Thrifting Archives

The Sandwich Generation: It’s Nothing New, Just More Complicated

In the ever-evolving journey of life, certain life phases have always been present—marriage, divorce, moves, parenthood, and caring for aging parents. The Sandwich Generation, individuals caught between the responsibilities of living their own life, and caring for their children as well as their parents, is not a new phenomenon. However, it has become more complicated in our modern world. In this blog post, we'll delve into the challenges faced by the Sandwich Generation, focusing on how it relates to the physical stuff they manage and the importance of mindful decluttering when navigating this intricate balance.

The Traditional Responsibilities of the Sandwich Generation

Historically, the Sandwich Generation has existed, with individuals finding themselves “sandwiched” between caring for their aging parents and raising their own children or other loved ones. In earlier times, the challenges were there, but the complexities we face today, especially concerning physical possessions, have added a new layer to this age-old responsibility.

I should note here that the Sandwich Generation terms (because there are a few terms that branch off the main term) were introduced in the social term in 1981 and were added to the Webster's Dictionary in 2006. This blog post does not focus on the history of this generation but I thought it was important to note.

It's more than just “stuff”: The complexities the Sandwich Generation faces today

As we navigate the 21st century, the concept of the Sandwich Generation has evolved. Now, more than ever, it's about managing not just the emotional and financial aspects but also the sheer volume of physical possessions. With an abundance of “stuff” to handle—from family heirlooms to children's toys and everything in between—organizing has become an integral part of successfully navigating this challenging phase. There is:

Multiplication of Possessions: In our modern world, possessions seem to multiply. Aging parents may have accumulated a lifetime of belongings, and raising children in a consumer-driven society means a constant influx of toys, gadgets, and clothing. Managing this accumulation is a significant challenge for the Sandwich Generation.
Emotional Attachments: Possessions are not just objects; they carry emotional weight. Family heirlooms, childhood mementos, and sentimental items can clutter spaces, yes, but they are part of who we are. Deciding what to keep, what to pass on, and what to let go becomes a delicate task, requiring emotional discussions and thoughtful decisions.
Time Constraints: Juggling caregiving responsibilities with careers and personal lives leaves the Sandwich Generation with limited time. The need for efficient organization becomes paramount to avoid chaos in the face of already overwhelming responsibilities.

How to make it less overwhelming

Having been in this profession for more than two decades, I can confidently say that the top emotions that contribute to the overwhelm of the Sandwich Generation and anyone having to deal with stuff that wasn't theirs are guilt and exhaustion (there are other emotions tied to the overwhelm but these are the roadblocks before taking any meaningful action).

Here are a few tips I have for you to reduce the overwhelm, guilt, and exhaustion and instead find peace and relief.

Create a plan. Please don't miss this step. Assess how you are feeling and talk about your end goals. We have a full episode on our Organized & Productive Podcast exactly about how to create a plan and assess your organizing journey and projects. Episode 001: 7 Steps to Organizing *Almost* Anything gives you an overview and Episode 008: Step 1: Assess. The Power of Planning Ahead provides more detail on how to assess a project before you start.
Boundaries. It can be really easy to want to keep everything in your space, but that just adds to the clutter. Without boundaries, you will get stuck in the clutter. Give yourself clear boundaries of how much stuff you can keep and how much attention you are willing to give to these items. Think about the storage fees, the cleaning efforts, and anything else that comes with keeping things (especially vintage and antique items). Boundaries are what will give you peace in the long run.
Decide what is worth DIYing or Outsourcing. We have a great episode on this titled Episode 006: Should You Outsource or Do It Yourself? which gives you some questions to ask yourself when trying to decide if it's worth outsourcing or doing it yourself. If anything, at least think about this question and make sure that you are thinking about how much it will cost, do you want to do it or it best someone else takes care of it, how much you want to get involved, and how much time it will take.
Bonus: if you have not processed the heavy emotions that come with acquiring clutter and physical stuff that wasn't yours, I would encourage you to see a mental health professional who specializes in these fields. Many pro organizers have the skills and training to coach you but make sure you tell them the emotional attachment is something you need help with.

The Sandwich Generation has always existed, but in the complexity of the modern world, the challenges have intensified. Navigating this phase requires a thoughtful approach to managing not only emotional and financial aspects but also the accumulated physical possessions. At The Organized Flamingo, as well as other pro organizers around the world, guide individuals in decluttering with purpose and heart. We create organized living spaces amidst the overwhelm. If you find yourself in this position, I see you and hope you have found a space within The Organized Flamingo where you feel seen and heard. What question can we answer that will help you through this process? Send us a note or comment here and let's work through this together.

Stephanie Y. Deininger, CPO®, MBA

Pro Organizer & Founder | The Organized Flamingo

52: Thrift Stores: Donations, Bargains, and Community with Maggie Scivicque

In this episode, we dive into the world of thrift stores, specifically arc Thrift Stores in Colorado. We debunk misconceptions and uncover the true essence of thrifting. Our guest, Maggie, shares insights that shed light on the power and significance of thrift stores in our communities.

As we discuss the multifaceted options in the organizing journey, we emphasize the significance of thrift stores as a sustainable choice. Thrifting isn't just about finding treasures; it's about contributing to a circular system where goods find new homes and purpose.

Join us as we explore the invaluable role thrift stores play in sustainability, community engagement, and the joy of finding unexpected treasures. Let this conversation open your eyes to the possibilities and significance of thrift stores in our lives.

In this episode we talk about:

Discovering the misconceptions and misunderstandings that often surround thrift stores
The experience from the buyer's and donations standpoint

Where to find Maggie online:

ABOUT MAGGIE SCIVICQUE: Maggie Scivicque is Vice President of Marketing for Arc Thrift Store, she is responsible for the marketing efforts that help drive the success of the nonprofit in Colorado. Maggie is also the host of Get Thrifty, a fun and informative podcast that was named in the Top 20 of thrift podcasts in the U.S. She is dedicated to the arc mission and brings infectious energy and enthusiasm to the work she does.

ABOUT ARC THRIFT STORES: arc Thrift Stores operates 34 thrift stores and 15 donation stations throughout Colorado. Store operations provide funding to arc Chapters, which in turn provide advocacy for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Arc Thrift Stores is one of the largest employers of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the state of Colorado.

Web: http://www.arcthrift.com

IG: https://www.instagram.com/PodcastWithMaggie

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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

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Review the Transcript:

Stephanie
Hey friends, and welcome to our next episode here at organized and productive. I'm Stephanie, your host. For today's episode, we have a very special guest, it is Maggie svic. From our thrift stores here in Colorado. She is the Vice President of Marketing for a thrift store for our thrift store. And she's responsible for the marketing efforts that help the success of the nonprofit. She and her team manage social media, they coordinate the television buys all the creative stuff that you see online. That's all her in her team, which I didn't know there were 34 thrift stores around Colorado, the Front Range and the western slopes. And there's 15 donation centers and she talks about how there's a few others I think some new stores coming in and maybe outside of Colorado too, which is really exciting. And I met Maggie through her podcast. So through the podcasting world, her and Ark, they have a thrift store called Get thrifty, which is a really wonderful podcast, if you are interested in that she interviews people all around the world that find value in thrifting. And it's really eye opening you get to meet very interesting people here. They're very interesting stories. So if you like that type of thing in your into the hidden treasures of thrifty and then head on over to get thrifty their podcast. So that's how I met her because I was listening in on these conversations about thrifting. And I've become a lot more aware about thrifting. And the, and how it can help our clients and our community in their decluttering journey. Because yes, you can find that rarity. And that one priceless item that you got for $1 or something like that. Sure. But it also helps the the community to get items that are pre loved and sometimes honestly quite brand new. Because that's, you know, a lot of people donate brand new things, but pre loved and they get it for a fraction of the cost really helping the community thrive and helping other people get things that they need at a much more reasonable price. And also somewhere nearby that is very community oriented. So when I went down the rabbit hole of finding thrift stores and consignment stores that I think have good values, I think could be a benefit to our community. There thrift stores came to mind. And then I started listening to their podcast and realized oh, my gosh, you know, they're a wealth of knowledge. And one thing led to another. And that's how Maggie and I met, I asked her if she would be part of the conversation. And the rest is history. So I'm excited for you to listen in on the conversation and get to know her, but also get to know the power of thrift thrifting. And also the misconceptions that people have and what the reality is about a thrift store as a donator. But also if you're donating things, but also as a buyer. So we dive into those misconceptions, misunderstandings, and clear those up. And hopefully you will find as much value as I did out of the conversation. And remember, you have many options in your organizing journey. thrifting is one of them, donating is one of them. But also know that when you are ready to let go of your stuff, you also have a place where you can go and buy things back. If that makes sense. It doesn't always just have to disappear forever, and you will never see it again. Sometimes it will just come right back because it's all part of the community ecosystem. So all right, without any more delays. Here we go with Maggie. 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, well then let's go. Hey, Maggie, welcome to organizer productive, I'm so happy you're here. Because everyone knows we get straight into the conversation. So welcome.

Maggie Scivicque
Thanks so much for having me. We're really excited to be here. Yay. So okay,

Stephanie
we want to get right into the nitty gritty. And really, the overview here is more about the misconceptions that people have about thrifting or secondhand. And let's dive right into that. What what are some of the misconceptions or misunderstandings that people have that you have come across working in this field? Now?

Maggie Scivicque
You know, it's so interesting, and it really is a great question, because, you know, I think one of the biggest things that people deal with when it comes to thrift shopping is being overwhelmed by it, you know, especially with our stores, we have very large stores, we you know, have almost every category available to the consumer, and it can be a little overwhelming. So we have all sorts of you know, over the years have learned tips and tricks for people. You know, some people are not overwhelmed. They're like, this is my jam. This is you know, I'm there for the treasure hunt. Get out of my way. I love it and then some people are overwhelmed. So I think if you can kind of go in with an open mind if you're new to thrifting that's a great place to start when approaching a thrift store. What is

Stephanie
a thrift store? Exactly? And how did you guys you are defined? And I mean, I think for the most the most part, most people kind of understand. But if someone's just getting into this and wanting to shop some more

Maggie Scivicque
also a great question because you know, that's so true, people don't always understand what it really means. It's all about shopping secondhand. For most thrift stores, especially here in Colorado, most of our thrift stores here are affiliated with a nonprofit arc is no different than that. We run 34 thrift stores that are, you know, our main purpose is to sell gently loved items to the public. Now a big part of our business is also gathering donations, you know, a thrift store is only as strong as their donation stream. And when you reached out, I was so excited, because, you know, I feel like a lot of your listeners, your audience, they really have this like heart for donation. And I'm excited to be able to speak to them. And really, you know, not only share with them how easy it is to donate, but oh my gosh, donate and then come around to the front door and walk inside and buy as well, for great deals for the treasure hunt for something special.

Stephanie
Yeah. And well, I mean, exactly, that's how I found you on the podcast, because the love that our listeners do have, it's the love of the stuff, but they just can't hold it all for whatever reason, they may be downsizing, just wanting to try something different sometimes. And sometimes you have to, or your health and what other reasons, and when someone gives it to someone that or an organization that means something or they understand that it's going to a greater cause and or it's part of the ecosystem, because they can go find something else that they aren't going to use. So it's this, you know, beautiful marriage if if you want it to be. So I love that you said that. This is a place where it's pre loved. It's a misconception that it can be messy, if you know what you're looking for. It doesn't have to be that way.

Maggie Scivicque
Yeah, absolutely. And if you're open to that thrill of the hunt, it can be really a treasure hunt. And if you are overwhelmed by it, you know, take it in baby steps, you know, one category at a time is always a great way to approach a thrift store. But I love that your your audience really does have a heart for this. And it's so interesting to me, you know, organizing, I love that there's these piles, you know, the keep pile, the the trash pile, but the donate pile, and I want Ark to be the first place that people think of when they are creating that donate pile. And it's easy to feel that way. I mean, our mission, as you know, is really to help people right here in Colorado with intellectual and developmental disabilities. So we fund 15 arc chapters across the state, we're looking to expand and 2024 We're very excited about that we may be moving to other states. And really, you know, spreading this joy to other states. We're very excited about that. The quiet, underlining rumor is that maybe it's New Mexico, so fingers crossed, which would be great, you know, really to spread what we're doing here we run thrift stores in a very particular way. Yes, we're a nonprofit. Yes, we have those deep feels, you know, we care about the environment, all this. But really, we run it like a business. You know, my CEO is a visionary. He is very much a type a hardcore businessman, and finance. And you know, running this, like a business has been really important to us and has been a really tremendous part of our success. So yes, we give back to the community. We care about that tremendously. But the reason we've been successful is because we treat it like average retail. And I think our customers really appreciate that as well.

Stephanie
Well, that's a great segue for us to talk about, how do you pick the items that you sell? And now that you mentioned, is a business? So how do you figure out what people are going to want or buy? How do you do

Maggie Scivicque
that? You know, for us, when it comes to making it like traditional retail, it's about seasonality, right? The customer when they walk into a retail store, they want things that are seasonal, when you walk into our thrift stores, unlike many Mom and Pop thrift stores and no dis to them, but we just don't do it this way. We don't put Christmas out in July, it just doesn't happen we save for seasons, it really sets us apart, because our consumers can count on us for seasonality. So when they need that coat, they know that they can find those, you know, lightweight knits, long sleeve knits, winter coats, sweaters, it based on the season. That's very important to us. And again, it sets us apart. So this is another misconception we'll back up a little bit is that we take donations from the consumer and store them somewhere and then push them out to the stores. That would be a terrible carbon footprint. We don't do that. If you donate at a specific store, it stays at that store. Now we do store it for seasonality. So if it's a Halloween costume that we got in May, you're not going to see that out on the floor till October. But you can count on the reflection of the thrift store as a reflection of the neighborhood. It really is. It's also a nice little insider tip for shopping our stores. If You really like the neighborhood's a little eclectic and weird, great thrift store, right? It depends on the neighborhood, because those are the donors because people donate I wish for our mission, but mainly for convenience and ease of ease of access, right? So that's, that's always a fun part. But again, another misconception is that, for some reason, people really think, oh, you know, thrift stores are hiding the good stuff. We don't even have an E commerce site. We don't do that. We really want what is delivered to the store to be sold at that store. It's an important, you know, gift to our community.

Stephanie
Yeah, I found that I was I was doing my research, I had no idea because I think that's another one of those misconceptions, and why people like poor customers that we have inclined, they won't donate to some of these vape box because they feel like it's just going to be worse for the environment, they will be shaped they will take the good stuff and try to you know, sell it to just an unfair amount anyway, in all these other misconceptions. Oh, true. That was looking at you guys. I was like, Well, I had no idea that you do keep it within the neighborhood, which I think is great. Yes. And

Maggie Scivicque
we really try and be good stewards of these items. You know, it's true that a lot of stuff can't be sold, people do donate their trash to us. It's true. So we do have a bit of, you know, waste that goes out there, we hate that we try and responsibly recycle. I like to be very transparent. Let people know, we do you know, if something can't be sold on our floors, and can be sold overseas to a thriving third world country that really thrives off their second hand market, we try and do very strong research. So we're only working with brokers who work with countries who care and make sure that those items aren't ending up in, you know, landfill in South America, that would break us we don't want that kind of reputation. So we have an entire department devoted just to our recycling efforts to make sure that we are you know, lessening our carbon footprint, even our warehouse is located on a rail line, so that if we are putting stuff on the cargo ships, it's going to countries who are responsible for it and do the right things. That's really important part of our mission to Yes, it's the people with disabilities. But if we're going to do this, we got to do it. Right. We have been named one of Colorado's largest recyclers. It's an important status. And the only way to keep that is to do the right thing and to be good stewards of the things we cannot sell. That's

Stephanie
wonderful. That's great to hear. Okay, so then going back to the misconception, but a little bit about your stores as well. So do you have a cap? Like what are some tips that you would give listeners of, you know, don't break, I know you have a whole like, on your website, you have a, you know, a helpful sheet for the donators, but in general, do you have some advice for our listeners, when they're going to the donation center about, hey, you know, don't donate too much or try to stay within the seasons? That's a great point. I mean, it sounds like you you store it, but you try to really put it put it out by season. So are there tips like that, that people can be aware of so that their carbon footprint is less so that it's more impactful? But they do you

Maggie Scivicque
know, the biggest piece of advice I can give people and you know not to worry about seasons, because like I said, we do have a robust storage system, it's all bar coded, we can find it in an instant. It's, that's not a problem at all, the biggest thing for us is like bring it in boxes and bags and separate it by hard goods and soft goods. That's the biggest piece of advice I can give you. You know, yes, like you said, the website is a great tool for what we can't accept. And that's mostly like mattresses, televisions, paint, live animals, you know, that kind of thing, right. But if you can separate it by hard goods and soft goods, that's the easiest way for our production team to take it from your vehicle. And you don't even have to get out of your car, pop the trunk say empty my trunk, we'll take it out for you. We'll put it through our line and hard goods versus soft goods is always best in a bag for the soft in a box for the hard. That's the easiest way to do it. And again, you don't even have to leave your vehicle we really will help you out empty your vehicle for you and give you a tax receipt when you're out the door. So it's a really easy process.

Stephanie
Oh, I love it. Okay, so let's talk about stories and of people bringing stuff in or maybe the ones that find the style so you I've listened to your podcast and we will give details on that in just a bit also in the show notes if you're listening right now but the those stories you have on your on your podcasts are credible, and they're really cool. So are there stories that have left some kind of, you know, warmth in your heart or Sure, a moment for you now having worked with art for a little bit?

Maggie Scivicque
Absolutely. You know, we have wonderful stories. I love the stories that come directly from the store. But yes, you're absolutely right. The get thrifty podcast brings us people from all over the world literally with stories but one of my favorites is mid mod Marian she's actually from Colorado Springs, so she's a native girly, and she found a steamer trunk louisv Aton steamer trunk and one of our stores one of three incredible I can't remember exactly how much she paid for it but it was very low. It actually now is part of her Wills and Trusts because it you know, once she had it authenticated as an original, you know, 1900s Louie Vuitton trunk that had, you know traveled on steamer lines all over the world had all the Insignia I mean straight off the Titanic type trunk, from Louis Vuitton in mint condition. And somebody out there got the other two because mid mod Marian Marian down in Colorado Springs only got one and this thing is worth just you know, honey, it's very expensive. So that I love that story because it was local. And it's just this idea that, you know, we're a thrift store, we're not always going to know what we have. So it's such a treasure hunt. And I think you said it best with the whole not doing the E commerce thing. We are not cannibalizing our stores to sell things online, we take that very seriously. Not to say that we'll never sell online, you know, things change, the economy changes. I don't know if another COVID is set to come or whatnot. Who knows, we may be forced to try selling online someday. But right now, our stores are brick and mortar, you can come in touch, feel really have the experience of shopping secondhand, and know that you're helping out a great organization in the process. And we're not going to take the good stuff from the stores. Now. That doesn't mean that someone's not going to get there at eight o'clock in the morning and wait in line on a Saturday. As you know, our stores are very busy. 50% off Saturday. And you know, unless you're on top of it, you're not going to get that half price deal, because we got a lot of people, I think we did 4 million customer transactions last year. Incredible number, right. And I always like to joke we make millions off selling dirty T shirts. Because you know, that's always my favorite my favorite line. People that's my favorite customer complaint to you change the laundry detergent. Sorry, hon, we don't wash.

Stephanie
No, no, that's, that's a different department that has a different price for that. So

Maggie Scivicque
people really have, you know, they think we wash every item, I'm like, Oh my gosh, that would cost us so much in water. And then we would be killing what we would we're doing to be for the environment by taking these off people's hands. You know, I always suggest when you buy clothing in a thrift store, take it home and wash it. But you know, and many people are so great about washing, I can't tell you how many items come either tag on or in a dry cleaner bag. You know, and most dry cleaners, especially in Colorado are so generous if they have to get rid of it because they don't have room. They donate it to our care stores. So I love the stuff that comes in a dry cleaner bag. You know, it's been well loved. Someone might have forgotten it. Don't forget your dry cleaning folks. It ends up at our stores. If

Stephanie
you do and it's been a while check in our store, probably.

Maggie Scivicque
Yes, it might have you know, the dry cleaner tag on the actual tag hanging on our on our aisles is the other part

Stephanie
is I hope listeners are picking up on this as well that yes, you know, we talked about these really fun stories of collectors or lucky ones that ended up stumbling upon that one Rarity or whatever. But these are pre loved items that are also going to the community that needs them and can get a good a good deal out of things that they need coats, especially here in Colorado for the winter. So I love you know, everything that you are all doing. And that's you know,

Maggie Scivicque
that's that's such a good point, too. I mean, really, people don't understand, you know, yes, I love our young influencers who come in and like make tic tock videos. For me. I'm like obsessed with how exciting and hip thrifted has become. But you're absolutely right. Our core demographic is always going to be you know, that single mom who is trying to clothe their children. And we take that relief effort really seriously too. We do a voucher program, where we actually work with most nonprofits in the state of Colorado where we give vouchers so that if people are truly in need, they can get vouchers to shop our stores. You're absolutely right, that that lower income mom is our core customer, and we will do anything to make sure she's getting a good deal.

Stephanie
Yeah. And so for our listeners who are downsizing and letting things go, yes, you know, don't, don't overthink it. Because sometimes yes, you might have something that is a value and you you gave it away, but honestly, when you're giving these things away to an ark or something like that, whatever you'd like that. It's also helping people who actually really need it, and they've been in your closet this entire time. And so it's a win win for everybody.

Maggie Scivicque
So urge that stuff. Bring it to us. Yes. Okay,

Stephanie
so is there any other fun facts about either your store or things that you've seen that you think people would really enjoy? You know, decluttering like to keep in mind?

Maggie Scivicque
Yeah, I mean, it really is a treasure hunt. And you know, I always like to tell people, you know, get out there and really get to see some of our customers you meet the most interesting people, people who are absolutely obsessed with like vintage Pyrex. I've got ladies who are obsessed with the dolls. We've got people who upcycle and they take some of these things just met a guy. He takes like grandma's quilt So we get donated and he buys all of them. And he makes really awesome Blazers for men out of them. I mean, there's women too. There's a gal out in Greenwood Village, she She's no older than 19 years old Emily. And she actually takes men's oversized blazers, and she cuts them and make re fashions them for herself into miniskirts and blazers like a set. So adorable. She's putting herself through college with this. So the stories that come out, it's never ending, like you said, the good thrifty podcast, we get to talk to people who just are doing incredible things in our community with these items. And they these young people care about the environment in a whole different way than we do. And it's just a parent, they want to come in, they don't want to be dressed like everyone else, they would sooner you know, they would not be caught dead and fast fashion. They are proud to say thanks, it's thrifted. And they want to tell you how much they didn't pay for it. You know, that's always a fun thing. It's uh, I'm amazed that I get paid to do this job because I get to meet the most incredible people that are doing just amazing things, whether they're making money off of us, or, you know, donating that it's all this beautiful cyclical synergy that helps everyone and everyone wins. Yeah.

Stephanie
Okay, before we get to our core questions that we ask everyone and everyone's familiar with, I'd love to hear what is a tip that you would give the donors to somebody who's coming in to donate and then a buyer who is visiting your store? Like, is there something like a tool, it's something that you would say, don't forget this when you come in, or hey, when you're donating? This is really helpful.

Maggie Scivicque
Okay, shopping first. So definitely come in with an open mind. But hit every aisle is my biggest tip. hit every single aisle don't miss the bottom shelf. Don't miss domestics. People often overlook the domestics department cuz they're like a bedsheets gross. They don't want to deal with that. There's so much else in there. There's linens, there's fabric, there's crafts, that's where we keep all of our crafting stuff. And we do bags of crafts. If you're a crafter, and you're not hitting a thrift store before before you hit regular big box retail craft items, you're missing out. If you like hot glue, and yarn and needlepoint and all of those things. Check us out even you know those big spools of those expensive yarn. We have men bulk girl, people miss out on the crafts section by skipping domestics never skipped domestics, and always look on the bottom

Stephanie
shelf. What about for those that are coming in to donate donors?

Maggie Scivicque
You know, the biggest thing is, we're so busy with donations, especially this time of year, come with little patience, you know, give us a chance. Here's another fun piece of information. We hire a lot of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities 20% of our workforce, whether they identify or not, has a disability of some sort, a little patience, a little kindness for that person who might be unloading your car, that would be my biggest piece of advice. They're very sweet. They're trying their hardest. And sometimes they get backed up with a lot of cars, it can get overwhelming, especially if you're dealing with someone who may have autism. There's lots of different things just to keep in mind a little kindness to our people at the back door, they really are trying their best and they want to impress you and they want to take care of your donation. So that's probably my biggest piece of advice. Oh, that's beautiful.

Stephanie
And it's part of the journey, right? Like, it's part of the whole experience for the moment that you are driving to donate. And that's the story. And it's the how you got there. I mean, so make it part of that journey and meet those awesome people that are working there. Absolutely.

Maggie Scivicque
And it will make you smile, you'll leave with a smile, if you can be a little patient to give them a smile, and they're so excited to be there. You know, we really are the people that we hire. That's one of my favorite parts of the job is that, you know, these are some people who are not going to have the college experience. This is their first job in many cases. first paycheck, it turns them like their first boyfriend or girlfriend oh my gosh, their first like social we do proms. We do parties. We just did our Christmas party yesterday. I mean, it's an incredible experience to you know, really be a part of their lives and they're the reason I show up everyday definitely. Oh,

Stephanie
fun. Oh, awesome. Okay. All right. So all our guests to get three questions and the first one is what is the one thing you would want people to take away from the conversation? Oh,

Maggie Scivicque
gosh, I mean, I have to you know, not so shameless plug it's got to be you know, podcast listeners. If you're listening to this podcast organized Flamingo, then you want 100% or a podcast listener? And I would ask please, add to get thrifty podcast, your lineup of listen to podcasts. We do it every week. Like I said, we speak to people literally all over the world. Last year we talked to someone in France or no she was in Ireland. She runs a thrift shop there. We just have stories from all over the country all over the world of heat. Well who are thrift errs pickers antique errs DIY errs up cyclers you name it, listen to our podcast we'd love to have you check us out

Stephanie
100% That's how I found us. Yes, please go listen. Okay favorite magazine and or business that you read for business or for pleasure. It could be

Maggie Scivicque
okay. And I was thinking of this I'm like are still we have two magazines that come to my house one for yoga for me and then the other for lacrosse for my son who's a big sports fanatic, but the more relevant to this is definitely a blog I've been reading lately and I'm super obsessed with it. It's called blue collar, red lipstick. First of all, such a cute name. And you know, Adina okay, I love that. So Dina is fantastic. First of all, she looks like a Ralph Lauren supermodel. She is so adorable. She has great fashion sense. She's all about sustainability. She's very organized. She'd be a great guest for you. And just a fantastic gal. She really is inspirational. I really enjoy her and her blog is always fun. Plus, her stuff looks couture, but she shops thrift. It's incredible. Some of the ideas she has with blazers and sweaters are just absolutely undeniable. She she's a force. So blue collar red lipstick would definitely be who I would suggest you go read more about.

Stephanie
Oh, thank you. This gave me a great idea. I'm going to ask I'm going to add blogs to the question. So it doesn't just Oh, yeah. Because nowadays second theme, there was absolutely yeah, it was such a good episode. Your questions were so fun and yeah, definitely go listen. Okay. Oh,

Maggie Scivicque
and Canadians I love the Canadians are so much fun. We don't have accents in Colorado. So I'm like, I'm anyone with an accent. I'm like, come on the show. Tell me your story.

Stephanie
Okay, so where can people find you? Oh, best place

Maggie Scivicque
to find me. You know definitely our thrift stores on facebook, instagram at our thrift podcast with Maggie on Instagram specifically to you know, follow the podcast. And then you can find us on our website www our thrift.com awesome,

Stephanie
wonderful. Well, thank you again, Maggie. And until next time, thank you. 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 player. It helps with letting people know that we're here. For full show notes and resources head on over to the organized flamingo.com/podcast Happy organizing

Book Recommendations for the Sandwich Generation’s Decluttering Journey

Welcome to The Organized Flamingo's virtual cozy reading nook.

A place where we talk books that are great companions in your organizing journey as a caretaker.

Now, before you start thinking that I've become a literary genius overnight, let me clarify: I didn't write these books or here to become a literary critic. These are the books I believe will help you in your organizing journey as the sandwich generation.

In this blog post, we're diving into a curated list of reads that have been my trusted companions throughout my career and personal life.

Picture it: you're knee-deep in family responsibilities, surrounded by stuff, and wondering, “What on earth do I do with all this?”, “Can anyone relate to this?”. Rest assured, you are not alone.

Even though we offer professional organizing services and can do estate clear-outs, estate decluttering and home organizing for you, we know how difficult it can be to ask for help when you are not ready. These books will offer a friendly ear and perspective on how others have dealt with this same dilemma.

These are the books I would recommend to you as a companion to your organizing journey if you are a caretaker. You may be the person trying to make sense of what to keep and what to release. These books offer insights, tips, and maybe a sprinkle of humor.

While we do have an Amazon Storefront where you can purchase these ebooks and books from. You can also pick them up at most libraries, and we would recommend you do that first to make sure you want a copy. (Please note that I may earn commission from qualifying purchases on our Amazon Storefront. We only recommend books that we would recommend to our friends and loved ones)

The Mission:

For this ongoing post, I am your friendly book recommender, here to make your decluttering journey a bit easier. If you're figuring out what to do with all the things while straddling the generations, grab a comfy seat and get ready for some literary goodness. These are the books I'd recommend for your Sandwich Generation decluttering adventure.

The Books:

Please note that this is an ongoing blog post. I will keep adding books and editing as necessary.

At Home: A Short History of Private Life

At Home: A Short History of Private Life by Bill Bryson

This book is a great read if you enjoy knowing why things are the way they are. It's a longer read and full of random facts, which can be helpful as you are trying to understand how all the stuff you have fits in your life.

Generation Anxiety: A Millennial and Gen Z Guide to Staying Afloat in an Uncertain World by Dr. Lauren Cook

Generation Anxiety: A Millennial and Gen Z Guide to Staying Afloat in an Uncertain World by Dr. Lauren Cook

This book is aimed at the Millennials and Gen Z generations and dealing with Anxiety but I would recommend it to anyone. It is filled with why we get Anxiety and what to do about it. Also offers a lot of examples to help you understand the guilt that comes with being a caretaker.

“Don't Toss My Memories in the Trash” by Vickie Dellaquila

Don't Toss My Memories in the Trash: A Step-by-Step Guide to Helping Senior Downsize, Organize, and Move by Vickie Dellaquila

I read this book when I was studying for my CPO Exam with NAPO (Certified Professional Organizer). It's a compassionate book that explains what your loved ones may be going through as they realize they can't keep everything and start the process of downsizing

Waste and Want: A Social History of Trash by Susan Strasser

Susan Strasser writes great books for us to understand why aspects of our domestic life have come to be. Why certain roles are the way they are and this book follows that same storytelling. In this read she talks about the history of trash and things for us to think about. This book may take you on a fact-finding journey and inspire you to look at your stuff more mindfully.

Bibliostyle: How We Live at Home with Books by Nina Freudenberger

A book about books. Bibliostyle is about finding a way to showcase your books in a way that is representative of you and your style. An interesting look into the personal libraries of bibliophiles from all around the world. She writes and showcase how others categorize, shelve, organize and store their collections. Nina also spotlights the personal libraries of people whose owners care about their book collections (and have actually read them, too!). A great read for those of you who do want (and are able) to keep your books.

43: Before You Go: Preparing Donations for Drop-Off

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

https://theorganizedflamingo.com/4-a-new-decluttering-mindset-seasonal-decluttering/

Episode 001: 7 Steps to Organizing (almost) Anything

https://theorganizedflamingo.com/7-steps-to-organizing/

—

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

Join our weekly email newsletter for all-things organizing & productivity delivered right to your inbox

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Download your FREE “Should you Keep It or Toss It?” decision tree https://organizedandproductive.com/keeportoss

Review the Transcript:

Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:00:00]:

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.

Category: Thrifting

The Sandwich Generation: It’s Nothing New, Just More Complicated

The Traditional Responsibilities of the Sandwich Generation