Helping Aging Parents Stay Safely at Home

Sometimes my organizing clients are less-than-thrilled when they realize that they are going to need to invest some money to get organized. Often, they have the double-whammy of realizing that 1) theyve already spent a lot of money on things they dont want or need and 2) they need to spend more money on services like professional organizing and junk hauling to get their place organized. I feel their pain. When I got organized myself about 10 years ago, it hurt when I thought about how much money I had spent on clothes that were headed to Goodwill. I called 1-800-GOT-JUNK to clear out my garage, and I couldnt believe that my bill was over $1,000. Who knew trash hauling was so expensive? You know the saying no pain, no gain? When it comes to organizing, I believe a little bit of pain is actually a good thing, because it motivates us to create lasting changes. My own painful experience with decluttering has helped me stay organized for years, and inspired me to become a professional organizer. Although there are some upfront costs to organizing, getting organized can be a money-saver over the long term. So if you are thinking about getting organized, its actually a long-term investment that is going to save you money over time. Heres how:  Eliminate expensive storage unitsThere has been a boom in self-storage units in recent years. Storage units can be helpful resources if you have a short gap between moving out of your old place and into your new one. But if you are using a storage unit to store extra stuff for more than a few months, the cost can really add up (this article estimates that it costs an average of $2,000 a year to keep your stuff in a small storage unit). Ive helped clients clear out their storage units, which immediately starts saving them hundreds of dollars a month.     Stop buying things you already have Have you ever run out and bought a roll of masking tape, then later found six more rolls stuffed in a drawer somewhere? Weve all been there. Americans collectively spend an estimated $2.7 billion a year replacing lost items. Organizing makes it easier to find and use what you already have, so you dont have to waste your time or money buying duplicates of things you already have.Cut down on fees and convenience costsSomething that surprised me about getting organized was how much time it saved me. Once I could easily find the things I needed to get out the door in the morning or whip up a quick dinner, I was less rushed. And having a little more slack in my schedule meant that I could take public transit instead of an Uber, or make dinner at home instead of ordering takeout, which ended up saving me money. If you struggle with paying late fees because you cant find your bills or remember when they need to be paid, getting organized can help you eliminate those  unnecessary fees.Change your shopping habits for goodAfter going through my own painful decluttering experience, I realized that the way I was shopping led me to over-buying, which was not only cluttering my house, but wasting money. (I wrote a whole blog post about how I started shopping differently after getting organized, if you want to learn more about how organizing can change your shopping habits.) Since then, Im much more critical about what I decide to buy because I dont want to have to do a massive decluttering again. Resell unused itemsWhile decluttering, a lot of my clients come across unwanted items they can resell. While its not exactly a way to make money (because items sold secondhand usually sell for much less than their original price), reselling can help you recoup some of your original expenditure. I even had one client who offset most of her organizing costs by having me sell things she didnt want anymore. If youre not sure where to start when it comes to reselling, I can help you. If organizing feels daunting or too expensive, remember that clutter has a cost, too. In the long run, decluttering and creating systems that work for you will save you time, money, and your mental health. If youre ready to get organized, book a free consultation with me. 

Im not a fan of the word decluttering, although it comes up a lot in my work as a professional organizer. The reason I dont like that term is because clutter has such a negative connotation, and sometimes when people hear the word decluttering, it makes them feel guilty that they have clutter in the first place. Is this clutter? is a question that my clients ask me a lot. I think there are a lot of myths and misunderstandings about what counts as clutter. Often, people are afraid that I will tell them that something important to them is clutter, or they need to get rid of something that is sentimental but doesnt seem to have practical value. But Im happy to say that this isnt the case! When I work with my clients, I take a different approach to decluttering than they might have seen on a TV show or read about in a book. Heres what I think is important for you to know about clutter and decluttering: There is no single item that is always clutter. Have you ever heard the expression, whether something is a weed or a flower depends on your perspective? Well, I think the same is true about clutter. Something that seems useless to one person could be extremely important to another. I think of clutter as anything in your space that doesnt provide you value (whether that value may be practical use, sentimental or financial value, or pleasure). Something that you dont have the time, energy, or space to properly take care of, no matter how much you want to, can also become clutter. Thats why its so important to evaluate what you think is important before you begin to address clutter in your home. Only you can decide what is clutter in your own space. Sentimental and decorative items arent necessarily clutter.Many of my clients struggle with decisions about whether to keep sentimental items. Sometimes we keep them out of feelings of guilt or obligation, and sometimes we feel guilty for holding onto items that we love but have no practical purpose.I personally love sentimental items, and as you can see on my bookshelf, I love to display them through my home. Seeing my favorite books, photos of loved ones, and little pieces of my history on a regular basis make me happy. I encourage my clients to keep, display, and properly preserve sentimental items that bring them joy, and let go of the ones that bring feelings of guilt or burden. The key to not allowing sentimental items to become clutter is to be selective about which items you keep, and to store or display them in a way that allows you to enjoy them. Things that are useful can still be clutter. But that could be useful! is one of the most common protests I hear when I encourage clients to let go of something theyre not using. And I understand that it can feel wasteful to let go of something that could be possibly used in the future. However, many of us hold onto potentially useful itemsthat we never actually use! And that ultimately leads to clutter in your home. If youre not going to use something, its ok to pass it along to someone who will. Clutter isnt always an eyesore, or even visible. Just because a home doesnt look messy doesnt mean it isnt cluttered. Going back to the definition of clutter, if something in your space isnt providing you value, no matter how neat or organized it looks, it is still clutter. Also, clutter sometimes isnt visible at all. Maybe you have commitments on your calendar that are sucking up time but dont provide you with value, or you have tons of files and photos on your photo that are just taking up space. Clutter can come in many forms, not just physical. Once you start thinking critically about the things you are giving time, space, and energy, you will be able to apply a decluttering mindset to all aspects of your life.  Dont start by decluttering, start by assessing. Instead of decluttering, I prefer to begin the organizing process by assessing. I help my clients take a look at their items in a non-judgemental way are these items helping them to achieve their goals, or are they just taking up space without providing enough value? If theyre happy with everything, we figure out how to make all of their items work in their space. But more often than not, clients realize they do have things in their space they want to let go of. If you need help thinking through the items you have in your space and deciding what to keep or let go of, Im here for you. Set up a time to chat with me so I can give you some guidance. 

I have moved a whopping 13 times since graduating from college. Some of those moves were small, and some of them were big cross-country moves. Most involved tears and frustration, but many also involved joy and important memories.  Each time I moved, moving became easier and harder. It got easier because I learned more about how to manage the process. It got harder because I had accumulated more stuff for my first cross-country move, I was able to move everything I owned from Boston to San Francisco in my Ford Focus. For my second cross-country move, I needed a professional mover, someone to crate a large painting so it could be shipped safely, auto transport to move 2 cars, and an RV to drive my dog across the country (because there was no way she was getting on a plane). We all know how stressful moving can be. There are so many tasks to check off your list, on top of the emotions you may feel about leaving your old home behind. It can also be tedious (hello, packing another moving box.) But what you may not know is that you dont have to manage your move alone. As a professional organizer, Ive helped dozens of clients move with less stress. If you have a move coming up, heres how an organizer can help: Move planning A lot of my clients feel overwhelmed when they realize a move is coming. I help them make a plan for what they need to accomplish and when, breaking the move down into small chunks to make it more manageable. I also help them prioritize what has to be done before the move, and what can be done after the move. Once we come up with a plan, some of the stress of the unknown starts to go away. Space planning  for downsizing If you are downsizing into a smaller home, it can be hard to know what to move into your new space. I take measurements and create floor plans so clients know which pieces of furniture and belongings can go to their new home, and what wont fit. And then we can make a plan for what to do with everything theyre not taking that could include selling, donating, or coordinating with a junk hauler to remove extra items.Mindful declutteringYou might have heard that you should always declutter or get rid of things before you move. But the truth is that there are pros and cons to decluttering when you are preparing for a move. The pros: you wont spend money moving things you dont want and youll get a fresh, uncluttered start in your new space. If you are moving into a smaller home, decluttering before you move will help you avoid overcrowding your new home with too many boxes. But there are times when pre-move decluttering doesnt make sense. If you are highly stressed about your move, you may not be in the best state of mind to be making decisions about letting things go, especially when it comes to sentimental items or photos. Or if you have to move unexpectedly, you may not have enough time to deal with decluttering before you have to vacate your home.  If you are considering pre-move decluttering, I can help you decide if, when, and what to declutter for your move. If you do decide to declutter, I can help you drop off donations or sell items you are not moving with you.  PackingPacking is a time-suck, but its also really important to do it right. If you dont pack your belongings properly, you risk having them arrive broken. I can help you get the right packing materials and securely pack your belongings. Additionally, Ill pack your belongings in an organized way instead of just dumping your drawers into boxes. Youll know whats in every box so its easier to put things away when you unpack.  UnpackingI cant tell you how many clients contact me and say I moved into my house two years ago, but I still have a bunch of unpacked boxes. And I completely understand why. Moving is so exhausting. Youve put so much effort into getting out of your old place, and you now have to set up a whole new house. At this point, many of us just run out of steam. If you want a hand setting up your new place, I can help you get to done so much faster. Unpacking isnt simply taking your belongings out of your boxes - its organizing your new home from the start. I take the time to find the right places for everything so its smooth and easy for you. (Ill also get all of the boxes and packing material you dont need anymore out of your hair.) And if we find that you packed more than comfortably fits in your new space, we can start thinking about storage solutions or work on more decluttering so you dont have lots of unopened boxes lurking in your new spot. Emotional support and accountabilityWith all of the decisions and changes involved in a move, its easy to get physically and emotionally exhausted when you are moving. Remember, you dont have to do it on your own. If youre planning a move, I invite you to schedule a free consultation with me to learn more about how I can help.