If you are like most Americans, the race is on to buy gifts. Shop Smart from Consumer Reports in December 2009 highlighted the big money wasters. Don’t get trapped!
1. Hidden debit-card fees. Banks previously rejected debit purchases that were overdrawn. Now, they will accept and charges range from $25-35. If you spend big on one day you could be hit with several fees. Some banks have said they will lower or eliminate fees, but I am not counting on that.
2. Phony Sales. Highly promoted door sales on Black Friday offer deep discounts on line. Sometimes the item advertised is a phony come on to get you to buy something else and spend. If you try to buy just the sale item on line they will cancel sale, back order or send you lower quality merchandise. Returns can be difficult, if not impossible.
3. Unnecessary warranties. Shoppers were expected to spend a billion dollars on extended warranties. Stores keep as much as 50% of what they charge for them. When electronics and appliances break they repairs on average cost about the same as the extended warranty.
4. Gift Card Charges. SS advises against these. Some come with purchasing and process fees, expiration dates, transaction fees & inactivity fees that unfairly diminish their value over time. 25% of people hadn’t used their cards since the last holiday.
5. Return Fees. Many electronic items are subject to a 15-25% restocking fee if they are returned open or if they aren’t in a factory sealed box. Merchants can’t resell as new any item after the package has been opened, so they penalize you for opening.
Shop safe!
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Whenever I give a presentation on eco-organizing I always talk about organizing your mind. This is about being clear about your priorities and goals; following your passion; surrounding yourself with good people; and enlarging your life.
For me, this also includes gratitude. I have been in business almost two and a half years and there were days when I struggle. How many people out there also started a business in the worst economic times? What helped sustain me besides family, friends, my Women’s Power Networking group, Inside 919, etc. was my attitude. I would remind myself that many of my problems were “first world.” I had food, shelter, good health and family and friends that I could turn to if needed.
How often do you express your gratitude?
What are you thankful for in this Thanksgiving season?
In what other ways do you express your thanks?
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Hallmark says Americans send 1.8 billion cards during the holidays. That’s a lot of cards to end up in the landfill! You can still spread news and joy. If you are short on time and money sending out cards this year, consider these options.
You can send holiday cards on line free. It saves time, money, trees.
http://www.123greetings.com
You can send the same card to up to 100 people.
http://www.treegreetings.com
Sends an e-card and plants a tree!
http://www.birthdayalarm.com/
Allows you to set up reminders with your e-cards.
Remember, it’s okay to make the holidays affordable and save yourself time and money as well as reducing your stress!
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Americans throw away an additional 5 million tons of trash – 25% more than usual – between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve.
Reduce: Think before you buy. Think again. Do you really need that item? The less stuff you have, the less you have to organize. Have or give experiences (Trips, tickets, special events, cooking/sewing/craft lessons, etc.)
Reuse: It’s great if you recycle your boxes from the holidays, but take it a step further and reuse them: drop off at a local moving company; donate to BJ’s or Sam’s; or find out if a business or non profit is moving and give to them.
Repurpose: Figure out how to repurpose an item. Get creative. Instead of buying a special plastic case for ornaments, I use a wine case with a divider to store them.
Repair: Try and see if you can repair an item before purchasing another one. If you can’t, giving it away on http://www.freecycle.org/
Recycle: During the Holiday season it is really important to recycle. Recycling isn’t mandatory in Raleigh or in NC. Do your part, but encourage the legislature to pass laws. There is a program that offers incentives to people who recycle in form of gift cards. I asked them to add Raleigh to the list. https://www.recyclebank.com/
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Have old sweaters & friends that need gifts? Repurpose your sweaters into mittens! Here’s how:
From the hem of the sweater, cut (back & front) a rectangle 12 inches high & 8 inches wide. Then cut along the side seam so you have two pieces.
Fold each piece lengthwise with the insides facing out. Mark the thumbhole with pins. It should be 2 1/2 inches wide & 2 inches from the top.
Sew 1/2 inch from the edge, leaving the thumbhole open. Reinforce the thumbhold with a separate topstitch. Then sew a 1/2 inch hem at the bottom.
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As the holidays approach, wabi sabi is a good philosophy to keep in mind. Leonard Koren describes it as, “The beauty of all things imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete, the antithesis of our classical Western notion of beauty as something perfect, enduring, and monumental.” I sum it up this way: beauty in “as is” such as the wrinkles on my forehead, the imperfect shaped tomatoes of my garden, and the scratches and grooves in my antique furniture.
So instead of worrying about creating a perfect holiday, with the perfect presents, behaviors, clothing and smiles…roll with the punches and delight when things don’t go as planned. Take a deep breath, let it go and revel in imperfection. Remember who and what is important to you and celebrate that.
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RALEIGH PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZER WINS TRIANGLE GREEN BUSINESS AWARD
Healing through Organization awarded ‘Green Entrepreneurial Effort’
RALEIGH, NC (October 28, 2011) –– The Triangle Business Journal honored 16 companies and individuals during this year’s annual Green Awards, which was held Oct. 28 at the Embassy Suites in Cary. The awards recognized a total of 13 organizations and three individuals who have embraced green efforts and successfully incorporated sustainable practices into their businesses and communities.
The winners included well-known Triangle employers such as Durham-based Burt’s Bees, Cary-base SAS Institute and Wake Technical Community College.
Healing through Organization, LLC, based in Raleigh, N.C., was awarded the Green Entrepreneurial Effort/Innovative Idea of the Year Honorable Mention.
“I am honored to win this award,” said Julie Seibert, CEO. “I look forward to continuing to educate people about my 6 Rs of EcoOrganizing: rethink, reduce, reuse, repurpose, repair and recycle. I want people to know you can de-clutter, organize your homes and lives and still be green!”
“These winners are striving to make protection of the environment a standard practice and are helping Triangle leaders recognize the benefits that improve the bottom line,” says Triangle Business Journal Publisher Bryan Hamilton “They are leading the charge in sustainable success.”
The event also played host to TBJ’s Green Expo, which featured more than a dozen different exhibitors who showed how their companies achieve “green” status. Some of the companies that participated in the expo included RTI International, RF WasteWater, Ruston Paving and NC GreenPower.
“To be recognized along with companies such as SAS and Burt’s Bee is amazing. I am proud to be making a difference in my own way,” Seibert added.
A total of sixteen awards were presented. Recipients were chosen by a panel of environmental experts. A complete list of finalists and recipients is available online at bit.ly/tc0ZKB.
About Healing through Organization, LLC:
Healing through Organization, LLC was founded in 2009 and was the first company specializing in eco (green) organization services in North Carolina. Their mission is to compassionately transform lives through education and customized plans that create productive and sustainable environments. They provide de-cluttering services, home & office organization, small business organization, downsizing, moving in and organization for home sale. HtO is also available for conference speaking, lunch and learns, and workshops tailored to your group or business.
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With holidays right around the corner, I wanted to continue tips to remove stains.
For NON washable fabrics:
Chocolate: Start with oil solvent for grease & rinse gently. Dab remaining with vinegar until gone. Dab with cool water.
Coffee: Dab with White vinegar till gone. Has sugar: follow up flush with water; milk follow up with oil solvent. Dab with water to rinse thoroughly.
Berry sauces: Dab with denatured alcohol. Flush with white vinegar for remaining color then dab with dish detergent for remaining residue. Use water sparingly. Even if stain can’t be seen mark with tape for dry cleaner as sugars can caramelize when dry cleaned.
Gravy: Oil solvent for grease then dab with white vinegar until gone. Dab with cool water.
Grease: Dab with oil solvent then flush thoroughly with water. Follow with a flush of mineral spirits or denatured alcohol if necessary.
Sap: Dab with mineral spirits or oil solvent & let air dry. Rub gently with detergent then flush gently with water to rinse.
Tea: Dab with lemon juice; Contains sugar follow up flushing with water; milk follow up with an oil solvent.
Wax: Freeze by running an ice cube over. Scrape as much off as possible. Iron on low setting with a towel placed over & beneath stain. Use mineral spirits to remove residue.
Red Wine: Dab with denatured alcohol. Dab with white vinegar for remaining color and then dab with cool water to rinse.
White wine: Dab with cool water. ven if stain can’t be seen mark with tape for dry cleaner as sugars can caramelize when dry cleaned.
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One of the things I am most passionate about is coming up with creative ways to repurpose every day items to help people get organized! With the holidays coming up now is a great time to go through all of your ornaments and get organized. Instead of buying a specialty made plastic container for ornaments you can use an empty case of wine box. After you have enjoyed the wine, you have a perfect carton to organize your ornaments. If the box kept glass bottles of wine undamaged your ornaments will be safe. If you have multiple boxes, the uniform boxes will be easy to store. You can also color coordinate boxes. Don’t drink wine? You can go to your local Wine Store where they have an area with empty boxes. What is your favorite item to repurpose? 
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