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Graduation Gifts

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Do you know someone who is graduating high school or college in the next few weeks? This is the time of year that we see all the commercials and advertisements on what to buy those graduates. If you need to buy someone a gift you want to be careful to about getting things that can become clutter.

If that graduate is heading off to college and dorm life, beware that there are restrictions about what they can have in their rooms. Candles and many small cooking appliances are not allowed in most dorms. The students are also limited in what they can hang on the walls, requiring special tapes and hangers. Some dorms require special size sheets and comforters (X-long) and some don’t. If you want to buy the graduate linens then find out the size first.

If you don’t feel comfortable asking about size and other restrictions you may be better off giving a gift certificate to a local store. The only caution here is with the economy being so bad and a store goes into bankruptcy those gift cards may be worthless. So, if possible, try to make sure the gift card is at a store you know the graduate will be able to shop at this summer and buy what he/she needs.

When my younger son was heading off to college a couple of years ago he took his gift cards and was able to buy what he felt he needed for the dorm. Most of his cards were at Target which worked out well. He did receive some gift cards at stores that were not as convenient for us to shop at and they didn’t get used right away.

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If you have a college graduate to buy for you have a much larger choice of what they could use. If they lived in a dorm or furnished apartment at school then they may need a whole lot of things. Either find out what they need or give them a check or gift card. It takes a lot of money to set up a new apartment and start a new life.

Janice Scissors

https://cutclutterwithscissors.com

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It’s a good time to start exercising.

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I read Dear Abby in the paper this morning and found out that this is National Women’s Health Week. She gave information about a free Health and Beauty Kit that was being offered by the FDA. You can sign up for this kit to be mailed to you. The site was very slow this morning but I was able to request the kit. There is a limited amount of them so if you are interested then you may want to check it out as soon as possible.

May is a good month to think about our health. There are lots of web sites that can help you lose weight, exercise more, or get interested in different activities. The Flylady site has started a Walk around the World for her moving in May.

America on the Move (AOM) is another good site to check out. It is geared towards women, men, and now they even have a family section. I did it a few years ago where I kept track of my steps with a pedometer and posted them on the site. I had to do so many steps during a six week challenge. They send you reminders plus give you tips on how to cut calories. Since I have put on a few pounds this winter I think I will sign up again for another six weeks.

Time to get moving!

Janice Scissors https://cutclutterwithscissors.com

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Mother’s Day Gifts Ideas, non-clutter

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Mother’s Day is in two days. If you haven’t gotten her a gift yet now is the time. My weekly decluttering newsletter addressed the issue of gifts that don’t add clutter.

Since I just started this weekly newsletter many of you may not have signed up yet to receive it. I am posting a copy below so you can see how this newsletter will be beneficial to you.

Be sure to sign up now so you don’t miss out on any future decluttering and organizing tips. As always, I respect your privacy and will not sell, trade, or distribute your information to any third party.

If you would like to stay updated with my blog posts then please sign up to have it emailed to you. To help control email clutter I have made this a separate sign-up. This way you can decide if you want both the blog and newsletters emailed to you(please sign-up on both forms) or just one or the other.

Happy Mother’s Day

Janice Scissors https://cutclutterwithscissors.com

 

 

Decluttering Tips Newsletter
#0002

Mother’s Day is this coming Sunday. Have you bought her a gift yet?

Mother’s Day is one of the most commercial holidays in the United States. Lots of cards and gifts are given on this day to honor our mothers. The problem arises when these gifts add to the clutter of their homes. When celebrating the holiday this year think of all the things you can give or do that don’t add clutter. Here is a list of ideas.

You may want to pass this list to your own children and/or spouse and ask them not to buy you anything that adds to your clutter. It’s the thought that counts. And even more important it is to honor mothers for all they do.

  • Give flowers. They are beautiful to see first thing in the morning and last about a week.
  • Take her out to eat or have her over for brunch. Spending this precious time together is what counts.
  • If you want to buy a gift make sure it is one she either wants or is something she can use up. Bubble bath, candles, or lotion would work.
  • If she likes candy but is watching her diet than look for a small but special candy she wouldn’t buy for herself.
  • You can give her a gift card for a play or movie. No clutter there.
  • You can print out gift certificates for services you can do for her. You can promise to wash her car or trim her hedges. Make it things you can easily do for her when she turns the certificate in for your service.
  • You can buy a gift certificate for a day spa so she can pamper herself.

There are lots of things to do or give your mother without adding clutter. The best thing you can give her is your time.

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Garage Sale Season is starting.

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Do you like to go shopping at garage sales? Do you like to set up your own garage sales? Or do you hate shopping at them and hate having them?

There are strong opinions on both sides. They can be great places to pick up items you need at a good price. In today’s economy that is becoming even more important. At the same time, because of the great bargains they can contribute to your clutter overload. If you tend to buy things because they are a bargain yet you really don’t need the item then it is probably not a good idea to shop garage sales.

If you are thinking of having a sale to make some money on all your things then you need to think it out carefully before doing it. The TV shows makes it look easy and profitable. They also have large crews to handle all the work. And it is a lot of work.

If you want to have a garage sale to clear out a lot of clutter at one time then you need to plan carefully for it. You need a date set, preferably with someone else or the neighborhood. Then you want to have a plan in place to get rid of the things that don’t sell. Some charities pick up and other you have to drop it off there. Any money you make will be the icing on the cake. Once all the clutter is off your property; sold, charity, or trash, then you will feel a sense of accomplishment.

Tell me what you think about garage sales.

Janice

P.S. If you would like to receive future blog posts through email then please sign up on the right sidebar. That way you won’t miss any posts. Thanks.

P.S.S. If you haven’t signed up for the weekly Decluttering Tip Newsletter and the Organizing By The Month News, then please do so on the right sidebar. Thanks.

Garage Sale Season is starting. Read More »

Attacking the Spring Weeds

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With all the rain and cool weather in the Midwest this spring the weeds have had a field day in my landscape beds. Since I don’t like using chemical weed killers that leaves only two other methods to fight the weeds. There is good old elbow grease and there is the use of a thick layer of mulch.

Well, I use a thick layer of hardwood mulch. The only problem I have with the mulch is the weeds in my yard love it! They don’t grow from beneath it but sprout on top and then send their roots down deep into the cool, moist soil underneath. So much for mulching cutting down the work.

That leaves good old elbow grease. So to prevent myself from getting overwhelmed I have devised an easy plan of babysteps. I have a five gallon paint bucket that I got from my painter. You can buy these buckets at the hardware store but I like to reuse and recycle as much as possible.

I take this cleaned out bucket along with my gloves, weeder, and a small tarp to sit on and go out to weed. When the bucket is full I am done for the day. It only takes about 10 to 15 minutes to fill the bucket. It is amazing how many small weeds can fit in a 5 gallon bucket.

I do this as many days as possible, weather permitting. I usually get the weeds under control by the time the warmer weather hits and their rapid growth slows down.

It’s a constant battle every year and makes moving to a condo very inviting.

If anyone has suggestions or a better idea I would love to hear it.

I’m starting a weekly newsletter with tips on decluttering and organizing. You can sign up to the right of this post. I do not like spam or email clutter and will use you email address only for these newsletters and other emails from me.

I have also set up my website. It is in the infant stage right now but please go check it out at; https://cutclutterwithscissors.com. If there is specific information about decluttering you would like to know more about, please leave a comment here or email me at janice@cutclutterwithscissors.com.

Thanks,

Janice

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