Keep - Toss - Donate
With the holidays fast approaching, now is the perfect time to start organizing your home or space. Sorting through your home is a very personal experience and can be very taxing when it comes down to what to keep, toss, or donate. Check out our quick-tip guide:
KEEP
Anything with sentimental value is a must keep; those items are irreplaceable
Important papers and documents are vital as well. It doesn’t hurt to have them
backed up electronically but store the originals in a safe place
Display items: anything you love, share it with your guests
Timeless & Classic pieces: a watch, classic handbag, perfect jeans, suit, coat, or little black dress
Cables should be labeled and stored properly with any old items such as cameras and computers
TOSS
A standard rule of thumb, if you haven’t used it in a year, you most likely won’t
Clothing that doesn’t fit you any more, mismatched socks, or worn items
Expired items: cosmetics, first-aid, medicine, food, etc.
Outdated technology: if you can’t turn it on and don’t have the correct cables, it’s time to move on from it
Newspaper and magazine clippings: share it with loved ones or scan it to have a digital copy
Anything from a set that is missing its other half: Tupperware, anybody?
Toys: donate them or do a toy exchange with friends
DONATE
Before chucking items in the trash, make sure you can’t donate them first. Blankets, towels, clothing, toiletries, and many other items can benefit so many people in need. Reach out to your local Animal Shelters, Humane Society, Women’s Shelters, Dress for Success, Homeless Shelters, The Shoebox Project, and the Salvation Army to see what they may be in need of. This way, all of your unused items can be beneficial a second-time around and doesn’t go to waste!
Sometimes it is unrealistic to keep everything you want when it comes to sentimental items or stuff in general. Sometimes you downsize or move away and things can get damaged unintentionally. Maybe you travel a lot for work or are backpacking through Europe. Whatever the case may be, this suggestion is oftentimes a client favorite and a great tip I learned a long time ago from an old opera professor in Paris. Take pictures… of anything with sentimental value. It is easier to store a photo (physically and digitally) when you can’t have the real thing.