The appeal of having supplies, tools, and essentials on hand
The fine line between preparedness and clutter
This post will explore the benefits, drawbacks, and strategies for managing home inventory
Remember that feeling of smug satisfaction when a winter storm hit and you were the only one on the block who didn't have to scramble for bread and milk? Or when the toilet overflowed, but you had a plunger (and an emergency stash of chocolate) ready to go? That's the power of a well-stocked home inventory.
But let's be honest – that same sense of preparedness can quickly turn into a low-key panic attack when you're buried under a mountain of bulk toilet paper, canned goods you haven't touched since college, and enough batteries to power a small village.
So, how do you strike that magical balance between “just in case” and “just in the way”? Let's take a deep dive into the world of home inventory, exploring the pros, cons, and most importantly, the solutions.
The Upside: Why We Love Having Stuff On Hand
There's just something about knowing you've got everything you need right at your fingertips. It's like a warm hug on a cold day. That feeling of calm when a blizzard rolls in, and you're cozied up with a cup of tea, knowing your pantry is stocked like a mini-mart? Priceless. Or how about whipping up a batch of cookies at midnight, and bam! You've got every ingredient on hand, thanks to your “just in case” baking stash. Being prepared just feels good. Plus, who doesn't love saving a buck? Buying in bulk has definitely saved your wallet from some serious sticker shock. Why do I support keeping inventory? Because it is smart, if you have a plan.
Pros of Keeping Inventory at Home
Preparedness and Self-Sufficiency: Weather emergencies, unexpected events, peace of mind
Cost Savings: Buying in bulk makes the per use cheaper, dodge price increases
Convenience: Avoiding last-minute runs to the store
Personalization: Stocking items that perfectly suit your tastes and needs (e.g., specialty foods, cleaning products)
Hobbies and Projects: Having materials readily available for crafting, DIY, etc.
The Downside: When “Preparedness” Becomes a Problem
But let's be honest – that warm fuzzy feeling can quickly turn into a cold sweat when you realize your “emergency stash” has taken over the house. Suddenly, that spare room isn't a potential yoga studio anymore, it's a fortress of toilet paper. The cost of all those bulk buys starts to sting a little when half of it ends up expiring in the back of the pantry. And don't even get me started on the epic scavenger hunts for lost items buried under a mountain of “stuff.” It's not just the clutter that gets to you, it's the stress. The more stuff you have, the more anxious you feel. It's like your house is suffocating under the weight of all that “preparedness.” Here are some of the drawbacks of keeping inventory in your home.
Drawbacks of Keeping Inventory at Home
Space Constraints: Clutter, limited storage, feeling overwhelmed in your own home
Financial Burden: Money tied up in unused items, potential for waste if things expire/become obsolete
Organization Challenges: Difficulty tracking what you have, buying duplicates unnecessarily
Risk of Damage/Spoilage: Pest infestations, leaks, fire hazards
Psychological Impact: Stress and anxiety from feeling surrounded by “stuff”
Finding Your Happy Place: The Goldilocks Zone of Home Inventory
The goal isn't to become a minimalist or to completely abandon the idea of having essentials on hand. It's about finding the right balance for you and your family.
Maybe it means stocking up on a few extra weeks' worth of non-perishables, having a well-stocked first-aid kit, and keeping some basic tools on hand. Or perhaps it means having enough art supplies to keep your creative juices flowing or ensuring you have enough pet food to last through a minor emergency.
It can work, you just have to have a plan. Here are my recommended solutions based on the problem you are facing:
Solutions for the Cons of Home Inventory
If storage is the problem:
Maximizing vertical space with shelves, racks, hooks
Clear, labeled bins and containers
Fit the storage to the space (might be a good time to invest in a storage solution that actually fits in the space)
If it feels overwhelming when you go to look for something:
Try an inventory app or spreadsheet. Explore tools and apps designed to help manage home inventory
Log quantities, expiration dates, locations. Barcode/QR code systems for easy scanning
If it feels “messy”
Regularly declutter and evaluate
Setting aside time tto go through inventory and discard/donate unused items
Focusing on a reasonable amount of non-perishable foods, first-aid supplies, tools, etc.
Resisting impulse buys of “just in case” items
Creative Solutions:
Shared inventory with neighbors or friends for less-used items
Renting a small storage unit for overflow
Conclusion
Finding the right balance for your household
The goal is preparedness, not becoming overwhelmed
Regular reassessment and organization are key
The peace of mind that comes from having essentials on hand is invaluable
Whatever your ideal inventory looks like, remember that organization and regular reassessment are key. Aim to organize in a way that makes it as efficient as possible to find things. The peace of mind that comes from being prepared is priceless, but it shouldn't come at the cost of your living space or your sanity. So go forth, fellow home inventory warriors, and may your homes be filled with just the right amount of “just in case.”
Stephanie Y. Deininger, CPO®, MBA
Pro Organizer & Founder | The Organized Flamingo
—————– Did you know that we are available for 1:1 sessions or to speak with your group about multi-generational decluttering, sandwich generation organizing and finding the best solutions for your family as you downsize? Schedule a call or join our weekly email newsletter for all-things organizing & productivity delivered right to your inbox: https://theorganizedflamingo.com/quicklinks
This week we are sharing expert tips on how to maximize your donation experience and save time in the long run. With the holiday season approaching, nonprofits are in need of donations, making it a perfect time to declutter and give back. Stephanie will guide you through the process, ensuring that you have a positive and efficient organizing journey. If you're ready to make a meaningful impact with your donations, then this episode is for you. Let's dive in and learn how to prepare your donations for drop off.
In this episode we talk about:
Preparing donations for drop off
Tips for an efficient and positive donation process.
Matching the nonprofit or cause to the items being donated
Mentioned in this Episode:
Episode 004: A Different Way To Declutter: Seasonal Decluttering
The Organized & Productive podcast is brought to you by The Organized Flamingo and hosted by Stephanie Y. Deininger! For those of you who love the thought of organizing & being more productive, but don’t know where to start or constantly up against hurdles that don’t let you advance the way you want to, this podcast is for you!
Hey, Organized and Productive community and listeners, welcome to our next episode here at Organized and Productive. I'm Stephanie, your host, and this week we are talking about preparing your donations for drop off, something that many of you probably don't really think about. But if you can prepare just a little bit before you head on over to the donation center, it will save you so much time in the long run and you will be able to maximize the donation, the actual drop off, the donations, and the gesture. So let's get to it. And let me give you my tips as a pro organizer. Welcome to the organized and productive podcast with the Organized Flamingo. I am your host, Stephanie, a professional organizer and productivity expert, ready to explore the right organizing and productivity solutions for you. Yeah.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:00:48]:
Well then let's go. Okay, so if you are looking at the calendar and you're listening to us live, you probably are noticing that I'm airing this episode in November, which is around the holiday time frame here, especially here in the US. Right? End of the year. It's both the holiday season and end of the year, which is a time when nonprofits really do a big push to get more donations. Monetary, yes, and kind as well. But also they give you really specific lists on what they need for the holidays, lists on what they need for the end of the year, what they're in most need of. So it's a great time to be donating and dropping off your stuff that you've been lugging around in the back of your truck or has been hanging out in your garage or in all these boxes that say donate but you never take. So this is going to be a great season for that and that's why I'm airing this episode in November.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:01:50]:
But all of these tips and this whole episode can be applicable all year round, okay? So don't think that it's just for the holiday. It just seems to be a little bit more timely at the end of the year during the holidays when it's just naturally a time when we are in gift giving donation mode. So this probably comes as no surprise to you, but I have been to a lot of donation drop offs. I spend a lot of time dropping off, driving around, collecting things for clients, decluttering their bags and all of their stuff and then driving them to their preferred donation centers or donation centers that we work with, especially here in Colorado. I also used to do this in California, so I'm also familiar with that location. And also, in more of the most recent years, we have also shipped stuff to donation centers because, luckily, with technology, a lot of the donation centers and nonprofits allow you to bag up some of your stuff. Like your fabrics or your old whatever may be shoes and whatnot. And you can just bag them up or box it up and then send it off to a donation center.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:03:01]:
So I am familiar with the art of gift giving to donation centers and I've got a couple of tips for you. So I say this not as a brag but more as a reminder that I have some experience in this field and that my biggest priority here with this podcast and with these episodes is to maximize your time so that you're more efficient and that you have a positive experience when you're in your organizing and decluttering journey. As we know to create some habits, you do have to have a positive experience with it. It doesn't have to be good, it just has to be positive. Meaning you learned something quickly, you were consistent with it. There's got to be some kind of positive reinforcement in order for you to associate this and want to do this again in a positive way. Okay, so the first couple of tips are more like reminders because I'm assuming that you have your between you and maybe your accountant and your family and your financial goals and your personal goals. You probably have picked causes and nonprofits that are near and dear to your heart already or they're very special to you or that align with your goals as a family, as a business, or whatever it may be.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:04:15]:
So the first couple of tips are not so much about giving you tips on how to pick a nonprofit, but more so just how to align it with your organizing journey. So for instance, for the first tip that I've got for you is pick a nonprofit that is important to you and donate there because when you are going through your stuff then you will be able to associate like you will know who you're donating to. And that's really the tip here that I've got for you. It's really important for you to match your giving, your donation, your decluttering to something because it'll connect the two. There won't be such a disconnect where you're left wondering well, where is this going to go? Is this going to be thrown away? It's going to be part of the landfill. And now you're just in this circle of thought and overthinking. And so when we have a direct place of where the thing is going or what is near and dear to your heart, you will have an easier time letting go with more intention. And that is why, to get us started and actually in the seven steps of organizing almost anything episodes and podcasts and exercises that I have for you, that is one of our very first things that we talk about.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:05:28]:
Like figuring out your why and figuring out what is important to you as far as a nonprofit and causes so that you have a place that you're thinking of when you are going through all of your stuff. So first things first is let's pick a nonprofit that is important to you donate there. If you don't have a particular nonprofit per se, but you have a cause, the pick the cause that is important to you and do some searches around your community and see if there are nonprofits that align with that. So in other words, be specific. So if you don't have the name of a nonprofit or a donation center that is particular and special to you, then maybe it's more of the cause. So women or children, or children under 18 or girls in college, whatever it may be, or boys, it could be animals, it could be whatever it be. Be specific. Pick a couple.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:06:27]:
Pick like two or three I would recommend so that you have your eyesight on that. And once you have your nonprofit of choice, then you will then match the nonprofit to what you have available. So when you're going through all of your stuff and you're decluttering, then of course you will be able to match the nonprofit to that. So let's say you have some linens to give away and you have picked three different types of nonprofits. Maybe one is children, maybe the second is animals. And then the third is going to be schools. Not necessarily for children, but just schools in general. So when you're decluttering and you're going through all of one of your closets and you come across linens and paper that you know, hey, oh my gosh, it's really special for me to donate to schools.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:07:12]:
They may be able to use your unused paper and you can donate directly to them and you have them in mind. And instead of just a bin that says donations overall, you have a very specific place you're taking it to. And it will be much easier for you to let it go because you know where it's going. It's going to some a place and to people that are looking for those things and that are in need of those things. Same things with linens and towels and things like that with animals, the shelters are always looking for those so you will know exactly where they're going to go. Okay, so as part of picking the cause that is special to you and you would like to donate your stuff to head on over to their website and or call the and ask them what are their rules and what do they need and where is there? If there's a guide to donating, that is just whatever they say is going to probably be your guide to how you donate and what kind of things you are going to donate. So if you have that already, then take their guide and run with that. And then the rest of my tips, apply them, but make sure that you apply theirs first because obviously the stuff is going to go with the my tips that are coming up in just a second here.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:08:26]:
The rest of them are if they don't have a guide if they don't have a guide. The these are some of my tips that I would recommend and honestly, some of these are very universal anyway that most nonprofits would appreciate. So I think that they can be applied even if they do have their own guide. But like I mentioned, it's take their guide and make that a priority. A very important insert I'm going to add in here before I keep going is don't overthink this, okay? I'm trying to make this episode as quick as possible and give you some good tips, but I don't want you to overthink it. If you don't have a particular cause that is near and dear to your heart or you just don't know yet, that's okay. As you know, there are general types of donation centers. Some are the big names and then some are local.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:09:14]:
Of course, we always try to go local. Don't overthink it. If this is your first time doing a big decluttering project or like big decluttering exercise, just go ahead and head on over to your local donation center and let it go. Don't overthink it. This is just one of those exercises that it's like the little cherry on top. Or you can go above and beyond so that you can be a little bit more thoughtful and can maximize your time. But by no means am I saying go through these exercises before you donate. I mean, don't do that.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:09:50]:
Don't keep the stuff around your garage or your car just because you haven't fulfilled any of these tips or any of these exercises that I just mentioned, okay? So I'd rather you let it go even if it's a general donation center, because a lot of the big box donation centers do have relationships with local places and so they'll sometimes hand off items to them. Like I do say though, and I'm not even mentioning the big names for a reason because I'm of the mind that local is always best. So try to go to a nonprofit that is local to you, like a local shelter, local places of need instead of going to the big boxes first. But again, if that is going to be an obstacle for you or in a hurdle, please don't let that stop you. Just head on over, donate it, let it go, and we will work on being more intentional the next round. Okay? So I've got about six tips for you. And here we go. So the first is wash it if you can.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:10:54]:
Wash the stuff that if you can, like the towels and whatever, the linens and stuff and air in your clothing if you can. But again, ask them first because a lot of the donation centers will do their own cleaning anyway. So yes, wash it or clean it if it's dirty, if it's gross, especially if it's gross. If it's gross, it might just need to go into the trash. By the way, don't donate trash that's not fair. This is more if it just needs like a quick wash, definitely do that and then donate it. Especially if it's been sitting maybe in a box for a really long time. It could be beneficial just to do like a little quick wash.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:11:36]:
But a lot of them will have their own cleaning process. So I just kind of want to give you that heads up that you may not have considered that they probably do their own cleaning and washing anyway, so ask them, but give it to them in good enough shape that it won't be considered trash. For the next tip on preparing your donations for drop off is seasonal items should take priority. So take that into consideration. Especially when it comes to clothing and holiday items like holiday decor because that's what they will be able to give away. The quickest give away or sell, this can be easily done if you do seasonal decluttering too, which is something we talk about and have a podcast on and I will put it in the show notes. So we talk all about decluttering in a seasonal manner where you reserve time and energy every season to declutter as you're putting away the stuff from the last season and you're taking the stuff out for the new season. So really just being intentional every couple of months instead of doing it, like one big project every couple of years, this is just more of being intentional and also efficient with your time.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:12:43]:
Because, hey, since I have the bins open, let me see what I haven't used in the last year, or let me see what I don't need anymore for this season, or what my kids outgrew, or what I no longer like, or whatever, maybe it doesn't fit or whatever it is. So seasonal items should take priority when you are giving it to the charities. And so this is going to marry very well if you are a seasonal declutterer or seasonal organized. So this is like the perfect thing to do. At the same time. Also the donation centers will be very grateful because you're kind of helping them not store things that they can't sell right now. So right now, since this is airing around the holidays, they probably are going to have a harder time selling summer clothing, especially if you're in a cold climate place, then they probably won't be able to sell that as easily so they have to store that. So if you can give them the seasonal items as you're seasonally decluttering.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:13:46]:
This next tip is all about doing a little bit of pre work before you go and drop off the stuff. But remember, don't let this stop you. Just like head on over and drop off your stuff, okay? Don't overthink it. But if you have a minute, I would have you call them beforehand and or go to their website and ask if there's a limit to what you can bring. I'll be honest, I have better luck just calling them or going there in person, especially the local charities and nonprofits and donation centers because nonprofits don't always have the time or energy or resources to be updating their website. 24/7 so I have found that the stuff that's online, the information that is online is not always super accurate. It's not always the case. There are some nonprofits that are on top of it, but check their social media, go and give them a call, go on their website.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:14:41]:
But if you can't just get like I said, give them a call or head on over to their offices and ask the if there's a limit to what you can bring. Some nonprofits and drop offs will limit it to a box or a truckload or they'll have a limit of some sort. So ask them ahead of time before you accumulate all that stuff and take the effort and think you're going to be dropping it off at their place and then they don't allow it. So do a little research ahead of time. Also while you're at it, ask for their drop off hours. Not all of them are open all the time or every day, regular hours. Sometimes you might have to take a lunch to go drop it off. The other day I did a drop off on this Monday and it took me seven minutes between getting off of the freeway, dropping it off and the just getting back on the freeway.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:15:29]:
So it could be really quick, but it was in the middle of the day. Like they only do drop off or they only accept your drop offs between nine and twelve, but it took me seven minutes. So it's not a big deal. But you just have to kind of know obviously their hours of operations and when they will accept your drop off. Something else to take note of is ask if you will be able to get a tax write off or some kind of slip if that is important to you ahead of time. Think about that. Is that important to you? If it is, then obviously ask for it when you're there. If it is, or maybe if it's not, or you're not sure, I would still write it down in some kind of log.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:16:08]:
Especially if you're a business and you're donating for a business. So let's say you're donating some business tools or business equipment. Definitely write it down when you did the donation what it is. There is a donation valuation guide, at least here in the US. Most of the big nonprofits have it. It is part of the tax guide. I'm not sure if that's the official name of it, but it's called the Donation Valuation Guide and they give you a guide as to how much things are worth and that is how you can guesstimate what and how much you donated worth of stuff. So some of them will give you a slip and the you can write it down there.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:16:50]:
But if they don't give you a slip, then go ahead and write it down in your own log. So don't forget about that. My last tip here before you go and drop off your stuff is to make a map of where all these drop offs are going to go and be and ask what entrance you should be going into, especially if you've never been to the drop off or to the donation drop off. That is one of the biggest frustrations that I see people have is, oh, I took it. I got their address from their website and I took it and I got there and I was so lost. There were so many entrances, so I just left. Some of these donation places are in warehouse type of places. They're not necessarily super perfectly well labeled.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:17:32]:
I mean, after all, they're a nonprofit. They're making do with what they have. So some of them are they've been doing this for a really long time. So they're well labeled. You know exactly where the entrance is, where there's a drive in, there's a drive through. They're built for this. But especially the local ones may not. So do have a little map.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:17:52]:
See where ask them where is the entrance? Especially like church drop offs and stuff like that. Those may not have a very easily like an easy warehouse type of entrance that you can back up to. So ask them because if you are going to have to park your car and then carry all that stuff, that's very heavy. So you might have to get a dolly to carry your stuff from your car to the donation door. So ask those questions. Just kind of map it out. Well, that's it for our episode today. I hope that these tips have helped you and are setting you up for success and get you all excited about gift giving and donating and get you all prepared for your donation drop off.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:18:32]:
Until next time, happy organizing. Thank you for listening to the organized and productive podcast with the Organized Flamingo. If you enjoyed today's episode, I would love it if you'd leave a rating and review on your favorite podcast here. It helps with letting people know that we're here. For full show notes and resources, head on over to theOrganizedFlamingo.com/podcast. Happy organizing.
This week, we're diving into the eerie realm of keeping pests out of our storage areas, pantries, and closets. We are sharing top tips for avoiding these little creepy crawlers and what to do if you do find them in your storage areas while organizing. Grab your brooms and get ready for some storage magic as we keep our spaces less eek! and more chic.
In this episode, we talk about:
Keeping your storage spaces organized, safe, and critter-free!
Tips for Preventing Water Damage
Preventing Pest Infestations
Mentioned in this Episode:
Keep or Toss Decision Tree
www.organizedandproductive.com/keeportoss
Garage & Basement Organizing Products on Amazon I recommend: Amazon Storefront Here (*earns commissions)
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The Organized & Productive podcast is brought to you by The Organized Flamingo and hosted by Stephanie Y. Deininger! For those of you who love the thought of organizing & being more productive, but don’t know where to start or are constantly up against hurdles that don’t let you advance the way you want to, this podcast is for you!
Review full show notes and resources at https://theorganizedflamingo.com/podcast
This week, we have a fan-favorite topic to discuss – book organizing! Unlike other organizing tasks that might not be as enjoyable, many of you have expressed your love for organizing books. Whether you dream of having your own mini library or want to categorize your books like a professional librarian, we've got you covered.
We'll share expert tips and considerations to make your book-organizing journey even better. So, if you have a ton of books begging for organization or simply want to discover new ways to enhance your bookshelf, then you're in the right place.
Get ready to dive into the wonderful world of book organizing.
In this episode we talk about:
Different organizing methods like the Universal Classification System, Dewey Decimal, Color Coded, Alphabetical, and many other
Who benefits from these systems and why
What to consider when you are organizing books
Mentioned in this Episode:
Episode 009: Organization with Flair: How to Have a Stylish and Tidy Home
The Organized & Productive podcast is brought to you by The Organized Flamingo and hosted by Stephanie Y. Deininger! For those of you who love the thought of organizing & being more productive, but don’t know where to start or constantly up against hurdles that don’t let you advance the way you want to, this podcast is for you!
Review full show notes and resources at https://theorganizedflamingo.com/podcast
This week we discuss an interesting and relatable topic: what to do when you receive gifts that you don't want or need. Whether it's during the holiday season, birthdays, or any other occasion, we all find ourselves in this situation at times. We are sharing several tips and solutions to help you let go of these items or find a way to actually put them to use without feeling guilty.
In this episode we talk about:
The problem of keeping unwanted gifts
Practical tips to help you handle those unwanted gifts like a pro
Dealing with the guilt that comes with gift-receiving
Different guilt-free solutions you can try the next time you receive a gift you are not fond of
Mentioned in this Episode:
Episode 003: Mental Health and Organizing with Suzanne Orlando
The Organized & Productive podcast is brought to you by The Organized Flamingo and hosted by Stephanie Y. Deininger! For those of you who love the thought of organizing & being more productive, but don’t know where to start or constantly up against hurdles that don’t let you advance the way you want to, this podcast is for you!
Review full show notes and resources at https://theorganizedflamingo.com/podcast
As the year comes to a close, many of us find ourselves going through our closets, basements, and attics, getting out holiday decorations, and doing some much-needed decluttering. This episode marks the beginning of a series of conversations about getting organized during this busy time of year.
Today, our focus is on mindful shopping and how to create a shopping plan to avoid overspending. We'll discuss the importance of decluttering and the feeling of overwhelm that often comes with impulse buying. Our goal is to provide you with helpful strategies to avoid accumulating excess stuff and to be more intentional with your purchases.
In this episode, we talk about:
How to avoid overspending during the holiday show Impulse buying leads to accumulating duplicates how to navigate holiday sales when you are trying to declutter
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The Organized & Productive podcast is brought to you by The Organized Flamingo and hosted by Stephanie Y. Deininger! For those of you who love the thought of organizing & being more productive, but don’t know where to start or are constantly up against hurdles that don’t let you advance the way you want to, this podcast is for you!
Review full show notes and resources at https://theorganizedflamingo.com/podcast
You just took out all of your Holiday decor. Enjoy the happiness that all the merry and bright decorations bring to your home and space. But eventually, you are going to put everything back, right?
I want to make sure I help you think ahead and be on the lookout for what you may need to organize your items now and later. Take note that this is a list of items you’ll probably buy, but there are plenty of DIY versions of the following. I’ll do another post soon on what DIY versions are out there for the following. In the mean time, keep an eye out for the following sales!
Sales to be on the lookout for:
Wreath containers
Large plastic bags for wreaths (if you want to hang them vs. in containers)
Totes for the new stuff you got
Ornament boxes. Ok, so here are my thoughts on ornament boxes. They are wonderful IF you get the ones where each layer is separate and you can access each layer separately. The boxes where you have to take the top layers off before you can access the bottom ones can be a pain in the behind.
Garland Storage Bags
Storage Reel for lights and garland (think what you put a water hose on so it spins in and out easily)
A big roll of plastic wrap (the kind that professional movers have) to cover your tree with the ornaments OR a BIG bag to store your christmas tree.
Gift wrapping stations
Where can I find these sales?
Your local home improvement stores
Home decorating stores
Facebook Marketplace
Craigslist
Neighbor-to-neighbor groups
Yard and Garage Sales
Estate Sales
Auctions
Let us know if you have found a great sale for any of the above mentioned items and where you found your deal!
A method I like to use often is our Simple Functional Personalized System. This system is all about figuring out how much time you have on your hands to tackle an organizing project and labeling it as a “simple”, “functional” or “personalized” task.
This is a great system for organizing with a purpose.
⭐ 𝗦𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 – it's quick. Think less than an hour. Like organizing your desk drawer or your event files. You don't have to preplan too much. Solutions that come right out of the box. These are the projects you can do while listening to a podcast and be done.
⭐ 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 – takes a bit longer but less than 4 hours. Examples include organizing your bathroom cabinets or putting together your list of tasks you want to get done for your event. You probably need to pay a little more attention because you are visualizing the function of that space and task.
⭐ 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱 – tailored to what your wants and needs. Plan on at least 4 hours for this project. This could include figuring out what kind of shipping station you need and how it will flow if you are a small business that ships things a lot. It has to work for everyone using it, so it's not an out of the box solution
Your organizational project will almost always fit into one of these three categories and sometimes it will be combined.
If you combine them, you add up the hours of the categories. So if it's a simple AND personalized task, your project will be at least 5 hours. If you want your project to be simple + functional + personalized, then it'll take more like 9 hours.
Use this method next time you are planning your next project and share what you did with us on social media and how long it took you!
You have been home a lot more, not going out as much. You might be on an organizing frenzy or want to be. You are tired of seeing your same old stuff and need change. Yes, you can throw your stuff away, you can donate it or you can sell it, but you can also keep it and create a Household Boutique.
Well, how about creating a household boutique?
What is a Household Boutique? Well, it’s a store, but in your own space! You can apply this idea to your office, too, but for the purposes of this post, I’ll just talk about the space at home.
A Household Boutique is something that lives in a storage space that acts as your store or shop. It can be as big as your basement or as small as a bin. The main concept is that it’s the place where you go to “shop” before you actually go to a store (or online shop) and spend money on something you may already have. This format is different from a storage room or closet, as it isn’t a place where you store stuff and forget about it. This is a living, breathing set up for you to go to first, before going shopping. In order for it to work, it should adhere to three simple concepts: be easily visual/accessible, be well cataloged somewhere, and have a shop name. Read below for details and the simple outline of how to create one of your own.
Your home is like a store. Every item in your house should have a purpose or a value, so very once in a while, you should do an inventory of your “stock”.
You’ll Need:
Stickers
Excel or Microsoft (or any searchable document will work)
Shelves or bins
A special place designated for your mart like a closet, an extra room
Creating your Household Boutique
After cleaning out and re-organizing your space, separate the items that you are not ready to throw or give away. These are the things that are in limbo. Maybe you don’t use them often, maybe they’re brand new or maybe you just want to take a break from them. This differs from items that you know you won’t use anymore and are ready to be retired or thrown out.
Choose to do either a well-documented catalog of those items or how you will display them so you can easily “see” them and get to them. You can choose to do both but that’s one extra step and who has time for that?! (But heck, go for it, you flamazing gal!)
Catalog: this can be listing all of your items on an Excel sheet (or Word) and making it easily searchable. The goal is that a year from now when you are looking to redo your bedroom and wondering which “lamps” you might own, you will easily pull up what you already have “in stock”. Can you repurpose them? Here is where this list will be very important. If you end up using that item, great! You just saved yourself from spending money on something you already had at home. If you do not use it, then you will mark it on your spreadsheet. Next time you are ready to purge your shop, you’ll go through your list and see how many times you passed on that item. After 3 times, it’s time for it to go! There truly is no purpose for it in your life.
Display: if you have space and/or you are a visual person, then this method will be for you. (Keep in mind that displaying anything means it will collect dust, but the payoff is worth it!) This method is simple — you display your items so when you need something, you just open up the area and choose what you want to “buy”. There are a few ways in which you can keep track of what you have used. Put a color sticker on the items and, when you use it, remove the sticker. After a year, take a look at what still has a sticker and determine if you still want it.
A name! Every shop needs a name. Pick a name for your shop/boutique that speaks to you. You’ll want to visit your shop a lot more if you personalize it.
Lastly, regardless of what method you use, take pictures of your items. Not necessarily one by one, but just enough so you can see what you have, and place it in a folder. Most phones allow you to catalog your pictures and place them in a “folder” while the pictures remain in your general album.
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