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Free Organizing Tips July 2010
Harmonious Life Designs

    I love this time of year; I am definitely a summer girl. I am writing this newsletter in a makeshift office looking at the ocean on Marblehead Neck. Even though we would rather be at the beach, there are still organizing projects that you can do yourself or with the help of professionals. Check out the articles below for suggestions. And check out our Partner Spotlight: Laura Kuhn Landscape Design.
   As I will be recovering from surgery in late July and early August I am offering a discount on paper management organizing projects of 20% off an entire booked appointment during the month of August. I will help you purge, "systemize" and file all your financial and other paper documents. Schedule your session now and get your papers in order.
    I hope that these monthly tips are helpful for you. Sometimes, making small changes can have a powerful effect on your life. As always I welcome your feedback and if you have a tip that you would like to share, send it to me and I will publish it in an upcoming issue with your name.

Peace,
Maureen.

Do it/Fix It Now   
   While working with clients I often notice several items put aside (usually piling up on the floor or a chair) that need to be fixed or repaired. I discover during our organizing assessment that these “fix it” projects have been sitting there for months and are now contributing to the overall clutter.
Examples of these “fix it” projects are:
• clothing that need tailoring
• jewelry that needs a new clasp
• pictures of photographs that need to be hung on the wall
• ceramics that need to be glued
• shelves that need to be put up/in
• chairs that need to be reupholstered
• plants that need to be re-potted
• computers and peripherals that need a new outlet
• shoes that need to be re-heeled
• clothes that need to be consigned
• computers that need data recovery
• items that need to be recycled
• photographs that need to be organized
• jewelry that needs to be appraised

 So all these “fix it” items or piles create clutter because people never seem to get around to taking care of these projects. Either people do not know how to do these projects themselves or do not know how to find the right professionals/repair people to help them. Here’s a couple of tips on finding the right repair people in your area.
  When looking for a professional repair person like a cobbler or a tailor/seamstress, I usually ask around either at work on in my local neighborhood. (Sometimes it makes sense to find someone near your place of work if that is where you tend to run your errands during lunch hour.) Referrals are helpful and you can ask for additional referrals when you speak with the professional yourself.
   You can also check Angie’s List (fee to join) or Magic Service for a general handyman to put up shelves or hang pictures. Typically, professional organizers know how to do these tasks as well. Some other tasks that organizers generally handle are: help with donations; help with consignment items; and help with referring other professionals like handymen and data recovery.
  If you live in the Boston area near me feel free to check out my trusted list of repair/fix-it professionals below. I highly recommend them. You can tell them that Maureen sent you. (On a personal note, I can help with hanging shelves and pictures; with re-potting plants; with reupholstering chairs; with consigning clothes; with recycling household items and clothes and of course organizing.) Once you get those “fix it” projects tended to, you’ll notice a lot less clutter in your home.

    Tailor:
        Nasrin at Mt. Auburn Tailoring
        513 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown
        617-923-8006
    Costume Jewelry Repair:
        Yin at Ancient Moon Beads
        409 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown
        617-926-1887
        www.ancientmoon.com
    Handyman:
        Tom Haldoupis
        Hopkinton, MA
        508-801-7799
    Redecorator:
        Tess Jenkins at Ruby Shoes Redesign
        617-823-7767
        www.rubyshoesredesign.com
    Decorative Painter:
        Carol Leonesio
        617-924-2936
        www.paintit.biz
    Electrician for Small Jobs (e.g. adding outlets; wireless networks):
        Steve Krasner at Only Connect Electricians
        Belmont, MA
        617-489-6413
        www.onlyconnectelcetric.com
    Cobbler:
        Larry and Nick at The Cobbler Shop
        435 Centre St., Newton Corner
        617-527-9336
    Computer Repair and Data Recovery
        Craig at The Computer Loft (Macs only, sorry PC owners)
        Fordham Rd, Allston
        617-782-9997
        www.computerloft.com
        Osama at Orramac (works with PCs)
        117A Galen St., Watertown, MA
        617-926-8007
        www.orramac.com
   Photo Organizer:
       Julie Kropp at Personal Photo Organizer
       www.personal-photo-organizer.com/juliekropp
  Jewelry Appraiser:
       Aimee Berrent at A Matter of Brilliance
       Newton, MA
       617-304-0174
       www.ambappraisal.com


Clean Out Your Wallet
   Recently I purchased a new handbag, but I was having trouble fitting my stuffed wallet inside.
Then I decided to go through my wallet and see what was making it bulge. Typically, I am very good about clearing out any receipts every day since I keep track of all my personal and business expenses. (Refer to my article about financial paper management to determine which receipts you need to keep.)  I also keep business cards in a separate case. So what was the problem here? Is your wallet bulging at the seams?
   First, I did the classic professional organizer’s first step and pulled everything out of my wallet. Then I threw out anything that was dated or unnecessary. Then I discovered quiet a few “rewards” cards to various stores like Borders, Sephora, Petco, DSW, etc. I realize that I only use these cards only occasionally; therefore, I did not need them in my wallet taking up space. So I found an old simple billfold and put all these shopping cards in it (I left the CVS and Shaw’s card in my wallet since I use them frequently.) Since I drive whenever I shop, I put the billfold in the door pocket of my car with all my discount coupons (which are stored in a cut-in-half pocket folder.)
   Here are the steps:
• Remove receipts—shred or file
• Remove collected business cards—file or add contact info to smartphone
• Transfer seldom-used “rewards” cards to another billfold
• Take excessive coins and put in someone’s tip jar or in a donation cup
   Now I know exactly where all my shopping cards and coupons when I need them. I suggest that people who do not own a car keep the “shopping billfold” in a key place and remember to grab it before going on a shopping spree. This also helps to control shopping to a designated time.

  
 


Cool Tip by one of our Readers
 
This tip was submitted by Jay Carroll

 When setting up any new devices or software on you computer, it is extremely important to read through the full set-up direction first before doing anything. The reason for this is because you may need to uninstall something or do things in a very specific order and by trying to rush through it you may end up causing damage or having to take much more time trying correct or undo what was done wrong. Read the instructions even if you think that you don't understand everything; something will click.





I hope that these monthly tips are helpful for you. Sometimes, making small changes can have a powerful effect on your life.  As always I welcome your feedback and if you have a tip that you would like to share, send it to me and I will publish it in an upcoming issue with your name and contact information.
Good Luck with these and other organizing projects!
Maureen Nuccitelli
Harmonious Life Designs

Would you like to read other issues of Harmonious Life Designs Free Organizing Tips?
Archives of Back Issues of Free Tips:
Green Tips
House Inventory Tips
Paring Down Our Stuff
Managing Mail
Managing Financial Papers
Managing Email
contact us for a back issue:
askmaureen@harmoniouslifedesigns.com
For other great ideas, hire a professional organizer!
Check out these great Resources for thoughts, organizing tools and ideas:

Harmonious Life Designs
265 Mount Auburn St.
Watertown, MA 02472
617-513-5219
info@harmoniouslifedesigns.com

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Save 20%
On Financial Paper Management Projects
during August

Save 20% on your entire appointment when you book a financial paper management session in August. We will help you purge, file and create easy to manage financial filing systems. Call for an appointment today and mention this discount coupon. 617-513-5219
AUG 2010
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