Here'$ a Great Rea$on for Getting Organized!

When potential clients talk with me about getting organized, I often hear the same reasons for wanting to do so:

“I have too much stuff and need to get rid of a lot of it.”

“I feel completely overwhelmed, and I don’t want to feel like that anymore.”

“I want to be able to walk into my (insert name of room) and not be disgusted.”

“Getting organized will help me regain some control over my life.”

For clients I have worked with, the reasons they have shared are honest and legitimate. But there’s one motivation that I haven’t heard someone say, but it’s a great one:

“I want to find money!”

To be clear, no one is going to get rich from the amount of money they find when they organize. But to paraphrase Benjamin Franklin, “A penny found is a penny earned.”

It has been my experience - and perhaps I should use this in my marketing materials - that every single client I’ve worked with has found money during our organizing sessions. That’s right - 100%. Not every session has uncovered cash, mind you, but it sure is fun watching clients react when we find whatever amount of money we find.

While most of my clients have found pocket change - with some clients being able to buy something decent at a convenience store with how much they found - other clients have found everything from uncashed checks and unused gift cards to “Make it Rain” money.

Is the possibility of finding money worth getting organized? Absolutely! Let’s explore some of the places you should look for money as you organize your home.

Clothing. A major source of my clients’ frustration when we organize is their clothing. Specifically, they don’t like going through it all and seeing what still fits, what they want to keep, what needs to get washed, and how much they want to downsize. Whether clients want certain clothing or not - and we go through every item - we check all pockets. Why? Imagine that you decide to donate a bunch of clothes and didn’t bother checking the pockets … and you just gave away money, personal items, or both. That’s good for them, not so much for you.

One of my clients recently found two $100 bills in the inside pocket of one his suit coats that he considered donating. He remembered why he had put the money in there - which happened months before our session - and was obviously thrilled to find it.

Another client was going through her daughter’s laundry as we organized and found two uncashed checks from her daughter’s place of employment. My client was not surprised and said that we can expect to find all kinds of things when we get to organize her daughter’s bedroom. I can’t wait!

Greeting cards. When people care enough to send the very best, they often complement the nice sentiment with money or gift cards. All too often, however, the gift stays with the card when the latter gets put away. My youngest daughter has put birthday and Christmas cards in her desk drawer or memory box with the money still inside. You can imagine her surprise - and my eye roll - when she eventually found the cash.

My daughter definitely isn’t alone. A client and I were organizing his basement when we came across his teenage son’s stuff that had been down there for some time. We found in various birthday cards a total of $35 in cash that my client promptly pocketed. “Obviously, he didn’t want it,” he said. “Finders keepers.”

Handbags/purses/wallets. I’ve had clients who have wanted to get rid of old handbags (both large and small), purses and/or wallets; if they’re in good condition, they are all great items to donate. They are also great places to find money.

One of my clients wanted to organize her home office, and in her closet she had a number of handbags since she traveled a lot for work. We found some old IDs but also some cash, loose change, and a couple gift cards (not to mention some cool swag from vendors).

Junk drawers. There’s a reason junk drawers exist (though I still contend they don’t; I’m in the minority, I know). They collect everything - including money.

For example, I was helping a client organize her kitchen. When I got to her junk drawer, I found the following among the random collection of stuff:

• a VISA gift card;

• a Wegmans gift card;

• her AmEx credit card;

• loose change;

• her health insurance card (this is true).

“Mystery” containers. Mystery containers are what I call bins, boxes, and the like that contain a variety of unrelated things that wound up getting thrown together due to a move, a cleanup, or just life happening. While mystery containers are often found in a basement, they can be found almost anywhere around the house … and they often contain some form of money.

Call me Dora because I love exploring mystery containers with my clients, because neither of us has any idea what we will find. We typically find coins in mystery containers, but in various sessions I have found for clients - because it’s not mine to keep - a $20 bill, a Panera gift card, $17 (a collection of money from one client’s different containers), multiple debit cards (some expired, some not), and an uncashed check for $180, to name just a few monetary surprises.

Kids’ stuff. OK, this category is a bit nebulous, but you can count on kids - I’m talking age 10 or younger - to leave money laying around in all kinds of unique places.

One of my first clients, for example, wanted to see how we could organize her two boys’ toys. As we worked, we found coins in their play area, the basement (both in their toy bins and on the floor by - and under - their bins), in their art supplies, their bedroom, and even the guest room where her parents would stay and where the kids would hang out. We might not have filled a tip jar with all the coins we found, but it would have been nicely stuffed, for sure.

Incidentally, finding money is a great motivator to help kids get involved with the organizing process. One of my clients, for example, wanted to organize her family room that was filled primarily with her 6-year-old daughter’s toys. She got her daughter to buy in by being allowed to keep whatever money she found, whether it was on the floor, in the sofa cushions, or wherever. Her daughter was a big help and took some nice change to her bedroom.

Organizing and finding money go hand in hand, at least in my experience, You are likely to find money somewhere in your home. As you consider your motivations for wanting to get better organized, know that you’ll be a little richer for it, literally and figuratively!

_____________________________________________________________________________

Tom Harper is owner of Tom’s Organizing Made Simple LLC, a Bethlehem-based company dedicated to helping people declutter and organize their space, stuff, time, and/or tasks. Follow TOM’S on Facebook or Instagram.

How To Solve Your Paperwork Problem

Is your house drowning in paperwork? With a few organizing tips, you can regain control.

Admit it: There are certain things you just don’t like to do.

It’s OK. We all have things in life that we would happily avoid for the rest of our lives. For my wife, it’s ironing. My kids would rather scrub dishes than actually talk on the phone (they’re teens). And I would be happy if teeth took care of themselves so I’d never have to go to the dentist.

As a professional organizer, I have noticed that there is one common task that most if not all my clients loathe doing: It’s going through their paperwork. I think most of them would rather scrape their gums with Velcro than do any paperwork.

I am fascinated by this, because (nerd alert!) I actually love doing paperwork. When I was a kid, I would get file folders to sort my “important” documents – lists of MLB transactions I kept; school awards and certificates; papers I wrote; and newspaper and magazine articles I liked (mostly about movies and sports).

These days, I enjoy sorting my financial papers and sending unwanted mail through the shredder. About 4 times a year, I get the basket in my office that collects receipts and other financial documents and bring it out to the family room. I turn on the TV to find something interesting to watch, then I begin to sort each paper by category (garbage, mortgage, etc.) and fold and place into properly labeled envelopes. When I’m done, I put the envelopes back into the drawer where I keep them until it’s time to sort all over again.

It may not be your sort of fun, but it works for me!

Don’t Mail It In

You don’t have to have the same zeal for taking care of your paperwork, but you can have a better approach to managing it. Putting an organizing system into practice will allow you to maintain control over your paperwork before it consumes every surface of your house.

The first place to start is your mail, since – next to you and your family bringing papers from work and school – it’s the primary means by which papers come into your house. Tackle the mail as soon as you bring it inside your home; I can’t stress that enough.

Junk mail goes right into the recycling can or shredder (more on that later). Bills and other items requiring your attention should be placed immediately into an easily accessible box or bin that you will sort through and empty on a weekly basis.

How to Take Control of Your Paperwork

Let’s say you don’t have your mail process in place yet. Let’s go one step further and say that you haven’t seen the top of your kitchen counters, coffee table, desktop, and other household surfaces since the Obama administration thanks to all the paperwork you have accumulated. Regardless of how your house looks like, I now help you clear the clutter and organize your paperwork in a few simple steps.

1.  Gather all papers into 1 place. That’s right. Instead of multiple small messes, you’re going to go around and collect every piece of paper you find – this includes magazines and newspapers and kids’ school and home papers* – and make one giant pile. It’s always better to put like things together whenever you organize and clean a space, and paperwork is no different.

(* - Papers related to your kids – such as artwork, test papers, awards, and the like – should be handled differently. That’s a blog for a later time.)

2. Sort papers by category. Now that you have your mountain of paperwork, it’s time to make smaller hills. You can do this a number of ways. A lot of people may decide on 3 categories, which is a great place to start: Keep, Recycle, and Shred.

If you want to break down the Keep pile even further, you could do so into the following categories:

• Action items (bills, permission forms, subscription renewals)

• Household items (coupons, grocery mailers)

• Archived items (items you’ll need but generally not for long periods of time, like manuals, warranties, etc.)

Before we get to the important stuff – aka what you want to keep, we need to discuss what to do with what you’re not keeping:

2a. Determine what is to be recycled or shredded. Let’s keep this one simple: If the paper contains any personal identification information, put it right in the Shred pile. Identifying information includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• Bank account, legal, and medical information;

• Home or email addresses;

• Passwords or PIN numbers;

• Personal signatures;

• Social Security or phone numbers.

Based on those identifying pieces of information, here is a list of items that meet this criterion to be shredded:

• Bank receipts (ATM, deposit) and statements

• Checks (both canceled and voided)

• Copied of legal documents (birth certificates, et al.)

• Credit card statements

• Credit reports

• Donor requests from agencies you wish not to support

• Employment documents

• Expired documents (like driver’s licenses, passports)

• Health care records (including pharmacy records and prescription receipts)

• Insurance papers

• Investment receipts and statements

• Paystubs from old jobs

• Pre-approved credit card, bank loan, health care, and insurance applications

If you have a bunch of paperwork to shred, I have an idea where you can take it all.

While this list could include more items, here’s the important thing to remember: If you don’t see any personal information on your paperwork, throw it into the Recycle pile. Popular recycled paperwork includes magazines and newspapers with all inserts, junk mail, blank envelopes, scratch paper, wrapping paper, etc.

3. Organize your Keep documents. For starters, the following documents are ones that you should keep forever with you in a safe, secure place:

• Academic records and transcripts

• Adoption papers

• Baptismal, birth, and death certificates

• Current employment records

• Insurance policies

• Legal documents (Advance Directive, Power of Attorney, etc.)

• Marriage licenses

• Medical records

• Military records

• Mortgage documents

• Retirement and related documents

• Tax documents

• Titles (Home and auto)

• Wills (living and final)

I would recommend keeping documents such as birth certificates, marriage licenses, Social Security cards, passports/visas, wills, and related documents in a fire safe box. Doing so would keep these documents preserved in the event of a catastrophe.

For Action documents in your Keep pile – such as bills, permission forms, or anything with an upcoming deadline – do just that: Act. Pay them, fill them out, mail them, etc. Also, keep your Household items (coupons, grocery circulars) in your kitchen, since you go through your cabinets and drawers to determine what you need when it’s time to go food shopping.

Finally, you can handle Archive items various ways. For example, I recommend keeping all your manuals and related warranties for appliances, power tools, electronics, etc., in one place. Some clients I have like to keep them in a large Ziploc bag or a special drawer in their house. I like to use a 3-ring binder and slide the manuals and warranties by category into clear sleeves.

There are general rules for how long other items in the Archive pile should be kept. The most well-known time frame is seven years for tax-related documents. Most file management experts will recommend considerably less time for other documents (like one year for pay stubs or tax bills), but time frames seem to vary; ask your financial person. “Keep until you sell it,” meanwhile, goes for home- and vehicle-related documents.

File This Away

4. Store your Keep documents. Aside from the aforementioned fire safe box, you can use other, cheaper ways to file your Keep paperwork. The most common method people use to organize papers are file folders that go into hanging folders in a filing cabinet or desk drawer. People also like to use plastic portable file boxes, though I think they are better suited for more important papers like taxes, insurance, and/or investment records.

The two most important things you need to know when implementing your filing system are as follows: (1) Make sure all folders are labeled properly so that you can file documents properly; and (2) make sure your files are easily accessible for when you need them.

Now that you have all the tips and tools you need to organize your paperwork effectively, are you ready to get started? If not, just imagine what your house will look like with all that clutter throughout your house gone.

That vision surely beats getting a root canal any day!

_____________________________________________________________________________

Tom Harper is owner of Tom’s Organizing Made Simple LLC, a Bethlehem-based company dedicated to helping people declutter and organize their space, stuff, time, and/or tasks. Follow TOM’S on Facebook or Instagram.

A Year to Remember

One year ago, on the morning of Sept. 1, 2021, I was about to launch Tom’s Organizing Made Simple (or, simply, TOM’S) for the whole world to see (and, hopefully, hire). The journey that began more than 12 years ago, that took an unexpected 18-month hiatus, was about to take an entirely new, exciting, and terrifying new direction.

Everything was ready to go. The website (www.organizewithtom.com) was in draft mode, all set to be published. The Facebook page was a click away from going live. The email and text blasts to everyone I knew were all written and just needed to be sent out.

A few clicks were all that stood in the way of making TOM’S real to everyone outside of my family. Publish. Send. Return.

One year later, I have come to realize how pushing a few buttons can change someone’s life for the better.

A SECOND CHANCE AT TAKING A CHANCE

The idea to become a professional organizer came to me more than 12 years ago. My wife and I were watching a show on HGTV when a professional organizer helped a couple declutter their disorganized home.

“Wait,” I thought. “Someone can get paid to help people get organized?!?”

 I loved to organize. I grew up in a house that was more often than not in a constant state of clutter, so the older I got, the more determined I was to make sure wherever I lived would be well-kept and organized.

 The dream of becoming a professional organizer was born thanks to that show (though I don’t remember its name). After the show I Googled “how to become a professional organizer” and came upon the website for NAPO, the National Association for Productivity and Organizing Professionals. The idea began to percolate in my brain as I spent hours reading about what a professional organizer did.

 While the dream was enticing, the reality for me was that I had a full-time job with two young daughters at home. I decided to put that dream aside for the time being, but thankfully fate intervened years later.

In the fall of 2019, I left the nonprofit sector after 15 years. I was burned out – fund raising will do that to you – and wanted something new. After talking with my wife, I decided the time was right to pursue my dream of becoming a professional organizer. I found free resources like Lehigh Valley SCORE to help me learn the fundamentals of starting a business. I found my NAPO notes from years ago and went to a local chapter meeting where I met some of the nicest people I had ever met.

This was going to happen, I thought. As things were coming together for the business, I set my official launch date:

 March 1, 2020.

Now, you may recall – or then again, you may not want to, and I don’t blame you – that around this time, the coronavirus was spreading here in the Lehigh Valley and everywhere else. I delayed my launch by 2 weeks, to March 15. Three days before the new launch date, my daughter’s Sacrament of Confirmation was cancelled the day before it was to take place. Both of my daughters’ schools closed for 2 weeks.

Facing the likelihood that people would not want me, or anyone for that matter, in their homes during this uncertain time, I decided to wait until the pandemic calmed down to start the business. I certainly didn’t expect that wait to last nearly 18 months, but there I was, an unexpected stay-at-home Dad.

With plenty of time on my hands, I used it to refine the business model for whenever it would be safe to launch – if it ever would be.

“WHAT DO YOU DO?”

I’m a professional organizer. I say it with confidence now. A year ago, however …  let’s just say there’s a reason that the phrase, “fake it until you make it,” exists. Wanting to become a full-time professional organizer was the reason why I decided to launch Tom’s Organizing Made Simple, which finally went public on Sept. 1, 2021.

The kudos poured in from people wishing me the best in my new endeavor, with more than a few asking, “What exactly do you do as a professional organizer?” I’d answer by telling them what I had planned to do in my new role, not just to educate them but also to engage them, hopefully, as my first clients.

You see, a best practice when starting a business is to call on your “network” (family, friends, former co-workers, professional peers, etc.) to establish and build a client base. I connected with everyone in my network, and I got lots of verbal support … and exactly zero clients. Here’s a joke I came up with: What’s another name for a startup business owner who has no clients? Unemployed.

New business owners should have patience and lots of it. While the first few months of the business were annoyingly quiet, I spent my time using social media (both Facebook and Instagram) and my website as well as avenues such as LinkedIn and Nextdoor to create awareness of TOM’S. These opportunities provided free marketing opportunities, which was especially great because free fit perfectly into my budget.

LESSONS LEARNED

Success arrived shortly after the New Year began. My first client hired me to help her organize her bedroom and storage facility. The thrill of securing your first client is not as dramatic or as joyous as your children being born, but it’s close. And there is a happy dance involved.

The second client needed help decluttering and staging her home for sale, and the third wanted help organizing various parts of her home. Slowly, more people inquired about the possibility of hiring me for their services.

The business finally felt real.

In the ensuing months, my client base grew as I learned how to market the business better and hone my message for different audiences. My on-the-job training didn’t stop there. I learned the value of offering a free 1-hour needs assessment prior to signing an agreement with a client. The assessment gives me and my potential new client the chance to establish a good rapport and to feel comfortable with each other, since we will work collaboratively on the project from beginning to end.

More than anything, I learned that the actual process of organizing, while important, is secondary to the relationship I have with my clients. In my role, I’m not just an organizer. I’m a coach, counselor, supporter, cheerleader, accountability partner, motivator, and most of all, a listener.

My first year of running Tom’s Organizing Made Simple has been quite the thrill ride. I’ve learned from every experience, both good and bad. My passion for doing what I do continues to grow stronger, as has my passion for helping clients better themselves and realize their organizing goals. As much as I have helped them, they have inspired me and have helped me to be a better person.

It’s the kind of stuff dreams are made of, quite frankly. Don’t wake me up.

______________________________________________________________________________

Tom Harper is owner of Tom’s Organizing Made Simple LLC, a Bethlehem-based company dedicated to helping people declutter and organize their space, stuff, time, and/or tasks. Follow TOM’S on Facebook or Instagram.

Ask these questions to get rid of clutter

What you need to achieve a clutter-free environment is like being a winning contestant on Jeopardy! You need to ask the right questions.

In my role as a professional organizer, I ask clients a lot of questions. To me, the only bad question is the one you don’t ask. Asking questions during the initial needs assessment and throughout our sessions together helps me understand my clients’ needs and goals so that I can help them enjoy a successful organizing project.

What clients don’t realize, however, is that by asking certain questions of themselves, they can gain freedom from the clutter around them. Below I have shared some basic questions that you should ask yourself when deciding what to keep or discard. Answering them honestly will set you on a path toward organizing success.

“Where do I start?”

The answer to this question is easy: anywhere. When I work with clients, I like to use “the elephant joke” when they share that they didn’t start organizing their things because they were so overwhelmed by their stuff or the idea of getting started or both. The joke goes like this:

“How do you eat an elephant?”

“One bite at a time.” (Ba da bum!)

It doesn’t matter where you make your first bite – er, move. As long as you start somewhere, anywhere, the fact is that you’ve started. Celebrate it, then keep going.

“What condition is it in?”

One of the easiest solutions to getting rid of clutter is to inspect the items in question for potential damage. When you come across damaged items that are beyond repair, promptly throw them away or recycle them.

Don’t donate damaged items. Most organizations that accept used items (Goodwill, et al.) won’t take them anyway. If you’re still hedging on whether to donate a damaged item, put yourself in the position of someone who would be on the receiving end. If you wouldn’t want it, chances are that no one else would, either.

“Do I really need it?”

I have clients ask themselves if they need an item when they’re undecided on what to do with it. I prefer that they use “need” instead of “want” in their question because “need” elicits a response based on the function or purpose of the item, whereas “want” elicits a response based on the simple desire to have it.

More often than not, clients will respond with the following 1-2 punch: “I may want it, but I don’t necessarily need it.” The item then is discarded accordingly among the trash, recycling, and donation sections we have set up for the organizing session.

“When DID I use/wEAR it LAST?”

I advise my clients to use the one year rule. If you haven’t used or worn something in the past year, you’re more than likely not going to use or wear it anytime soon. Donate it so that it stays out of a landfill and someone else can enjoy it.

“Will I use/wear it?”

See the previous question for the same answer. 

“What size is it?”

This question refers to clothing, and it’s an important question to ask because if the clothing in question doesn’t fit you anymore, there’s no reason to keep it. I don’t subscribe to the practice of keeping clothing a size or two larger or smaller than what you’re currently wearing, just in case you fluctuate in size. Life is one entire fluctuation, so keeping clothing that you may never need makes no sense.

I worked with a client who was looking to downsize her belongings, which included an overabundance of clothing. She had lost a considerable amount of weight and was very proud of her work to achieve the physique she now has. She was thrilled to bid farewell to the mounds of clothing that no longer fit her, and in doing so she freed up not only multiple bins that she could now repurpose but also ample space in her closet that she hadn’t had in years.

“Who is this for?”

One of the most interesting things that I have experienced as a professional organizer helping clients declutter is the frequency with which clients have unearthed items that they had planned to give to someone but never did.

And I’m not just talking about borrowed items, either. I’m talking birthday and holiday gifts with the price tags still attached. I’m talking hand-me-downs (like kids’ clothing) as well as family heirlooms that clients intended to give away but didn’t. 

Giving away things intended for other people is a great way to reduce clutter. Just be sure to follow through and give the things away.

“How much do I need of (insert item)?”

There’s a bit more nuance to answering this question compared with the other questions in this blog, since the answer depends on a variety of factors, such as a person’s lifestyle, marital status, number of people in the home, the client’s occupation, and so much more.

The best way to answer this question – and this will seem like a sales pitch, but I promise it isn’t – is to work with a professional organizer who can ask unbiased follow-up questions about the items in question to get a better sense of how much of each item is actually needed. 

For example, I’m working with a client whose home currently consists of items from his and his fiancée’s respective previous homes. They never consolidated before they moved, so they have two (or more) of almost everything and now want to fix that. I have another client, meanwhile, who’s downsizing into a smaller apartment and wants to enjoy a minimalist lifestyle and has little desire or ability to host people in her new place.

How I work with these clients in my role as their organizer has been and will be different. By asking my clients the right questions, I can help them get the answers they need to meet their organizing goals.

So, when you are ready to start taking a bite out of the elephant in the room that is literally your room (or rooms) to be organized, ask yourself the aforementioned questions. I promise the answers will make your organizing project quite satisfying and go much faster than you ever imagined. 

_____________________________________________________________________________

 Tom Harper is owner of Tom’s Organizing Made Simple LLC, a Bethlehem-based company dedicated to helping people declutter and organize their space, stuff, time, and/or tasks. Follow TOM’S on Facebook or Instagram.

A Tale of Two Fathers

My Dad (left) and father-in-law, bonding over Thanksgiving dinner. I miss them dearly.

Where does your mind go when you know your time on Earth is ending?

I pondered this thought on what should have been a beautiful May afternoon as I sat inside my in-laws’ house across from my father-in-law, who was lying in his hospice-provided bed that consumed much of the living room. I asked him frequently if he needed anything, but no response came. I tried to engage him in some of his favorite subjects: my girls/his granddaughters, golf, and jokes that were definitely not up to “Dad joke” standards (that was his specialty). Nothing.

He didn’t speak or make much sound at all during the last day I would see him alive, except for one time: My mother-in-law came into the room, kissed his forehead gently, and asked him softly in his ear if he wanted something to drink. He nodded slowly.

Mom always knew how to get a reaction out of him.

He lost 60-70 pounds since last July when he found out he had an aggressive form of multiple myeloma. He never complained about his condition or prognosis, the chemotherapy, the constant shortness of breath, or the frequent hospital stays. During the last hospital stay when he was able to talk more, one of the first things he said to my wife Kim and me was poignant: “I’ve had a good life.”

As it was time for me to leave his bedside at his home, I got up, kissed him, and told him I loved him. I drove back home in tears, praying that he would have more time.

He died two days later, on Friday the 13th - 1 day shy of the 1-year anniversary of my Dad’s passing.

My Dad had been in poor health for quite some time, having endured two heart attacks, congestive heart failure, and kidney issues. He didn’t like to do anything small. On the morning of May 14, my brother, sister, and I got the call from the hospital, saying we should come and say our goodbyes. He wasn’t speaking or eating at that point, but we were told that a loved one can still hear you, even if he/she is unable to communicate.

We all arrived and took turns with him. My brother went first, followed by Kim and me. Kim stayed briefly before giving me alone time with him. I don’t remember everything I said to him, but I told him how happy I was for him that he was finally going to be with Mom.

Just about 30 minutes after we all said our final goodbyes, Dad went to be with his Terri, who passed away in 2000 – on May 15. I’ve remarked to people that Dad died on May 14 so Mom could have her own memorial day. Ever the gentleman.

My Dad, Jack Harper, and father-in-law, Allan Baenziger, were two proud men who loved their wives and families deeply. They also enjoyed each other - Kim and I were blessed to have in-laws who got along wonderfully - and bonded whenever we’d all gather at my house pre-COVID for the various holidays. It wasn’t uncommon to find both of them asleep on the couch following dinner.

They had their differences, of course. My Dad wasn’t afraid to share his opinions, good or bad, about people or things; my father-in-law, on the other hand, was much more reticent. My Dad could watch Hallmark Channel movies 24/7, while my father-in-law was more likely to be found with a science fiction or fantasy novel in hand.

They both helped to shape my career as a professional organizer in ways they didn’t realize. My Dad wasn't the neatest person in the world. To be fair, he wasn’t the only reason why our house growing up was a mess, but that constant mess made me determined to keep an organized and clean house when I had one of my own.

When I got older and would return home to visit, I would help my parents clean up and would bring out what I called my “magic bags.” What made them magical was that things went into the bag, and those things simply never came back out. Dad never cared for the magic bag concept.

Every summer, we would take our annual family vacation to the Jersey Shore in Stone Harbor. When I was 14, Dad was having trouble organizing all our stuff into the back of our light blue station wagon with the fake wooden paneling in and around the car. I held my tongue as I watched him struggle until I couldn't hold back any longer.

“Please let me give it a shot!” I begged.

“OK, smart aleck,” he said - except he didn’t say aleck. “Have at it.”

So I did. About 15 minutes later, the car was packed and ready to go. Dad just went inside, wisely avoiding the gloating he was about to hear. I got to do the organizing and packing from then on.

My father-in-law wouldn’t have let me take such control. His version of having me help was, “Hold the flashlight while I (insert project task here).” He could build or fix basically anything you needed, so it was easier for him just to do things. Then again, a few unexpected trips back to his house or to the hardware store, since he always forgot stuff, would make the project run longer than needed.

The more projects he did at our house - my wife is always looking to tinker, while I’m more of the “let’s-enjoy-it-as-it-is” type … and the type who almost never wins that battle - the more I would try to get him organized before we began the project to save us time. Admittedly, I wasn’t very successful at it, but it made me more focused on being properly prepared before starting any task.

Organized garages were neither man’s specialty. While my Dad’s garage contained my brother’s black 1957 Chevy, the car, the spaces, and cabinets around it overflowed with bags and bags of stuff that made walking in and out of the house an obstacle course. My father-in-law’s garage, meanwhile, is carless, much to my mother-in-law’s chagrin. Instead, it’s filled with all sorts of tools and materials that have banished their respective cars to the driveway for years.

When my Dad had to sell the house that we grew up in, I went through the garage with him and purged a great deal of damaged and/or mildew-laden stuff, salvaging whatever I could that he and my siblings wanted or needed. I never got to organize my father-in-law’s garage while he was alive despite my many offers to do so. I have the chance to organize it now, but not having him there beside me just won’t be the same..

I’ve been blessed to have two wonderful fathers in my life, each amazing in his own way. Both men guided me and gave me invaluable advice that I have used as both a husband and a father. We could hang out and talk about virtually any topic, even if we didn’t always agree. They had their flaws like we all do, but they taught me what it meant to be human and that being true to yourself was just as important as doing the right thing for others.

It hurts to know that I lost both within a year’s time, and it’s harder to accept the fact that instead of praying for them, I’m left praying to them. Like the pain of losing my Mom unexpectedly 22 years ago, the hurt will remain but will ease with time. People will say, and rightfully so, that the pain is worth the price of loving someone, because you were able to love and to have that person in your life for however long or short that you did.

I was reminded of this thought the day of my father-in-law’s viewing. I didn’t have any organizing sessions scheduled that day for obvious reasons, so I went for a walk as I often do around the neighborhood. The music played on shuffle through my iPhone, and the last song I heard as I neared the end of my walk was “The Graveyard Near the House” by The Airborne Toxic Event, one of my favorite bands.

The last two lines finished as I arrived at the house:

“It’s better to love whether you win or lose or die.

It’s better to love, and I will love you ‘til I die.”

____________________________________________________________________________

 Tom Harper is owner of Tom’s Organizing Made Simple LLC, a Bethlehem-based company dedicated to helping people declutter and organize their space, stuff, time, and/or tasks. Follow TOM’S on Facebook or Instagram.

What You Should Store in Your Basement

Keeping your basement belongings properly stored and shelved will preserve them a long time.

What’s the one place where you’re most likely to keep extra stuff?

The basement.

What’s the one place that’s generally considered the worst place to store certain things?

The basement.

Basements are essentially the junk drawer of the house. We keep so much in the basement, either because we don’t know where else to keep things or we don’t have the space to keep those things anywhere else. 

The problem, however, is that some things should never be stored in the basement. 

Basements are denizens of dampness (which can lead to mildew and mold issues), while excess water from a major storm can turn your basement into the indoor pool you never wanted, damaging whatever you had kept down there.

So, what should you do to keep your belongings safe, and what should you keep and not keep in your basement? Before we answer those questions, we should add an important caveat: Whatever you keep in your basement should be stored properly in the proper air-tight container. 

Good Shelving Goes a Long Way

Whether you decide to buy plastic shelving or more expensive options (like the kind that health care and food industries use), make sure that the shelving units meet your needs. Shelving units that are sturdy, can hold a lot of weight per shelf, and allow you to adjust the space between shelves are good. Ones that hold up in all basement conditions and have the aforementioned qualities are even better.

You also look to invest in shelving units whose bottom shelf sits a few inches off the ground. Should you get water in your basement, the slight elevation off the ground can be the difference in keeping your belongings dry and undamaged.

What’s OK to Keep in the Basement

·      Holiday decorations. From wrapping paper to holiday ornaments and more, holiday decorations are fine to keep in the basement, provided that they are stored properly. There are horizontal and vertical plastic bins for wrapping paper, and ornament containers come in all shapes and sizes, so be sure to get what you need to secure these items for future holidays.

Once the holiday is over, go through your decorations and see what you want to keep and what to give away. If you didn’t hang that aluminum wreath this year, for example, it’s time to donate or (if it’s in poor condition) throw it away. And if you’re an avid post-holiday sales shopper and buy more wrapping paper and decorations, that also is a great time to weed through what you no longer want or need and discard accordingly.

As for boxes of holiday cards, they are OK to store in the basement (again, if stored in a plastic bin), but here’s a tip: If you have open boxes of leftover cards but don’t know what year you sent them out, save the guesswork and donate them. Sending the same holiday card to people on your list is not exactly Grinch-esque, but it’s not cool, either.

·      Party supplies. From your table coverings to plastic utensils, these supplies are perfectly fine to be kept in a plastic storage bin. For the sake of space, however, keep what you plan to use for a future event, not past events. While keeping your child’s 2nd birthday bib and stained paper tablecloth set sounds cute, it’s better to keep a picture of your child from their special day handy when you want to be sentimental – and ditch the worn items. 

·      Toys. Whether they’re from kids’ childhood or your own, toys can be well-preserved in plastic bins for a long time in your basement. Before storing any toy, however, ask yourself the following question: Am I keeping these toys for sentimental reasons, or am I keeping them so I can sell them? If your answer was the second part, let’s add a cold dose of reality: If they’re not in their original packaging, they aren’t worth much. The space you’ll free up by donating them or selling them (at a small price) will be much more valuable to you in the long run.

·      Electronics. If you’re going to store any kind of electronic device, be sure to take the batteries out. Batteries in a device – even those that are stored properly – can and will corrode, which could render your device useless.

·      Collectibles. Refer to the Toys section for proper storage – and for making a good value judgment.

What’s Not OK to Keep in the Basement

·      Photos. Regardless of whether they are in boxes or albums, photos should never be stored in the basement (or attic, for that matter). The temperature and humidity can damage your precious memories permanently. Instead, store them somewhere on the main level of the house.

·      Memorabilia. Like photos, memorabilia such as old newspapers, magazines, and the like should be kept in air-tight archival containers away from the basement. For things such as your autograph book from eighth grade or that first pack of Garbage Pail Kids that you just couldn’t get rid of, you also should keep them in a plastic bin. 

There’s a better way to preserve your memorabilia that will save you considerable space. Take photos of the pieces you want to remember (and dispose of the rest accordingly), then make a special photo album that you will be able to share with your children and future generations. 

·      Clothes. Clothes, like photos, are another basement no-no, as clothes and mildew make for a horrible combination. Keep what you plan to wear this season in your bedroom or, if you have overflow, in a spare closet, and keep your non-seasonal clothes in storage bins or vacuum space-saver storage bags ideally on the main level of your house as well. 

Just because your basement has the capacity to store a lot of stuff doesn’t mean it should. If you follow the recommendations that we have provided here, you will enjoy a basement with properly stored items and lots of free space. All will last a long time!

______________________________________________________________________________

Tom Harper is owner of Tom’s Organizing Made Simple LLC, a Bethlehem-based company dedicated to helping people declutter and organize their space, stuff, time, and/or tasks. Follow TOM’S on Facebook or Instagram. 

What to Ask Before You Buy Any Organizing Product

January is #GOMonth, designed to help you connect with organizers in your area - like me!

Remember how excited you were when you were little and something with your name on it arrived in the mail? Whether you were expecting mail (usually a card from a relative … hopefully with money in it!) or not, there was a certain thrill that came when you found mail that was for you.

That was me, then and now. I have the same enthusiasm for checking mail that Ralphie had in A Christmas Story when he went to see if his Little Orphan Annie Secret Society decoder pin arrived. Even when I check my company and personal email each morning, and even though most of what has landed in my inbox gets trashed within seconds of seeing it, my excitement is there, nevertheless.

I do enjoy seeing ads, though only a few. The ones I like flood our inboxes and mailboxes this time of year, showcasing all the savings we could enjoy on storage and organizing products. In the past 24 hours, for example, I got emails from Bed Bath & Beyond, Michael’s, and The Home Depot, telling me how I should take advantage of the “biggest storage event of the year” or something to that effect.

January is a prime month for storage and organization product sales, since retailers know that people typically make getting organized one of their New Year’s resolutions. It’s not just retailers who know this. I’m a proud member of NAPO, and January is NAPO’s Get Organized and Be Productive Month, or GO Month to be short. GO Month is designed to help our communities understand the value of what we professional organizers can bring to their organizing projects. (Check out www.napo.net/gomonth 2022 for more details.)

Just because we get flooded with promotions doesn’t mean we should dismiss them out of hand; some deals are definitely worth exploring. Before you get that credit card out, however, there are a few questions to consider before taking advantage of any deals.

 What Exactly is Your Project?

There are a lot of great organizing solutions out there for whatever project you decide to undertake, whether you buy from the aforementioned stores or other go-to stores for such products. (See Walmart, Amazon, Target, and The Container Store for more examples.)

However, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer volume of products you could buy. I’m a professional organizer, and whenever I check out all the deals this month or any specials throughout the year, I go down the rabbit hole and lose hours exploring all the possibilities. And often, I have nothing to show for it except for strained eyesight.

Before shopping for any storage and organizing products, identify the project(s) that you plan to undertake and the products you will need to get the job done right. If you’re not sure what you might need, talk to someone in your life who is well-organized for advice on some good things to buy. You also could talk with a professional organizer to get some helpful tips as well.

What Do You Need?

We’re going to pretend that you decided to take me up on that last sentence and talk to yours truly about what you should get (I am truly touched – thank you!). I will tell you that there is no definitive list of must-haves when it comes to storage and organizing products. Decisions on what you will need are often based on numerous factors, such as space availability, price, functionality, as well as personal preference.

However, there are general “go-to” storage and organizing products based on the stuff and the rooms you have. The following is just a sample:

·      Clothing – Stackable small and large storage totes and bins, matching hangers, drawer organizers, shoe boxes cubes/cases;

·      Toys – Stackable small and large storage totes and bins, stackable drawers, cube organizers;

·      Photo prints – Acid-free metal or cardboard boxes, acid-free paper, PVC-free photo albums;

·      Holiday decorations – Stackable storage totes (usually the larger, the better);

·      Kitchen – Clear food canisters, food storage sets, expandable cabinet shelves, spice organizers, drawer organizers;

·      Office – File organizers (desk, drawer, and wall hanging kinds), file cabinets (that lock), file folders, letter-size archival file boxes, horizontal and vertical paper dividers, shredders;

·      Garage – Stackable mid-size and large storage totes, durable garage shelving units, wall organizers;

·      Closets (all rooms) – Storage bins and totes (various sizes), expandable cabinet shelves, stackable drawers, closet systems.

What’s Your Budget?

Unless you’re Elon Musk, you don’t have endless funds to buy the seemingly endless amount of storage and organizing products on the market. Determine how much money you want/need to spend for your project(s). You may need to shop around to see what’s out there to get an idea of what items cost to help you set up your wish list and budget.

Shopping around is particularly important. Say you want to buy some 30-gallon storage totes. Do a price comparison using the current deals at the aforementioned stores or any place you like to shop that offer storage and organizing products. Investing time into comparing prices will help you save money and find true values. If you prefer to shop in person vs. online, you may be able to get a store to price match a better sales price at a competitor’s store. 

If your project requires that you buy a significant number of totes, look for places where you can buy in bulk. Doing so can save you money, which you can use on other items you need.

One last thing to consider on this point: You don’t necessarily have to buy brand-new organizing products. You may already have plenty of available storage solutions in your home, but they’re just cluttered with things you no longer need or want. Take the time to go through your current collection of totes, bins, boxes, shelves, and the like and remove any and all clutter. You’re likely to find newfound space and empty storage containers – and fewer things to spend your hard-earned money on.

Now that we’ve asked the right questions before purchasing storage and organizing products, there’s one thing left to answer: How excited are you to get organized?

While you answer that, I have to check my mail and see what surprises await me. Ralphie would be proud.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Tom Harper is owner of Tom’s Organizing Made Simple LLC, a Bethlehem-based company dedicated to helping people declutter and organize their space, stuff, time, and/or tasks. Follow TOM’S on Facebook or Instagram. 

Resolve to Make Organizing a Top Priority

View fullsize

View fullsize

So, 2021 is now behind us as we look ahead to what hopefully will be a healthier and happier year for all of us. As 2022 kicks off, a lot of people will resolve to better themselves by exercising more, changing jobs, learning a new hobby, etc.

But why wait until the start of a new year to do things differently? I’m a carpe diem kind of guy – for those of you who didn’t study Latin or see Dead Poets Society, carpe diem means “seize the day” – so I believe you have 365 days a year to create meaningful resolutions and, more importantly, take the necessary steps to make change happen.

Like any opportunity to become better at something, it takes a lot of determination, willpower, patience, and practice. As someone who successfully stopped biting his nails after years of doing so, I understand that change is difficult but not impossible.

I’ve created 10 resolutions for people who want to become better with their organizing skills. The great thing about these resolutions is that they can be implemented Jan. 1 or Aug. 17 or any day of the year. The resolution is merely the first step. What’s important are the actions you take to help you realize your goal.

Organizing Resolution #1: I resolve to make the most of today’s opportunities to get organized.

This resolution is all about seizing the day and using the time in front of you now to begin the task of getting organized. Whether it’s deciding what specific area(s) of your life or your home that you want to organize, buying organizing products, or just taking that long-overdue pile of donations to Goodwill or the like, taking advantage of the present time to put your goal of becoming better organized into action is a great first step on your path.

Organizing Resolution #2: I resolve to tackle one project at a time.

Too often, people who resolve to make change happen in their lives go too far the other way at the start. If they want to eat healthier, for example, they take a garbage bag to the pantry and throw out any candy, cookie, or carb in sight. People who go to such extremes are rarely successful.

The same is the case with getting organized. Target a specific space to organize first, as opposed to tackling every room all at once. And start small; instead of overhauling the garage, try organizing your junk drawer. A spice cabinet or even a food pantry can also be considered a great first project, since often the primary task is simply getting rid of food that is past the expiration date.

Organizing Resolution #3: I resolve to be patient with myself and treat myself with kindness throughout the organizing process.

This resolution could easily be the first one you make. I’ve worked with clients who are excited to get started organizing their spaces, but as they get deeper into it, they soon get frustrated with themselves for letting things get so disorganized, and they almost lose interest in continuing further.

Be kind to yourself at the beginning and throughout the course of your project. That means you avoid negative self-talk like, “I’m never going to get this done,” “I can’t believe I let things get this way,” or something similar. Instead, statements like, “This will take time, but I’m determined to see this through” or other positive self-talk (“I can do this,” “I’m proud of myself for getting started,” et al.) can reframe your mindset and turn any negative emotions into positive ones.

Organizing Resolution #4: I resolve to repeat the following until I have it memorized: “It’s not about where I’ve been; it’s about where I am now, and where I want to be.”

This resolution ties into the last one. It’s easy to fall into “would’ve, could’ve, or should’ve” statements. People who were once in great shape and now can barely lift 15-pound dumbbells over their heads, for example, can quickly become frustrated about how far they’ve fallen from their old workout routine.

I tell all my organizing clients that whatever was in their past is now in the past, that they’re here now and are doing something now to help them achieve their future goals. Staying in the moment and focusing on the positives will help you stay on track to achieve you goal, and you will be happier for it.

Organizing Resolution #5: I resolve to remind myself that as I organize, the mess will get worse before it gets better – but it will get better.

Bbefore I start working with clients, I tell them that we will get messy as we put like things together and create sections in the room for what things will be donated, kept, or trashed. While it may initially look like we’re just rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic, the process will bear itself out very soon. When clients see the first bits of progress, the excitement they have is palpable.

Organizing Resolution #6: I resolve to understand that freeing up space isn’t an invitation to fill that space with more stuff.

One misconception of organization is that newly created free space is just an opportunity to fill it with more stuff. (George Carlin’s famous bit about stuff is so appropriate – enjoy.) I believe in a “less-is-more” approach to my organization. What’s the best thing to put in newfound open space? Nothing.

Organizing Resolution #7: I resolve to invest in my organizing efforts, because doing so is an investment in myself.

We invest so much time trying to help others at work or in our personal lives, but the best investment you can ever make isn’t in stocks or real estate (though they help in a different capacity) but in yourself. When you’re ready to organize, invest in some organizing products like storage totes, shelving units, and the like.

Or hire a professional organizer like Tom’s Organizing Made Simple. I serve a role similar to that of a trainer at your local gym, in that I work beside you to motivate you to help you achieve your goals. I provide organizing solutions and endless encouragement, two things that will help your short-term investment reap long-term benefits.

Organizing Resolution #8: I resolve to make my organizing fun and to also take breaks – which include taking a step back every so often to see the progress I’ve made.

To paraphrase an old horticultural-themed expression, “Stop and smell the progress.” When you decide to get organized, you can spend so much time organizing that you fail to see the progress you’ve made along the way. A great suggestion to document your progress is to take “before” and “after” photos of your organizing project. You’ll be amazed by how much you accomplished.

And you have to have fun in life. If we’ve learned anything from the past two years, it’s that life is too short to spend it wallowing in sadness. I love playing music, whether I’m organizing or working out or writing blogs for my website or … just about anything. Some of my go-to “high-energy” songs are “Everything’s Magic” by Angels and Airwaves or “Ocean Avenue” by Yellowcard.

Find your ways to have fun as you clean out your closet or box up your basement. You’ll be happy, and you’ll be happy you did it.

Organizing Resolution #9: I resolve to celebrate that progress with some fun reward, because I deserve it.

How often do we do something but not take time to enjoy the process? Celebrate what you accomplish, whether you treat yourself to a fun-size candy bar – quick aside: “Fun size” should be the length of your arm – or a new outfit or something simple as 10 minutes of enjoying silence. You’ve earned it, so enjoy it!

Organizing Resolution #10: I resolve to get re-organized if I ever lapse – because I’ve proven to myself that I can organize.

There will be times when, after you’ve organized your life or your space (or both), you get sidetracked, and your organization gets lost. Life happens. And if it makes you feel better, it happens to professional organizers too.

Because you have proven to yourself that you can get organized, you will find it’s easier to get back on the horse and clean up that clutter. And as you have learned, “It’s not about where I’ve been; it’s about where I am now, and where I want to be.”

Enjoy these resolutions and tips to help you get to work on making those resolutions a reality. You can do it!

______________________________________________________________________________

Tom Harper is owner of Tom’s Organizing Made Simple LLC, a Bethlehem-based company dedicated to helping people declutter and organize their space, stuff, time, and/or tasks. Follow TOM’S on Facebook or Instagram.

Organizing for the Holidays

It’s hard to believe that Thanksgiving is over, though personally, I don’t think the holiday is officially over until all the leftovers have been gobbled up. (Yes, the once-a-year turkey pun was absolutely intentional.) But in terms of the overall holiday season, Thanksgiving is just the beginning. Are you prepared for what’s to come?

The idea of getting organized for the holidays can feel overwhelming. For starters, you have to handle the entire gift process (the shopping, buying, and wrapping), the decorations, and the holiday cards, whether you send them electronically or via e-mail. And I haven’t mentioned the fun that comes with planning a holiday gathering or two. (For purposes of this blog, we’ll save organizing tips for gatherings for another time). 

Thankfully, getting organized for the holidays can be as joyful as the holidays themselves. I’ll share some tips that will make your gift experience gleeful, your decoration storage delightful, and your card process cheerful.

GIFTING

The first mistake people make when it comes to buying holiday gifts is that they wait until the holiday season to buy them. Sure, Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales generate some healthy discounts for shoppers, but the smarter shoppers will look to buy gifts all year long. You don’t have to rely just on Amazon Prime Day, either. You can find great online and in-store sales all throughout the year.

You might be saying, “But my family and friends don’t give me their wish lists until the holidays start, if I’m lucky!” That may be true, but so is this: You don’t need a wish list to buy (or make) a meaningful gift for someone.

One of the joys of gift-giving is coming up with ideas for potential gifts. Try this: Take some time to brainstorm ideas for each of the people for whom you typically buy gifts. Specifically, think about their passions, their interests, their jobs, their hobbies, etc. Think about past gifts you’ve given as well. Write it all down and keep it close, either in a notepad or (my preference) in the Notes section of your phone. List the person’s name and the results of your brainstorming and refer to it whenever you’re out running errands or browsing online. You’re likely to get a decent number of gifts purchased.

Getting back to idea creation, you may not have realized it, but it’s very likely that your loved ones unintentionally gave you plenty of gift ideas for them throughout the year. How? Through your regular conversations with them – except you didn’t realize it because you weren’t actively seeking gift ideas.

Let’s take your Aunt Josie, for example. In one of your conversations with her, she tells you about her friend’s recent weekend scrapbook retreat … and you know that Aunt Josie likes scrapbooking too. You could research upcoming retreats and then buy her a gift certificate so that she could enjoy a similar experience. You could ask her what scrapbook materials or accessories she wishes she had. Just like that, you have potential gift ideas. Just remember to write them down if you’re not ready to make a purchase – and to listen attentively to all your future gift recipients for clues and gift ideas well before the holidays arrive.  

Here's one caveat about buying gifts well before the holidays: Be sure to check the return policy of the store from which you would normally buy something. Most places give anywhere between a 30- to 60-day window to return an item for a full refund with receipt. If you’re not sure whether the person will like the item you bought or, in the case of clothing, whether it will fit the recipient, consider waiting on that purchase until closer to the time you plan to give it to them.

DECORATIONS 

You head down to your basement, perhaps after you’ve enjoyed your first glass of egg nog for the season, to begin bringing up the holiday decorations … only to realize that you have never really organized them by holidays. Christmas stuff is mixed with Halloween, Hanukkah with Easter … you get the idea. If this scenario is familiar to you, then now is a great time to organize your decorations accordingly.

And whatever you do, organize your decorations in totes. Basements, if not climate-controlled, are great places for mold and mildew to grow on almost anything you have down there. Invest in some quality, air-tight totes to preserve your decorations – at least the ones you plan to keep – for years to come.

I’ve found that over time people accumulate so many decorations that there isn’t enough space to put them all out. The ideal solution in this case is to weed out those decorations you enjoy putting out from those you decide each year to wait until next year …. but never put out. Donate the latter to Goodwill or your local thrift store – provided those decorations are in good condition; otherwise, throw them out – and let someone else get proper use of them.

Back to the totes: Be sure to label them by the season, but make sure you use the right kinds of labels since many won’t remain stuck for long. I’ve used Avery 5450 labels since you can remove and reapply them if needed, and you can print on them with an inkjet printer. If you own a label maker, you can make your own fancy-looking labels as well.

Totes also will protect your other holiday items, such as gift wrapping, tissue paper, and various-sized gift bags. Totes go on sale throughout the year – I find that the “spring cleaning” months of March and April, in particular, tend to generate sales on these products – so look for the sales and invest in your stuff.

The next items related to decorations can be sensitive to some – namely, holiday decorations made by kids. You may never want to throw out anything that your child made; that’s understandable. However, as I have learned through my own children, they often have no recollection of making what you hold so dear. Plus, if you forgot to label which child made it and when, it’s likely that you won’t remember who made it either. Sentimentality goes out the window at that point.

Compounding matters is that if you’re like many parents (or uncles, aunts, and grandparents), you have so many “kid decorations” that you don’t have enough room to place anything. To help you minimize your collection of kindergarten crafts and the like, simply save the few that hold special meaning to you, then take photos of the rest.

Remember, it’s not the actual decoration that typically holds meaning; it’s the thought that the child had in making it for you. Get your phone or camera out, separate each item, and take photos of each piece before recycling or disposing of the unkept items. That way, you still have the item in some form to look back on fondly.

And if you want to make a scrapbook out of these pictures, companies like Shutterfly can help you turn them into an album. Or you can turn to certified Photo Managers who can create a special album for you as well. 

HOLIDAY CARDS 

In my family, my wife handles creating our holiday cards. She goes through all the digital photos we took from the past year, finds the best ones (with input from me and the kids, the latter being the toughest critics), then uses an online service to design and print them.

As for me, I’m old fashioned with cards. I’d prefer to write out little individualized notes to each would-be recipient using the boxes of cards we’d purchase the previous year on the day after Christmas when those boxes are marked off 50 percent or more. They’re special and economical! 

I haven’t bought cards in a long time, thanks to my wife’s preference for making them. I do, however, have a glut of holiday cards – not to mention notepads and labels from nonprofit organizations who send them out as part of their end-of-year holiday appeal. (Full disclosure: I never mailed any freebies in my appeal letters when I served as a Development Director, but I understand the rationale behind giving away items in the hopes of securing a donation.)

What do you do with all these extra holiday cards? If you’re old fashioned like me, save them in a box that you keep in your office or with your other stationery, then break them out at the start of the holiday season for this year’s mailing. As one caller yelled at me during one holiday appeal season – again, I never sent anything out, but she called me to vent about holiday giveaways by nonprofits – “I’m neither morally nor ethically obliged to give money because someone sends me something free. I can keep it and do with it as I want.”

So can you. Repurpose the cards you get, since many are blank inside, and use them for your holiday mailing. If you got holiday labels from appeals, use them for the return address on the outer envelope.

I should interject a quick tip for couples: Use these labels only if they list both your names. Sending envelopes with address labels featuring just one of you can lead the recipient to wonder if John and Lisa are no longer together. That’s awkward. Instead, use those one-name labels for bills and other similar mailings.

As for your card recipients, here’s a tip to keep organized. Use a spreadsheet program such as Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, or the like as your address book. Update it throughout the year when you learn of address changes (both physical and e-mail addresses), someone’s passing, and other new information that impacts the list.

Using a spreadsheet to keep your address list organized and current is so much better than a physical address book. Moreover, when you’re ready to address envelopes, you can mail merge addresses into a formatted document for labels. (Quick note: In case you feel obligated to handwrite everything, consider that no one saves the envelopes. Use printed labels for the envelopes and save the handwriting for the card; the message matters most). I prefer to use Avery 5160 labels when printing out mailing addresses as well as our return address. There are plenty of options available for the latter (Amazon, Vistaprint, Etsy, etc.) if you decide you want unique labels.

One last suggestion for using a spreadsheet: Print out a hard copy to have just in case your computer decides to call it a career. Having a backup file will prove invaluable. 

‘Tis the season – and every season – to get and stay organized. I hope these tips helped, and if you have any great organizing tips you’d like to share, please e-mail me at tomsorganizing@gmail.com and they may be used in a future blog (with proper credit, of course.)

Thanks, and Happy Holidays!

_____________________________________________________________________________

Tom Harper is owner of Tom’s Organizing Made Simple LLC, a Bethlehem-based company dedicated to helping people declutter and organize their space, stuff, time, and/or tasks. Follow TOM’S on Facebook or Instagram. 

Organize Your Halloween Stuff Without Fear

My brother and sister-in-law dressed up for Halloween. He wishes he was Batman.

As if the deluge of scary movies being advertised every day this month didn’t already let you know, Halloween is upon us. Halloween is a devilish delight for kids (and their dentists) and many adults as well. My brother Jay, for instance, lives for the Halloween season. Yes, I said season. Some people are content to put out a few decorations, find a makeshift costume to wear while handing out candy, then turn off the outside light to let kids know, “Go find another house.” when the candy is all gone.

Not my brother. He plans his Halloween costumes months in advance. He has participated in (and won) Halloween costume contests at work. He decorates what little lawn he has with as many Halloween decorations as he can fit (tastefully, of course). He gets his family into the Halloween spirit, which is like the Christmas spirit, only more scary and much less expensive.

My brother is far from being the only adult who embraces Halloween. But like any other major holiday, we adults get to enjoy the experience of preparing for the holiday in advance - and not enjoy the experience of taking everything down and putting it away. Thankfully, organizing your Halloween decor and more can be simple, efficient, and family-friendly, if you do it right.

Costumes

Halloween and recycling come together when it comes to costumes. Basically, an older child wears a costume one year, then a sibling for a future Halloween gets the honor of wearing it to save Mom and Dad a few bucks. (I’m underestimating the savings, because Halloween costumes are scary expensive) However, what often happens with old costumes and accessories is that people hold onto them for too long, so much so that the tote that stores them is about to explode from being overstuffed. Take the time to go through your costume stash and either donate or recycle them. You may free up an entire tote to be used for other things.

You may be someone who prefers to buy new costumes every year. (If you fall into this category, be sure to hit the Halloween pop-up shops on Nov. 1 to get what you want at a good discount.) If that’s the case, as soon as you’re done with your costume du jour, get rid of it.

Candy

The candy is my absolute favorite part of Halloween. Growing up, I loved trick-or-treating in my neighborhood and visiting as many houses as possible, then coming home and sorting my loot by brand and size. (For the record, “fun size” for candy should be the length of an arm, not the silly little nugget size that we currently get.) When my girls were younger, I’d walk around with them as they went house to house, and I enjoyed it as they came home and spent at least an hour trading candy between each other. They would also organize by brand and size without my prompting (insert image of a proud Dad here).

Organizing candy isn’t just limited to what your kids collect. When you’re getting your candy to hand out, first use the bags of candy that, quite frankly, you don’t care if there’s any left. That way, if you never got to use the bag of 100 Grand that you happen to love (like my wife does), enjoy it for yourself.

You also can engage your kids in the organizing process. For instance, have your kids go through their haul and, using plastic containers that fit on a shelf, put their preferred candy in their respective containers, refilling only when the container is completely empty. You’d be surprised how much candy your kids may not eat because they’ve simply had enough, and there are worse things to have than kids who don’t want to eat candy. If that’s the case, you can choose to get rid of the leftovers or take them into work to share with your very happy colleagues.

Here’s another suggestion: Some dentists offer money in exchange for candy so that they can donate it to military overseas, so see if that’s the case with your hygienist. Your kids will get money and learn about helping others at the same time.

If you do have older snacks in your cabinet or pantry, bring them to the front of your shelf and put the newer candy in the back. A good rule of thumb when it comes to any type of food is to bring items that are closer to their expiration date to the front for easier access. In doing so, this food is likely to be eaten first which will create less waste. Throwing away expired, uneaten, and unfinished food is the same as throwing actual money in the trash. When you think of it in that context, you’re more likely to follow this rule and limit waste.

Decorations

Finally, many of us are guilty of hanging onto decorations for too long. We keep decorations that haven’t been put out in years, yet we hang onto them because we tell ourselves, “We’ll put it out next year.” Let me keep this simple for you: No, you won’t.

Once Halloween is over and you’re ready to put your decorations away (in air-tight totes, especially if you keep them in your basement), take the time to look at what you didn’t put out and put those unused decorations in a bag or box to be donated. For the decorations you did put out, check them for any wear and tear; if they’ve seen better days, trash or recycle them as appropriate. (Along those lines: Thrift shops won’t take items that don’t work, have stains, or need fixing. Respect their operations by not trying to give them junk.)

If you like to buy new decorations, either immediately post-Halloween or leading up to the season, only do so if you plan on getting rid of some decorations you have. Too often, you’ll accumulate more decorations than you’ll actually put out, leading to more clutter and less space to keep your collection of stuff.

Enjoy the Halloween season and make my brother proud. If you keep an eye on keeping your house organized by following the suggestions in this blog, I promise you’ll enjoy a spooktacular season (sorry, couldn’t resist)!

Tom Harper is owner of Tom’s Organizing Made Simple LLC, a Bethlehem-based company dedicated to helping people declutter and organize their space, stuff, time, and/or tasks. Follow TOM’S on Facebook or Instagram.