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Claycat on "Magazines: ditch or keep?"

Claycat — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 08:11:05 +0000

I finally had to break the magazine habit. I would keep them and let them stack. I usually read what I wanted to when they first came. However, I had this unreasonable idea that I had to read every article before I could toss it. Then I would find something I wanted to remember, so I would either keep the magazine or cut something out and file it. Most likely, I would not look at it again. I have just a few of the magazines and articles left, but I am going to re-evaluate pretty soon, and I will probably toss the rest. I had to stop ordering them.

Claycat on "How to Organize Your Kitties!"

Claycat — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 08:06:10 +0000

LOL! So cute!

candy on "How to Organize Your Kitties!"

candy — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 06:45:11 +0000

Hilarious!
:D

sdbenjamin on "Newbie- We put our house on the market yesterday"

sdbenjamin — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 03:05:28 +0000

The first people to view our house made and offer then a counter offer but both were lower than we need to be able to buy our new house. Still it's an encouraging start. Got to keep on keeping up appearances though until we get an offer we can accept.

Sophie on "Magazines: ditch or keep?"

Sophie — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 02:31:54 +0000

I'm not sure I'm the right person to respond. I've tried a couple of ways of dealing with this problem.

Plan #1: I cut out the articles I liked so I only have a pile of cut outs. I don't think this really worked as its messy and now I just have a pile of random cut outs. This will be ok if I scan them as planned, but this would take a long time! Nex I tried plan #2.

Plan #2 - sell my magazines so someone else can get to read and enjoy them. Problem here is I've ended up buying even more magazines and haven't actually sold any!

Next I'll try plan #3 - actually get on and sell the old magazines, or at least donate them to someone!

I want to go completely digital, but it's hard to part with the hard copy items.

klutzgrrl on "Magazines: ditch or keep?"

klutzgrrl — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 00:45:57 +0000

I know you're going to say 'ditch' and I know I SHOULD but... I'm struggling with it! I've gone through a bunch of old writing magazines, pulling out the articles I like and popping them in a file. But I also have quite a lot of old art magazines, and also tech - Linux computing - magazines.

The art ones are a problem, some of them are 20 years old and remind me of artists I loved years ago... I guess I should pick out the best pictures and throw them out.

The linux ones have lots of good articles and it's hard to know which ones I might want.

A while back I tossed all the CDs that came with ImagineFX magazine and then later wished I hadn't, they had some good tutorials.

I do have a bit of a magazine addiction - I love the portability of them, the short, manageable articles and up-to-date information. Great for coffee-break reading or keeping in the car when I have to wait for kids.

How do you manage magazines, or have you gone totally digital?

michaelbrien on "Keurig coffee and tea maker"

michaelbrien — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 00:34:20 +0000

Catching up on the forums and noticed this. I agree that it is wasteful, but even at 55 cents or so per k-cup, that is still ~$3 less than a cup of joe at Starbucks. I think I've only been to Starbucks once since I got my Keurig a year ago and I'd estimate it paid for itself in 3 months. I like the flavor of most of the k-cups far more than other coffee I've made in my home.

terriok on "How to Organize Your Kitties!"

terriok — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 22:20:42 +0000

http://brainz.org/119-ways-store-and-organize-your-cats/

Claycat on "Moving Overseas"

Claycat — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 20:45:43 +0000

It sounds good Mrs.Mack! Thanks for catching us up! I can feel your excitement. It's funny; I pick up on your excitement, and it makes me excited, too, and I'm not even going anywhere. LOL

Sophie on "Hello from the child of a hoarder!"

Sophie — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 17:17:09 +0000

My parents are terrible hoarders. Well my dad has just been staying with us, and he has told me that they had a flood in the garage and a couple of boxes of stuff got water logged and ruined. Turns out it was my sister's old horse riding gear (she left home 8 years ago). He wasn't he bothered by it and thinks it was worthless. Maybe so, but I suspect my sis may be a bit upset to learn it was her stuff that got ruined! This is a good example of why we shouldn't store family stuff and instead we need to let others be responsible for their own clutter ;)

Mrs.Mack on "Moving Overseas"

Mrs.Mack — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 12:38:26 +0000

I found out where we will be living exactly, and was given a basic idea of what the place is like! No floor plan, but a good enough description. (More details to come later, they said.)

It'll be a 1-bedroom apartment on the second floor. A small but decently sized bedroom (room to walk around a double/queen bed), and a living room/kitchen that is about 10x15 feet (the measurement was eyeballed) with a counter and a hanging set of cupboards separating the kitchen from the small living room.

There will be a Japanese style bath (fully tiled room with shower on one side, and deep bath on the other). And thankfully a Western-style toilet and laundry machines! Most Japanese have a tiny washer and hang their clothes to dry, but we'll have a stacking washer and dryer in a closet. Also, they said the fridge is an American size, which is great (Japanese fridges are about 2/3 the size of Americans ones, based on my memory).

It's fully furnished, so furniture (couch, bed, etc.), appliances (stove, microwave, etc.), dishes, cookware, and more will be there. It's looking more and more like we'll really only need to bring clothes to wear, and just a few things we can't bare to part with. The less we have to pack or ship, the better! :)

This is a small place by American standards, but by Japanese standards, quite spacious. We already live in a fairly small space (I think it's about 700 sq ft or less) so downsizing won't be too much trouble, especially since we're not taking much with us.

Claycat on "Newbie- We put our house on the market yesterday"

Claycat — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 07:34:45 +0000

Good luck!

sdbenjamin on "Newbie- We put our house on the market yesterday"

sdbenjamin — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 03:39:43 +0000

We have our first viewing in the morning!

Mrs.Mack on "Are there people who will sell my stuff on Ebay for me"

Mrs.Mack — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 00:23:00 +0000

http://isolditonebay.net/

sdbenjamin on "x-ray exsaperation"

sdbenjamin — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 00:22:36 +0000

how long do you keep x-rays and how do you store them????

Mrs.Mack on "DONATING"

Mrs.Mack — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 00:21:35 +0000

That seems... odd.

Why not just give some or all of the proceeds to charity? If you insist on giving the actual books, suggestions would entirely depend on what the book is about.

Cat Yoga on "DONATING"

Cat Yoga — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 21:48:13 +0000

I wrote a book and I want to donate some to a worthy cause. There are 18 books to a box and I have 20 boxes to donate.
Do anyone know of someone who will come pick these books up? I live in Los Angeles, CA 90049 .. Thank you,
catyoga@mindspring.com

Cat Yoga on "Are there people who will sell my stuff on Ebay for me"

Cat Yoga — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 21:42:36 +0000

I have so many odd collectible items. Everything from comic books, magazines, sports cards, Marvel comic cards, pogs (remember them) pre-paid phonecards and odd little items like unusual cereal boxes, toys, etc, etc. I have no luck with Ebay and it annoys the heck out me that I pay to list stuff that never sells because there are too many other people looking to sell. It is also too much work. Is there anyone who can help me sell the stuff i have for a share of the proceeds?
PLEASE contact me at catyoga@mindspring.com

happymonkey on "Hiring a professional organizer"

happymonkey — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 21:23:57 +0000

I worked with a PO for the first time today. I had some family members who had moved in with me for almost a year, and they moved out two weeks ago. While they were here, my home office (I'm a freelancer) became a catchall for all my clothes, shoes, purses, EVERYTHING I OWN! With my long-term guests now gone, I could move a lot of stuff back into my guest room and storage area, but I was completely overwhelmed by the chaos that had developed over the past months. In addition, we are moving in two months, so I need to purge and pack as well as sort and organize. Two organizers came and worked with me for three hours this morning, and it was AMAZING! We got so much done, and it was just the jump start I needed to get things started for my move. Pricey, but so worth it.

Sky on "Now admit it... your spices."

Sky — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 20:19:47 +0000

ninjanun...1 1/4 teaspoons. Not really sure what it's for. My recipe is my Mom's and I've used it forever.

Claycat on "Hiring a professional organizer"

Claycat — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 20:10:45 +0000

I think it's great if you can afford it! A lot of people, like me, are not self-motivated. It would be nice to have someone to push me a little.

Claycat on "To eBay or not to eBay - what do I do with the stuff meanwhile is the question?"

Claycat — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 20:08:22 +0000

Thank you all so much for your support! I appreciate it!

I will keep trying for awhile. I just really need to get into high gear, so I can take care of it before summer.

Sky, I'm glad to know that about the ISBN.

Ninjanun, I need to sell some large stuff on craigslist, too. I'm sorry you had such a time!

Terriok, I'm selling different kinds of things, but I'm about to start on the books. Maybe I should just do eBay, and not get spread out too much.

chacha1 on "Hiring a professional organizer"

chacha1 — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 16:07:54 +0000

Kind of surprised that more people haven't weighed in on this. Guess this is a very DIY crowd.

I have considered hiring a PO to help my DH with his clutter. I'm afraid addressing it ourselves will create relationship trouble. But maybe that's just a fight we need to have.

Indigo75: a PLAN is the best thing to start with, but objectivity & enthusiasm go a long way!

chacha1 on "new hoarding show"

chacha1 — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 16:01:17 +0000

Gerette, I think a lot of us tune in to these shows occasionally just for a "booster shot."

terriok on "To eBay or not to eBay - what do I do with the stuff meanwhile is the question?"

terriok — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 13:55:34 +0000

Clay?

What are you trying to sell? (I forget ;o)

I sell vintage books on Ebay all the time. I estimate that a third of my books sell. I just factor it in.

You can usually relist the items for no additional price once IF they sell.

I would do it now as opposed to the summer which gets mighty slow.

ninjanun on "Now admit it... your spices."

ninjanun — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 13:32:31 +0000

Ooh, Sky, I make banana bread frequently. How much Cream of Tartar do you use, and what is it for?

ninjanun on "To eBay or not to eBay - what do I do with the stuff meanwhile is the question?"

ninjanun — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 13:02:26 +0000

Claycat--I am having much the same problem with Craigs list (minus posting fees). I posted lots of my Craft supplies and stamps (with detailed descriptions and nice pictures), and only one set of stamps has sold--AND it was the one set of stamps I was really not wanting to let go, either. It was a lot of effort to take the pics, write the descriptions, upload the photos, etc., and for all my hard work (an entire Sunday afternoon/evening's worth) all I am saying goodbye to is my favorite set of stamps (admittedly, I was willing to part with them, but with the impression that ALL my craft supplies would sell).

And I couldn't believe the people who contacted me asking if I had *other* stamps and craft items for sale, that I hadn't listed! Um, I posted the stuff I was interested in selling, so if you're not interested in buying it, why are you asking me about other stuff I may or may not have among my personal belongings that I'm NOT selling? It's kind of like going to a garage sale and telling the sellers you're not interested in any of the items they have out on display, but do they perhaps have a nice set of pots and pans? Because that's what you're *really* needing to buy, and was hoping to not have to pay retail. ARRRGGH!

Sky on "formal china, crystal, etc."

Sky — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 11:04:43 +0000

Thanks for all the comments. I think I have decided to let the crystal and china go. It just doesn't fit into my vision of a simple life. I have nice everyday china and glasses that we enjoy and a few small vintage glasses for my grandchildren. All the plastic stuff is already gone except for one large plastic cup my DH takes outside.
We use our sterling silverware everyday.

Sky on "To eBay or not to eBay - what do I do with the stuff meanwhile is the question?"

Sky — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 10:54:29 +0000

Claycat....It can be discouraging to sell on ebay sometimes. I had items that didn't sell and realized I had them ending on Super Bowl Sunday. Relisted and most of them sold. It is always a crap shoot.

You can sell on half.com without an ISBN #. Just look it up by the title and click on sell yours.

Your DH, MIL and SIL's should really appreciate all you are doing!

Claycat on "To eBay or not to eBay - what do I do with the stuff meanwhile is the question?"

Claycat — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 08:26:02 +0000

Well, the honeymoon is over. I had around 15 items that ended last night and only two of them sold. They were very reasonably priced.

I figure I will give it 6 to 8 weeks, and then I will dump the rest of the carp and look for another way to make some money.

I was ready to list a bunch of my MIL's books on Half.com but found out I couldn't, because most of them don't have ISBNs. If I post them on eBay, they have to sell quickly, or I keep eating posting fees. Amazon is not very good. They charge the same final value fee as Half.com plus TWO posting fees. TWO! Also, there are so many used books posted on Amazon for either $0.01 or $0.99. I can't compete with that!

If I didn't love my husband so much, I think I would leave and let him and my SILs deal with all of this. I'm getting very discouraged.

Sky on "Now admit it... your spices."

Sky — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 20:30:57 +0000

I use cream of tatar in my banana bread :)

chacha1 on "Now admit it... your spices."

chacha1 — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 18:36:04 +0000

Ninjanun, "pumpkin pie spice" is great in cookies, brownies, oatmeal, or granola. It'll be gone in no time. :-)

Cream of Tartar ... is that used for *anything* besides glossing up meringue?

LaurenS on "Capturing Meeting Notes."

LaurenS — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:49:51 +0000

Hi, I'm Lauren from Springad. Notetaking in Springpad is really easy. All of the notes you enter are automatically synced between the web app and iPhone app; and what's really great from an organizational point of view is that the note can be then be added to any Springpad app, list, and/or shared.

Springpad is a free web application that helps people quickly save anything they want to remember, and access it from anywhere (ideas, notes, recipes, books, restaurants, wine, etc. We just launched a new web site and an iphone app last week, so you can capture and save anything—notes, recipes, shopping lists, books, movies and more. All feedback is welcome. We want to hear from you. http://springpadit.com

fshapps on "Capturing Meeting Notes."

fshapps — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:32:44 +0000

Try Zim desktop wiki. Free, cross-platform, simple and incredibly flexible. Everything is stored in text files so no worries about data portability.

http://zim-wiki.org/

georgetownsandi on "Capturing Meeting Notes."

georgetownsandi — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 12:22:29 +0000

I take a photo if all notes are legible on a whiteboard :-) Even my own paper notes, I photo and scan to Evernote on my iPhone and send out that way. Works great.