Comments on: Holiday gifts: Out with the old in with the new http://unclutterer.com/2007/12/10/christmas-gifts-out-with-the-old-in-with-the-new/ Daily tips on how to organize your home and office. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:43:54 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Robyn http://unclutterer.com/2007/12/10/christmas-gifts-out-with-the-old-in-with-the-new/comment-page-1/#comment-25853 Robyn Sun, 04 Jan 2009 18:41:38 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/2007/12/10/christmas-gifts-out-with-the-old-in-with-the-new/#comment-25853 I give my kids 3 months...anything not opened or touched goes in the "re-gift" closet. I use them as birthday gifts for my son's friends or send them to out of town nieces and nephews the following year. So far, it's worked out well. Saves money and clutter. I give my kids 3 months…anything not opened or touched goes in the “re-gift” closet. I use them as birthday gifts for my son’s friends or send them to out of town nieces and nephews the following year. So far, it’s worked out well. Saves money and clutter.

]]> By: Princess Ivory http://unclutterer.com/2007/12/10/christmas-gifts-out-with-the-old-in-with-the-new/comment-page-1/#comment-24939 Princess Ivory Wed, 10 Dec 2008 21:07:22 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/2007/12/10/christmas-gifts-out-with-the-old-in-with-the-new/#comment-24939 Hook up with your local Freecycle group. Find one near you at: http://www.freecycle.org/ You can give things away there to people that really want them. And you can get some very cool things from other people. The sky's the limit. From a few dollars worth of stickers and coloring books, to treadmills and old cars! And you feel so good meeting someone or just corresponding with them, and they are so grateful to receive it, or give it. Many of us do what is called a "porch pickup." After you have selected a recipient, you put it in a bag or box on your front porch, and they come and pick it up. It's a little safer that way, especially if you are home alone. Also allows you to leave the house without having to wait around for them to show up. There is also Cheapcycle, to earn a little money, or buy something used cheaply, and Craigslist, for the same kind of thing. I've used all three with much success, both in giving, and in finding things I need. They are very busy this time of year with things for Christmas, especially in this economy. So check it out for reducing your clutter, and doing some inexpensive shopping at the same time! Hook up with your local Freecycle group. Find one near you at: http://www.freecycle.org/

You can give things away there to people that really want them. And you can get some very cool things from other people. The sky’s the limit. From a few dollars worth of stickers and coloring books, to treadmills and old cars!

And you feel so good meeting someone or just corresponding with them, and they are so grateful to receive it, or give it.

Many of us do what is called a “porch pickup.” After you have selected a recipient, you put it in a bag or box on your front porch, and they come and pick it up. It’s a little safer that way, especially if you are home alone. Also allows you to leave the house without having to wait around for them to show up.

There is also Cheapcycle, to earn a little money, or buy something used cheaply, and Craigslist, for the same kind of thing.

I’ve used all three with much success, both in giving, and in finding things I need. They are very busy this time of year with things for Christmas, especially in this economy. So check it out for reducing your clutter, and doing some inexpensive shopping at the same time!

]]> By: elrj http://unclutterer.com/2007/12/10/christmas-gifts-out-with-the-old-in-with-the-new/comment-page-1/#comment-6530 elrj Wed, 02 Jan 2008 20:35:32 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/2007/12/10/christmas-gifts-out-with-the-old-in-with-the-new/#comment-6530 When I was little, my mother would notice un-played-with toys my brother and I had gotten bored of. She would pack them away for a "rainy day" then re-produce them for a second wave of delight and play time. She would also encourage us after the holidays to pick out a few toys/items we no longer cared for that we would clean and donate to a charity of appropriate kind, teaching us, even as kids, that we were very fortunate and we should share our joyful good fortune with others. When I was little, my mother would notice un-played-with toys my brother and I had gotten bored of. She would pack them away for a “rainy day” then re-produce them for a second wave of delight and play time.
She would also encourage us after the holidays to pick out a few toys/items we no longer cared for that we would clean and donate to a charity of appropriate kind, teaching us, even as kids, that we were very fortunate and we should share our joyful good fortune with others.

]]> By: Michele http://unclutterer.com/2007/12/10/christmas-gifts-out-with-the-old-in-with-the-new/comment-page-1/#comment-6516 Michele Wed, 02 Jan 2008 16:32:50 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/2007/12/10/christmas-gifts-out-with-the-old-in-with-the-new/#comment-6516 My daughter and I keep a give-away bag year 'round. As she outgrows clothes or toys, and as I de-clutter the kitchen or my closet, we put old stuff in the bag. (We clean, fold, or neaten the items first.) Then I take everything to my favorite charity shop a few times per year. The bag sits in a nook between my bed and desk, pretty much out of sight and out of the way for navigating through my bedroom. My daughter and I keep a give-away bag year ’round. As she outgrows clothes or toys, and as I de-clutter the kitchen or my closet, we put old stuff in the bag. (We clean, fold, or neaten the items first.) Then I take everything to my favorite charity shop a few times per year.

The bag sits in a nook between my bed and desk, pretty much out of sight and out of the way for navigating through my bedroom.

]]> By: Jamie http://unclutterer.com/2007/12/10/christmas-gifts-out-with-the-old-in-with-the-new/comment-page-1/#comment-6515 Jamie Wed, 02 Jan 2008 16:24:17 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/2007/12/10/christmas-gifts-out-with-the-old-in-with-the-new/#comment-6515 I cleaned out my daughters' closets before and after Christmas and my 5-year-old actually came to me while I was cleaning out and asked if she could donate some of her stuffed animals to poor children. We filled a bag for Goodwill. I was thrilled that she volunteered to do this on her own and I've explained to her that every year around Christmas we will clean out her toys and donate ones that she and her sister no longer play with. I cleaned out my daughters’ closets before and after Christmas and my 5-year-old actually came to me while I was cleaning out and asked if she could donate some of her stuffed animals to poor children. We filled a bag for Goodwill. I was thrilled that she volunteered to do this on her own and I’ve explained to her that every year around Christmas we will clean out her toys and donate ones that she and her sister no longer play with.

]]> By: Kate Saltfleet http://unclutterer.com/2007/12/10/christmas-gifts-out-with-the-old-in-with-the-new/comment-page-1/#comment-5879 Kate Saltfleet Tue, 11 Dec 2007 10:56:18 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/2007/12/10/christmas-gifts-out-with-the-old-in-with-the-new/#comment-5879 @Jan - I do similar, but display all the cards. Once the holidays are over, I "massacre" them into gift tags for next year using a pair of pinking shears. The one-in-one-out rule is one of the cornerstones to reducing what I call "clutter creep". @Jan – I do similar, but display all the cards. Once the holidays are over, I “massacre” them into gift tags for next year using a pair of pinking shears.

The one-in-one-out rule is one of the cornerstones to reducing what I call “clutter creep”.

]]> By: Jan http://unclutterer.com/2007/12/10/christmas-gifts-out-with-the-old-in-with-the-new/comment-page-1/#comment-5874 Jan Tue, 11 Dec 2007 05:27:29 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/2007/12/10/christmas-gifts-out-with-the-old-in-with-the-new/#comment-5874 I recycle my Christmas cards. They arrive in the mail, I read them, I cut the writing off the back, I turn them into a Christmas post card with a friends address, stamp and short message and repost immediatly. I keep a few colour cordinated cards in the decorations to display each year. I recycle my Christmas cards. They arrive in the mail, I read them, I cut the writing off the back, I turn them into a Christmas post card with a friends address, stamp and short message and repost immediatly.

I keep a few colour cordinated cards in the decorations to display each year.

]]> By: Billy Budd http://unclutterer.com/2007/12/10/christmas-gifts-out-with-the-old-in-with-the-new/comment-page-1/#comment-5866 Billy Budd Mon, 10 Dec 2007 20:44:38 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/2007/12/10/christmas-gifts-out-with-the-old-in-with-the-new/#comment-5866 It is a good idea to cull through the kids toys post Thanksgiving. Some of these toys may be donated--but be wary of donating recalled toys which creates more work for charities. Once your children's rooms are cleaned out, you have plenty of room for the new Christmas toys which will soon be gathering dust just like the old ones did! It is a good idea to cull through the kids toys post Thanksgiving. Some of these toys may be donated–but be wary of donating recalled toys which creates more work for charities.

Once your children’s rooms are cleaned out, you have plenty of room for the new Christmas toys which will soon be gathering dust just like the old ones did!

]]> By: Andamom http://unclutterer.com/2007/12/10/christmas-gifts-out-with-the-old-in-with-the-new/comment-page-1/#comment-5861 Andamom Mon, 10 Dec 2007 19:16:00 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/2007/12/10/christmas-gifts-out-with-the-old-in-with-the-new/#comment-5861 I think it works in general... If you get 5 news things, get rid of 5 things. Stuff is stuff regardless of its type. And, if you are home during the holidays, use this as an opportunity to give yourself a 'holiday present' get rid of more stuff - Clean out your closets, attic, basement, bedroom, filing cabinet, bathroom, car, and pockets. Start 2008 with a cleaner and less cluttered way of life! I think it works in general… If you get 5 news things, get rid of 5 things. Stuff is stuff regardless of its type. And, if you are home during the holidays, use this as an opportunity to give yourself a ‘holiday present’ get rid of more stuff – Clean out your closets, attic, basement, bedroom, filing cabinet, bathroom, car, and pockets. Start 2008 with a cleaner and less cluttered way of life!

]]> By: Marie http://unclutterer.com/2007/12/10/christmas-gifts-out-with-the-old-in-with-the-new/comment-page-1/#comment-5856 Marie Mon, 10 Dec 2007 17:00:15 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/2007/12/10/christmas-gifts-out-with-the-old-in-with-the-new/#comment-5856 I'm definitely going to apply this advice to my holiday this year, especially when it comes to pajamas. Every year my mom gets me a pair, so my wardrobe now contains more sleepwear than everyday clothes. Bye-bye fuzzy nightgowns! I’m definitely going to apply this advice to my holiday this year, especially when it comes to pajamas. Every year my mom gets me a pair, so my wardrobe now contains more sleepwear than everyday clothes. Bye-bye fuzzy nightgowns!

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