low cost storage ideas

The holiday season is winding down and you have probably acquired your fair share of gifts, ornaments, decorations, etc. Now, factor in all the “stuff” acquired by your entire family and you need some storage ideas!

Finding affordable storage solutions can be a challenge but is possible for everyone. You just need to think outside the box and become creative--after all organizing doesn't have to cost a lot of money.

Before you start, remember that storage is not about being fussy or spending a lot of money but instead is about containing your items in a method that allows you to find and be able to use items easily and quickly. Here are some steps to get your started:

1. Declutter: The first step in finding affordable and easy storage solutions is gathering the items together that need to be stored and decluttering and purging no longer used, needed, or liked items.

2. Group like items together: After decluttering, the next step in the process is grouping like-items together. For example, putting all nails and screws in one central location in the garage Another example could be grouping spices together, for example baking spices, like cinnamon and nutmeg, can be stored in one area and thyme and basil in another--perhaps in a cool, dry area near the stove where they are used.

3. Reuse and Recycle: In this era of saving the planet, reusing and recycling are key. There are so many products that can be re-used in the home, like re-using furniture for another purpose (a coffee table may be easily transformed into a bench). Recycle old food containers such as margarine tubs, peanut butter jars, or coffee cans for storage. Cut cereal boxes can be used as magazine holders.

4. Use your space efficiently: It is important to assess your storage needs based on the volume of items to organize. Remember to look at vertical solutions. For example, a narrow, tall bookcase takes less space than a wide, low case. Remember to use the space underneath a couch or bed to store things like blankets or sheets.

5. Streamline your approach: In a front entrance, hooks can be used year round to hold coats, buckets with mittens, scarves, summer items, umbrellas, or bags. Use a cork board on a wall in a kitchen or office space with push pins to hold photos, receipts, coupons, menus for takeout, a calendar, or birthday invitations.

6. Find various solutions for long term and short term storage: Items such as memorabilia, old year books, or out of season clothing do not need to be in an easy to access area. Instead they can be stored in a basement, attic, or garage in air-tight containers. In contrast, everyday items like kitchen utensils can be stored at or near eye level.

7. Be creative: Try to think outside the box. An old candy dish can be used to hold paperclips or push pins in an office space. Shoe organizers can be used for a variety of uses other than shoes, like on the back of a kitchen or pantry door to organize spices, soup packets and other envelope mixes. They can also be used in the bathroom to hold toiletries or in a kid's bedroom to hold socks or small toys.

Now all you need to do is start. Pick one area in your home, one closet, or even one drawer and work to create more organized storage for that area.

repurpose your wrapping paper

Instead of sending your holiday gift wrap to the landfill, try a handy tip that I picked up from a person in my Less Stress for the Holidays workshop. When you’re unwrapping holiday gifts set aside the gift wrap to run through your paper shredder. Use the shreds to safely pack up your holiday decorations or as beautiful cushioning material for any packages you send throughout the year.

Happy holidays!

Holiday Poem

I found this really cute poem that I thought fit perfectly for today!! I'm sorry to say that I did not come up with it, nor do I know the source...but I think it is worth putting on my blog!

Merry Christmas!

‘Twas the night after Christmas, when all through the house
Not a thing was away, not a toy, box, or blouse.
The stockings were thrown on the floor without care,
And knickknacks and gadgets were strewn everywhere.

The gift wrap was scattered. The boxes were strewn.
I gasped as I looked all around the trashed room.
What was I thinking, when I bought all this stuff?
Why didn’t I realize ten gifts were enough?

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of organization danced in my head.
“But where should I start?” I wondered inside,
“How can I begin, when I’d rather go hide?”

You’re asking yourself “Where will all this stuff go?”
It feels overwhelming, this I well know.
You’ll get it put away, just remember to breathe,
And if you work with me, you’ll be done New Year’s Eve!

merry christmas!

enjoy a day of fun, family, and friends...you can organize tomorrow!

organize your next trip

This is the busiest time of year for travel. It is also the busiest time of year for everything else…so coordinating all the details and organizing travel plans can quickly become overwhelming. So what can you do? Here are few tips to help you organize any trips you are planning for next week…or even next year!

1. Make lists: These can include lists of things to pack, things to do, things to see, ect.

2. Always take extra plastic bags for dirty laundry, shoes, etc.

3. Don’t feel like you have to plan activities for each and every day - have some ideas for rainy day activities too so that you can simply look at your list and choose an indoor activity.

4. Count on purchasing items on your trip. Plan to take 10lbs less than your baggage allowance so that you have plenty of space for any souvenirs and shopping.

5. Choose a color palette for your clothes and stick to it. I find doing this that each pair of pants then matches with any of the tops, and vice versa.

6. Pack travel-size toiletries or if you have some old hotel toiletries, use those. I keep my toiletry bag permanently packed and restock immediately when I return from a trip. This saves a lot of time because all I ever have to do is pack clothes.

7. Always take a backpack. There is a reason why these are so popular with tourists - your hands are free to eat, browse, carry your water, etc.

8. Pack “disposable” reading materials. Take magazines or e-books that have piled up around your house. This way, you can catch up on your reading and leave the magazine or e-book behind. You will lighten your load as you go and hopefully be finished with your reading by the time you arrive home.

9. Take a notebook with you to journal or make some notes about the places you visit. It will help you remember your holiday with greater clarity especially once you're back home.
   
   And now that you're organized, have a wonderful time and enjoy your trip.

learn how to say 'no'

So many of us are overextended, but we need to remind ourselves that there are only 24 hours a day.

Saying 'No' is an art form and there are many reasons why we have so much trouble saying it, even if it's in our best interest to do so.

Some of the reasons include:

· we don't want to hurt the other person's feelings

· we don't want them to think negative thoughts such as we're being unkind

· we avoid it in order to try to escape confrontation

Many of us lack daily refusal skills. 'No' may be a mere two letters--but it is a powerful word. So what can you do to get a little better at saying ‘no’ and give yourself more time for what you want to do? Here are a few ideas.

1. Be brief, direct, and honest. Do not make excuses. People respect honesty. Be fair, and most of all remember to be fair to yourself.

2. Do not make commitments you are not prepared to keep. Take a minute and breathe before answering a request.

3. If you feel that you are unable to say 'no', especially to someone's face, say you 'need to think about it.' Call after you have thought about it for a day or two before you answer, but be honest with yourself.

4. Don't feel like you explain yourself. We don't give reasons when we say 'yes' so why should we have to give a reason for saying 'no.' A simple 'I appreciate you asking, but no thanks' will often do the trick. Kick your guilt to the curb!

5. Set limits. If you are only available to help a friend for 4 hours on Saturday, tell them that and stick to your limits. Keep in mind to be firm but polite.

6. Know what the expectations are. Before you make a commitment, make sure you understand what exactly is expected of you. Are you expected to organize the entire party or just cook a dessert?

7. Think ahead. Organize yourself. Have clear to-do lists and a calendar in order to allow you to know what is coming up and whether you are able to make another commitment.

8. Give some away. If nothing else works, remember to delegate some of your commitments to others. Delegation is the key to being a good leader. Break up things among family members, friends, organizations, or co-workers. Allow others to help you.

Now put one or two of these ideas into practice and start creating time for the people and activities you love…no guilt allowed!

tip of the week (12/20/2009)

December 20 – December 26, 2009 this week’s "tip of the week" was sent from Mary Lou from Big Rapids, MI

Mary Lou writes: “One Christmas I realized, almost last minute, that I didn't have enough placemats for the 17 guests who would join us for Christmas dinner.

I went to a dollar store and bought decorative wall calendars; the ones that are about 12 inches square when closed. I wrapped them in foil-type gift-wrap, put ribbons on them (put the ribbon on so it crossed in the upper left part of the package), and attached gift tags where the ribbon crossed for place cards. These were my placemats.

The table looked far more festive than I hoped, and we started a new Christmas tradition when I invited guests to unwrap their 'placemats.'

Everyone loved the idea and now my kids have a little fun when they just casually start 'tearing up' their placemat after dinner while unsuspecting new visitors look on. Everyone is delighted to find they may do the same. This also provides the small Christmas gift I like to make sure every visitor receives when they join us for dinner.”

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Do you have an organizing or time management tip that you would like to share? Click here and your tip could be the next one featured in our newsletter, our blog or on our website! For more organizing tips, check out www.andreadekker.com. It is full of great organizing tips for every area of your life.

holiday entertaining

'Tis the season for spontaneous entertaining! The holidays, more than anytime of the year, is when friends, family and neighbors are likely to call and say, "We're dropping by for a quick visit."

If you're house isn't always ready for unexpected company, here's a plan of action that will get your house spiffy in a jiffy. If you're home alone, take a deep breath and hit the hotspots that you think company is most likely to see. If you have family at home, divide and conquer!

ONE: Clutter
Grab an empty laundry basket and collect newspapers, mail and other clutter that have accumulated in the entryway and living room (or family room, if that's where you're likely to gather). Tuck it into the laundry room or a closet, but don't forget it's there after the company goes home!

TWO: Floors
A clean floor can make the whole house look clean. Grab a broom or your vacuum cleaner for a quick once-over. Finish up with a spray of air freshener or light a candle.

THREE: Kitchen
If you have dirty dishes, stack them quickly in the dishwasher. Larger pots and pans can go in the oven - as long as you make a mental note to get them out of there before you preheat the oven the next time. Grab some fresh-smelling spray cleaner, and touch up your countertops, sink and faucets.

FOUR: Bath
This is a good reason to store a few extra rolls of toilet paper in your linen closet or under the bathroom sink. You'll need them and some antibacterial spray to wipe down the toilet, sink, and faucets and touch up the floor. Put out some clean hand towels.

Now you're ready to entertain

make a gift wrapping station

Make the task of wrapping gifts a notch simpler by creating a gift wrap station. Corral together scissors, tags, pens, bags, tissue paper, boxes, ribbon, bows, and loads of tape into a portable container such as a basket or an organizer specifically designed for wrapping supplies. (A five-gallon paint bucket is an inexpensive option for storing rolls of gift wrap upright, helping you make the most of the vertical space in your room.) Store your gift wrap supplies in a closet or cupboard closest to the table where you wrap your gifts.

Happy wrapping!

christmas gifts

Don't you hate it when someone gives you a gift, and you have nothing to give in return? Buy a few general gifts that could be given to anyone. Video rental certificates, restaurant gift certificates, candy or nice stationery work well. Wrap the gifts, and write a very small code on the bottom of the gift so you'll remember what's inside. When someone drops by with a gift for you, you'll have an exchange in seconds! This will save you lots of time in the long run and will make you look super organized!

plan-ahead meals

Make a few extra casseroles and pots of soup now and put them in the freezer. When company arrives, you can serve a home-made meal and enjoy visiting instead of working in the kitchen.

Also, bake a few extra batches of cookies, divide them up in small servings and bring one along to each party as a hostess gift.
You will always look organized and prepared…even if your not!

eliminate your junk mail!

Is your junk mail is out of control? Do you want to significantly reduce or even eliminate the amount of junk mail your received? If so, take a few moments to call the Preapproved Credit Card Opt Line at 1-888-567-8688. This will eliminate receiving all the credit card offers that are sent.

You can also register online with the Direct Marketing Association and request to be removed from junk mail mailing lists.

Just a tip I thought I would pass your way…it really reduced the amount of junk mail I received. Keep in mind that it will take several weeks for you to notice a difference!

tip of the week (12/06/2009)

December 6 – December 12, 2009 this week’s "tip of the week" was sent from Sarah from Kalamazoo, MI

Sarah writes: “I have a lot of necklaces, all kinds from 14Kt gold and sterling silver to costume pieces. I never could find the right chain I was looking for or a particular set of beads or pearls.

I bought an inexpensive bulletin board and mounted it on my closet wall. I line up push pins on the board, and hang my chains and things from the tacks. Now I can easily see everything and select what I want.

You can also put the tacks anywhere you want, higher for longer pieces, lower for shorter ones--like bracelets.

I love this! It has saved me a lot of hassle. Hope you enjoy it.”

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Do you have an organizing or time management tip that you would like to share? Click here and your tip could be the next one featured in our newsletter, our blog or on our website! For more organizing tips, check out www.andreadekker.com. It is full of great organizing tips for every area of your life.

orgnize your project list

We all know we should prioritize what we do before we start taking action but how do you actually do it?

1. Make a list of ALL your current and future projects.

I define a project as anything with more than two action steps. Getting your Christmas cards written, envelopes addressed and sent off is a project. Signing a permission slip and putting it in your child's school bag is a task.

If you like writing with a pen and paper (like I do), then grab a pen and start writing; If you prefer to type, open a document and start typing. The main thing is to get down all your current projects and the future ones you intend to complete.

2. Evaluate your goals:

Looking at each of those projects, ask yourself these questions and be honest when answering?

1. Is this project aligned with my goals?
2. Am I spending too much or too little time on this project?
3. Is this project delivering the kind of results I expect (money, quality of life, relationships, etc.)

3. Eliminate or change your goals:
Decide which projects you can shelve permanently or until a later date. Or, if a project IS aligned with your goals but it's not really yielding the kind of results you want, change something.

4. Prioritize and focus:

Now that your projects are pared down, you can priorities them. Make sure that you number them in terms of what is most important to you now. Pick the top project, focus and start taking action.

Remember projects can be anything from business to "around the house" to personal...

organize your holiday entertaining

When ever you have guest over during the holidays, you will most likely serve some type of hot beverage...I know I do.

So take a few moments right now, to find a cute fabric lined basket and fill it with a nice variety of tea bags, hot chocolate mix, cappuccino packets, coffee, filters, sugar, creamer, stir sticks, marshmallows, etc. Store this basket/bin/tin next to your mugs and when guest arrive, simply turn on the hot water and let them pick their favorite drink.

eliminate your paper

Paper is a part of everyone's daily life. There is no way to avoid it. However, with the use of technology and computers, we can eliminate a good chunk of your paper…here is how:

1. Request that any statements you receive from various sources, such as cable, credit card companies, electric company, etc., be sent via online to your e-mail account instead of on paper through the post office.

2. Check out your financial institution's online bill paying system. Setting up an account to pay your bills online through your bank eliminates the need for envelopes and postage. You can set up your account to pay each month or set it up to take out for bills automatically every month. It is a safe and easy way to organize all your bills in one location.

3. Consider investing in a financial management program, such as Quick Books. Financial management programs will turn that pile of receipts into something manageable.

4. Do you subscribe to many magazines and/or newspapers? Consider keeping only those subscriptions that are most important to you. Most major magazines now carry many of their articles, if not the entire issue, on their websites. Consider donating old magazines to doctors' offices, shelters or senior centers after you read them.

5. If you own a scanner, use it to its full potential to eliminate a good portion of the paper piled up in your home. You can scan a wide variety of items onto your computer or store onto CDs or DVDs. Scanners can scan most documents and pictures onto your computer for paper-free storage.

All of the ideas above will help you eliminate the amount of paper you have lying around your home and office. Just remember not to let your computer increase the amount of paper you collect. It is easy to print out a lot of things that do not have to be printed. If it is not critical, do not print it out. Keep in the back of your mind that the information will more than likely still be online to reference again later.

top 3 holiday tips

Last year around this time, someone asked me for my top three holiday tips. I happened upon these earlier this week, and thought it would be fun to share them with you, before the craziness of the season gets too crazy. I hope you enjoy!

• Understand what’s most important to you and your loved ones. It isn’t just about getting things done; it’s about doing the right things…those things that make you and your loved ones the happiest.

• Make a plan. Keep it super simple and just make a list of everything that needs to be done. Prioritize based on deadline and importance, and exercise your option to delete anything that didn’t make it through the filter you established above.

• Shop with a list. Make a list of everyone you need to buy gifts for, your budget, and any ideas you have in mind for them. Then, keep your list with you throughout the season. Having a list will save you money and time…two things we could all benefit from using well during the holidays!

Most of all, remember to take it all in and enjoy!

e-mail organization

Forget about the piles of mail on your kitchen counter and think about your e-mail for a moment. How does it look? Can you find your e-mails easily? Or do you have so many e-mails you don't know where to start?

Organizing your e-mail is an important part of making your life easier and more efficient. Here are some ideas to get your e-mail organized and keep it that way.

1. Reserve your Inbox for action items.

2. Set up email file folders. Set up individual folders for people with whom you communicate often, specific projects, events, and organizations, hobbies, etc. Create a holding file for pending email that you plan to keep for a very brief time. Last, but not least, create an “Important: folder for high priority items.

3. Put complete information into the subject line of email so they will be easier to find later.

4. Allot a specific amount of time each day to review and file email. Try to download and respond to email no more than twice a day.

5. Stop subscriptions to online newsletters that don't contain helpful information. Limit your receipt of jokes and chain letter type email.

With just a few adjustments you will save so much time…and stress. Get started organizing your e-mails an inbox today!