Resources for organizing your life!

I’ve been trying to find some web resources to help me with a filing system for all of the paper in my office. I currently have three 2-drawer filing cabinets, three hanging file frames, at least a dozen magazine holder which I use to organize projects, and a label maker. There has got to be a way to use all of these tools to make sure there is a home for every piece of paper that dares cross the threshold of my office. While looking for solutions, I came across a web site that has information on organizing your home, your office, your finances, your recipes, your time, your wedding, and much more. Basically, it has everything you need to know to organize you whole life! The site is Life Organizers. They have a blog and newsletter, plus all the resources on their web site. I’ll update you after I’ve had a chance to read more of their article, but I’m impressed so far.

If you don’t feel like donating, selling or recycling…

Why not try swapping the clothing, toys, books, games or other items you no longer want or use? The Green Parent has just posted a helpful list of web sites for swapping.

For people in and around Edmonton, you might also want to check out the Reuse Centre. They collect over 300 different items from, alphabetically, Aluminum pie pans to Wallpaper samples. They then sell these items to individuals and organizations. It costs $2 per visit to the Centre to pick up as many items as you would like. You can also pay $20 for unlimited pick ups in a year. I’ve never visited the Centre, but it sounds like a great place to go to get started on a craft project or to find creative decorative touches.

Donating, Selling and Recycling

Recently, I’ve been working getting rid of the extra stuff in our house. It seems that when we get busy, we don’t find time to put things away, to sort through what we have, and to pass on things that we no longer need. I feel that all of this stuff makes me feel closed in. It makes all the rooms in the house feel smaller when there are toys all over the floor, or boxes that need to put in storage, or piles of paper that need to be sorted and put away. Seeing all of those things just pulls me down and sucks out my energy.

Cleaning out my son’s room was where I’ve started….

1. I gathered all of his baby clothes that we wanted to keep and packed them in a larger rubbermaid tub which went in the basement storage room.

2. I collected the clothing we weren’t going to keep in a garbage bag to donate to the Terra Association – a program which supports pregnant and parenting teens.

3. I’ve gathered all the toys in his bedroom in one box so we can decide which ones will got in the toy box, which ones will be put away until he is older or he has a younger sibling who need them, which toys will be put away for a few months while he enjoys other toys, and which ones will stay in the bedroom.

4. I posted a few items to give away on Freecycle and Earthcycle both of these online communities allow you to post notices for items you want to give away. You can also post requests for items you would like to receive. The goal is to find new homes for your things rather than throwing them away. You would be surprise by the quality of things being offered, the variety of things people would like to receive and how much people will value the things you offer them. I’ve given away everything from a case of scented kleenex to an old sewing machine to the plastic hangers that come with baby clothes.

5. I’m going to advertize a few items for sale on Kijiji. This is an online classified site where you can sell items and post requests for items you like to buy.

6. I’m gathering things for donation to the Cerebral Palsy Association. They will pick up clothing and household items

I’m feeling much better having this one room cleaned out – only about 5 more to go! Now I need set up boxes to collect items to sell, donate or recycle on an ongoing basis.

Please post your suggestions for places to sell, donate and recycle, or how you deal with the extra stuff in your house.

Here are more a few more related links:

- Edmonton Reuse Directory – this directory lists local organizations which will accept your used items

- Once Upon a Child – a franchise of stores that buys and sells children’s clothing and furniture

- Freecycle.org – this site lists all the communities with Freecycle programs.

- Kijiji.ca – the main kijiji web site for Canada

- Kijiji.com – the main kijiji web site for the US