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In This Issue:
- A Word From Monica
- Another Word From Monica
- Why NOT Procrastinate?
- Declutter Your Life With Freecycle!
- A New Spin On Holiday Giving
A Word From Monica
To those in the United States who voted in the recent elections on November 2, 2004, I thank you for not taking for granted the most solemn responsibility we have as Americans. No matter who you voted for locally or who you chose for President, the important thing is that you got out and voted. Good for you and good for our country!
Another Word From Monica
To those who have been inquiring about my three episodes of Mission Organization on HGTV, I thank you for your support and interest! At this time, two of the three are listed on the HGTV web site (episodes 503 and 513)however, they still have no air dates.
Trust me, I will not let them air without letting you know in advance. I am slated to do another episode in January and one more in March, so for now, it appears to be continuing trend. Thank you again to everyone who has been so excited for me. I appreciate your kindness and support.
Why NOT Procrastinate?
Procrastination is one of the largest contributing factors to disorganization. For some people, it's a way of life. I have a story to share with you about how procrastination could have been very, very expensive.
In September 2001, I was on a long weekend vacation in California's wine country with my then boyfriend. He and I had been dating for five years and that weekend at dinner, he surprised me with a beautiful diamond ring and asked me to marry him. Knowing a good thing when I see it, I said yes and upon returning home to Atlanta, we began planning our wedding for the following August.
I loved my ring and immediately took it to my jeweler to have it insured against loss, damage or theft. The appraisal of the ring took about an hour and was very affordable. I ended up with an insurance policy that cost $68 per year. Each year I renewed the policy and this year, I received a letter stating that I needed to have the ring inspected before the insurance company would renew my policy.
So, I called my trusty jeweler, (Bill Lerner at Lerner Jewelry in Atlanta, GA) and made an appointment. I took the ring to Bill and upon looking at it under the scope, he discovered a crack in the diamond. We immediately phoned the insurance company and asked what to do next. As it turns out, I will be getting a brand new, replacement diamond no questions asked. Bill will set the new stone and I can pick it up in a few weeks. Sounds pretty simple, huh?
But what if I had gotten my ring and then put off getting it insured? What if I had done like so many people do, and just never "gotten around to it". What if I had put it on the "back burner" and then forgotten about it? What if I had been "too busy" to make time to go to the jeweler and get the insurance policy? Or what if I just put it off because I didn't want to spend the money on the insurance premium?
Right now, I'd be wearing a cracked diamond that was worth a fraction of its original value and I'd have no option other than to purchase a new stone out of our savings account. My husband and I would be pretty UNhappy campers.
So what's my point? My point is that this is just one example where a simple action, done in a timely manner, ended up saving me thousands of dollars. Just an hour with my jeweler and $68 a year ended up saving me and my husband several thousand dollars and is a good lesson for everyone. Today I challenge you to take care of something that YOU have been putting off that if left undone could potentially cost you money, time, energy, or your health. Here's to action done today that won't have to be done tomorrow!
Atlanta Residents: If you want a jeweler who is honest, reputable, and has been an expert in his field for thirty years, call Bill Lerner at Lerner Jewelry. I trust him implicitly and wouldn't go anywhere else. He believes in good, honest service and keeping clients for life. He can be reached at 404-231-2277 or on the web at www.carsljco.com
Declutter Your Life With Freecycle!
Decluttering your life is a wonderful way to rid yourself of the things that no longer give you value and a great way to help someone else in need at the same time. All over the world, people are helping others and decluttering their lives by giving away the things they no longer need, through FREEcycle.org. This means that fewer items are going into the trash and filling up the landfills of our planet.
It's so simple to join! You just sign up through the web site, and you'll begin getting the emails that people in your local FREEcycle group send out either seeking free items, or offering free items. It's as simple as that! Just go to www.FREEcycle.org to sign up!
Number of cities FREEcycling last month: 1567
Number of cities FREEcycling this month: 1716
Number of people FREEcycling last month: 460,971
Number of people FREEcycling this month: 570,516
Check it out and let me know what you think of the idea. If you've received something or given something away through this wonderful concept, tell me about that too!
A New Spin On Holiday Giving
When November hits, many people shift into holiday mode, beginning their planning for December events. Holidays, by definition, are a time to relax with friends and family, retreating from work and responsibilities to enjoy our relationships and the festivities of the season. Do your holidays reflect rest and relaxation? Or do they reflect added stress, debt, hectic schedules and weeks of frantic "busyness" that you could do without?
When I work with clients this time of year, I find that much of their holiday stress comes from the pressure to give gifts. I also find that much of the clutter that exists in the lives of my clients are past gifts from well-meaning friends and relatives. We are so accustomed to gift-giving at birthdays, holidays, and other events that we seldom
think about the impact that giving a gift will have on the receiver.
As an example, think about yourself. Do the gifts that you receive always add real value to your life? Or do they simply add more clutter? Do you really need another tie, knick-knack, or coffee mug to add to your growing collection? Do your children really need another toy or stuffed animal? If you're like most people, and you tell yourself the truth, the answer is no. So if YOU feel this way, chances are that your friends and relatives might also feel the same. Is it even possible that you might all be buying for each other out of a sense of tradition or obligation, each wishing that the other would speak up and put a stop to it? Or maybe you'd like to change the style of gifts that you give, as not to add clutter to the life of someone you love.
If you are tired of feeling pressured to buy, tired of spending a fortune at the holidays, or are tired of your family giving your children a whole lot of what they really don't need, this is your year to make some holiday gift-giving changes for the better!
Below are three ideas for simplifying the holidays that will change your outlook on giving and receiving gifts, along with a list of ten new gift ideas that won't add clutter to anyone's life.
Can We Talk?
Have a frank conversation with your loved ones about your feelings surrounding the gift-giving tradition. You might discover that they are as willing to simplify or eliminate gift-giving as you are, but were hesitant to bring it up.
Just Say No
Set limits for yourself and your children. Let your friends and family know in advance (that means NOW) that you are endeavoring to simplify your life and to teach your children that more is NOT better. Set limits on the number and/or type of gifts that you will allow your children to receive. As a parent, you have not only the right, but the responsibility to shape your child's expectations of the holidays. Do you want to teach them that the holidays are about getting as many gifts as possible or do you want to teach them something different? It's your choice, and your action (or inaction) will speak for itself.
Change Your Habits
Choose to change your gift-giving habits. Unless someone has specifically requested a particular item, try giving gifts of time, services, or experience this year. Here are great suggestions for clutter-free gifts that you can give, and suggest that your family give to your kids. The wonderful thing about giving gifts like these is that the person giving the gift can EXPERIENCE the gift with the recipient if the want to, and isn't spending time together the best gift of all?
Clutter-Free Gifts For Kids:
1. A matinee movie.
2. Tickets to a play or musical.
3. Tickets to an ice show.
4. An evening at a kid-themed restaurant.
5. A trip to the zoo.
6. An afternoon at a local art or science museum.
7. Gift cards to an ice cream shop.
8. Host a homemade ornament-making party.
9. Host a cookie-making party with holiday music.
10. Host a weekend slumber party.
Clutter-Free Gifts For Grown-Ups:
1. Babysitting services for new (or veteran) parents.
2. Dinner at a nice restaurant.
3. Tickets to the orchestra or a concert.
4. An evening at a dinner theatre.
5. A carriage ride around the city at night.
6. A gift certificate for a half-day at a spa.
7. Tickets to a sporting event.
8. Gift certificates for car detailing.
9. A nice bottle of wine and some wonderful cheese.
10. A month's worth of personal chef services.
These gifts of experience are the kind that will long be remembered even after they are used, which means you'll be remembered fondly at the same time.
Extra Special Gift Idea: Agree that you'll each pick a tag from an "Angel Tree" and purchase a gift for a needy or foster child in your area. Get together to have holiday snacks and wrap your Angel Tree gifts before you take them back to leave under the tree.
There are many other gifts of time, experience or services that you could give. If you have an idea for one that isn't on the list, write and tell me, so I can include it in next month's newsletter. Happy holiday planning!
Monica Ricci is an Organizing Specialist, and the founder of Catalyst Organizing Solutions, an Atlanta based company. You can see Monica on the popular HGTV show, MISSION: Organization.
She is the immediate past president of the GA Chapter of the National Association of Professional Organizers and was recently named to the Editorial Advisory Board of Atlanta Home Improvement Magazine. To schedule Monica to speak to your conference, team, department, or association, or for an on-site organizational evaluation, contact her at 770-569-2642 or Monica@CatalystOrganizing.com
(c)2004 Catalyst Organizing. All Rights Reserved.
