Lynn's Decluttering Planner
If you're like me, you can't really release something until you know where it's going. So, here's what I print out when I walk through my house. On any given Decluttering Day, I pick ONE OR TWO of these destinations and either load up my porch table or pack a carload. With a friend to lift & carry, each session usually takes under an hour. And it feels so great when you stop!
Here's my Three-Step Plan, plus What to Keep:
- 1) FlyLady.net: How to Declutter
- 2) Who Picks Up What
- 3) Where to Take the Rest
- Clothing, Sporting Goods, Housewares to Goodwill
- Bicycles to MIT Women's League - Service Projects
- Interview Clothing to MIT Women's League - Service Projects
- Book Trade to Book Rack: 1/4 Cover Price for Store Credit
- Books to Hands Across the Water Arlington
- Food to Arlington Food Pantry
- Rosie's Place Shelter: clothing, toiletries, non-perishable food
- 4) What to Keep and How Long to Keep It
1) FlyLady.net: How to Declutter
What to declutter? Things to ask yourself as you get rid of your clutter:
- Do I love this item?
- Have I used it in the past year?
- Is it really garbage?
- Do I have another one that is better?
- Should I really keep two?
- Does it have sentimental value that causes me to love it?
- Or does it give me guilt and make me sad when I see the item?
Cleanse this room of everything that does not make you SMILE.
FlyLady.net: FAQs like What is a 27 Fling Boogie?
This is a tool to help you declutter your home. Dothis assignment as fast as you can. Take a garbage bag and walk through
your home and throw away 27 items. Do not stop until you have collected
all 27 items. Then close the garbage bag and pitch it. DO NOT LOOK IN
IT!!! Just do it.
Next, take an empty box and go through your home collecting 27 items to
give away. As soon as you finish filling the box, take it to the car.
You are less
tempted to rescue the items. If you have two of any item and you only
need one, get rid of the least desirable.
2) Who Picks Up What
Vietnam Veterans of America: Schedule a pickup online
We used these folks when Dave Stryker died, and they were prompt, courteous, and left the porch clean. They will also leave you a charitable receipt.
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 Thedriver will look for your donation from the street. Please put it out, mark it for Vietnam Veterans of America or VVA, where it is clearly visible. Thank you! | |
FX - MIT Furniture Exchange
In order to continue this valuable service, the FX is always in need
of donations of good, useable furniture, including sofas, chairs,
tables, bookcases, desks, beds, futons, dressers, cabinets, lamps,
rugs, small appliances, cooking utensils, dishes, children's items,
bikes, and more. All
donations are tax-deductible and arrangements can be made for large
items to be picked up. Please contact manager Judy
Halloran for more information at 617-253-4293, or e-mail us
fx@mit.edu.
Donate Books | Got Books?™
1. Use our FREE Pick-Up Service! We respect the busy schedules of our donors, so we provide a
complimentary pick-up service to parts of Massachusetts and New
Hampshire to make giving as easy as possible. For pick-ups, just call
us at (978) 664-6555 to arrange a day that fits your busy schedule.
You can also fill out our simple online pick-up request form.
You don't even need to be home at the time of the pick-up. If you need
us to bring boxes, we will. If you need us to carry the books up or
down stairs, we will do that too! Our goal is to make donating as easy
as possible.
Big Brother Big Sister
Foundation (takes computers & cars)
Donate Clothes, Cars or Boats
Believe it or not your unwanted clothing and household
items can help us serve more kids. How? Simple. Our Big Brother Big Sister
Foundation www.bbbsfoundation.org
will pick up these items from your home. You receive a tax deduction for
the fair market value of these items. To arrange a pick up, please call 800-483-5503 or send an e-mail with
your name address phone number and best time to pick up these items to
donate@bbbsfoundation.org
Computers with Causes
Donate a Computer MA and write it off on your taxes! Business donors can deduct the un-depreciated value of the
computer, and individuals can deduct the current market value of a
computer. Sign up, and ship or schedule a pickup. Business donors can deduct the un-depreciated value of
the computer, and individuals can deduct the current market
value of a computer.
Example: A computer and related software with a purchase
price of $3,000, valued at $500 at time of contribution,
receives a $500 deduction on Schedule A. A written receipt
must be received and Form 8283 should be attached to
returns. The tax receipt that schools or nonprofits provide
should have your name on it, the name and identifying number
of the recipient organization, and the model and type of
equipment donated.
Recipients are not authorized to appraise the value of the
equipment. You are responsible for the determination of the
value of your donated equipment.
computer equipment is best suited for reuse?
Charitable donations of computer equipment that individuals
or companies would like to pass on directly to Computers
with causes should generally be no more than five years old,
(in most cases) in working condition, and Internet-capable.
Up to five-year-old working laptops and laser printers are
in high demand, as are 17-inch or larger working monitors,
mice, keyboards, and cables.
How can
I maximize the reuse potential of my computer system?
Donate your old computer to Computers with Causes within a
few months after buying your new one. For most people, it is
unnecessary to keep older computers around for parts or as a
backup machine. The effective reuse life of a computer is
only two or three years, so the sooner you get it back into
the cycle, the more useful it can be.
Can my
donations be used as is or do they have to be refurbished or
upgraded?
Almost all three-to-five-year-old working computers can be
upgraded to do the six things most people do with computers:
Internet browsing, e-mail, word processing, spreadsheets,
presentations, and finances. We often install bigger hard
drives, more RAM, and often a network card for computers
going to charities or schools. Up to three-year-old working
computers are generally useful as-is.
Where
will my reusable electronic products likely to go?
There are actually two streams of reuse. One is
noncommercial or in the form of direct use (Charitable
programs) and the other is commercial. Generally, Computers
with Causes will utilize as many reusable computers in the
direct furtherance of our charitable programs and those that
we support.
3) Where to Take the Rest
Clothing, Sporting Goods, Housewares to Goodwill
Make An End-Of-Year Tax-Deductible Donation To GOODWILL! Print out a receipt and bring it with you for them to sign. You may donate up to $500 per donation without an appraisal. To estimate the value of your donation, please go to http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p561.pdf.Or to see what the items might cost in a Goodwill Store, please visit
www.goodwillpromo.org.
| MEN'S CLOTHING Suits $15-35 Jackets $5-11 Slacks $3-11 Shirts $2-6 Outerwear $7-16 Sweaters $2-8 Accessories $2 Shoes $2-6 WOMEN'S CLOTHING | CHILDREN'S CLOTHING Dresses $1-3 Pants $1-5 Shirts $1-5 Outerwear $3-8 Sweaters $1-5 Shoes $1-6 HOUSEWARES APPLIANCES
| COMPUTERS Systems $100-400 Printers $25-150 Monitors $50-150 SPORTING GOODS FURNITURE ** |
What
we do not accept:
Goodwill
is unable to accept the following items (due to the high cost of disposal
and strict government regulations):
Any Items in Need of Repair of with Missing Parts- Baby
Furnishings (Strollers, Car Seats, High Chairs, Cribs,
Broken Toys) - Furniture
in need of Repair or Reupholstering
Sofa Beds- Mattresses
Box Springs, Waterbeds, Bed Frames, Futons,
Futon Frames, Pillows
Pianos and Organs- Food
or Beverages - Large
Appliances (Washers, Dryers, Stoves, Dishwashers,
Refrigerators) - Large
Office Furniture - Computers
and Monitors - Camping
Equipment containing Gas, Oil or Butane - Furnaces
or Wall Heaters - Snow
Skis - Exercise
Equipment - Fish
Tanks - Televisions
- Water
Heaters - Gas-Powered
Garden Tools Lawn Mowers, Weed Whackers,
Etc.
Plumbing or Building Supplies Cabinets or Doors- Auto
Parts or Auto Accessories - Hazardous
Materials Including, but not limited to, Paint, Oil, Cleaning
Products, Batteries, Extinguishers - Recyclable
Consumer Materials Aluminum, Glass, Plastic,
Corrugated Material
Nothing Alive for example – Plants or Puppies
Bicycles to MIT Women's League - Service Projects
Mobility is important to MIT students, whether by
foot or by wheel. Because some of our international students
need to get around the campus, Cambridge, and the surrounding cities
to attend classes and visit with their friends and Host* families,
we try to lend assistance. If you have a bicycle (in reasonably
good condition) to donate to a worthy cause, please call Kate Baty,
Chair - Clothing and Bicycle Service Project, at 339.223.0395 (local
call). Your donation is tax deductible, and we supply you with a
receipt for income tax purposes.
Interview Clothing to MIT Women's League - Service Projects
Generous clothing donations by members of the MIT
community these past eleven years have enabled our students to
confidently walk into job interviews.
Many of our scholarship students arrive at the Institute with
clothing for "student life" only. Interview clothes are not
part of their wardrobe. Making such clothing available to them helps
get them beyond the first impressions stage to that point where
their expertise speaks volumes to potential employers. Although we
have no statistics on job offers/job acceptances, we do know that happy,
stylish students leave the Emma Rogers Room on "Fashion Night." Searching
for the perfect "look" for those interviews is a non-technological
challenge—one enjoyed immensely by both the students and our volunteer
"fashion consultants" that night.
If you have clothing for women (dresses and suits)
or for men (suits, white or blue dress shirts, and neckties), as
well as warm winter coats, jackets, mittens, gloves, scarves and hats
that you wish to donate to a worthy cause, please consider this
service effort. Clean clothing may be left at the League office,
Room 10-342, during business hours or you may mail them to us.
Your donation is tax deductible and we supply a receipt for income
tax purposes. Please call the League office,
617.253.3656, or email wleague@mit.edu if you have questions about donations
or if you would like to help as a "fashion consultant" on "Fashion
Night."
Book Trade to Book Rack: 1/4 Cover Price for Store Credit
The Book Rack
13 Medford Street
Arlington, MA 02474
Phone: (781) 646-2665
Fax: (781) 646-2660
The Book Rack takes in used paperbacks for store credit valued
at 1/4 cover price. Used books are sold for 1/2 off the cover price.
Store Credit can be used for up to 50% of a purchase. For instance,
if you wish to purchase $10 of used books, and have $6 of credit,
you may only use $5 of your credit toward the purchase. In this
example, the total cash outlay for this purchase would be $5.50
($10 + 5% tax - 50% of purchase in credit).
All credit can be used toward all used books. All existing slips
will be honored under this system.
Note: they say to call for an appointment with more than one box/bag, but I brought in 5 boxes on a Saturday and they accepted them cheerfully.
Books to Hands Across the Water Arlington
1043Massachusetts Avenue in Arlington MA 02174 at the outside parking lot
of the shopping plaza where the Stop and Shop supermarket is located. This is a blue drop slot container of dimensions 6 feet high by 6 feet wide by 6 feet long with "Books for charity" signage. Access Hours: Anytime
Food to Arlington Food Pantry
OPEN FOR FOOD DROP-OFF: EVERY FRIDAY, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
For Information: Department of Health and Human Services
Leon Cantor, 781-316-3251, lcantor@town.arlington.ma.us
Lyz Carey, 781-316-3264
EXAMPLES OF DONATIONS
Cereal
Dried Milk
Canned Fruits & Vegetables
Peanut Butter & Jelly
Tuna Fish & Canned Meats
Meals in a Can, i.e.
Spaghetti-O’s, Stews, Hash, Ravioli, Soups
Fruit Juices, Coffee, Tea
Pasta & Sauces
Canned Tomatoes and Tomato Sauce
Crackers, Cookies, Mixes
Jello & Pudding Mixes
Baby Food
Toiletries, i.e.
Soap, Shampoo, Conditioners,
Toothpaste, Toothbrushes,
Toilet Paper, Paper Towels,
Diapers
Rosie's Place Shelter: clothing, toiletries, non-perishable food
Through our drop-in advocacy program we are able to
distribute clothing, toiletries and other items to thousands of poor
and homeless women each year. We rely on the generosity of individuals,
companies and organizations to provide these essential items. Rosie's Place is always in need of the following items:
• Clean, in-season women’s clothing, particularly nightgowns, slippers, new underwear, bras and socks
• Toiletries – shampoo, conditioner, deodorant,
lotion, soap, toothpaste and toothbrushes; regular and travel sizes are
appreciated
• Non-perishable food items, particularly canned
vegetables and fruits, cereal, peanut butter, pasta, non-refrigerated
juices and rice
• Children’s books
• Buttons and jewelry
• Playing cards
Rosie's Place does not accept baby and children's items, cell phones, computer equipment or furniture. Please click here for a list of other organizations in our community who may be able to use such items. Please contact the
Development office at 617-442-9322 for details or use our contact us form.
You can drop off in-kind donations to Rosie's Place
Monday through Friday 8:30 am - 4:30 pm. Please note that we will no
longer accept donations on weekends and holidays.Please click here for directions.
4) What to Keep and How Long to Keep It
Which Financial Records to Keep (and How Long to Keep Them)
Get Rich SlowlyBankrate has an excellent table summarizing how long to keep financial records. To summarize:
- Keep any tax-related records for seven years.
- Keep records of IRA contributions permanently.
- Keep quarterly retirement/savings plan statements until you receive an annual statement. If the numbers match, shred the quarterlies and keep the annual summaries permanently.
- Shred unimportant bank records after one year; keep the rest permanently.
- Keep brokerage statements until you sell the securities.
- Most of the time you can shred bills once you get a cancelled check. Keep bills for big items permanently.
- Keep credit card receipts to reconcile with your statements, then keep the statements for seven years.
- Paycheck stubs should be kept until you receive your end-of-year tax statements.
- Keep house records permanently. (Some can be held for less time, but I think it’s wise to keep them all.)
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