Discover Organizing - Let us help you GET ORGANIZED!

Clutter Support Group to Begin February 25th

2010-02-06T20:27:00.004-05:00

Join us for a 6 week educational support group for those struggling with getting and staying organized!

There is an educational module we will cover each week, and participants will benefit from discussion and the facilitation by two Certified Professional Organizers. All members of the group will receive a Success Binder, and learning materials. This is a highly interactive group.

Location: The Productivity Center at Discover Organizing
672 Washington Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15228
Time: 6:30-8:00 p.m.
Day: Thursdays, beginning Feb 25, running through April 1

Facilitators: Jill Revitsky, CPO, and Jodi Eisner, MSW, CPO

Call 412-344-3450 or email jill@discoverorganizing.com for information on pricing and how to register.

Past participants have found this to be a very effective way to learn new ways to conquer their challenges with getting organized in their daily lives. Stop wishing your life could be simpler, start making some changes with the right support!

HOGSS Bags to be sold at Discover Organizing

2010-02-05T15:08:00.004-05:00

We cannot wait to get these in our store!

We will be selling these portable dumpsters, packaged in a lightweight carrying bag, for $30.00 plus tax. They hold 3000 lbs. of your trash and junk - just open, fill, and give Michael Brothers Hauling a call to come pick it up!

http://www.hogss.com/

See the video here: http://www.hogss.com/id55.html

If you are renovating, or decluttering your home, this is the WAY to go!

If you fill it, they will come...

Jill is nominated President-Elect of NAPO!

2010-01-27T23:19:00.003-05:00

I am very honored to have my nomination for President-Elect of NAPO accepted! The election is going on right now, through electronic ballot, for not only the President-Elect, but also Active Member Directors, and will be finalized by the middle of February, 2010. Officers will begin their terms of service in May 2010.

This is an exciting time in NAPO - for all types of Professional Organizers and their various business models. I am just happy that I will still be able to serve as Secretary on the Board of Directors, and continue on the board no matter what the outcome of the election!

I have been honored to be a part of such a great team of leaders thus far, and I anticipate many new and exciting milestones to come in our industry.

If any of you who read this think that you would like to enter the field of Professional Organizing, please visit the website, and let NAPO show you the way!

Plan a strategy for taking down decorations - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

2009-12-27T23:41:00.000-05:00

Plan a strategy for taking down decorations - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Here you will find a plethora, that's right, a plethora of tips on what to do with those holiday decorations!

TWO TIPS to Simplify the Holidays - Part II

2009-12-11T11:57:00.002-05:00

This edition of TWO TIPS will focus on Gift Giving for the Holidays...cut down on clutter by sharing your time and helping the environment! These tips are especially good for the person who has EVERYTHING...

1. Give an experience!

Buy movie passes, dance lessons, museum tickets, or spa certificates to local businesses.
Make a card that includes "coupons" for day trips, entertainment events, etc. Be creative!

2. Think GREEN

Use newspaper comic strip pages to wrap your gifts, or re-use gift bags in great condition.
Get your friends together and give what money you would have given each other to a combined choice of charity.

Tune in next week for my quick Two Tips about Entertaining...

TWO TIPS to Simplify the Holidays - Part I

2009-11-29T17:00:00.003-05:00

Since it is the first week of December, my TWO TIPS for you will focus on Holiday Decorating!

Keeping it Simple
How many bins/containers do you have for the Holidays? Are you dreading pulling those bins out of the attic, garage or basement? Maybe there is a reason for this. Maybe the anticipation that you used to have to get the house ready is not what it used to be, and you look more forward to celebrating the holidays in a different way than you did 5, 10, or even 15 years ago. This is OK! Maybe you enjoy going to parties and events...or taking a holiday vacation. If this is the case, then maybe decorating isn't so much your thing anymore. So why not donate your excess decorations (you still want to decorate a little, right?) to someone in need. So many people lose their decorations each year due to fire, flood, and other disasters. Some new couples are starting out with very little, and why not give them the chance to go to the donation store of your choice to purchase that angel wreath you no longer love?

Memorabilia or Decor?
Do you pull out things from your Holiday bins/containers, and then put them back in the bottom? Are they craft gifts that your kids made 10 years ago (it's ok, you don't have to get rid of them!)? If you are finding yourself putting those special items back for safekeeping, why not create a special bin just for Holiday Memorabilia? Call it such, and add to it every year, weeding as you go. There, now that paper plate angel with gold glitter will have a new home!

Next week's TWO TIPS involve gift giving. Part III will be all about Entertaining, so stay tuned!

Professional Organizer Actually Buys a Large Piece of Exercise Equipment - Hires Local Hauler

2009-11-15T20:11:00.009-05:00

It all started with an innocent email from one of my Organizing clients.

"Jill, remember that elliptical machine you liked, the one my husband has? Well, he doesn't want it anymore, so would you like it?"

Ok, so any good, self-respecting Professional Organizer is going to ask these questions before he/she brings anything new into the house:

1) do I need it?
2) will I actually use it?
3) where will it live?
a) if I put it there, what will have to be moved or gotten rid of in order to have it fit?

Then, after answering all of these questions satisfactorily to myself, I replied:

"Yes! I would like it!"

(Excitement on both ends here)

So I called my dependable hauler/mover, Erik Snyder, who this client has used before as well, and we set it all up. I also mentioned that we were going to be doing some yard work this weekend, and would be pulling out some debris from the summer/fall that he could take with him to dispose of once he delivered the machine. Since he was going to have an empty truck, we worked it out that he would load it the same morning. (yeah!)

My great client was very flexible with the timing, and Erik was very communicative and prompt about when he could do the pick-up and delivery. We settled on Sunday morning (today).
I was hoping that worked out for everyone involved, as I was hoping to get it all done before church and the Steelers game!

I rearranged some things, and the big day arrived - Erik was early, friendly, and professionally dressed. His truck had a hydraulic lift gate on it, so he just lowered the machine to the ground, and rolled to my backyard, and easily got it to its new home in my basement, facing the TV. He even moved a loveseat, on his back, mind you, to its new home across the room.

He then loaded his truck with my junk from the yard and under the porch - I paid him easily with my debit card, and he was gone by 10:30. It was a very reasonable fee for all the work he did!

Erik is also great at moving furniture within your house, or in an office setting - he has a great, strong, insured team of professionals to help with any moving project as well!

Erik's Hauling and Moving 412-758-9736

Several of my customers absolutely swear by him - and wouldn't use anyone else!

Getting the machine here was the easy part, now I just have to figure out how it works...

Healthy Holidays Class at Discover Organizing - Starts Tomorrow!

2009-10-20T18:48:00.004-04:00

Start Time:	Wednesday, October 21, 2009 at 7:00pm
End Time:	Wednesday, November 11, 2009 at 8:30pm
Location:	Discover Organizing Productivity Center 672 Washington Road, Mt. Lebanon, PA

Email:

Elly@elementalfit.com

In this 4-week series, we will discuss strategies for spending your holidays more relaxed, healthier and better able to enjoy your loved ones this year. We will look at ways to stay healthy, avoid holiday weight-gain, and reduce stress levels. You will receive nutritional information, time management tips, recipes, food samples and support to help you accomplish your goals.
Cost for 4 weeks series: $75

Fall Open House this Saturday

2009-10-18T22:46:00.003-04:00

Come join us at our Fall Open House Event, featuring BLIS!

Saturday, October 24th, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

There will be a free Organize Your Life class from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.!

Refreshments and Door Prizes - including a ONE year subscription to BLIS, Stuff Buckets, and Pursekets!

Discover Organizing Store
672 Washington Road
Mt. Lebanon, PA 15228
412-344-3450

Check out our event listing in the Trib!

jill@discoverorganizing.com

If you RSVP to this event, you will receive an additional door prize ticket upon arrival!

Comcast Spotlight is coming to Discover Organizing this Thursday!

2009-09-29T17:30:00.002-04:00

We are sooo excited! We have polished the plastic, and cleaned all the crew: Comcast Spotlight will be casting a light on Discover Organizing this Thursday! Their film crew will be here while we are open, so come on into the store after 10:00 a.m. to check out the action!

We are highlighting all of our great organizing products as well as our services. We will also be showing off our in-store affiliates: Tom Ferri's Closet Makeovers, A Door to Memories (offering slide, reel, photo and VHS transfer to DVD), and our newest partner, MyBlis.com.

Decluttering with a purpose in mind

2009-07-03T14:43:00.003-04:00

So often, we declutter our homes and offices because we MUST - the clutter is really starting to overwhelm us, and we dig in, putting aside things to donate, sell, store, etc.

The next time you donate your items you no longer love or use, consider the final destination of the item before tossing it into a random donation trailer.

Here are some charities and their true purposes:

Goodwill -North America’s leading nonprofit provider of education, training, and career services for people with disadvantages
The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church.
St. Vincent de Paul Society (SVDP) is a nonprofit organization that provides direct assistance to anyone suffering or in need. We offer a lifeline to those in want of food and clothing, rent assistance, medical aid, help with addiction, abuse or incarceration, employment and shelter.
Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) a national veterans service organization primarily serving the needs of veterans of the Vietnam War era throughout the nation and elsewhere.

Here at Discover Organizing, we have decided to become a drop-off center for Operation Troop Appreciation. The volunteers at OTA package and ship all donations to soldiers overseas. For more information, see their website: www.OperationTroopAppreciation.com

Most charitable organizations would be happy to explain what their donation centers do, what they need, how they collect, and are fiscally responsible.

Have any questions about what to donate vs. what to sell? Email me at jill@discoverorganizing.com

Shoeboxes - A Green Way to Store More than Shoes

2009-04-20T16:19:00.004-04:00

Recently, I was in a new client's home to help her organize her everyday and archival paper. We finished with her daily paper management, and I asked her where she stored her receipts (we had a small stack gathered). She began to blush, looked a little embarrassed, and said, "you won't like this, but I use a shoebox in my closet". I asked her if the system "worked"? I usually can tell if an existing filing system works if the client:

doesn't lose or misplace papers often
can find them easily when needed

She stated how she uses the boxes, where she stores them, and after hearing her process, I gave this system my whole-hearted Professional Organizer approval. This was a GREAT system! She had a ROUTINE, she knew WHERE they were at all times, and USED the process every year at tax time to her advantage. Perfect!

If you use a shoe box, a baggie, a plastic container, or drawer - make sure you use it regularly (routinely), label it so that anyone else that might need it (besides you) can find it quickly, and make sure it doesn't have a dead end - in other words, make sure it has a purpose (i.e. end-of-year accounting).

If you prefer a pretty, polished system, grab a Receipt.Catcher from Buttoned Up - available at Discover Organizing Store.

This Holiday Season - save some cash and invest in someone's time!

2008-12-09T20:19:00.004-05:00

Ok. It's December 9th...are you ready for Christmas or Hanukah?

I, like most of you, have a lot of holiday stuff still to do. My house is decorated, but there are gifts still to buy - for my family, and some friends. The tough economy has us all rethinking gift-giving this year: how MUCH can we spend?

Maybe we have this all backwards. Maybe money isn't the object, after all.

How about giving the gift of TIME to your family? Give them an experience - go skiing for a day, go to the zoo with kids of all ages, go hiking and pack some snacks for the trip, or go ice skating and then take in a movie. I am not saying to forgo wrapping a token or two, under the tree with a bow, but make sure to tie in some true, intangible gifts as well.

I can barely remember the things my parents gave me every year. As I got older, the gifts were less fun and more practical. What I would give to spend a whole day, uninterrupted, with my family - my parents, a relative, and a one-on-one day with each kid - just US. I remember those moments SO well, like the day trip my parents took us on to St. Genevieve, Missouri (we lived in St. Louis growing up), or the little trips we took to St. Charles for lunch and goodies right before Christmas. There was this one little country store that always had a grab bag for kids for a $1.00. I couldn't wait to go!
My mom is a pilot, so I really liked the days when she "needed me" to help her fly somewhere. We got to spend an entire day together, which was rare, but so very treasured. I loved watching her fly!
When my dad would take me to work, I got to sit in his office and "help" him with stuff, and go around his workplace (a hotel) feeling like a big cheese (or the big cheese's daughter) and check things out with him. We took back stairwells, talked to the employees, and I got to have lunch with him in the fancy restaurant. I felt like I was the only person that mattered to him. It was awesome.

My point is: Give YOU this holiday season. Take a friend to lunch that you haven't seen in a while. Call someone you miss, and set aside the time to really TALK. Go shopping with your daughter and take her for a milkshake. Listen to your teenage son tell you about a video game that he really likes to play while you both walk the dog. Go on a date with your spouse and ask him/her about anything, and hear what he/she has to say.

It will be the best investment you ever make.

-Jill

Giving Thanks

2008-11-22T14:34:00.006-05:00

After the most recent economic events, it can be difficult to feel gratitude as we approach Thanksgiving. Maybe some of you are excited about the day itself so that you can eat...and eat! But maybe some of you are scurrying around this weekend to make sure all of the details are in place before you entertain. It can be hard for some to take a moment, just a moment, and realize all of the things and people they are grateful for. I thought I would get the juices flowing (and I don't mean turkey gravy...) with my following bits of gratitude.

My immediate family - we are a blended family of 7, and after all of this time, I wouldn't change a thing about any one of them. We are all very different people, but our diversity is what makes us all so great together. I am weathering the teenage years just fine, and while there are rough days of teen angst, I still kiss them goodnight (after they're sound asleep of course) and thank God I have them. And Biscuit Louise, my 8 year old "cuddle puppy" - you are still as soft and loving as you were when we brought you home...thanks for listening to me all of these years, and never saying a word of criticism.

My extended family - my parents, my sister, my cousins, uncles, and my strong and feisty aunts - what a great network of love! And a special shout-out to my 4'10" Italian mother-in-law - Nonnie, you rock. I promise to clean my plate this year, and to put those dirty dishes in the right spot in the dishwasher.

My friends - from my oldest and dearest best buddy Sharon in Delaware (who just completed yet another marathon over the weekend) to a straight-talking English woman here in Pittsburgh, I am so very gifted with a small group of unconditionally loving and caring "sisters"

My home - even on its dirtiest days, I am still so grateful that I have a home to keep clean.

My own business - my employees, my vendors, my customers - all make getting up every day worth the effort. We are all on the same mission - to create order, balance, and say goodbye to the things in life that drag us down. Life is too short to make more work for ourselves!

Pittsburgh - my city that I have been calling home for 14 years. What a great bunch of selfless, hard-working people! I may hail from the City of Brotherly Love, but this is the City of Perseverence, Kindness, and Optimism. A special hello to all in Mt. Lebanon - what a great community to raise my kids and to run my business from!

I know I will think of more after I publish this blog...

Happy Thanksgiving!

-Jill

Gayle and Fred Ask their wedding guests for No MORE Clutter

2008-11-05T13:23:00.005-05:00

Hello D.O. Bloggers, Recently, while at a customer's home, I came across this insert in a wedding invitation, reminding all of us what is really important in life:

Dear wonderful friends,

We have 2 Kitchen Aid mixers,
3 meat cleavers, 5 sets of good dishes,
3 sets of everyday dishes, maybe 25 sets of towels.
2 sets of Sterling silver flatware, 3 of stainless,
bedding in all sizes but twin, kitchen gadgets,
enough to outfit a small specialty store,
sundry antiques we love, 2 snow blowers,
3 mowers, a gaggle of hand tools,
1500 books and more. Much more.

Please understand if we say
the pleasure of your presence
is the only present we desire.
Gift us with kindness,
cart something away from here,
we will be happy to display our excess.
Invite us for burgers, trade us a book of yours
for one of ours, make a date with us for a movie.
Then please keep in touch, we love you.

-Gayle and Fred

A special thanks to this couple, who gave us permission to reprint this!

Economic Organizing, or "When the going gets tough, the tough get organized"

2008-10-11T12:29:00.009-04:00

In these anxious times, some home-sellers' (and buyers') dreams were put on hold due to the current state of our economy. My take on this? Let's fall in love with our houses again, and have fun doing it! When the going gets tough, the tough get organized.

Let's think about that basement - you were going to clean it out anyway if you moved, so why not tackle it now, while you are waiting for the market to pick back up? It WILL pick back up. We are Americans - we will shop, eat, and play no matter what! So, to get ready for those new purchases to come, here are some ways to make space in your great, existing, home:

Pick the largest storage areas first: Basement, Garage, Attic
Set up 4 cardboard boxes: Keep, Toss, Donate, Sell (use ebay or local consignment shops)
Work Left to Right, Top to Bottom: Read your room, and clear at least 1 Square Foot per day
Create Zones for Your Things: Home Decor, Seasonal Decor, Memorabilia/Photos, Outdoor Games, Gardening Supplies, Hardware/Tools, etc.
Label and Contain Everything: use plastic bins and apply clear packing tape over index cards, labeled with large print for the contents

Just think how prepared you will be when it comes time to really move!

Camp Chuck-It

2008-07-08T21:15:00.004-04:00

I have recently begun to realize (or remember) how much clutter young kids can accumulate. While my own kids seem to keep their collecting at bay now, they used to have so many little things - Barbie shoes, Lego pieces, and bouncy balls (how I could not stand those things!). I recently helped my cousin in Maryland organize her small playroom, and was amazed by how many parts come with each doll! My cousin's first words were, "I am so overwhelmed, I don't know where to start, and I don't think I can do this". Their closet was actually blocked by toys, and both my cousin and her husband admitted to not really going into that closet for a long time (the amount of which I did not push to know), so didn't really know what was in there.

I remember when I got a Barbie, she came dressed (whew!), and maybe had a nice accessory, like a handbag, or if I was lucky, a little jacket. I will not talk about how very hard it was to dress a Barbie now, but will say that due to my lack of strength or fine motor skills, those Barbie dolls wore the same thing for weeks. Ken had no idea, as he was wearing the same jogging suit he came in for 2 years, until my sister bought him a tuxedo. He wore this outfit for the rest of his life in my toybox, as he always looked dashing, even at the beach.

NOW there are American Girl dolls, and Bratz dolls, Groovy Girls, all in addition to Barbies. My cousin has a set of 7 year old twins, one of which can let go of items she no longer needs with ease, while the other, well, struggles with this. She was, however, open to reason - such as the argument that if she saves all of her Americal Girl Doll boxes (just because they are pretty), then that leaves no room for the Horse Farm and Animal Bin. And if she had to choose, and she did, she favored the animals. We did compromise and keep the boxes, all stored within each other, in the basement, all safe and sound.

We also came up with our zones for everything in the room, like the dress up area, the doll area, and of course, the learning area (this had educational games and books), ending up with the game shelves. I encouraged my cousin to use as much vertical space as possible, but making sure that the girls could reach the items safely. We got rid of broken games (Mouse Trap inevitably ALWAYS gets tossed when I organize - a piece is perpetually missing or broken from everyone's game), toys, and old craft projects, and said goodbye to 70% of their McDonald's toys (yeah!!!!!). What made them decide to give so much away? Charity. Good, old-fashioned charity. As soon as I told the girls that some other little girls didn't have anything to play with at all, they instantly made quick decisions, and had a donate pile a mile high. Pride was bursting from my little cousins, and honestly, from me too. Did they have too much? Yes. Did they keep too much? Probably. But they sure did a great job! Here are some tips that are tried and true with kids:

Don't make them work too long. Take fun breaks (play with a game they found!)

Play music, and make it fun. Adults like music too, by the way.

Keep talking about how often they have played with or used an item to help them decide

Tell them that by giving something they don't love anymore away, that someone else will benefit.

Congratulate them on each decision they make- even if it is to keep an item - so that this process will not be difficult in the future. Give them lots of praise for being realistic about their items too.

If they decide to let go of an item, don't ask them if they are "sure", especially if it was something with emotions for YOU attached. I know that that Barbie dress with the holes in it was yours when you were little, but it has HOLES, and they DON'T use it. (You don't like wearing clothes with big tears in them, and neither does Barbie.)

Getting Dressed - This should not be hard!

2008-06-30T00:53:00.003-04:00

It's morning, and one thing after the other is happening - phone rings on the land line - it's the doctor/mother-in-law/long-lost friend who just found your number - and your morning just fell behind by 15 minutes. What do you do?
a) reach for your outfit, which is one of 5 that is ready to go - you washed and pressed these days ago
b) iron a shirt while trying to wake up your kids, letting the coffee get cold, and do the makeup in the car
c) cry because you haven't done laundry in days, and nothing is pressed, or ready, and there is absolutely no milk for cereal, the only breakfast food your entire family eats

If you answered A, you are Mary Poppins! If you are B, you are Lorelei Gilmore, and if you answered C, you are Bridget Jones with kids, right?

Well, here is the good news - you can be Mary. This is not hard. Just like with anything else, if you take a little extra time to prepare, you will be ready for anything.

Ok, the first tip is easy - always have 5 outfits ready to go - and have some basics in your closet that make anything work - black pants, brown skirt, basic black shoes, neutral sandals, white shirts. You get it...now just make sure it is all clean.

Second - let's deal with time management - a 15 minute interruption cannot ruin your morning - always give yourself 15 minutes on top of any task or process. I for one, usually get lost in new territory. I always leave 15 minutes early when going to a new place. Just because I am an organizer doesn't mean that I am not directionally challenged. (I just got a GPS on my new Blackberry, so let's see what happens...)

Third and finally, establish a routine - it is your backbone to your day, your week, your life. That way, if interruptions happen, and they WILL, you can fall back on that routine to get back to normal. Bridget Jones probably didn't do her laundry regularly, and it caught up with her. Not that every Thursday has to be laundry day, but once a week should do it - just pick a day and get to it.

-Jill, your new blogger, now that Waunetah moved back to LA! :(

Pervasive Plastic Pouches AKA plastic grocery bags

2008-05-01T11:20:00.016-04:00

Well hello there!

It's been a while since I last posted a blog, but with good reason! I was on vacation......kind of. The first part of my vacation consisted of attending the 20th Annual National Association of Professional Organizers Conference in Sparks, NV (right next to Reno, NV). More on that exciting adventure later. Today I want to parlay per pesky, pervasive, almost parasitic plastic bags.

The second leg of my vacation took me and my mother to visit old family friends who had recently moved to Seattle. On the afternoon of our arrival, we were treated to a picnic where everything was transported via plastic grocery bags. They came in especially handy at clean-up time. After lunch, and a 2.5 mile walk around Seward's Park (phew!), we returned home. After all of the dishware and food stuffs were put away, I asked where the plastic bags were kept.

My friend opened one of the cabinet doors in the kitchen and was almost lost in an avalanche of plastic bags! After she stuffed them all back in and had a good laugh about it, I told her that I'd seen the same thing in almost every home I worked in. She asked, "What do I do with all these bags?!" Below are some of the ideas I shared with her beyond their use for easy picnicing:

Use them as many times again as possible: take your lunch to work in them, reuse them on another shopping trip, use them to carry your wet bathing suit or swim towel (thanks mom!), etc. Just make sure they don't have holes in them before you use them!

Some people like to use them as trash bags for smaller trashcans in the office or bathroom.

Keep one in your car so you aren't tempted, or less likely, to litter. It's mandatory in the State of Washington!

They make great protective gear when laid atop the clothes in your luggage if your going somewhere wet and your bags might end up sitting out in the elements. When you get to your destination, the bags will keep your dirties apart from the rest of your clothes while you're traveling.

Dog owners may find them useful as a pooper-picker-upper.

Great ideas you say, but where will they live in the meantime? I myself have a small collection of plastic bags that I keep in a container designed for such a purpose mounted to the cabinet door beneath my kitchen sink.

There are many different products out there that can help keep your plastic bags corralled and manageable all the while sitting, or mounted, pretty in your space. Below are three examples that exude form AND function, all of which can be found at the Discover Organizing Store and Productivity Center and coming soon to the online-store:

This sleek, brushed stainless steel bag holder saves space allowing for placement in a cabinet or on the counter. Features a non-skid base and a wide dispensing area specially designed for easy access to bags (holds 50 plastic bags):

This next model is not as big as it's standing cousin, but it is mountable to the inside of a cabinet door, a shelf or even to a wall (holds 30 plastic bags):

If you prefer to use the grocery bags as your main kitchen trash bags, I would definitely suggest this model which offers the best of both worlds (holds 50 plastic bags):

When it comes to managing my own herd of plastic bags, I follow a general principle of organizing stating that you can only keep as many things as will fit in it's container. In this case, my plastic bag holder only holds 30, so that's as many as I can fit. If I find that I am accumulating more, I take ALL of them to Giant Eagle and put them in the container dedicated to collecting plastic bags. I know that eventually I will get more from another store somewhere!

Here's to putting those pernicious, pompous, plastic bags in their place...at home,

P.S. Did you know that the average family accumulates 60 plastic bags in only four trips to the grocery store? Check out more facts about plastic bags here.

Filing Fun!!

2008-04-11T00:56:00.008-04:00

…wait, isn’t that an oxymoron...

As a youngster, I enjoyed tearing out magazine articles of things that interested me. I knew even then that I didn’t need to keep the whole magazine if I only wanted to reference one or two pages every now and then! I actually kept the relevant topics together in my Pee-Chee and Trapper Keeper folders,* which were subsequently kept organized in binders. Thus, my own unique filing system was created at the ripe old age of 12. What I didn't know is that I inherited this trait from my maternal grandfather; a very organized and meticulous Dutchman. He would continuously trim the wedge of cheese until it was straight, but...that's a whole 'nother story...

What I also didn’t realize was how many magazine articles I had accumulated until one day my younger brother, in a fit of sibling rivalry, stormed into my bedroom, pulled out my folders and threw ALL the sheets of papers up into the air until they came down and settled all over the floor as well as covered the bed! I was so upset and remember shedding a sizable amount of tears over the tragedy. While working on the daunting task of sorting them back into their appropriate topics, I realized that there were articles about topics that were no longer of interest to me which I subsequently recycled. It took me the greater part of the day to go through the rest of them, but in the end I had them all back together again and it felt really good.

Added to that joy was my introduction to hanging file folders as well as manila file folders, both resplendent and with infinite opportunities, during high school while I worked for a Paralegal who was a family friend and a very organized woman. She taught me a few “tricks of the trade” when it came to using these magical items.

There are little creases at the bottom of the manila file folders that when folded create a square shaped bottom to the file. This allows it to hold more paper without those stupid edges peeking over the file that can lead to paper cuts…ouch…

The hanging file folders have the same creases for the same reason. You can actually fit more manila files into the hanging file if the bottoms are squared out.

These are the little things that no one tells you about your file folders’ secret powers, but now you know and “knowing is half the battle”.* The other half of the battle is USING the file folders and manila folders to help you live the life you want when it comes to tackling paper. I continually refined and retooled my unique system for many years, tried new variations and finally found the one that really resonated with me and worked for my lifestyle. It's called the Homefile Financial Planning Organizing Kit, which I will simply refer to as the Homefile for my fingers' sake. I love it for the following several reasons:

first and foremost: you can stop trying to reinvent the wheel! This is the Michelin of filing systems

the 22 category tabs are already created for you and lined up in alphabetical order; no more trying to make your tabs look neat and line them up perfectly only to find that you have to shift them all if you add a new category.

the tab is actually an entire single sheet that tells you what items to put in the file, how long the items should stay in the file and, most importantly, what doesn't go in the file; no longer do you have to try and remember "What did I file that paper under?" or "How long do I have to keep this?"

you simply add labeled manila folders behind the tab if you have multiple cars, multiple properties, multiple pets, kids, bank accounts, etc.

there is an index file for easy reference when looking for a particular piece of information to reduce "tickling" all the files with your fingertips

if you don't have a lot of papers in your life, the Homefile would only take up one of your file cabinet drawers leaving the second available for archival information

there's a wonderful workbook that goes along with it to record vital information about your car, bank account numbers, etc. and keep it at the ready

it's quick and painless to migrate your old filing system into the Homefile

it's even easier to create one from scratch!

To get started on the road to Filing Fun, you need the Homefile Financial Planning Organizing Kit, 22 hanging file folders (32 if you want to archive information), a stack of manila file folders, a labeler (or writing utensil), and a small chunk of time set aside to compete the job start to finish. You can use a small mobile file crate, a plastic storage crate, the tall Sterilite bin, or any other item that will hold hanging file folders.

You don't necessarily need an entire lateral filing cabinet, a tall 4 drawer unit or perhaps even a 2 drawer one. It all depends on how much paper you decide to keep, how much energy you want to expend on tending to your small forest, and what your end goal or vision for your life is when it comes to handling paper.

Oddly enough I remember my first filing cabinet. It was royal blue and the top drawer was a little bent but it was mine! It was a lovely feeling knowing that the important papers in my life were in one place and that I could find the piece I needed in an instant. I felt like, if I had no control over anything else that was going on in my life, at least I had control over my papers.

You too can feel good about your papers NOW, whatever your age and regardless of whatever else is going on in your life. Pick up your Homefile Financial Planning Organizing Kit on the Discover Organizing website or stop into our Retail Store and Productivity Center in Mt. Lebanon, Pittsburgh, PA to purchase one for $25 (we also carry the blue storage crate and tall Sterilite bin pictured). You will not find easier to use or more efficient products out there for your filing needs!

Happy and Fun Filing,

*BONUS COOL POINTS if you know what Pee-Chees and Trapper Keepers are and if you know where that slogan is from.**

Viva St. Louis!

2008-03-27T15:37:00.004-04:00

A message from Jill Revitsky, Owner and President of Discover Organizing Inc.

I recently visited St. Louis, Missouri, to expand our organizing team.

Carolyn Conboy, our Lead Professional Organizer in St. Louis, and I went on a field trip to The St. Louis Closet Company, and had a wonderful tour with Christa, who took a lot of time with us.

Thanks Christa, for being such a gracious host!

(L to R: Carolyn, Jill and Christa)

Whirl Magazine article about Spring Cleaning

2008-03-27T14:59:00.009-04:00

Wow!

This is a great piece about the dreaded phenomenon known as "Spring Cleaning." Notice what Jill Revitsky, Owner and President of Discover Organizing Inc. as well as Chapter President of NAPO Pittsburgh, says about the concept of "Spring Cleaning":

http://www.whirlmagazine.com/current_month/style_feature.php

Give us a call at (412) 344-3450 or stop into the Discover Organizing Store and Productivity Center at 672 Washington Road, Mt. Lebanon, Pittsburgh, and let us help you create systems in your life that will keep your home "Spring Clean" all year round!

While you're there, make sure to check out the pantry, laundry, bedroom closets and garage systems all created by Tom Ferris, also mentioned in the article.

Here's to enjoying Spring again,

Tax Prep made easy!

2008-03-26T14:38:00.009-04:00

If you’re already finished filing your 2007 taxes, great job!! If not, that’s okay. You still have time! Below are some ways to help tax time go even smoother this year or the next. These tips work well for pilers (vertical storage) or filers (horizontal storage).

Depending on your life, you can amass quite a paper trail of your experiences for the past year, or maybe you just grab your W2s and head down to H&R Block and tah-dah, you’re finished. Either way, the best preparation for yourself or your “tax person” is to keep excellent records and maintain it all in one place. Are you self-employed, own a home, have dependant children or lots of medical bills? If so, you may need to keep a lot of tax related paperwork and information about each of these items.

If you are a “filer” like me and don’t need to keep a lot of paperwork to support an income tax filing in case of an audit, then you are lucky indeed! Just do what I do; create one special place for all your information that relate to your taxes for the current tax year. I keep a simple manila file folder labeled "TAX YEAR ____” in my desktop filing system into which goes my most recent pay stub until I get the end of year one (I shred each previous week’s stub AFTER I’ve checked both to make sure everything looks good), donation receipts, work related expense receipts and medical expense receipts.

When January rolls around, I put my W2s in the "TAX YEAR ____ file" along with the paperwork I receive from my various Financial institutions, Charitable Organizations and my student loan lender. As you know, I LOVE LISTS! I created a little sheet that I laminated and then paper clipped to my “tax file”. I can check off the items with an erasable marker as I receive them. My list says “W2: Discover Organizing Inc.”, “ING 1099”, “Fidelity Documentation” and “Loan Interest Statement”, etc. After I’ve received everything, I take out my file, staple the donation/expense receipts together for each category, tally up the dollar amount and record it on a post-it for easy viewing. I can then sit down at the computer and get all my tax filings done in one sitting without having to shuffle a forest of paper!

Next year’s taxes will be a little more involved for me. My fiance has accumulated quite a bit of medical paperwork! Since I do both of our taxes, I realized my system for handling our taxes will have to change. I decided to use the Pendaflex Pilesmart to keep all of his medical paperwork together.

The Pendaflex Pilesmart is a great tool for keeping all manner and sizes of papers together in a “binder” with 6 built-in tabs and which doesn’t require any hole-punching (I deplore hole-punching). I have labeled each section to hold something unique:

“Prescription Medicines” - holds all the receipts for his Pharmaceutical purchases/medications

“Medical Bills” - holds all of the bills or copies of them if I have to send back the original. I write the check number and date on the bill in case of billing concerns.
“Claim Activity” – Aetna alerts me to each time there has been activity on my fiancee’s account. I go on the website and print out each specific event. I then check with him make sure that everything is correct on the printout.

“Information” – I keep a list of the different Doctors’ information and phone numbers, the different supplies and medications (with dosages) that my fiance needs for easy reference.

“B Medical” – I keep his other records/receipts of medical expenses, i.e. Eye Doctor, Physical Therapy, etc.

“W Medical” – My little section of the file that holds all 3 pieces of paper that pertain to me!

If you have several categories of deductions/exemptions that you need to keep separate, the Pendaflex Pilesmart will definitely come in handy. The 6 sections can be separated further by using manila file folders to create subcategories. For example, if you have multiple rental properties you can label one section Rental Properties and then have folders for Property #1 and Property #2.

If you own your own business, you can keep a separate Pendaflex Pilesmart binder so that the business related information doesn’t get mixed in with your personal papers. Bring your accountant your binder and tell them that next year you'll be on vacation in April spending the refund you received after filing in February! They will be impressed with your organizing pizazz and thank you for making their job easier. Heck, they might ask where you got that snazzy binder!

Whatever your personal situation may be, I would highly recommend that you come down to the Discover Organizing Store and pick up a Pendaflex Pilesmart to help with your tax preparation (they are not available at Office Depot, Staples, etc. so don’t waste the gas making a trip). Once you own one, you’ll wonder how you got along without it!

Here’s to making your tax prep easier with a Pendaflex Pilesmart,

Why I Love Lists!!

2008-03-17T16:32:00.002-04:00

When you think of the word “LIST” what comes to mind? Catalog, Inventory, Record, or perhaps Directory? All of those are great synonyms and are great ways to help keep you, your belongings and your life in order.

As a Girl Scout headed off to summer camp, I would grab my list of things to bring and lay everything out on my bed before I packed my back pack and sleeping bag. Having the list handy meant that I could see everything I already had in my possession as well as helped me see what was missing. At the end of the trip I used the list to make sure I brought everything home that I had taken with me.

As an adult, the lesson of “being prepared” stayed with me and I created lists for myself for the new and different travels I would take. I keep 2 lists for “Traveling” (International and Domestic) just so I wouldn’t forget anything at the last minute! It’s a lovely list that includes information for the day before as well as the day/time I am scheduled to leave. I feel much more relaxed and can enjoy my free time without worrying if I turned off the oven, packed my cell phone charger, and have my travel documents.

When one of my best girlfriends became a first time mom, I bought her a book I had seen at the National Association of Professional Organizer (NAPO) National Conference last year in St. Paul, MN. It is called “Baby Daze” and has sections for recording feeding times, health concerns to speak with the pediatrician about, and other vital information. I also gave her the accompanying “lists” that spell out what to pack in a diaper bag for one day, a long trip and for traveling. There is another list for times when a babysitter is used that works for the parents as well as the sitter, so all the bases are covered.

What can you create a list for? Here are some ideas:

For your kids: what goes in their backpack everyday (completed homework, lunchbox, PE clothes, library books); what to take to sports matches (nothing worse than having to go back for something); what to take to Troop meetings, things to take to another parents’ house for visitation time

At work: things to be kept in your briefcase/attaché case; usernames and passwords for Intranet use; cheat sheets for commonly used codes/information in your industry; reminders for timesheet/reimbursement form submission procedures

At home: grocery lists; usernames and passwords for Internet access; record of DVD titles as an inventory tool; important names and phone number s for other family members; items kept in the Safety Deposit box, list of books to be borrowed from the library

The possibilities are endless and can be tailored for you and your family’s needs! What list can you create that will make your life easier? Do it today and make tomorrow a little less stressful!!

Here's to a "list-iful" life,

Those little pieces of paper AKA receipts

2008-03-16T18:15:00.005-04:00

Ahhh receipts, those little pieces of paper you collect in your wallet or purse throughout the day that tell the tale of when and where you spent your hard-earned money.

I worked in retail for many years and was always fascinated by people’s wallets, billfolds, purses and bags. Some wallets were very neat and orderly, the big bills separated from the smaller bills, receipts kept neatly together, and every credit card in its designated slot. Others were crammed full of receipts, bills folded every which way, and credit cards somewhere amongst it all. “My card is in here somewhere,” was a phrase I heard a lot! Sometimes a person’s wallet would be so filled with receipts, notes on napkins and business cards that it wouldn’t close.

Don’t get me wrong! I kept every receipt, credit card statement and utility bill I ever had, every year, for almost 5 years! I had just graduated from college and finally earned enough money to have to file a tax return. I vaguely remembered something about keeping receipts and documentation, but no one really explained the entire taxpaying process to me, or told me that I didn’t need to keep my receipt from my latest trip to the local Hamburger joint. On top of all that, I lugged that box of paper from one place to another. I remember the sheer joy of shredding it all once I learned that I didn’t need it anymore. It was literally a load off of my shoulders!

Do you know what kind of receipts that you need to save? How long do you have to keep your bank statements, credit card statements and utility bills? Not sure? Swing by the Discover Organizing Store in Mt. Lebanon, Pittsburgh, PA and sign up for a the “Quick Pay and Put It Away” class taught by our Financial Organizer Heidi Calhoun. It’s a great class that walks you through processing your receipts and your mail, helping you pay your bills on time and strategies for storing only the important papers. Call (412) 344-3450 to reserve your space today!

If you’ve completed your 2007 taxes and have filed away the small forest of paper you amassed*, get ready for next year by checking back here every month for tips to make next year’s tax prep a breeze!

Happy, and helpful, receipt collecting,

*Great job on getting it done it early!!