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Get Organized and Vow to Decrease the Clutter!

November 11, 2020

Get Organized and Vow to Decrease the Clutter!

If you are like me. January starts a new pile of papers. I start getting ready for taxes and filing away the former year’s accumulation as soon as I can.

As we get older the piles seem to get larger and larger. I used to keep all my old tax returns and bills. One day I was spending time with an older friend and he needed something from his garage. As we walked in, I couldn’t help but see one entire section of his garage filled with boxes and boxes of stuff. He shared with me he intended to sort it out one day. I knew that would never happen in his lifetime. At that moment, I vowed to reduce my clutter as much as I could.

Here are some tips that work for me.

FAT – I use the FAT technique. Anytime I pick up a piece of paper, I either………..

  1. File: file it
  1. Action: take action on it
  2. Toss: or toss it

FAT!!!!!! This is one area in my life I want to use FAT!

CHARITY- I keep a box in the garage for charity. Things I don’t use, wear or cherish go into the box. When it’s full, I make a run to the iHope thrift store. It’s my local charity that help the homeless in the city.

Here are the questions I use to weed things out:

1. Do I use it?

2. Do I need it?

3. Is it damaged, broken or inoperable?

4. If I lost it in a fire, would I replace it exactly as it is?

5. If I had to move three times next year would I pack it and pay to move it that often?

TAXES, BILLS & PURCHASES FILES- The first week of January I get a banker’s file box and put everything from the former year in it. I checked with my accountant. He advised I keep 4 years of files along with the current year. He also advised I keep records of any real estate, equipment purchases or major business transactions permanently.

Once I complete my previous years file. I take my oldest year box down to Kinko’s and have the entire thing shredded. I’ll never take the time to shred the files piece by piece. Office Depot, Staples and other office supply stores have similar services. It’s well worth the small fee.

OLD MEDICINES- Many experts recommend contacting a pharmacy about taking old drugs. Pharmacies usually have programs for recycling or disposing of medications. Don’t flush old medicines down the toilet. They could get into the soil or water supply and create an environmental hazard.

OLD BATTERIES, COMPUTERS, LIGHT BULBS ETC- I keep an additional box in the garage which I fill with old batteries, anything with wires or electronics. There is usually an e-waste drive at the local high school once a year. I recommend you do an online search. Organizations make money on e-waste. An estimated 70% of heavy metals in landfills comes from discarded electronics. This isn’t something we want our kids or grandkids to inherit. Think about it, is that something you’d include in your will?

Please don’t get the idea, my space is completely clutter free. I keep looking at the shelf of old paint in my garage and think, I’ve got to get that to the paint store. But life is a process, we are not perfect right? Keep plugging away with that good intention.

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Live your most comfortable life!

Angella Conrard profile picture
Angella Conrard
I am designated a Certified Reverse Mortgage Professional by the National Reverse Mortgage Lender's Association. I work exclusively with reverse mortgage loans in nine states. I have a passion for helping my clients. I think everyone can and should live their most comfortable life. I am the founder of the National Aging in Place Council- Orange County, California, emeritus. I've practiced yoga all my adult life and am strongly interested in health and well-being. I am a lifetime helper.
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I am designated a Certified Reverse Mortgage Professional by the National Reverse Mortgage Lender's Association. I work exclusively with reverse mortgage loans in nine states. I have a passion for hel...
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