unnecessary paper work.

You can learn more on IRS.gov.