Tips & Thoughts: A Collection of Articles 2014

Tips & Thoughts A collection of tips, thoughts and ideas to help you get organized, clutter free and motivated!

Sharon Williams

Hobbies on a Budget

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Table of Contents .......................................................................... 1 7 Tips for a Smooth Move ............................................................. 3 5 Tips for a Frugal Mini Vacation .................................................. 7 7 Tips for Yard Sale Success ........................................................ 9 5 Tips to Keep your Kids Safe in Public Places .......................... 13 8 Tips for Fall Family Fun Days .................................................. 16 6 Tips for Dealing with Bad Customer Service ............................ 20 Task Management Tips that Work .............................................. 23 How to reduce the impact of stuff on your life ............................. 26 How to properly Dispose of Junk ................................................ 29 7 Ways to Get Rid of Clutter ....................................................... 32 3 Tips for a Successful Family Game Night ................................ 35

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7 TIPS FOR A SMOOTH MOVE Have you moved recently? Are you planning a move? If you have put your home on the market or are thinking about moving to a new home, be forewarned. There are some stressful days and busy hours coming your way. Moving to a new home is considered by some to be one of the hardest things you will do. It takes planning, time and lots of work.

There are definitely some things you can do to make the move a little easier. Here are 7 Tips for a Smooth Move. I don’t claim that these tips will take out all the work, but it will help your transition go smoother.

The number one tip to making a move easier is to relax. Start early and move slowly. Here are some step by step ways to make a move easier.

START DECLUTTERING IMMEDIATELY There is absolutely no point in packing up the clutter that you don’t love. If it doesn’t serve a purpose, if you don’t love it and it doesn’t make your life better – chunk it! Gift it, thrift it or trash it! But don’t pack junk!

DON’T DO IT ALL ALONE It’s easy for us to think we can do this whole moving process alone. But making a move requires the help of family and friends. Enlist the help of the kids when they want to help but then let them play and be kids while you and your support system get the job done. When people volunteer, accept.

If they offer to bring a bucket of chicken on moving day, say YES! If a friend offers to help clean the counters while you’re loading the truck, accept the help. No one can do this by themselves.

Label everything just in case you don’t move immediately, you need to be able to find the stuff you pack. This will help if your house sits on the market for 2 years (like ours did) or if you move within 30 days and you need to find stuff in your new house ASAP.

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GIVE UP THE ILLUSION OF CONTROL The whole time your house in on the market you will not really be in control of your life. You may have a realtor calling you to show your house in an instant. Maybe you will have inspectors or appraisers coming to do their job. Realize that being flexible is going to be the only way you can survive and thrive in a moving situation.

DO A LITTLE EVERYDAY The minute you put your house on the market is the best time to start packing. I’m not talking the full scale, pack a dozen boxes at once sort of action. I’m talking about the things you can live without. Pack away the toys the kids have outgrown. Put away the holiday decorations in boxes that could be moved without repacking.

HAVE THE RIGHT SUPPLIES Everything is easier when you have the right supplies for the job. Moving is no exception. Have plenty of sharpie markers, tape and scissors sitting around the house so you will not have to scramble to find what you need.

Stock up on sturdy boxes that you can keep filling so you don’t run out at the last minute. Keep a cooler full of water bottles for the actual moving day.

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PLAN TO LIVE IN A MESS FOR WEEKS Once the house officially sells and the boxes stat to pile up in the living room, your house will officially become a mess. For people like me, that is really hard to live with. At some point, you have to accept that your house will be a chaotic mess for the next few weeks. Once you accept that, your expectations will change and your family will appreciate the way you deal with the chaos.

What are your tips to make a move easier? Your tips will definitely be able to help others who are in the process of making a move!

This article first appeared in the print edition of the Advocate Messenger – Danville, Kentucky. July 27, 2014

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5 TIPS FOR A FRUGAL MINI VACATION Some people are heading out elaborate beach vacations, cruises, Disney trips or huge adventures. But what do you do when you have just a few days and not a lot of money. How about a frugal mini vacation? Our family has been known to hit the road one morning and pack in a ton of memories in a very short amount of time. So whether you have procrastinated because you didn’t feel like planning a major vacation or just don’t have a lot of time to do a big trip, here are 5 tips for planning an amazing mini vacation.

LOOK AT THE MAP DIFFERENTLY Get out a real paper map or pull up a map online. Pick a city that you have never visited and see how far it is. Have you been to Indianapolis lately?

When is the last time you took a road trip to Nashville? Chattanooga?

Chicago? Consider that you can leave your house in the morning super early and be in a brand new city in time for a late lunch.

LOOK FOR FREE STUFF Most historical sites and state parks are either free to the public or have a minimal entrance fee per car. Maybe you can hike to a waterfall you’ve never seen or visit the home of a president. A vacation is not about spending hundreds of dollars at an amusement park or touring the latest greatest attraction. It’s about making memories and doing something out of the ordinary routine. You can do an internet search for free things to do in the area you are visiting and will probably find some options. Don’t be afraid to step outside your normal activities. Look for a ferry boat, historical fort or national figure’s birthplace.

Don’t feel like you need to buy a souvenir at every place you visit. Consider just taking extra pictures that you can print out and turn into photo magnets when you get home.

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GET DISCOUNTS ON HOTELS Stop at the Welcome Center when you cross into a new state so you can pick up the hotel coupon books. If you are traveling on a weekday, you will often find discounts at many national chain hotels. Look for one that has a free complimentary breakfast so you will save on that meal as well. You can find some of those same deals online.

If you really want to save money, then think about where your extended family lives. Are they several hours away? Could you crash on their couch or use their guest room after exploring a new area?

BE FLEXIBLE On one mini vacation last year, we knew we were going to go to the Indianapolis Children’s Museum, but weren’t sure where we wanted to go after that. We had a general idea but didn’t want to tie ourselves down. We saw a sign that told us we were only a few hours from Lake Michigan so we just took a detour and drove up to Indiana Dunes State Park. It was unexpected, unplanned and absolutely worth every minute of the extra drive.

Don’t limit yourself to the known destinations. Sometimes you have to be willing to explore. Follow a brown road sign off the interstate and check out something new. You just might find something amazing.

EAT SMART Sometimes the cheapest thing to eat on a road trip is the snack bars and chips. But don’t fuel your body on junk the whole time. There are times when you just have to pay the price for a real meal when you are out on the road. Eat breakfast at your hotel, snack through one meal but plan to eat out at least once Since lunch menus are typically cheaper, then you could eat a big lunch and then eat something smaller for supper. When is the last time you took a mini vacation? Got any stories to share? I’d love to hear!

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7 TIPS FOR YARD SALE SUCCESS

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It’s the beginning of the 2014 Yard Sale Season. Everywhere you look, there will be signs advertising garage sales, multi family yard sales and the opportunities to get a bargain. But don’t miss these 7 important tips to help guarantee yard sale success.

TAKE Small CHANGE: It’s hard to get a deal for a buck if all you have in your pocket is a $10 bill.

Carry quarters and one dollar bills so you will be ready to snag those bargains. Plus, this is the nice thing to do for the host of the sale. You don’t want to use up all their small change.

DON’T BUY JUNK: If you see something that looks amazing, but doesn’t work, is torn, broken or has stains, think twice. Do you really need something that belongs in the trash? Is it worth spending your money on if it’s not going to function in your life? It’s true that ‘one man’s trash is another man’s treasure’, but that doesn’t mean you need to buy junk that will clutter your life.

Remember that yard sale items don’t have a return policy and they are sold as is. Look carefully before you make the purchase. It’s too late when you get home to change your mind.

CHECK FOR PARTS: It does you no good to buy a video game that is missing the game. A bread machine for $2.00 is a deal until you get home and realize it doesn’t have the parts inside that are required to make bread. If an electrical unit doesn’t have the cord, will it work for you at home? Look for any necessary parts before you make a purchase.

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KNOW YOUR LIMIT: Before you make a purchase, think about what the product costs in the store. I’ve seen people spend more for a yard sale bargain item than it would have cost them to buy it brand new. Be ready to walk away if the price isn’t right. Know how much you are willing to spend before you fall in love with an object. There’s nothing worse than getting home and realizing you overspent because you got too excited about your amazing find.

BE POLITE IN YOUR NEGOTIATIONS: Sure, dickering at a yard sale is a normal part of the experience. But there is a way to negotiate that is respectful to both parties. Don’t offer a substantially less amount to the seller.

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Ask what they want for the product then counteroffer with something a little lower. They will often meet you in the middle – giving you a discount but they still make some money. If you can’t reach an agreement, then be ready to concede with a smile and a pleasant response. No one likes a bully. Remember, that you are on their home property and you are a guest.

HAVE HAND SANITIZER IN THE CAR: In a perfect world, every yard sale would be a clean place full of amazing clothes, toys and home goods on nice neat tables. But in reality, there are some yard sales that just feel dirty and look like they are trying to sell piles of trash. I always keep hand sanitizer in the vehicle so the kids and I can clean our hands after looking around the yard sales.

TEACH KIDS GOOD MANNERS: We’ve all been to yard sales where parents let their kids play with all the toys and mess up the tables. Teach your kids good manners and show them how to look and not touch the items. Make sure kids know your expectations before you get out of the car so they won’t beg to buy something you don’t want to purchase.

Do you love yard sales? Got any tips for yard sale success? I’d love to hear!

This article appeared in the print edition of the Advocate Messenger, Danville, KY – June 1, 2014.

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5 TIPS TO KEEP YOUR KIDS SAFE IN PUBLIC PLACES As the weather starts to get prettier, more families are heading out to the zoos, parks, and public amusement parks. The probability of losing a child in these places is slim, but the possibilities are there. It’s always a good idea to make sure everyone is prepared and has a plan in place for emergency separations. Follow these tips and then everyone will be able to rest easier knowing that if something unplanned happens and someone gets lost, then the outcome will be quick reconciliation

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SNAP A PICTURE: One mom I spoke with this week says she always takes a picture of the kids before they begin their public adventure. That way if one of the kids does get separated, she will be able to show a picture rather than just give a verbal description. With the ease of messaging and sharing across the mobile devices, imagine how helpful this would be in the case of a missing child. No one would have to guess what the child looks like, they would be able to see a picture from that very day with the child’s clothes, hair etc.

While speaking with a representative from the Park Ranger Department of the Knoxville Zoo, he suggested one extra thing that would make this picture even more helpful. Take the picture next to a landmark in the park. If the child is standing next to the statue of the rhino or beside the zoo welcome sign, it will be very easy to get a more exact idea of how tall the child is.

If you don’t have a picture, then at least make sure you can remember a detailed description of the clothes a child is wearing. Be specific – logo, pattern in addition to color.

ATTACH YOUR CELLPHONE NUMBER: If your kids are old enough, they should all memorize your cellphone number. A home number does little good in a situation where people are separated. On a school zoo trip I recently took, the teacher distributed the cell phone numbers for all the chaperones so that we could all get in contact easily throughout the day.

If your child doesn’t know the cell phone number, write it on a tag inside their shirt or put your contact information inside their backpack.

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TEACH THE CHILD TO STAY PUT. When you go to a zoo or park, the child should know to stay where they last saw their parent. It is easier for the safety personnel and Park Rangers to find a child if they know the area to start looking rather than hearing that a child has been instructed to head toward the front gate. Establish a protocol so the children and the parents know what the other person is going to do.

FIND THE SAFE PEOPLE: We have always told our children that if they ever get separated, they should look for the safe people and go to them immediately. Safe people include police officers, official employees or moms with young children.

When you first get to a zoo or park, point out the staff members. Typically they will all be wearing the same sort of shirts or badge. These people will have two way radios and be able to immediately contact other park rangers and help coordinate a reunion.

WEAR THE RIGHT COLORS: Many families or groups make a point to all wear the same color shirts on public trips. This helps in a quick glance to make sure everyone is accounted for.

While speaking to the representative from the Park Ranger Department of the Knoxville Zoo about safety procedures, he mentioned again that it is never a bother for a parent to approach a park staff member with a concern about a missing child. They would much rather have false alarms rather than have you wait till there is a real problem and then have the situation turn more serious.

Do you talk to your kids about what to do in unplanned emergency situations? Have you got any tips that you use to keep everyone safe and connected in public places? I’d love to hear!

This article first appeared in the print edition of the Danville, KY Advocate Messenger, April 20, 2014.

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8 TIPS FOR FALL FAMILY FUN DAYS

Recently, my family headed out to enjoy a local Family Fun Day in Tennessee. The whole day was provided to the community free of charge, complete with an antique car show, wagon rides out to some scenic locations and plenty of food and fun for the whole family.

Here are 8 tips for fall family fun days that everyone needs to know before you head out to your local Fall Festival or city fun day.

TAKE SUNSCREEN AND BUG SPRAY. Even though it’s September, there are still plenty of hot days. Be prepared with bug spray and sunscreen to keep everyone from burning or itching while out enjoying you family fun day.

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PLAN FOR HIDDEN EXPENSES. Fortunately, the Family Fun Day we visited was 100% free. But most fall festivals and family days will have surprise expenses. You may have to pay for parking, drinks, or activities.

CHARGE YOUR CAMERA BATTERY. Whether you find an antique car show or a wagon ride out to a scenic hike, you’re going to want to record your memories. Charge your battery and clear off your camera card before you go so you’ll be ready for those special moments.

DON’T TRY TO DO IT ALL. Remember that family fun days and fall festivals are supposed to be FUN. If you put yourself under pressure to do it all and see everything there is to offer, you will miss the most important part. These days are supposed to be fun, relaxing opportunities to enjoy time with the people you love. Make the most of it and don’t turn it into stress.

ASK THE LOCALS. Many fall festivals attendees are regulars. They come every year and know the best places to see and events to participate in. Feel free to ask the people around you for their best advice. I’m sure you’ll get plenty of help.

PACK SNACKS/WATER. You are going to be thirsty and want a snack when you’re out exploring a fall festival day. Be prepared and pack some water and snacks in a backpack. That way you will be ready for the hungry moments.

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INFORMATION BOOTHS ARE THERE FOR A REASON! If you are going to a new Fall Festival or Fun Day, make sure to stop in at the information booths that are typically positioned close to the entrance. You may be able to pick up a map or schedule so you will know when the main events are happening.

ENJOY THE LOCAL SOUNDS. Many festivals feature local musicians who are having as much fun performing as you are. Take a few minutes to appreciate the sounds of the festival. Take a look at their display booth. You may find a new favorite CD to take home and add to your collection.

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Our Family Fun Day was very hot but it lived up to the name. We enjoyed time with family and had a great time. When is the last time you headed out to a fall family fun day? Got any great tips or stories? I’d love to hear!

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6 TIPS FOR DEALING WITH BAD CUSTOMER SERVICE

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We’ve all been there. You go to a restaurant and the food is cold, overcooked or not what you ordered. Maybe you purchased a new piece of clothing in the mall and it ripped the first time you wore it. Ever bought new furniture and had them deliver the wrong pieces? What do you do when the service you receive is not what you expect from a company? Here are 6 tips for dealing with bad customer service that won’t leave you regretting your words but will hopefully lead to a comfortable resolution for all parties involved.

REMEMBER THE GOLDEN RULE: We’ve all grown up hearing that we should ‘do to others as we want them to do to us” but that is really difficult when the order’s not right or the service is horrible. The first thing to remember in bad situations is to remember that it may be you in the other situation tomorrow. This does not mean we have to accept the bad customer service, but we do have to treat them the way we want to be treated.

BE RESPECTFUL BUT FIRM: It’s not always easy to handle bad situations. Remember that the voice on the other end of the phone or the receptionist in the office is not usually the ‘bad guy’. If we show respect to the other party, they will usually show the same respect back to us.

THINK ABOUT THE NEXT GENERATION: When I have bad customer service or people don’t treat me right, I try very hard to remember that at the end of the day my kids are watching and learning from my responses. I don’t want them learning that it is ok to be mean, disrespectful, rude or out of control angry because situations aren’t what I want them to be. I would sometimes rather lose the money instead of losing the opportunity to teach my kids the right way to respond.

GO THROUGH THE CHAIN OF COMMAND: If you find that you are not getting results from the first level of customer support, then find the next person in the chain of command. Don’t go over

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someone’s head until you know that you aren’t getting the results you need from that level. Ask for a supervisor or call the main office.

DOCUMENT YOUR EXPERIENCE: Ask for a badge number, name, id number or some sort of identification when you are on the phone with a company. Record the date and incident details so you will be able to refer to it in the future if the situation is not resolved.

PICK YOUR BATTLES: If you go to a restaurant and the server gets busy and doesn’t refill your drink on time or brings you the wrong order, then you have to decide if that is sufficient reason to complain. Do you know that you will have to return to that location soon? It may not be worth complaining. Think about which experiences merit full complaints and then make a decision to just live with the rest. Not every bad customer service event deserves to be taken on as a full battle. Since I have a public platform here in the paper and on the blog, I have had to make a decision as to whether I will publicly address bad customer service. Think about which battles you really want to fight.

We are all human and make mistakes. Sometimes we just have bad days when nothing goes right. We can’t control others who give bad service, but we can control our responses. How do you handle bad customer service?

Got any tips or experiences? I’d love to hear!

This article first appeared in the print edition of the Danville Advocate Messenger, Danville, Kentucky September 21, 2014. photo credit: Sybren A. Stüvel via photopin cc

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TASK MANAGEMENT TIPS THAT WORK Do you ever feel like you need more time in the day to get stuff done?

Between the demands of kids in school, a full time job and trying to keep your house from looking like a pig pen, there’s just never enough time to do it all well. Many people talk about time management and look for ways to fit more things into the time between sunrise and sunset. But maybe it’s not about needing more time; maybe we need to adjust our thinking and better manage our tasks instead. I am no expert on getting things done, but I do have a few tips that make it possible to juggle some of the things that I have going on. Maybe some of these tips for task management will help you get more out of your day as well.

WORK AHEAD As a blogger and social media community leader, I often have sponsored posts or reviews that are due on a certain date. I don’t want to end up late for a deadline, but I know that life often gets in the way of my best plans. It’s the same thing in the public work force. We never know when something unexpected will come up and cause us to completely lose control of our schedule. We can minimize the negative impact of the unexpected events by working ahead. If you know you have 2 weeks to complete a task, get it done the first week. We’ve all heard the phrase “Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today”. If you get it done today and just put it on hold till the due date, you won’t have to worry if life gets crazy.

“Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today”.

SET LIMITS ON EACH TASK

Some jobs are time drains. For those tasks that can eat up time by the hour instead of just a few minutes, set a deadline and stop when that clock goes off. Let’s face it… some jobs are just never going to be done. They are just ongoing tasks that must always be done, but will never be finished. Don’t fall into the trap of spending your entire day doing something that isn’t essential to life.

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PRIORITIZE YOUR TASKS There are some things that have to take priority over everything else – even if they are not the most important thing on your agenda. Look at the things you have to do each day and decide on priorities. If you are the responsible party for getting your children off to school, then having clean clothes and something for breakfast has to be at the top of the list. If you know there is a deadline for a particular task, it must be done first. Things that are high priority are not necessarily the most important thing you will do, but they still have to be finished on time.

WORK SMART – NOT HARD There’s something to the concept of working smart – not hard. True, you have to work hard in life, but you don’t want to spin your wheels working hard if you could get the task done a little easier way by working smart.

Can you streamline a process at work? Is there fat that can be trimmed that will make your work more efficient? Is there a new computer program that will help you get the job done easier? Just because you have always done a job a particular way does not make it the most efficient. Periodically talk to someone that you trust and ask them for any ideas they have to make your job more efficient.

We all have responsibilities that demand our attention. But if we spend all our time working and spinning our wheels, we won’t have time for the things that make life special. Let’s work smart and be efficient so that we can accomplish our tasks and then have time for family and friends.

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HOW TO REDUCE THE IMPACT OF STUFF ON YOUR LIFE

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Let’s face it! We love stuff! Most Americans are always looking out for the next thing to add to our life to make it better. We think a new kitchen appliance will improve our cooking abilities. We want the latest movie release to put in our collection. We are always on the hunt for the newest gadget to use for our yard and in the garage.

Don’t get me wrong. I love stuff too. I love going to thrift stores to find treasures and there’s no way I’ll pass a yard sale without stopping to look for something amazing. I’ve even got boxes of great stuff that I am saving for the next season of my life. But what does this stuff do for the quality of our lives?

In the short-term, the stuff doesn’t seem to have a negative impact. We enjoy it for a while, then put it in a closet or under a cabinet. But what happens over the course of 20, 40 or 50 years? That special stuff that we wanted so badly often ends up broken, chipped, dusty and forgotten. How can we lower the impact of all of that stuff for our lives now and for the future?

PRACTICE AN IN AND OUT RULE When you bring something new into your house then something old must go out. Example: Did you buy a souvenir coffee cup on vacation? Look through your cabinets and find one old coffee cup that you can get rid of.

Did you find a new book at the library book sale? Look at your book shelf and find a book you are done with and donate it.

DON’T BUY STUFF JUST BECAUSE IT’S A GOOD PRICE. Here’s a real life example: I love to shop at Burkes outlet. If you shop at the right time you find clothes for less than a dollar. Recently I went to my closet and found at least a dozen of pieces of clothes that I got for a really good price. They seemed like such a good deal at the time, but now 6 months later, they still have the tags on them. What good does that do me?

It just clutters my closet and makes me realize that I wasted money. This past week I cleaned all those items out and took them to the thrift store.

They may have been a good price, but they were not a wise purchase.

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KEEP A BOX IN YOUR GARAGE FOR DONATIONS If something is too good to throw away but you no longer need it, put it in your donation box. When the box is full, take it to a thrift store or donate for recycling. If it’s not good enough to donate, throw it away!

START SMALL Get rid of paper clutter. Most of us have file cabinets stuffed with papers, tax documents, receipts and special cards from birthdays. But if we can’t find the files we need, we just have a mess. Start with one file at a time.

Designate 15 minutes a day to clean out something small. If it’s something you need to keep, then file it in a way that you can find it later. If it’s not necessary or helpful to your life, then shred or dispose.

Stuff is great when it’s under control. There’s nothing better than having your house feel like a home. But when stuff begins to control our lives, it’s time to stop and make some changes. How do you reduce the impact of stuff in your life? I’d love to hear!

Craft Inspiration: Use wood pallets to create some amazing home décor & organizational tools! 10 DIY Wood Pallet Craft ideas! http://hobbiesonabudget.com/2014/10/09/wood-pallet/

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HOW TO PROPERLY DISPOSE OF JUNK Once you’ve started cleaning your house, you may have questions about where to take some of the stuff that you no longer need. If you are wondering where to dispose or donate some of your excess stuff, I’ve got some ideas for you.

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CLOTHES: If you have clothes that are in good shape with no tears and minimal spots, you can donate them to a thrift store. But be careful about donating clothes that are no longer wearable. Thrift stores are not trash cans. If the clothes are not good enough to actually wear then you shouldn’t donate them.

Thrift stores will usually accept gently used shoes clothes, coats, toys, some household items and furniture..

Medicine: It is unsafe to simply flush medicine down the toilet. You are not technically even allowed to throw medicines in the trashcan. Depending on what you have or the volume of medicine that you need to discard you will need to find a proper collection site. Check with your local pharmacist or sheriff’s department to find a box that you can drop these medicines and dispose of them properly.

Cardboard: You can usually recycle cardboard in a local dumpster or take them to a recycling center. Depending on the volume of cardboard, you may even be able to get some money out of it. Call your local recycling center to see what their guidelines are for accepting cardboard and boxes. Some recycle centers need you to break the boxes down.

BLANKETS AND BEDDING: If you have old blankets that you no longer need, you may be able to donate them to an animal shelter or a local homeless shelter. Call your local animal shelter to see if they are accepting donations of blankets and towels. They often need these to help provide warm bedding for the animals that they house. Call and ask for the requirements before you show up. Many homeless shelters also accept donations of clean bedding for their winter needs.

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MATTRESSES: Disposing of old mattresses is kind of tricky. If the mattress is in good shape, your local thrift store may be able to accept it. However if they are old, stained or ripped you may not be able to donate the mattresses. You will probably have to call your local landfill and take them to the dump.

There is typically a charge to take things to the dump. Depending on whether you have service in the county or are a resident, you may be able to have the fee reduced or waived. Call before you show up. The landfill may also be able to accept other furniture that is not good enough to donate.

RECYCLING OLD ELECTRONICS: Electronics, computers, TVs and small appliances can sometimes be donated. If they are small enough, you may be able to just put them in a black trash bag and let your trash pick-up take them on the regular day.

However if you have large TVs and electronics you may have to take them to the dump. There are occasionally programs that will recycle old computers to be turned into refurbished items for people to use at community colleges. You might check with your local computer store to see if they know of anyone who is accepting old computers for training. There are many places to donate old cell phones. They can sometimes be recycled at and used for domestic violence victims. Check with your school to see if they are collecting used cellphones.

SENSITIVE PAPERS: If you are going through tax documents and financial papers you will not want to just throw them in your trash cans. Either shred them or take them to office store where you can pay a small fee and have them shredded.

How do you dispose of old junk? I’d love to hear!

This article first appeared in the print edition of the Advocate Messenger, Danville, Kentucky 10/12/14.

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7 WAYS TO GET RID OF CLUTTER

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It’s not been too many weeks back when everyone was complaining about the cold weather and the snow that just wouldn’t go away. Now it’s the middle of a hot summer and people are already talking about the heat.

Since many people are looking for things to do inside where it is air conditioned, why not take the time to clean out some of the clutter that is accumulating in your garage and under the kid’s beds? Here are 7 ways to get rid of clutter and simplify your life.

HAVE A YARD SALE If you want to take the traditional approach to clearing out clutter, then pile up all that stuff in the front yard, attach price tags and advertise a yard sale.

You can probably turn much of your clutter into some money. This is a great option if you have a free day and the patience to put all the price tags on the items. Here are 7 Tips for Yard Sale Success.

DONATE TO A THRIFT STORE If you prefer to just give it to a thrift store, load it into the back of your vehicle and drive it over to the closest thrift store. You can request a donation receipt and use it as charitable contribution next year when you do your taxes. Just make sure it’s not trash. If the items are beyond use because of stains, tears or the appliances don’t work, then find another option.

GIVE TO A FRIEND If you have something that is in great shape, offer it to a friend. You may have a friend who was planning to buy that item. Give it to them so they save money and you get one step closer to a clutter free house. If you don’t have someone particular who wants the item, then set a time limit. If no one claims it within one week, you may need to donate the item instead.

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SELL ON EBAY Some things sell really well on Ebay. Take good pictures and list your item on the world’s largest auction site. Just remember to figure in shipping and fees when you set your price. You may be able to turn some of your clutter into a pretty little penny.

CHECK FACEBOOK YARD SALE GROUPS There are several very active Facebook yard sale groups in the area. Just do a quick search for the name of your county plus yard sale or for sale in Facebook and you will probably find several groups that are close to you.

You can list your items, add pictures and a description and often make a successful deal with someone who lives near you. Just remember to use common sense when doing transactions with people you don’t know. Meet in a public place and take along a friend for support.

TOSS THE TRASH Go through the kid’s rooms looking for toys that are broken or missing valuable pieces. Look through the medicine cabinet or spice rack and toss expired medicines or condiments. Look at your laundry basket. Do you have 15 socks that don’t have matches? Be brutal with your search and don’t be afraid to toss the trash. It’s one thing to keep things because they’re special, but another whole story when we end up keeping things that belong in the trash.

RECYCLE WHAT YOU CAN One thing that often clutters up many people’s garages is the recycle bin.

It’s a great thing to recycle, but if you never empty the bin, it just becomes another source of clutter and junk. If you have recycling at your curb, then use it regularly. If not, load up your vehicle once a week and go dump the plastic bottles, cardboard boxes and plastic grocery bags.

How do you get rid of junk and clutter in your homes? I’d love to hear!

This article first appeared in the print edition of the Danville Advocate Messenger – 6/29/14 34

3 TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL FAMILY GAME NIGHT Are you one of the many families who have a regular weekly Family Game Night? We don’t have a regular scheduled game night in our house, but we do have a great assortment of games and enjoy playing them regularly. I grew up playing games with my family on most Friday nights; but there are many kids and parents who don’t understand how much fun it can be to sit around the table and play card games or traditional board games. If you are wondering how you can have a successful family game night, then these tips are for you.

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MAKE IT EASY If your card games are stored in a box in the basement, you’re not going to be able to enjoy a quick game with the family. Think about where the games are. Can you access them easily? This is one of those situations where “out of sight = out of mind”. We keep a basket of games on the kitchen table. It’s an easy thing to grab the Rook cards when the grandparents come over or play a quick game of Scattegories after supper if the cards are right there in plain sight.

One fun option for creating game fun on the spur of the moment is to leave puzzles sitting around the house that family members just can’t resist. We leave the classic 4 cube puzzler “Instant Insanity” out on the table. It’s almost impossible to leave the table after supper when the 4 cubes are sitting there begging to have the puzzle solved.

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HAVE LOTS OF OPTIONS There are some classic games that are as much fun to play today as they were 20 years ago. But if you never branch out and try a new game, you are missing the opportunity to have some really fun times as a family.

We’ve been trying new games and variations of old classics as well as some new to us games from Winning Moves.

This card game called Stop It is best played with more than 3 people. You simply play any sequence of cards for as long as you can until someone plays the Stop It card to capture control. The catch? There are less Stop It cards than people playing so you better think carefully before you grab the Stop It card! Once you lose the lead, you may end up losing the game!

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DON’T PLAY TOO LONG! Games like Monopoly and Risk are perfect for ongoing fun. Set them up on a card table in the family room and play a few minutes over the course of several days. But many Family Game Nights are only as perfect as the time frame you play. Choose games that can be set up, started and finished before everyone is mentally done. We personally love games that don’t last more than 15 minutes. Family members have work commitments, homework, after school activities, sports practice. Sneak in games when you have just a few minutes so you can make some family memories quickly.

What games do you love to play with your family?

Craft Inspiration: Use your recycle bin to inspire some amazing crafts and toys! 12 Crafts from the Recycle Bin http://hobbiesonabudget.com/2013/10/03/crafts-from-the-recycle-bin/

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All articles in this e-magazine are written by Sharon Williams. If you would like to reprint or republish anything you find here, please contact Sharon at sharon@hobbiesonabufdget.com for permission and rights.

www.hobbiesonabudget.com

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