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There are many benefits to getting organized.  You save time, create extra space, increase your productivity, and it eliminates the unnecessary stress and chaos in our lives.

 

Getting organized can actually save you money, too!  Have you ever bought an item again just because you couldn’t find it?   Or lost a gift certificate?  And let’s not forget the late fees because you misplaced the bill.

 

These are very valid reasons to get organized.  You save money by getting organized and you can actually make money by getting organized too!

 

This gives you a great incentive to take time to sort through your belongings and start to organize what you can sell online.

 

Trading Cradles is an excellent website for the buying and selling of baby/toddler items.  All of these items cost a lot of money when purchased new and many of these products we only need for a short period of time!

 

Where to start:

The best place to start is by looking at the items you have stuck in closets and storage spaces.   Items your children have outgrown or are no longer using.  Of course, if you are expecting to have more children, you have to decide what you want to keep as hand-me downs and what items you could sell.

Sometimes making these decisions is not always easy and you may feel stuck on what to do.

 

Here are some questions to ask that may help you along with the decision:

1.) When was the last time I used this? If it hasn’t been in the last year, it’s a pretty good bet you no longer need it.

 

2.) Do I still need it? You may answer yes to this question if you are planning on having more children.  In that case, keep it.  But if you didn’t need it with your first child, is it necessary to keep it now?

 

3.) Does it have sentimental value? I know as a mom myself, some things are just hard to let go.  There are memories attached to these items.  If you find something means a lot to you, consider taking a picture of it and then sell the item.  This keeps the memory without having to keep the actual item.

 

4.) If I decide to let it go, is it easy to replace? Many people get stuck making a decision because they fear the need to use it “someday”.  If an item is replaceable, it can take off some of the pressure of letting go.  If by the slim chance you need again, it could either be borrowed or replaced.

 

5.) Could someone else use this more than me? Is it necessary to have two or three of the same thing?  If someone else could benefit or use this more than you, it may be a good idea to let it go.

 

When selling items online, make sure to follow the policies and procedures of Trading Cradles.  Also, make sure the items are in good working order and well taken care of.

Now you get to enjoy all of the benefits of getting organized and have a few extra dollars in your pocket!

 

Happy Organizing!

 

Post written by Nikki Kinzer

For over a decade, Nikki Kinzer has been helping individuals and businesses reach success through better organization. As a Professional Organizer and ADD/ADHD Coach, Nikki’s passion is to partner and coach individuals and families on how to build positive life habits, reduce stress, and take back control in their lives.  Through Take Control Organizing, Nikki brings to her clients and readers a view of organized living that offers control rather than cleanliness, enrichment rather than austerity, and time to focus on the things that matter in life rather than the stress that comes from disorganization. For more info visit Nikki at Take Control Organizing. For more organizing tips and strategies, please visit TCO’s blog, Twitter, or Facebook page.

 

 

The holidays are among us, starting with Halloween in just a couple of weeks.  Getting out your decorations can be a scary experience, especially if you didn’t organize them well last year!

Stop the decoration chaos and make getting out your decorations a breeze.  All it takes is a little planning and preparation so that next year it will be nice and easy.

 

Sort – Sort through your decorations and decide what are keepers and what can be given away.  If you didn’t display an item last year and you really have no interest in doing so this year, let it go.  If something is sentimental, but you no longer want to display it, consider taking a picture!  This way you can preserve the memory without having to save the actual item.

Once you have sorted everything, pack up the items that you are willing to donate and drop them off that day (if possible).   Don’t waste time getting your donations out as now is the time your favorite charity can use them.

 

Packing – After you have enjoyed a wonderful holiday, it’s time to pack everything back up.  If you really enjoyed how you decorated a particular area, take a picture of it!  You can pack everything together in the same container and place the picture on top.  You may even want to include any notes you may have about the space.  It will be so much easier to decorate next year!

Another option for packing decorations is to pack by categories.  Different bins for lights, table decorations, wall hangings, outside decorations, etc.  You can still take a picture of your favorite areas in case you forget next year exactly what your space looked like.

When packing, be sure to wrap decorations in tissue, paper, or newspaper to keep in perfect condition.  For very fragile decorations, consider wrapping in bubble wrap and placing in smaller boxes.  Mark them fragile, so you don’t forget next year.

 

Storage Containers – There are so many choices in holiday decoration’s storage containers.  My recommendation is to start with clear stackable bins with colored lids.  Color-code your containers for the holiday.  For example: orange for Halloween, green for Christmas, pink for Easter, etc.

I recommend you label your bins with the contents inside, even if they are color-coded.  This will save you time to know what is in each bin without having to open the lid to look.  Most of these containers are seasonal, so be sure to buy them around the holiday.

Please note, however, I highly recommend that you do not buy any kind of storage container until after you have done the sorting and know exactly what is going into the bin.  This will help save you time and money by not buying too many bins.

 

Location – Keep all of your decorations in the same place.  Nothing is more frustrating than having to look around the house for all of your decorations.  Save time by keeping everything together.

 

Putting in a little extra time now will help to ensure your holiday transitions run smooth next year.

Happy Organizing!

 

Post written by Nikki Kinzer

For over a decade, Nikki Kinzer has been helping individuals and businesses reach success through better organization. As a Professional Organizer and ADD/ADHD Coach, Nikki’s passion is to partner and coach individuals and families on how to build positive life habits, reduce stress, and take back control in their lives.  Through Take Control Organizing, Nikki brings to her clients and readers a view of organized living that offers control rather than cleanliness, enrichment rather than austerity, and time to focus on the things that matter in life rather than the stress that comes from disorganization. For more info visit Nikki at Take Control Organizing. For more organizing tips and strategies, please visit TCO’s blog, Twitter, or Facebook page.