Survive and Thrive: Household

Getting Organized To Survive and

Thrive In Today’s Economy

Oh, the irony. We have lived in an age of more is better, but oh my, how times have changed. Now we are realizing the importance of relationships and that we can live without all the excess stuff. What many people may be realizing now is that all the excess that we have brought into our homes and lives in the past takes a lot of time and energy to manage. Time and time again after I have helped clients get organized and declutter their spaces I hear back from them telling me about some type of major positive event that happened in their life after we worked together. This has happened to several of my clients and I truly believe there is a connection between the clutter in our lives and what is allowed to come into our lives. When our lives or spaces are filled it is difficult to allow anything else in. When we remove the excess, the out of date and the items that bring about negative feelings we are able to make room for new opportunities and experiences.

There is no better time then now to put this theory to test. Here are my tips to not only survive an unpredictable economic situation but to thrive in the year to come.

Survive: Generating and Saving Money

1. Clutter to Cash.
1. There’s no time like the present to reduce your clutter and make a little extra money. Tried and true solutions include garage sales, E-bay, Craigslist, resale shops and consignment shops. Here are a few items that you may be able to resell: furniture, clothing, any items that are new with tags, children’s and baby clothing and toys.

Think out of the box. Selling gold and silver jewelry is another great way to make a little extra money. Be sure to get estimates from multiple shops before selling. Sell old cell phones on Cells for Cash http://www.cellforcash.com/. Exchange or sell unwanted gift cards at Swap A Gift http://www.swapagift.com/.

2. Find money, gift cards, checks.
1. When cleaning out piles of paper and money it is common to find checks, gift cards, and even money! Be sure to open every envelope, you just never know what you will find.
3. Save money by avoiding duplicate purchases.
1. Being organized and free from clutter will allow you to know exactly what you have and help you avoid making duplicate purchases. You may find that you have a three month or a year’s supply of some items. This will keep you from having to spend money now.

Thrive: Now and In Years To Come

1. Create a filing system that can handle all your paper. Getting your paper and filing under control can help you save time and money for years to come. Purge or shred old, outdated paper. Have a filing system to handle your incoming bills and paper.
2. Invest in creating systems to help your life run more smoothly. What can you do now that you can leverage again later? Can you create a system that is easy to replicate over and over again? Investing time now by creating a form, checklist, or establishing a new habit can benefit you in the long run when you get busier.
3. Create a space that supports you. Remove all unneeded clutter and anything that brings negative feelings. If you have old projects or items that bring on negative thoughts, emotions, or feelings then it is time to let them go. Not only are they taking up physical space, but they are taking up mental space each time you see the items.

Using your time now to reduce your clutter and establish new habits may be just what you need to have a breakthrough this year.

Angela Ploetz is a Certified Professional Organizer, CPO® and owner of POSH Space Professional Organizing Specialist serving the greater Austin area. Angela is an experienced speaker and addresses women’s groups and business groups. POSH space provides solutions for home and office organizing challenges. Specialize in residential paper and filing systems, home offices, small business organization, new home set-ups and move-ins, and student organization. Angela can be reached at www.theposhspace.com.