Monthly Archives: March 2022

How to Responsibly Get Rid of Your Clutter

clutter is an issue for many of us, but it can be handled in a green manner

 

Let’s be honest – people who genuinely enjoy a time-consuming task such as decluttering are scarce. Most people tend to delay it for as long as they can. Sometimes, even up to the point where they can’t imagine handling this without reaching out to professionals to declutter and organize their belongings. Even after this task is completed, there is the question of how to get rid of your clutter responsibly. But don’t worry – we’re here to help you fall in love with decluttering and realize its benefits. We’ll let you in on simple decluttering tips before revealing ways to get rid of everything you no longer need.

Tips to help you get rid of clutter

Decluttering your home is essential not only for aesthetical reasons. For instance, a study published by Current Psychology found a connection between procrastination and clutter. Keep in mind that this is just one of many studies that back up the claim that clutter can negatively impact mental well-being.

clutter can be overwhelming, therefore use a professional organizer tohelp with this decluttering task

Did you know that clutter can make us feel stressed, anxious, and even depressed?

So whether you are a senior looking to downsize after retirement or you feel like clutter is taking over the space in your home, it’s important to find motivation and get to work as quickly as possible. Below, we’ve prepared two tips to help you with precisely that.

 

Declutter like you’re about to move

If lack of motivation stops you from starting to declutter, an excellent way to boost yourself is to imagine you’re moving. Only when moving, you’d have to contact professionals to pack and unpack everything while this time, you’re spared of this part.

 

So make sure to set a decluttering deadline, aka your “moving date,” and make it a point to finish decluttering by then. It won’t be easy, especially when the time comes for decluttering sentimental items. However, as soon as you’re finished, you’ll start wondering why you haven’t done it ages ago.

 

Declutter room by room

The best way to declutter is to go room by room. It’s always best to start with the most-high traffic area in your home (most likely your kitchen or living room). Then start going through your belongings and sorting them into piles depending on what you want to do with them.

 

If you prioritize your most-used rooms first, you’ll instantly feel the positive effect of decluttering and organizing. This will give you the motivation and inspiration you need to continue purging other rooms in your home. Keep in mind that you should be thorough and check every item in detail before deciding what to do with it. Also, don’t skip areas thinking you’ll come back to them later – you won’t.

clutter clearing can be time consuming unless you higher a professional

The golden rule of decluttering is to go through your stuff and sort them into three piles: keep, toss, and donate/gift/sell.

For example, let’s say you are decluttering your bathroom before packing for a move. When decluttering a room like this, it is important to pay attention to details and check every item. We guarantee you’ll find many that are either forgotten about or even expired. Remember, your end goal is to reduce the number of items, as that will help when packing your bathroom for the move. At least, it will help not bring more junk with you to your home.

 

Ways to responsibly get rid of your clutter

Now that you know what the easiest ways to purge your home of junk are, you might wonder what to do with all of those excess belongings. Even if you had estate clearing services do all the work for you, you still need to figure out what to do next. So further in this article, you’ll find different options for responsibly getting rid of your clutter.

 

Reach out to your local waste management company

If you do a quick google search, you’ll quickly find information about what can be recycled in your community. It shouldn’t be challenging to find out how and when you can recycle your stuff. Make sure to at least get in touch with a local waste management company, as they might give you valuable info on other local resources where you can get rid of your clutter.

 

Get rid of your clutter by donating it

A great way to get rid of things that are in good condition but you no longer want to use them is to donate them. However, don’t get too caught up in trying to find the proper organization. Any organization you choose is the right one, and you’ll be doing a good deed no matter which one you pick.

The best way to go about this is to choose organizations that make donating items easy. You’ll probably be able to come up with a couple of places where you can donate your belongings locally. Donating is definitely the best way to get rid of your unnecessary items.

 

Give things to your friends

Before you start donating things, it would be good to reach out to your friends. If you made sure to create a home inventory while decluttering, you could easily let them know what items you no longer want. Perhaps some of them could use your old blender or even some good clothing pieces that you no longer wish to wear.

Sell your stuff

A great way to get rid of your excess belongings and make some money simultaneously is to sell your stuff. Nowadays, the easiest way is to sell your things online, so here are some ideas for you:

 

  • One of the best places to sell your things is Amazon, as it’s effortless and straightforward to use. Search for any item you’d like to sell. Then look for a little button on the right-hand side of the screen that says “Sell on Amazon,” which means that the item is in demand. If you don’t see the button, it’s better to skip selling this item here.
  • If you are looking for a place to sell your old clothes quickly, check out ThredUp. Before sending anything, make sure to read their accepted list. In case they don’t accept some of the items you’ve sent, they’ll donate them for you, or you can pay to have them sent back.
  • In case you want to sell your decluttered books, check out SellBackBooks. It’s truly a quick and straightforward way to earn extra money.

 

Organize a garage sale

Once you declutter and make the most of your garage space, why not organize a garage sale and quickly remove all of your “junk”? Simply price your items and try to sell them. If you have anything remaining, you can donate it. Plus, organizing a garage sale is a good motivation for keeping your home clutter-free in the future.

Organizing a garage sale is a responsible way to get rid of your clutter

Organizing a garage sale is a great way to get rid of your clutter and earn some extra cash.

Final thoughts

We hope our article helped you declutter efficiently and find responsible ways to get rid of your clutter. Even though it might be time-consuming and tiring, as soon as you enter your cleared and neat home, you’ll know your efforts were worth the trouble. We guarantee you’ll feel motivated to continue in the same direction and implement decluttering habits into your everyday life. But if you want to experience the best results, make sure to get in touch with professionals. Their organizing and decluttering skills will leave you in awe!

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Photos used:
https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-using-laptop-on-the-floor-3791614/
https://unsplash.com/photos/S_bbqW4yQZA
https://www.pexels.com/photo/concentrated-woman-carrying-stack-of-cardboard-boxes-for-relocation-3791617/
https://unsplash.com/photos/BuNWp1bL0nc

Moving Costs 101: A Guide to Handling Moving Expenses

The time has finally come. You and your family are ready to make the big move and need to start planning out logistics. According to Forbes, the average cost of moving under 100 miles sits between $800 to $2,150. If you are moving further, you can expect to pay between $2,200 and $5,700. A move is a big step, and it can take a lot of organizational skills and precise planning to ensure you are navigating the move properly. It doesn’t matter how near or far you are traveling, there are always moving parts that you need to keep track of, especially when it comes to the financial side of it all. 

Whether you are moving just around the corner to another neighborhood or you’re taking on a cross-country move, consider these financial tips to ensure you are handling your moving expenses flawlessly. 

Evaluate Your Current Financial Standing 

Before you can determine how you are going to finance your move, you need to have a deep understanding of your personal circumstances and finances. Keep in mind that what is right for someone else does not automatically make it right for you.

The first thing you’ll want to consider when figuring out moving expenses is your current financial standing. Think about how much you have in your bank account(s), your credit limits, student loans, monthly service fees, and other recurrent bills. Think about your current income and identify how you are going to factor moving payments into all of that. Evaluating your current financial situation is crucial. You’ll want to make sure that even with a move in the mix you’ll be able to make monthly payments and pay off other expenses when they arise. 

Having all of this figured out will give you an idea of how much you can allocate for your move. Getting your finances in order before you move is a great way to hold yourself accountable and stay on track. 

Using a professional Organizer to pack and unpack your belongings for a move menas the unpacking will be more organized.

 

Once you have your current finances in order, you should figure out your spending limit and do some research. You’ll want to identify how you are financing your move, pre-moving costs, costs associated with the move itself, and potential outside factors like seasonality or weather considerations that may affect the cost of your move. Research is a great way to get an idea of how much you may potentially spend. 

During this phase, get organized and gather current financial information and documentation and add it to a binder or folder. From there, make a list of all the items you’ll be spending money on during the moving process. You may also want to write down the payment methods you plan on using for each item or phase of the move. 

A pro tip when tracking expenses: Utilize an excel spreadsheet, a notes app, or a budget tracking app. All are great ways to stay on top of your spending plan. Not only that, but you can check off each part when you have scheduled dates and times or payments. 

Determine Pre-Moving Costs

Once you have figured out your financial standing and have a tentative spending plan in place, the next step is to determine pre-moving costs. If you are someone who hasn’t sold their house yet, you’ll want to make sure that you have plans set up around staging your home. Since you’ll be moving out of your house, there will be no furniture and it’ll just be empty. When you’re selling a house you want to help the potential buyer envision what it could look like. That’s why you may want to consider investing in a company or person who can help stage your home. Staging does cost money but it’s a benefit that could help close the sale on your home. 

Other pre-moving costs you’ll want to consider are cleaning and repair services. You can either hire someone to do the fixing for you or take it on yourself. Whatever you choose, make sure you write down what you are spending and what is being fixed or updated, and note that the house was cleaned to help ensure that the new homeowners feel confident when moving into the space.  

If you are someone who gets flustered or stressed thinking about staying organized when it comes to packing and unpacking, consider utilizing a service that can keep you on track and help lay out the steps you need to take when it comes to packing. Home organization services are a good investment especially if you aren’t skilled in that area. Using all the help you can get could help you feel more prepared for when the big day comes. 

Plan Costs Associated With the Move Itself

After you’ve determined your pre-moving costs, it’s now time to figure out costs associated with the move itself. There are various factors that can affect the amount you have to pay for your move: the time of year, how much you have to transport, the distance you are moving, how many helpers you are hiring, labor costs, delivery fees, and post-move unpacking help. It is important to look into those categories when you are on the hunt for helpful moving services.

During this phase, you’ll also want to consider different items that you’ll need to purchase during your move. To stay organized and on track moneywise, it’s smart to gather price ranges and estimates for supplies such as boxes, tape, packing peanuts, and bubble wrap, along with moving companies, truck rentals, and storage units. 

As mentioned before, research is key. When picking a moving service, look at all potential options. See if hiring movers is the direction that would work best for you, or if you should simply rent a moving truck and do the heavy lifting yourself. Research is a great way to ensure you are picking the right moving company or truck rental business for your mission. It’ll also help you decide what prices work best with your spending plan. 

 

Some people even consider investing in storage units when moving. This allows for individuals to clear out their home of personal belongings while home showings are happening, lets them get ahead on packing and unpacking, and can help with staying organized. 

Decide How You Are Financing Your Move

Now that you’ve evaluated your current financial standing and all the costs associated with a move, it’s a good idea to figure out how you are going to finance your move. This is another step that requires a good amount of research so that you can determine the best route for you and your personal needs. 

Your professional moving organizer can help you create a budget for your move.

Since moving can be expensive, it’s ideal to weigh your options and decide whether you should finance your move with a credit card or personal line of credit. Everyone’s moving situation and finances are different, so it’s wise to look into both options to see what works best for you. While you are researching, you may find that some moving companies offer installment plans, so consider looking into those as well. If you are an individual who is a big saver and wants to just use your savings, that’s a great option too. 

Consider These Tips to Avoid Moving Mistakes

Once all the financial planning is said and done, it is good to reflect back on your plan to make sure you have everything squared away. If this is your first time moving, or if you have moved and it didn’t go as planned, consider the following to help ensure you have a smooth move:

  • Research. Make sure that you are comparing mover rates and moving insurance quotes to ensure you are getting the best and most reliable deal. You should also look into all associated costs that you may not be at the top of your mind.  
  • Stay organized. Jot down all aspects of your move and the costs associated with it in a list, spreadsheet, or planner. Keep track of all necessary bills to help keep yourself on track. 
  • Don’t overpack. Overpacking boxes could damage items and boxes could break during the move if you aren’t careful. 
  • Label boxes. Make sure that all boxes and storage containers are labeled with the items they consist of. This can not only help you stay organized, but may also help you when you are unpacking. 

Using this moving 101 guide can help you stay on track financially and feel more comfortable and confident before making your big move!