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School Sales Tax Holiday 2009

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Many states are having their school sales tax holiday this coming weekend. This can save you a lot of money if you live in or near one of these states especially when buying computers. Each state has different requirements. Check out these two sites to find out more info. You can always Google your state tax department (usually the Dept of Revenue) to find out if your state participates.

http://www.mytwodollars.com/2009/07/01/find-the-2009-sales-tax-holiday-for-your-state/

http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/sales-tax-holiday-schedule.html

Before you go shopping make sure to go through what you already have in school supplies and clothing. There is no reason to buy more than you need even if you are saving a few dollars on taxes.

Here are several blog post from the past that deal with back to school. Check them out for more information.

http://organizebythemonth.com/?p=242

http://organizebythemonth.com/?p=100

http://organizebythemonth.com/?p=101

Janice

https://cutclutterwithscissors.com

http://twitter.com/jlscissors

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Cut Clutter With Scissors Newsletter – New Format

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Here is a copy of my new newsletter. It is replacing the other two newsletter I had before. If you are not signed up to receive each week then please do so over on the right sidebar in the blue box. Thanks.

Cut Clutter With Scissors Newsletter – New format
Volume 1, Issue 1
August 3, 2009

Note From Janice I have decided to change my weekly and monthly newsletter to better serve you. I will no longer be writing the monthly “Organize By the Month News” as a separate newsletter. I will incorporate that info into the weekly newsletter.My new newsletter is being called, “Cut Clutter With Scissors Newsletter”. This is what you will see as the title of the email in your inbox. I will still have a decluttering tip each week but also include important dates and websites for upcoming holidays and events. When big holidays are coming I will start including that info several weeks ahead to help you be more organized. I also plan to use my blog for more current information so be sure to check it often. http://organizebythemonth.com
In the near future I will be including a small section called, “Recommendations”. This is where I will write a short review of a book, organizing tool or item, or even a website that I feel can help you declutter and organize your home and life. Most of the time these recommendations will be for things I personally have used and found helpful.
I hope you like the new format of this newsletter. I would love to have your feedback. You can let me know by replying to this newsletter or leaving a comment at my blog, http://organizebythemonth.com.

To a lighter load along the way.
Janice Scissors

In This Issue
1. Note from Janice
2. Decluttering Tip
3. Important Dates and Website links
4. Stay Connected


Decluttering Tip – Back to School With back to school gearing up it’s time to go through all of last year’s clothes and school supplies before you head out to the stores. Although most schools don’t start for several weeks, if you start now with planning and organizing you will be able to take advantage of the “back to school” sales.
Here are some easy suggestions to get you started.
1. School supplies. Dig out all the left-over supplies from last year and take inventory. Once you know what you already have it will be easier to buy only what you need.
a. Grade school age: Go through the left-overs with your child. It will help them learn how to get rid of clutter. Give away any usable/new but outgrown supplies. This could be last year’s fashion notebooks, backpacks, lunch boxes, etc. If your child will reuse them, great! If not, it’s not worth fighting over if you budget allows. If you budget is tight then use this as a lesson for buying neutral items that won’t be outdated one year from now. If your school gives out a supply list be sure to check it against your at home supplies.
b. Older Grades: check your basic supplies such as pens, pencils, notebook paper, spiral notebooks, folders.

2. Clothes: Get rid of any that are too small, torn/stained, or your child won’t wear because it’s out of fashion. Fitting in with the “right” clothes is important to most children’s self-esteem. That doesn’t mean they should have designer brands. Many of the discount stores carry knock-offs of current styles.

Important Dates and Website Links There is not much going on in the way of holidays during the month of August. That’s probably a good thing because most people are getting in their late summer vacations and/or dealing with the mad rush of preparing for back to school.
National Night Out is Tuesday August 4. If you haven’t already heard about it from your trustees (subdivisions/complexes) then you can call your local police department to find out if they know who is setting up an event in your area. Here is the main website that can help you find out a little more information about it.
http://www.nationalnightout.org/nno/

Back to School Information. Above I talked about decluttering last year’s school supplies and clothes in preparation for buying this year’s supplies. Here are several sites with more info to help you with these projects.

Clothes Shopping:
http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=1296

http://www.dressingwell.com/backrel.htm

http://kidsfashion.about.com/b/2008/07/15/tips-for-back-to-school-shopping-on-a-budget.htm

School Supplies:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26044914/

Stay Connected
https://cutclutterwithscissors.com (website)
http://organizebythemonth.com (blog)
http://twitter.com/jlscissors
janice@cutclutterwithscissors.com (email)

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Traveling By Car

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It’s the height of vacation season. Are you getting ready to pack up and hit the road? Before you head out it is good to plan your packing so your travel light. They say if you add a lot of extra weight (luggage) you won’t get as good as gas mileage. Ok, I know it may only be pennies so that’s not usually a good reason. It’s better to pack light so all the luggage fits in the trunk. If you have ever traveled in the car with your feet squeezed between bags of extras and your children are packed tight in between backpacks, coolers, and other bags in the back seat then you are not packing light.

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When you pack your luggage for airplane travel you take only the essentials. After all, you have to drag the luggage from the car to the airline terminal and then from the airplane and/or luggage claim to a cab or rental car. Then into the hotel or other place you are staying. That’s a lot to lug around!

With a car we tend to pack more than we need because it’s like a mobile storage unit. We don’t have to totally unpack the car each night if we don’t want to. Don’t let yourself get in this mind set. Pack light and the car ride itself will be a lot more enjoyable. Plus, think of the leg room you’ll have.

I’m researching websites with lots of travel game ideas. I will post those either later today or tomorrow. If you plan ahead you can pull these games out when the kids start complaining “Are we there yet?”. Just print out the instructions and/or game sheets and have them ready to go.

Janice

https://cutclutterwithscissors.com

http://twitter.com/jlscissors

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Happy July 4th!

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It’s been beautiful weather here all week but of course it is pouring down rain today. So much for walks in the park or barbeques. Maybe it will stop long enough this evening for the firework shows around town. I hope the weather is better where you are.

If it isn’t do you have a plan B in place? If you are looking for things to do if the weather has interfered with your original plans then check out these sites. There are crafts, games, and fun facts about the history of our country. There are plenty of ideas to keep your children, grandchildren, or even your inner child busy.

http://holidays.kaboose.com/july-4/

http://fun.familyeducation.com/fourth-of-july/holidays/32874.html

I also want to let you know I have completed my eBook, “Best Tips From 2008”. I have taken the best newsletter tips and blog tips from last year and put them together by subject. Through out the year I jumped around from subject to subject according to the time of year and also to present a variety of tips.

Now if you need help with paper clutter all the tips can be found within a few pages. If you are getting ready to travel on your summer vacation then check out the chapter on travel tips.

Here is a brief list of some of the chapters: Paper Clutter, Garage and Garden, Clothes, Travel Tips, School Routines, and several more.

This is a free eBook for all subscribers to my newsletters. If you are a subscriber already then you should have received an email from me with the link for the download.

If you are not a subscriber then it is easy to become one. Just sign up on the right sidebar in the blue box where it says “Send Me Tips! to start receiving the newsletters. Every week you will receive tips to help you declutter and organize your home and life.

After you sign up you will receive the link for the eBook.

Have a Happy Fourth of July!

Janice

https://cutclutterwithscissors.com

http://twitter.com/jlscissors

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Summer Vacation Planning

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Have you planned your summer vacation? Are you going on a big trip or just a few mini-vacations this year? Are you going to be staying close to home this summer because of the economy?

If you have decided you are not going anywhere this summer it doesn’t mean you have to be bored to death and do nothing. We always think the grass is greener on the other side but many times there are lots of fun things to do in your own town or at least a close neighboring town.

Check out the websites of your city or surrounding cities. They usually list attractions that tourists would be attracted to. Gather the information in a notebook and become a tourist in your own town. Plan ahead for places to visit in good weather (parks, zoos, other outdoor attractions) and not so good weather (museums, theaters, other indoor attractions). Keep your camera ready and have fun. No more boring weekends.

What kind of fun things do you do during summer vacations? If you have some great ideas you would like to share with me and all my readers then please leave a comment and let me know. Thanks.

I have posted the June 2009 Newsletter on the blog. There are some website links listed with ideas of what you can do with your families during the summer. Check it out.

Janice

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