Q: I have SO many clothes I just don't need and some extra cash would be very helpful right now.How do you put together a garage sale?When is the best time to have one? how do you set it up?should you advertise?help, i've never had one before!thanks
A:
I have had garage sales in the winter and they are highly succesful, so long as you can do it inside a garage. Advertising is key. Make signs, put an ad in the local paper and list it on Craig's List. Are any of your neighbors interested too? The more homes in one neighborhood, but bigger the draw. Pay attention to when people in your area have sales. I have lived in three different states, and all three places have different strong garage sales days. Saturdays are always a good day anywhere. I would start by 8am. Many of the hard core garage salers start early.Next you need to set up tables, arrange your items and price them. Try to have things arranged in categories such as baby items, household, gardening, etc. Make it easy for people to find what they are looking for as many garage salers have specific items in mind. Make big items visible from the street. Also, make sure things are clean and neatly displayed. People will not buy dirty things or things they can not see. Also, make sure you have plenty of change. People will show up with $20 bills. If you have kids, get them involved. Have them pick some things to get rid of and set up a table and money box for them. Kids get really excited when they get cash for old toys. Sweeten the pot by taking them out the next day to spend some or all of the money they made. This is a great way to reduce their clutter too!Good luck!
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Gift or Burden: Passing down family heirlooms
In honor of Valentine’s Day, I thought I would put down some thoughts about love. What does love have to do with organizing, you ask? Let me explain….
Have you ever heard the old saying, “If you love someone, set them free”? Well, the same applies to stuff. I hear so many people talk about their cherished possessions that they can’t bare to part with. Granted, these items are in the garage or in storage under a pile of other stuff and a layer of dust, but it is “important.”
If it is truly valuable/important/sentimental, it should be in an important place, well cared for and utilized. Your grandmother’s hope chest is not being valued if it is under boxes, dust and possibly be chewed on by field mice in your garage. It should have an important place in your home. If you don’t have an important spot for it, then set it free. Ask other family members if they have an important spot for it. If no one has a good place for it and it is a historical piece, contact the local historical society to see if they are interested. It will be well cared for and preserved rather than become lunch for hungry termites. In other words, set it free.
Something else I hear often is that people are saving these invaluable pieces for their kids. I want you to take a moment here to think about whether this is a loving gesture or a future burden for your children. What are the odds that your child will someday have room for or even want Grandpa’s fishing pole collection? And will your child someday take that collection because they want it or because they feel obligated? After all, you have been saving it for them for all these years. Are you giving your child a gift or placing burden on them?
If your children are adults, please talk to them. Ask them what they want with an open mind. You might be surprised at what they think is valuable or worth keeping. And remember that if they don’t want it, that isn’t wrong. It just means that they don’t see the same value in it that you do.
Don’t get me wrong – some things are worth saving and passing on. But think long and hard about what you save. Especially if that which you are saving for *someday* is getting in the way of enjoying today.
Meagan Farrell, professional organizer, is the owner of Clear the Clutter organizing services. She can be reached at (360) 631-7268 or at clear_theclutter@yahoo.com. Check out her blog at http://cleartheclutterprofessionalorganizing.blogspot.com/
Have you ever heard the old saying, “If you love someone, set them free”? Well, the same applies to stuff. I hear so many people talk about their cherished possessions that they can’t bare to part with. Granted, these items are in the garage or in storage under a pile of other stuff and a layer of dust, but it is “important.”
If it is truly valuable/important/sentimental, it should be in an important place, well cared for and utilized. Your grandmother’s hope chest is not being valued if it is under boxes, dust and possibly be chewed on by field mice in your garage. It should have an important place in your home. If you don’t have an important spot for it, then set it free. Ask other family members if they have an important spot for it. If no one has a good place for it and it is a historical piece, contact the local historical society to see if they are interested. It will be well cared for and preserved rather than become lunch for hungry termites. In other words, set it free.
Something else I hear often is that people are saving these invaluable pieces for their kids. I want you to take a moment here to think about whether this is a loving gesture or a future burden for your children. What are the odds that your child will someday have room for or even want Grandpa’s fishing pole collection? And will your child someday take that collection because they want it or because they feel obligated? After all, you have been saving it for them for all these years. Are you giving your child a gift or placing burden on them?
If your children are adults, please talk to them. Ask them what they want with an open mind. You might be surprised at what they think is valuable or worth keeping. And remember that if they don’t want it, that isn’t wrong. It just means that they don’t see the same value in it that you do.
Don’t get me wrong – some things are worth saving and passing on. But think long and hard about what you save. Especially if that which you are saving for *someday* is getting in the way of enjoying today.
Meagan Farrell, professional organizer, is the owner of Clear the Clutter organizing services. She can be reached at (360) 631-7268 or at clear_theclutter@yahoo.com. Check out her blog at http://cleartheclutterprofessionalorganizing.blogspot.com/
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Start your holiday shopping now.
I’ll bet you are expecting an article about getting organized as part of your New Year’s resolution? Surprise! I am actually going to tell you to go shopping!! January and February are the best times to shop. The stores are marking everything down to clear out inventory and bring new items. Personally, I spend a lot of time at Target around this time, waiting for the 75 % off clearance sales to start.
Why am I telling you to buy things? Because, if you start your holiday shopping now, you will have much less stress come November/December. Here is an idea: Take several paper shopping bags and write the names of those you need to shop for each year on them (one name per bag). Keep these bags in your closet, garage or hiding spot. As you are out shopping, check out the sales with your gift recipients in mind. As you find things for your loved ones, bring them home and put them in the appropriate bag. As birthdays or holidays come up, you can go to that person’s bag and find already purchased gifts for them. Not only will you save a ton of money, but you will save a lot of time and stress. Instead of frantically running around at the last minute looking for the perfect gift, buy it when you see it. Chances are it will cost less and it will really be the ideal present.
Meagan Farrell, professional organizer, is the owner of Clear the Clutter organizing services. She can be reached at (360) 631-7268 or at clear_theclutter@yahoo.com. Check out her blog at http://cleartheclutterprofessionalorganizing.blogspot.com/
Why am I telling you to buy things? Because, if you start your holiday shopping now, you will have much less stress come November/December. Here is an idea: Take several paper shopping bags and write the names of those you need to shop for each year on them (one name per bag). Keep these bags in your closet, garage or hiding spot. As you are out shopping, check out the sales with your gift recipients in mind. As you find things for your loved ones, bring them home and put them in the appropriate bag. As birthdays or holidays come up, you can go to that person’s bag and find already purchased gifts for them. Not only will you save a ton of money, but you will save a lot of time and stress. Instead of frantically running around at the last minute looking for the perfect gift, buy it when you see it. Chances are it will cost less and it will really be the ideal present.
Meagan Farrell, professional organizer, is the owner of Clear the Clutter organizing services. She can be reached at (360) 631-7268 or at clear_theclutter@yahoo.com. Check out her blog at http://cleartheclutterprofessionalorganizing.blogspot.com/
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Everett Herald Article - January 1, 2008
Resolved for 2008: Less mess
Experts tell how to clear clutter, get organized
By Andy RathbunHerald Writer
Linda Rosander can't handle the guilt."It wears on you, having things in there that other people can use," she said. "Emotionally, it wears on you."Yes, that's right: The Marysville resident needs to clean out her garage.The space could house a car but instead has become a makeshift storage unit for everything from diving equipment to an overturned couch. Now that the new year is here, Rosander plans to work on organizing the clutter.Rosander's not alone in her plight. A poll by the effectiveness-training firm FranklinCovey found that "get organized" was among the top five New Year's resolutions for 2008. While some might think the first step should be picking up tools from the store, professional organizers in the area discouraged that path."That's the last thing that I do in the process because I have found with the majority of my clients, once we get rid of a lot of stuff, we don't need that many organizational products," said Snohomish County-based organizer Meagan Farrell of Clear the Clutter.To get started Farrell recommends simply making three piles: Stuff to keep, stuff to pitch and stuff to give away or sell.Laura Leist, an organizer in Snohomish, also is a fan of the trash bin approach. One of her mottoes is "You can't take it with you," and so she urges people to throw out items."You won't miss it," she said. "Try it."Granted, some tools come in handy. Leist, who runs Eliminate Chaos, recommended getting a calendar and drafting a schedule. Other tools should be customized to the project at hand: A file cabinet for the home office, drawer dividers in the kitchen or hooks to hang up tools in the garage.Many things can contribute to a cluttered household, Leist said, from lengthy hours at work infringing on cleaning time to momentous events such as a death or birth, which can come with an influx of inherited items or gifts. Christmas itself can bring a new wave of items that, when followed by the New Year, can call to mind a need to clean."It's more cluttered than before," Farrell said. "The combo just sort of inspires."Leist emphasized that people shouldn't beat themselves up over their messes, nor should they live or die by a New Year's resolution. After all, according to that FranklinCovey survey, 35 percent of people break a resolution by Feb. 1. Leist recommended using the word "intention" instead."A resolution is so much stronger and harsh for people, which is why people don't stick with it," she said, "but if their intention is they want to live more organized, then there are baby steps they can take along the way."That may be good advice for Rosander, who has her work cut out for her. She runs Linda's Adult Family Home in Marysville, and has taken on a glut of objects as a result. After a resident dies, families sometime donate items to her. It may take a couple weeks to clear out her garage, she said, but she's ready to tackle the task. As a society, we're hoarders, she said. She's ready to break the cycle, and donate unused leftovers.Really, she's looking forward to it."It's fun getting rid of things you don't need," she said.Reporter Andy Rathbun: 425-339-3455 or e-mail arathbun@heraldnet.com.
Experts tell how to clear clutter, get organized
By Andy RathbunHerald Writer
Linda Rosander can't handle the guilt."It wears on you, having things in there that other people can use," she said. "Emotionally, it wears on you."Yes, that's right: The Marysville resident needs to clean out her garage.The space could house a car but instead has become a makeshift storage unit for everything from diving equipment to an overturned couch. Now that the new year is here, Rosander plans to work on organizing the clutter.Rosander's not alone in her plight. A poll by the effectiveness-training firm FranklinCovey found that "get organized" was among the top five New Year's resolutions for 2008. While some might think the first step should be picking up tools from the store, professional organizers in the area discouraged that path."That's the last thing that I do in the process because I have found with the majority of my clients, once we get rid of a lot of stuff, we don't need that many organizational products," said Snohomish County-based organizer Meagan Farrell of Clear the Clutter.To get started Farrell recommends simply making three piles: Stuff to keep, stuff to pitch and stuff to give away or sell.Laura Leist, an organizer in Snohomish, also is a fan of the trash bin approach. One of her mottoes is "You can't take it with you," and so she urges people to throw out items."You won't miss it," she said. "Try it."Granted, some tools come in handy. Leist, who runs Eliminate Chaos, recommended getting a calendar and drafting a schedule. Other tools should be customized to the project at hand: A file cabinet for the home office, drawer dividers in the kitchen or hooks to hang up tools in the garage.Many things can contribute to a cluttered household, Leist said, from lengthy hours at work infringing on cleaning time to momentous events such as a death or birth, which can come with an influx of inherited items or gifts. Christmas itself can bring a new wave of items that, when followed by the New Year, can call to mind a need to clean."It's more cluttered than before," Farrell said. "The combo just sort of inspires."Leist emphasized that people shouldn't beat themselves up over their messes, nor should they live or die by a New Year's resolution. After all, according to that FranklinCovey survey, 35 percent of people break a resolution by Feb. 1. Leist recommended using the word "intention" instead."A resolution is so much stronger and harsh for people, which is why people don't stick with it," she said, "but if their intention is they want to live more organized, then there are baby steps they can take along the way."That may be good advice for Rosander, who has her work cut out for her. She runs Linda's Adult Family Home in Marysville, and has taken on a glut of objects as a result. After a resident dies, families sometime donate items to her. It may take a couple weeks to clear out her garage, she said, but she's ready to tackle the task. As a society, we're hoarders, she said. She's ready to break the cycle, and donate unused leftovers.Really, she's looking forward to it."It's fun getting rid of things you don't need," she said.Reporter Andy Rathbun: 425-339-3455 or e-mail arathbun@heraldnet.com.
Snohomish County Business Journal Press
Published January 2008
Turning Point
Why did you go into your profession, start your own business or change your career midstream? These are the questions the Snohomish County Business Journal wants answered in its regular feature, “Turning Point.” Have a turning point you’d like to share? E-mail it to hilden@heraldnet.com. It should be no longer than 150 words. Please include an electronic image to run alongside.
Meagan Farrell, owner of Clear the Clutter, professional organizing services operating in Snohomish County Organization has always been a part of my life. In every job I have held, organization has been a major component of what I did. After staying home for six years to raise my daughter, I wanted to get out into the working world again; however, I needed a highly flexible position. A friend pointed out that I was already a professional organizer, doing it for friends and the companies I worked for. She inspired me to start my own business.
A year and a half ago, I started Clear the Clutter, and now I get to do what I love most. At first, it was a scary step, but once it got going, I found that there was nothing better than being my own boss and doing something that I am passionate about.
Not only do I get the rewarding task of helping people get their lives under control, but I get to write about it on my blog — http://cleartheclutterprofessionalorganizing.blogspot.com/ — too.
The Marketplace HeraldnetThe EnterpriseTraffic UpdateGovernment/Biz Groups
© 2008 The Daily Herald Co., Everett, WA
Turning Point
Why did you go into your profession, start your own business or change your career midstream? These are the questions the Snohomish County Business Journal wants answered in its regular feature, “Turning Point.” Have a turning point you’d like to share? E-mail it to hilden@heraldnet.com. It should be no longer than 150 words. Please include an electronic image to run alongside.
Meagan Farrell, owner of Clear the Clutter, professional organizing services operating in Snohomish County Organization has always been a part of my life. In every job I have held, organization has been a major component of what I did. After staying home for six years to raise my daughter, I wanted to get out into the working world again; however, I needed a highly flexible position. A friend pointed out that I was already a professional organizer, doing it for friends and the companies I worked for. She inspired me to start my own business.
A year and a half ago, I started Clear the Clutter, and now I get to do what I love most. At first, it was a scary step, but once it got going, I found that there was nothing better than being my own boss and doing something that I am passionate about.
Not only do I get the rewarding task of helping people get their lives under control, but I get to write about it on my blog — http://cleartheclutterprofessionalorganizing.blogspot.com/ — too.
The Marketplace HeraldnetThe EnterpriseTraffic UpdateGovernment/Biz Groups
© 2008 The Daily Herald Co., Everett, WA
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Organizing for the holidays
Tis the season for gifts and more gifts. While we love all the fun of giving and receiving, you may be worried that your home is cluttered enough with stuff that you don’t use. In anticipation of the new goodies, why not clear the clutter?
Spend 15 minutes a day going through one small area at a time. Pick a drawer, a cupboard or the corner of a room to do in one time period. As you are going through, keep reminding yourself that clearing clutter is also opening up space for new and useful things. Once you receive all your fabulous new gifts, you will have a nice neat place to store them.
This is a great activity to do with your kids as well. Teach them a lesson in organization by showing good clutter management habits. Set aside some time with them before the holidays to go through their belongings and get rid of what is broken, no longer used or still in the box because it was never used at all…. Not only will they learn clutter management, but they can also join in the holiday spirit by donating these no longer needed items to a worthy charity.
Don’t let the happiness of receiving be overshadowed by the stress of adding to a cluttered space. Just a small amount of time per day can transform your space into a functional and stress free environment. Happy holidays!
Meagan Farrell, professional organizer, is the owner of Clear the Clutter organizing services. She can be reached at (360) 631-7268 or at clear_theclutter@yahoo.com
Spend 15 minutes a day going through one small area at a time. Pick a drawer, a cupboard or the corner of a room to do in one time period. As you are going through, keep reminding yourself that clearing clutter is also opening up space for new and useful things. Once you receive all your fabulous new gifts, you will have a nice neat place to store them.
This is a great activity to do with your kids as well. Teach them a lesson in organization by showing good clutter management habits. Set aside some time with them before the holidays to go through their belongings and get rid of what is broken, no longer used or still in the box because it was never used at all…. Not only will they learn clutter management, but they can also join in the holiday spirit by donating these no longer needed items to a worthy charity.
Don’t let the happiness of receiving be overshadowed by the stress of adding to a cluttered space. Just a small amount of time per day can transform your space into a functional and stress free environment. Happy holidays!
Meagan Farrell, professional organizer, is the owner of Clear the Clutter organizing services. She can be reached at (360) 631-7268 or at clear_theclutter@yahoo.com
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Simplify the holidays: Tips to make holiday cards and gift giving easier.
It’s November and do you know where your Holiday Card list is? It should be in your to-do file. Now is the time to get this task completed. Every year I hear people complain endlessly about how overwhelmed they are by the holidays. Every year I scratch my head as I hear about what they waited to do until the last minute and are now stressing out over. Does this sound vaguely familiar?? If so, read on….
Holiday Cards: Holiday cards are something that can be done long before the holiday season even approaches. Sit down in October and pick (or take) a cute photo for the card. Address the envelopes and start signing the cards. Does it matter what month you write “Seasons Greetings, Love the Turner Family” in your cards? Knock this task out long before you are inundated with holiday parties and gift exchanges.
And as long as we are discussing holiday cards, here are some tips for making this job easier.
Invest the time to input the list into your computer and create mailing labels. Since your list probably doesn’t change much during the year, this will serve you for years to come.
Go to Costco, Target or any other store and get those holiday photo cards made. You can email them the photo and pick the design online. Usually in an hour, you can pick them up and voila, your cards are done!
If you are crafty and like to make your cards, start in January. Make 10 a month and by November, you will have 110 ready to go. Unless you are famous, I think you will have plenty.
Put the kids to work. Have your kids attach the stamps and wet the envelopes. Not only are you spending quality time with your child by doing this, but you are working on their fine motor skills.
Gift Giving: This is another area that continually baffles me. The holidays always happen in December. Knowing this, you can venture out in January and February when all the sales are going on, and start your shopping early. I remember being in Target the day after Christmas and seeing a woman at the check out with three carts full of stuff. She announced that her Christmas shopping for the next year was officially done. All power to you sister! Even if you aren’t that organized (or don’t have the space to store the gifts), you can still shop in the early fall before the masses come to storm the mall and making parking a living nightmare.
Want to make the gift giving portion of your holidays something less than ulcer-creating?
Start shopping early. You know the holidays are coming, so keep a list with you year round and check people off as you find the perfect gift for them.
And speaking of the perfect gift, how about gift certificates or cold hard cash? Honestly, unless you are very close to someone or they have dropped some major hints about what they want, it is pretty hard to find the right gift. Almost any place sells gift cards – even Clear the Clutter!!! Instead of adding to their pile of stuff, why not give the gift of clearing it up and alleviating their stress (shameless plug, I know, but call it author’s privilege).
Reduce your list. Why oh why do people insist on giving gifts to everyone they know? I am always amazed at how many people some insist they *must* buy for. Try talking to your friends, family and/or co-workers. Agree to only buy for kids or not exchange gifts at all. Or how about donating to a favorite charity in lieu of gifts?? Not only will you save time, but money as well.
Hopefully these tips will make your holidays brighter and full of cheer! Get everything done early so December can be about enjoying family, friends and egg nog!
Meagan Farrell, professional organizer, is the owner of Clear the Clutter organizing services. She can be reached at (360) 631-7268 or at clear_theclutter@yahoo.com
Holiday Cards: Holiday cards are something that can be done long before the holiday season even approaches. Sit down in October and pick (or take) a cute photo for the card. Address the envelopes and start signing the cards. Does it matter what month you write “Seasons Greetings, Love the Turner Family” in your cards? Knock this task out long before you are inundated with holiday parties and gift exchanges.
And as long as we are discussing holiday cards, here are some tips for making this job easier.
Invest the time to input the list into your computer and create mailing labels. Since your list probably doesn’t change much during the year, this will serve you for years to come.
Go to Costco, Target or any other store and get those holiday photo cards made. You can email them the photo and pick the design online. Usually in an hour, you can pick them up and voila, your cards are done!
If you are crafty and like to make your cards, start in January. Make 10 a month and by November, you will have 110 ready to go. Unless you are famous, I think you will have plenty.
Put the kids to work. Have your kids attach the stamps and wet the envelopes. Not only are you spending quality time with your child by doing this, but you are working on their fine motor skills.
Gift Giving: This is another area that continually baffles me. The holidays always happen in December. Knowing this, you can venture out in January and February when all the sales are going on, and start your shopping early. I remember being in Target the day after Christmas and seeing a woman at the check out with three carts full of stuff. She announced that her Christmas shopping for the next year was officially done. All power to you sister! Even if you aren’t that organized (or don’t have the space to store the gifts), you can still shop in the early fall before the masses come to storm the mall and making parking a living nightmare.
Want to make the gift giving portion of your holidays something less than ulcer-creating?
Start shopping early. You know the holidays are coming, so keep a list with you year round and check people off as you find the perfect gift for them.
And speaking of the perfect gift, how about gift certificates or cold hard cash? Honestly, unless you are very close to someone or they have dropped some major hints about what they want, it is pretty hard to find the right gift. Almost any place sells gift cards – even Clear the Clutter!!! Instead of adding to their pile of stuff, why not give the gift of clearing it up and alleviating their stress (shameless plug, I know, but call it author’s privilege).
Reduce your list. Why oh why do people insist on giving gifts to everyone they know? I am always amazed at how many people some insist they *must* buy for. Try talking to your friends, family and/or co-workers. Agree to only buy for kids or not exchange gifts at all. Or how about donating to a favorite charity in lieu of gifts?? Not only will you save time, but money as well.
Hopefully these tips will make your holidays brighter and full of cheer! Get everything done early so December can be about enjoying family, friends and egg nog!
Meagan Farrell, professional organizer, is the owner of Clear the Clutter organizing services. She can be reached at (360) 631-7268 or at clear_theclutter@yahoo.com
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