Tip for the week: Sorting your Stash
I hope you all have had a great week, This week is a tip on how to de-stash your hoard.
I had a friend who found herself homeless after she suffered the sudden loss of her husband. She was forced to reduce her stash to almost nothing when she moved back into her parents’ home with her children. About 90% of her collection ended up storage or trashed as they were given 2 weeks to move out of their home of many years. She is now settled and her children are on their own and she is once again attempting to rebuild her collection.
Before a disaster causes you to sort your stash. Take the time to do so on your terms and your timeframe. Set aside one day a week to go through one box, one bag, one drawer, etc.
Here are some tips for you:
Gather the following items
Post it notes, labels, tags or other identifying markers
TO DO LIST:
Boxes or baskets
One gallon storage bags (These can be recycled) I also have 2.5 gallon bags too
Sharpies
Make three boxes (I use laundry baskets) and label them
1. Keep:
a. Do I have a project in mind for this (Put a note on it)
b. Does this have a goal or project it needs to go with (Put in a baggie and label it)
c. I am in love with this paper, jewel, ribbon and cannot part with it.
2. Donate
a. Paper you cannot remember why you bought it or is left over from a project. These can go into a baggies.
b. Ribbons that you cannot remember why you needed them or projects are completed.
c. Tools or supplies that you don’t use anymore or never did truly liked
3. Throw away
a. Partial sticker sheets, especially if they are falling off the carrier sheet.
b. Adhesive that is over 10 years old and/or lost its stickiness.
c. Tools that do not work – no reason to keep broken toys.
d. Partial bottles of solvents that are old (Depose per local regulations)
e. Pens or markers that don't write or leaking ink everywhere.
Once you know what you are going to keep, make a to do list of the WIPs (work in progress) projects that you want to complete. You may be surprised at the number of WIPs you have. Make a deal with yourself. That once you finish a project – you will allow yourself a new project. Keep the list going. Or complete one WIP per week, month. Etc. Any WIPs that you realistically will never get finished: 1.) put in the donate box and 2.) cross off your To Do List. Once a month go through your To Do list of WIPs and make a new list of WIPs so that you always have a fresh view of projects that need to be completed.
Donate:
1. Churches
2. Operation Christmas Child crafting centers
3. Foster care agencies
4. Child care facilities
5. Market place (Free porch pick up)
6. Goodwill
7. Salvation army store
8. Senior Centers
9. assisted living centers and
10. schools/after school programs
Trash- is just that Trash – let it go and then award yourself with a pat on the back.
Start working through your WIPs and projects. Allow yourself a treat when you complete something, donate a box, or throw out a bag of trash. Brag on yourself and slowly unshovel your stash to an area you can find things in and be proud of. If you need help give me a DM, text or email. I may not have an answer, but I’ll try and find you one.
Happy Shoveling,
Stella
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