Back to School – It’s time to get organized!
By Susie Coelho
Summer is coming to an end and the kids are heading back to school. Often this is a time to buy more things, but for my family, this is the perfect time to get rid of items and look towards the months ahead. The idea is to simplify and get rid of “stuff” that is collecting dust in the corner of the kids’ bedrooms or closets.
It was our goal this summer to get rid of clutter and say hello to a little more space. It was a very exciting time as we got rid of so many things that we just did not need. One of our summer projects was to organize all of the miscellaneous items that we did decide to keep. As we sorted through these items, we were sure to keep an eye on which items were needed for everyday use and which items were unnecessary to have lying around.
With that in mind, we kept out the things that the kids needed to access every day and made them accessible in the main drawers and tabletops, then neatly tucked away the rest. That’s where stackable storage bins, under-bed drawers and shelves came in handy. Colourful bins made out of recycled boxes are an inexpensive way to create storage that aligns with your colour palette. Divide the items and conquer! Items for outside, extra school supplies, decorations, leisure activities and toys could be general starting categories for organizing.
Now with the items that are deemed unnecessary, it would be a great idea to have a garage sale or donate them and take a tax write off. You have to decide whether it is worth your time and effort for a garage sale as it does take some work. Sometimes you can get more benefit on your taxes by donating to a shelter or charity for those who really need it. If you do decide to have a garage sale, make it a learning experience for the kids. Go into it with the idea that you are getting some exchange for the items and then let them go! Teach the kids about the value of money and how to sell and how to set up shop and tear down. Most importantly teach them the art of bargaining as they will be on the opposite side of the fence and they can learn how various different people bargain. It’s an art form!
So get in there and get going with your decluttering process. You will feel a great sense of relief and freedom and most of all gain space, which will make you feel better every time you walk into that room.
