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Holiday Organizing Tips

The busiest time low mortgage rate refinancing the year demands simple systems to keep you organized. There are gifts to make or buy, presents to wrap, cards to send, decoration to hang, special treats to cook, and events to attend. I don't know about you, but I need a list and I'll be checking it more than twice to make sure I don't forget anything special.

Create a gift wrapping center: Gather all managed hosting providers supplies in one place and make gift wrapping a pleasure. Set up your gift wrapping center in the guest room or other designated area and include all the tools of the trade: scissors, tape, gift wrap, gift bags, gift boxes, tissue paper, ribbons, bows, and gift tags. Include shipping boxes, packing tape, and mailing labels if you plan to ship packages to family and friends you won't be seeing in person.

To "green" your gift wrapping center, use shredded paper made from junk mail, phone books, or used wrapping paper instead of tissue paper. You can also make the "wrapping" part of the gift by using flower pots, pretty fabric grocery bags, kid's artwork, posters, bandannas or other fabric scraps, maps, blueprints, decorative tins, pages from magazines, the Sunday comics - get creative! Last year's holiday cards can be made into this year's gift tags and reused ribbons and raffia can be used to tie on ornaments and candy canes.

Start a holiday notebook: With so many details to remember, carry a small notebook in your purse to keep track of gifts and supplies you need to buy, things you plan to do, holiday menus ideas and a running grocery list, and any other festive thoughts you want to keep in mind. By clearing these lists and ideas out of your mind and onto paper, you'll free your mind and stress less.

Sort out your holiday decorations: 'Tis the season to gather all your holiday dcor together from all your storage spaces. Look in closets, the basement, the garage and attic, the dining room hutch - wherever you may have stashed items you have purchased for the season, and take inventory. By bringing all your decoration together, you get a real sense of how much you have to work with.

Then start sorting. Use boxes or bins and separate into categories: lights, ornaments, wall decorations, tabletop dcor, linens, outside decorations, wrapping supplies, cards, etc. Once everything is sorted, pick a category and go through each item and ask yourself the three magic questions: Do I need it? Do I use it? Do I love it? Don't worry if you don't weed out much. Holiday decorations tend to have sentimental attachments and we keep them just for the memories associated with them. However, after going through this process for several years, you may find that you can let go of things you really don't use anymore.

After Christmas tips:

• Shred wrapping paper to use as box filler for next year's shipped gifts.
• Pack a box of "decorations I did not use in 2008". When decorating next year, reassess whether they will be used. If they don't make the cut, donate them early in the season to a local charity or thrift store so they can be put out for sale in their most marketable season.
• Update your address book from the Christmas cards received this year.
• Save this year's Christmas cards to be used as next year's gift tags.
• Shop the after Christmas sales and write what you bought and where you put it in your planner/calendar in November 2009 so you won't forget what you have.
• Create a "Christmas Gift List" and shop year round for presents. The month of December will be more relaxed with most of your shopping done. You'll also be able to spread out the cost over the entire year.
• Write down what your family really enjoyed this holiday season and what you can skip next year.
• Sort out your decorations as you take them down and prepare them for storage. Just as you did at the beginning of the season, use boxes or bins and separate into categories: lights, ornaments, wall decorations, tabletop dcor, linens, outside decorations, wrapping supplies, cards, etc. Once everything is sorted, pick a category and go through each item and ask yourself the three magic questions: Do I need it? Do I use it? Do I love it? Then Home refinancing calculator your containers. You may like red and green Rubbermaid totes with tight fitting lids, clear containers, or cardboard boxes; the important thing is to contain your decorations and then LABEL the containers. Store all your holiday containers in one area for next year.
• Clear out the old toys to make way for the new. Donate your children's toys that are broken, no longer interesting or have long since been outgrown. The same goes for clothing that is never worn.
• Take advantage of the end-of-the-year tax write offs by donating your unused or excess items to charity. Remember to keep a list of everything you donated to turn in to your accountant at tax time. You can get a get a form at rel="nofollow" southernhomeorganizersdonationssouthernhomeorganizersdonations.

Wishing you peace, joy, and home organization this holiday season!

Let's face it: Home is where your stuff is! Get monthly home organizing tips and resources Oklahoma Lemon Laws to your Inbox (with no paper mess) by subscribing to Southern Home Organizers online magazine at southernhomeorganizerssouthernhomeorganizers.

posted by besnda @ 7:35 AM