Aim 4 Order

Happy December!

I’ve noticed that my email box is filling up much faster than usual - OUCH! It really increases my time on the computer.

So here’s my little tip for the day:

Click UNSUBSCRIBE for at least 1 email a day — pick a company who emails you the most frequently (that automatically eliminates me!) — the one you have no interest in (hmmmm….how did they get your email in the first place?).

The ‘unsubscribe’ option is usually at the bottom of the email. Go ahead - do it - just unsubscribe to 1 today. Make it a habit — one a day and you will notice a dramatic difference at the end of 30 days.

That’s it from me!

ENJOY this time of year, stay out of the stores as much as possible….and as my wise husband always tells me, LESS IS MORE!

ANNOUNCING:

INBOX INTERVENTION Teleclass
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
7:00 pm - 7:45 pm
On your telephone!
(If you cannot attend the live call, all registrants will receive a link to listen to the call at your convenience.)

For more details and to register, please copy and paste the link below in your browser:
http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=fbqko5bab&oeidk=a07e4300y7dfe0902ea

Hope to ’see’ you there!!

I am excited to announce my next Teleclass on Thursday, May 19th.

“But I Might Need This” - Downsizing Dilemmas

Thursday, May 19, 2011
7:15 pm - 8:00 pm EST
(If you can’t make the live call, simply pre-register and a link to the
entire call will be sent to you, following the live call).

Cost:
$18.00

Do you have a tough time deciding what to get rid of?
Do you know what to get rid of but don’t know where to take it?
Do you feel guilty throwing things out that others have given to you?
Do you know you ’should’ get rid of stuff, but just can’t find the time or motivation?
Do you feel completely overwhelmed by your possessions?

If you answered ‘yes’ to any of the above questions, then this is the class for you. Brought to you in the comfort of your own home, this 45 minute teleclass will teach you how to boldly downsize your possessions. Participants are encouraged to bring questions to the call and they will be answered.

And if you aren’t available on Thursday at 7:15 EST, no worries - the class will be recorded and as long as you pre-register prior to the start of the class, a link will be sent to you so you can hear every golden nugget of information that is shared.

Simply paste the link below in your browser to register.

http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=fbqko5bab&oeidk=a07e3ubftsjacb87aed

If you have any questions, please contact me at cindy@aim4order.com and I will answer you promptly.

Feel free to share this invitation with friends, family and co-workers - all are welcome.

I look forward to ’seeing’ you on the call.

Click on the link below (or copy and paste in your browser) and learn about my April 21st Teleclass on Paper Panic Prevention! All are welcome - if you can’t be on the ‘live’ call, it will be recorded and sent to all who pre-register for the class.

http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=fbqko5bab&oeidk=a07e3ol8u6g2a4ed9b8

Just had to report back on our trip to the dump today. You may recall that it was the 2011 Hazardous Waste Collection Event in Hunt Valley. It was GREAT! We filled the car with lots of old paint, lighter fluid, pesticides from who knows when and 2 empty helium tanks from birthday parties past. (My husband said that one of the boxes that we brought had been sitting in our basement for 15 years!).

The good news — we were in and out in minutes - there were friendly people at the dump to help unload the hazardous items. I was told that the helium tanks were not supposed to be dropped off today because they can be brought to the dump during the week and placed in scrap metal (but they need to be punctured first). The nice man said that he would take it for me this time…but in the future, just bring it during the week.

The bad news - NONE! My favorite part was counting the number of times my husband said HOW HAPPY he was that we went to the dump today. Now if I can get him to start letting go of his many, many stashes in the basement…..watch out world!

One of my favorites days of the year!!

Spring 2011 Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event
on Sunday, April 3, 2011
9 a.m. until 2 p.m.
at Baltimore County Resource Recovery Facility
Warren Road
Cockeysville, MD 21030
Baltimore County Residents may drop off unwanted household chemicals, paints, pesticides, medicines, mercury thermometers, fluorescent bulbs, rechargeable batteries, computers and home electronics, ammunition and automotive fluids for recycling or proper disposal. No trash will be accepted at this event.

You wouldn’t know it by the frequency of my emails or posts, but I regularly think about what kinds of things my readership would be interested in hearing from me. I have started to re-think the wisdom in sending out my “Tips and Tricks” because time after time I see them printed out and laying in piles on my client’s desks or table tops. The last thing I want to do is create MORE clutter in your homes and offices!


So - my new method of communicating with you is to discuss just one concept that doesn’t require printing an email (promise me you won’t print this out!). Just one concept that you can let ‘percolate’ in your brain and consider applying into your daily lives, if you so choose. Sound good?

Today’s concept to consider is one that I’ve been practicing for a few weeks now and am feeling really good about the results so far.

When you think you NEED something or you are tempted to BUY something, just wait - don’t react to the stimuli - just wait. Some people even have a notebook that they write out the items they’d like to buy and then wait a week or a month or whatever length of time (even a day) - and if they STILL want the item, then they can get it. But 9 times out of ten, they realize that they can live without the item.

So - take my waterproof shoes that I wear every day to walk the dog in the morning. I notice that the heel is starting to wear out. So the first thing I do is go on line and see all kinds of waterproof shoes - some that are REALLY nice (much better than the cheap pair I have) - some that are REALLY expensive…and the rationalizing begins (oh, I don’t often splurge, I should treat myself to those, after all, I walk the dog ALL THE TIME and it’s important that I have great footwear, blah, blah, blah). Well - the number of choices were so great that I felt overwhelmed for the moment and decided to postpone the hunt. I later looked at my current shoes and saw that it was just a cosmetic thing - there’s no leakage yet, the top of the shoe is perfect….and now it’s been several weeks and I’ve decided to not make any purchases right now. In these times of tightening the belt, it feels good to not spend when I don’t HAVE to spend. The other thing I am SO PROUD about is my chicken. I buy very good chicken at the supermarket - every week - 4 packages. I thought I HAD to buy this particular chicken because it was the best for me. Well - I noticed at Sam’s Club last week that they sold a week’s worth package of chicken for $6.63. I’ve been spending $25-30 a week on MY chicken. I didn’t know if the Sam’s Club chicken would be as good but thought I’d give it a try. Well guess what - it’s even BETTER than the other kind - imagine that! And I feel really proud that we’ll save $1000+ over the course of a year in chicken. So maybe I can afford those waterproof shoes after all.

Happy trails and just say “NOT YET” when the urge to buy hits you (unless you’re considering a needed service like getting organized).

Here’s to us, as we all ‘aim 4 order’ one day at a time.

TODAY IS GIVE YOUR STUFF AWAY DAY!

Yes, it’s true - a real, live national holiday started by one man….he is asking people from all over the country to gather the things they no longer need and place them curbside so that other people can benefit.

If I may be so bold as to suggest — how about just gathering the items and then driving them to Goodwill or Salvation Army or phoning one of the many local charities who may be interested in your ’stuff.’ (Until word spreads about this holiday, I’m concerned that people may be fined or tattled on due to misunderstandings of what they appear to be doing).

Use “GIVE YOUR STUFF AWAY DAY” as the perfect time to do what you’ve probably been wanting to do for quite some time.

And if you are interested in spreading the word about this day to others…. check out www.giveyourstuffaway.com.

PS - If you are reading this AFTER September 25th, then you are encouraged to celebrate this new holiday whenever (and as often as) you wish!

And How About Some More Random Tips and Tricks:

• A brightly colored wallet is easier to find - go wild and switch to a REALLY bright wallet and enjoy spotting it more quickly.

• Hang your jewelry on a bulletin board to prevent tangles.

• Go to www.gethuman.com to learn how you can get to a live voice faster at more than 1,000 businesses.

• SEVEN is the maximum number of tasks that should be on a daily to-do list to avoid mental overflow, according to author Jacqueline Leo, author of Seven: The Number for Happiness, Love and Success.

Now that 2 different people have commented that I haven’t blogged lately……I am SHOCKED that it’s been so long since I’ve posted. Please forgive me for my terrible lapse in blogging. How did this happen? Hmmmmmm……

How timely for me that in this month’s AARP newsletter, there is a wonderful list from Gail Blanke, the author of “Throw Out 50 Things: Clear the Clutter, Find Your Life” that I’m happy to share with you. Gail encourages us to ‘throw out 50 things from your home — and from your mind.’

Here goes:
1. Magazines more than 3 months old. They’re fire hazards.
2. Old receipts clogging the kitchen drawer. You know that drawer.
3. Keys that seem to have no locks. Haven’t had for years. Maybe decades.
4. The belief that you’re alone.
5. Twisty ties, random paper clips and safety pins.
6. Loose change (recycle!).
7. Trying to please everyone.
8. Containers of partially used grooming products untouched for 6 months.
9. Makeup in shades you no longer wear or can’t be found in nature.
10. List your insecurities - and toss 75% of them.
11. Put yourself down.
12. The need for everyone to like you.
13. Old athletic shoes with worn treads (recycle!).
14. Medicines for conditions you no longer have (Your pharmacy can dispose of them).
15. Jumping to negative conclusions before you know the real deal.
16. Mismatched silverware or dishes.
17. Banged-up pots.
18. Stale spices and ingredients.
19. Thinking you’re always right.
20. Training wheels. (Your son is 38, right?)
21. T-shirts from the company outing that you grudgingly attended 2 weeks before you were canned.
22. The times you messed up.
23. The need to know how it all turns out.
24. Plastic garden pots.
25. Dried-up tubes of glue. Dried-up anything, really.
26. A single sock, glove or earring. Its mate is not coming back.
27. Thinking you have to have all the answers.
28. People who remember the bad times, not the good ones.
29. Sheets, towels or pillows that are torn, chewed or just bum you out.
30. Old college furniture.
31. Wire clothes hangers.
32. Clothes that no longer fit.
33. Clothes from a departed loved one. Someone else needs them now.
34. Thinking that if you let go of the memorabilia, you’ll lose the memories.
35. Souvenirs from bad vacations.
36. Old parking tickets.
37. Bank statements, unless you need them for tax purposes. Shred.
38. Bills more than one year old. Keep shredding.
39. Fear that you’re not rich enough, smart enough, good enough.
40. Energy-sucking comparisons with other people.
41. Playing the same music over and over.
42. Feeling that your life is a movie you’re watching instead of starring in.
43. The belief that your best days are behind you.
44. Books that you’ll ‘get to someday.’
45. Waiting for the right moment.
46. Eating the same food.
47. Fear of looking foolish.
48. The adage “no one is indispensable.” Everyone counts.
49. Negative typecasting.
50. Anything you don’t want to pass on to your children — from worn out rugs to worn out grudges.

I have a file on my desk called “Random Organizing Tips and Helpful Websites” and this is my way of cleaning out the file AND sharing the items that might appeal to you.

Did you know that hiring a professional organizer has another benefit (besides helping you to get your home, office and/or life in order and feel tons better about yourself and life in general)? Occasionally we find a few dollars here and there or missing jewelry, etc when sorting through items with clients. I thought it would fun to tell you a few of the BIG FINDS of 2009 (so far!).

3 Birth Certificates
2 Car Titles
3 Passports
$400 in birthday gift cards
Plane tickets
$1,100 in savings bonds in a shoe box in the basement, now worth over $4,000
$60,000 in savings bonds discovered in a 12 year old file folder.

So - if you’re putting off scheduling a session with me - think twice - can you afford to wait any longer?!

And here we go with this month’s Tips and Tricks:

Speaking of savings bonds….
In the most recent AARP bulletin (yes, thank you, I’m a member now!)…..if you think you may have some long lost savings bonds, go to www.treasurydirect.gov and under “Individuals:What You Can Do” column, use the Treasury Hunt tool to plug in the bondholder’s Social Security number. Only bonds issued from 1974 to present will show up but for earlier bonds, you can write to Bureau of the Public Debt, PO Box 7012, Parkersburg, WV 26106-7012. Include as many details as possible, including names, addresses and approximate issue dates. If bond records are found, the bureau will let you know how to redeem them.

Some great e-cycling resources for you:

www.earth911.org - provides drop off sites and good advice about e-waste.

www.myboneyard.com - secure way to recycle, free shipping and ensures personal data are cleared.

US POSTAL SERVICE - new free mail back program for small electronics- envelopes provided in local post office branches.

Baltimore County Residents:

If you’ve misplaced your recycle schedule for your neighborhood, just go to www.baltimorecountymd.gov/go/collectionconnection for your schedule.

Get rid of hazardous waste from April to November (i.e. paints, motor oil, antifreeze, pesticides, fertilizers, mercury thermometers, ammunition) at the Eastern Sanitary Landfill, 6259 Days Cove Road in White Marsh. Call 410-887-3745 for more information.

Fix Windshield chips before they turn into a full crack - A repair can be done in your driveway for less than $100 (search “mobile glass-repair service” and your zip code online to find a company).

Great website for moms and dads - www.handmedowns.com - a one stop destination for buying, selling or donating gently used items.

Save money on airfare - www.yapta.com - helps you get a refund if you buy a ticket and the price later drops.

Online piggy bank - set up a free account at www.SmartyPig.com

Keep plugging and know that I’m an email or phone call away. I’d love to hear how you’re doing in your quest to Aim 4 Order!

Best regards to you and yours.

Cindy