This week I would like to focus on a topic that is near and dear to my heart, the Pack Rat.
Maybe you know one, maybe you are one, but either way we all have seen what havoc being a Pack Rat can reek on a home.
Whether it is your favorite toys from when you were a kid, or the 3,000 receipts you won't throw away in case you are audited one day, being a Pack Rat can make life a little cluttered.
Here are some basic rules I follow when helping clients who just can’t let go of their prized possessions.
- Identify why you hold on to the things you have- Whether it be sentimental items or receipts and old emails you still have from work, it is important to identify where most of your hoarding happens and why.
- Sentimental Items- Some things can’t be replaced, and I would never suggest that someone throw away photographs or old family heirlooms. But it is best to organize these items and have them condensed to one area. Use shoe boxes for smaller items and label them. For photographs and paper items that hold sentimental value it is best to start a scrapbook for these items for a fun easy way to keep a chronological document of your favorite memories.
- Work Items- The biggest offenders for Pack Rating that I have found lately have been people that work from home and Independent Contractors. The main problem that I have come across time and time again has been clients keeping hundreds (no exaggeration) of receipts. These are normally kept in case of an audit, which is understandable. But if you feel you have to keep every receipt you have ever received, first scan them into your computer (you can do multiple receipts at one time) and then store all of them in ONE place. Don’t let them get scattered all over your house. Try to scan and store on a weekly basis.
For more tips visit this weeks recommended sites for more:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/284134/how_to_stop_being_a_packrat.html?cat=6
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art47535.asp
Cassandra
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ReplyDeleteI definetly have a problem with hoarding! I keep photos but never put them in albums. Keeping all of my memorabilia together with my scrapbook items is a great idea!
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