Strategies for Stuffed Animal Overload: Confessions of an Organized Mom

I have a confession to make. I really hate to admit it, being a Professional Organizer and all. But plenty of you have admitted your dirty little organizational and productivity secrets to me, so here goes . . . (click here to read the rest of the post)

• Organized finances give you the ability to assess budget/spending and cut surplus costs and expenses.
• With so many people out of work and struggling, charities need your excess stuff to help these families in their time of need.  And you can benefit, too, by taking a tax deduction for all your worthwhile donations.
• Organizing creates a mental shift from the “abundance mentality” (which can be draining to the pocketbook) to simplicity (which is much easier to achieve than you may think).
• Organization saves you money by not needing to buy things you already have but cannot find.
• Organizing your to-do list and chores allows you to combine trips and save on gas.
• Learning to better prioritize, which is what organizing is all about, gives you a better idea of what really is important to you, and helps you define where to cut costs and where to invest.

So how has being organized, or disorganized affected your household budget and expenses? I’d love to hear your input. Leave me a comment below . .

Simply yours,

Debbie

Goodwill has a free Goodwill Donation Valuation Guide.

Click here for a downloadable form that will make it easy for you to assess your 2009 donations. While you’re at it, print a second copy to  keep track of your 2010 donation amounts and by this time next year, you’ll be ready to tackle your taxes with ease.

 Simply yours,

Debbie

Dress for Success

Donate your gently-used dress suits to Dress for Success. Dress for Success promotes the economic independence of disadvantage women by providing them with professional attire to interview for potential jobs. For information, visit their website at www.dressforsuccess.org

Freecycle.org

Freecycle.org is a grassroots, nonprofit movement of people who are giving stuff for free in their own towns. It’s all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills. Each group is moderated by a local volunteer. Membership is free. Visit the site to sign up, search for your community and start listing your giveaways.

Fairy Godmother Project

The Fairy Godmother Project collects donations of new and “gently worn” formal dresses and accessories so financially disadvantaged students in Massachusetts can attend formal school occasions in style. Visit their website for drop-off locations. Donations can also be mailed to Fairy Godmother Project, P.O. Box 222, Raynham Center, MA 02768

So, what items will you be giving away this holiday season?

Simply yours,

Debbie

• Outdoor items: Gather all of your summertime outdoor items and give them a thorough inspection. Discard anything that is in disrepair. If you have items that were not used this summer, seriously consider whether you will realistically use them in the future and either trash, recycle or donate them. (Did you give up on snorkeling years ago but still have your flippers taking up valuable space? It may be time to pass them along to someone who will put them to good use.)
• Seasonal clothing: Before you pack up your warm-weather clothing for next year, thoroughly evaluate its condition and sizing. Purge all clothing that doesn’t flatter you or make you feel good about yourself. Make sure to launder all clothing and mend any items that need to be repaired before storing them. Consignment stores typically will not take spring and summer items until late winter, but you can gather them up now in a box or bag which you clearly label as “spring consignment.” To make sure you follow through on this task, make a note in your January calendar to schedule a drop-off appointment at the consignment store.
• In the garden: Now is the time to de-clutter your gardens and flower beds so that when springtime arrives, you can hit the ground running, rather than dealing with the added chore of plant cleanup. Some potted plants can get a second life by simply bringing them inside during the colder months of the year. If you have questions, ask the experts at your local garden center for advice.

 So what will you do to welcome in fall and say “adios” to summer?

Simply yours,

Debbie

The following post was originally published on Virtually Organized last year. Books are a common problem when it comes to clutter, so the following resources are a great reminder for how to deal with excess . . .  

When it comes to their beloved books, nothing causes a bibliophile more distress then the thought of clearing out their cluttered shelves. I know this first hand thanks to my daughter, “Moody Judy.”  For her, books are more than just a school requirement or a way to pass the time.  The are treasured friends to revisit often, and benchmarks for remembering moments in her young life during the time she first read each book. Getting her to eat raw turnips and beets would be easier than trying to convince her to part with a book!

So, I don’t.  I know this is her “thing,” and as long as her books find their way back “home” to the bookshelf and do not interfere with the tidiness of her room, it’s fine.

But, for those who are not as attached, it is good to purge your book collection from time to time.  Some criteria for determining what books should go include:

• Will I ever read this again?  (No? It’s outta’ there!)
• Do I have multiple copies of the same book? (One is usually enough-ditch the rest)
• Did I enjoy this book? (You don’t keep bad friends around, why hold onto bad books?)
• Is it an outdated reference book? (You can find up-to-date info on the web for almost ANY topic.)

As much as I enjoy purging, though, I really do not like to trash anything that is still in good shape.  So once you have collected your unnecessary books, here are some great “green” ways to unload your stash:

1. Many libraries will accept donations. But be sure to ask them what they do with the books THEY don’t use.  I’ve heard rumors of some libraries simply tossing their books out with the trash.
2. Trade in your books at a used bookstore. Some stores will give you cash, others trade for store credit.  If you take the credit, you won’t be reducing your collection quite as much, but you’ll at least leave with half as many books as you came in with.  Do this several times and you will eventually reduce your collection while still enjoying some new books.
3. Some schools have huge used book sales as part of their spring or fall fund raising festivals (with all the funds going to either the PTA or some other charity).
4. Sell the books in lots on eBay. Selling individual books may take too much time and energy, but consider grouping your books in related lots.  Just be sure to check the shipping cost before you post your entry so you don’t end up spending all your profit on postage.
5. Find a friend who is having a yard sale and ask if you can contribute your books (recipe books are usually big hits at yard sales).
6. Freecycle.org is another option.Grouping your books in lots will simplify the process for you AND the recipient.  Just post to your local freecycle.org site, set the books out for pick-up, and know you are doing a very “green” favor for your community and the earth.
7. If you are an avid reader but don’t have a used bookstore in your town, trade your books at one of the online sites, such as paperbackswap.com, swaptree.com, or bookmooch.com  You won’t necessarily reduce your collection, but you will at least maintain it, while still getting some new material to read.

So where do YOU stand on the subject of book clutter?  Do you cherish every bound copy you have ever received, like my dear “Moody Judy”? Or are you going digital AND paperless by only reading e-books on your computer and listening to audio books during your commute?  (I still enjoy curling up with a good book . . . is it the same experience to snuggle up with your laptop?)  Let me know your thoughts and opinions!

Simply yours,
Debbie

I have a confession to make. I really hate to admit it, what with me being a Professional Organizer and all. But plenty of you have admitted your dirty little organizational and productivity secrets to me, so here goes . . .

At last count, my eight-year-old daughter “Blue-Eyed Jane” had exactly 80 stuffed animals in her bedroom.

Now, before you start chastising her (okay, me) for having too much clutter, in her (okay, our) defense they all have a “home.” The small beanie-sized ones get corralled in an over-the-door shoe organizer hanging on the inside of her closet. And the larger ones each have a designated place of honor either on her bed or on a shelf. Plus, to keep the number stable, we have a “one in, one out” rule-whenever a new one comes home an old one hits the road by way of our monthly donation to the local Rescue Mission.

Recently, I received a comment here at Virtually Organized from a fellow Mom who also suffers from stuffed animal overload:

“I have a question about soft toys and how to get rid of them!  My boys are 18 months and 5 years but neither of them are interested in the soft toys we’ve been given and I’ve got a big basketful of them just taking up space. The charity shops don’t want them, and a few of them have some sentimental value, but they are taking up so much space and not getting played with.  Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!”

Well, in terms of those sentimental toys, my first preference is to take a picture of your child with the item. Photos of your memories not only take up less room, but when you include your child, you visually record that moment in time when the item meant so much.

Another option is to narrow down the sentimental toys to one or two small that you can store in their “Special Things” box. It’s okay to hold onto these tangible memories as long as you:

• 1. Have an organized method for storing them
• 2. Have enough space to store them
• 3. You prioritize what you keep so that only the most special and meaningful items stick around.

Now, when it comes to getting rid of unimportant excess, I’m fortunate to have a local donation site that actually will accept stuffed animals; however I know most charities reject such donations.  For those of you without a local donation site who are looking to keep your toys out of land-fills, the following organizations will not only take your “like-new” stuffies, but they’ll put them to good use, too:

• Project Night Night (www.ProjectNightNight.org) is dedicated to improving the lives of homeless children living in shelters by providing them with individual tote bags filled with a security blanket, an age-appropriate book, and a stuffed animal. By providing these comfort objects, Project Night Night seeks to advance the emotional and cognitive well-being of these children. Visit their site for drop-off locations, as well as addresses for where you can send your “like new” stuffies. (They’ll even send you a receipt for tax purposes.) Please note, they do have some restrictions on what donations they will accept (no Beanie Babies, no stuffed animals that make noises and no commemorative stuffed animals that have years sewn on them).
• Contact your local fire, ambulance and police departments. Often times they keep stuffed animals on hand to offer children involved in motor vehicle accidents, en route to the hospital, or who are victimized in a crime or involved in a custody incident.
• Loving Hugs (LovingHugs.com) collectsnew and”gently used” stuffed animals to send to children in hospitals, orphanages, and refugee camps (IDP Camps)in countries that have been devastated by war, poverty, or natural disasters. By giving thesechildren something to hug close and hold onto, Loving Hugs hopes to offer a small bit of comfortduring such difficult times. Check out their site for mailing addresses. Additionally, to cut the shipping costs of your donation, Loving Hugs will provide you with their UPS account information so you can take advantage of their discounted rate. Click here  for the application information

If you are planning to donate your stuffies to any of these worthwhile options, be sure to observe their requirements and needs. Some ask that the stuffed animals be bathed in a washing machine and fluffed in the dryer, and some collect other “like new” donations to offer the children they serve.

As for my Blue-Eyed Jane’s extended family of fluff-filled friends, my goal this month as we approach her 9^th birthday is to reduce the quantity of her collection while protecting its quality and sentimentality. Loving Hugs suggests holding a local collection drive, and knowing that stuffed animal overload is a prevalent problem in households with young girls, I’m thinking we can help weed out some of her friend’s stuffed play things, too. I’ll keep you posted on the progress.

Simply yours,

Debbie