Get Rid Of Clutter AND Make Cash

The kids are out of school and what better time to clear out the clutter and make some money.  You have the kids to help and what better enticement for them then the chance to earn some money, right?  The trick is getting it done right.

I know you are already stressing about the amount of work, right?  I have several piles going in the garage with stuff I would like to sell BUT the reality is, it never happens.  Then it gets donated to church rummage sale or to the local thrift store.  The thing is, I didn’t get rid of the clutter, I simply moved it to another part of the house.  Not making any money and creating more of a mess in the garage.   I have finally faced the facts – I don’t have the time nor the energy to do a yard sale, sell on ebay (been there done it and it was a pain!) so I just donate to a good local cause.  If this is you, it is okay for admit it – it is the first step to getting rid of the clutter.

If you are going to have  sale –  pick a date (several months from now) how about just before the kids go back to school.  This way they will  have some of their own money to shop with, sound good?  This gives you a goal.

Now, set up several boxes to collect items for the sale.  Plastic tubs are the best because they keep the bugs out while you are decluttering.  I prefer boxes so whatever doesn’t sell can just go to a local cause.  BUT if you are going to save things to sell at the next one……..plastic is the way to go.

Okay, you have decided to have a sale, gathered your items and now comes the tough party – PRICING!  We have heard the tales of those who make thousands while most of us scrape by with a hundred or so (more if we are lucky), the key is finding way to price which works for you.

I like the color dot idea because you can grab them at the dollar store and it takes the stress of out individually pricing things.  Create a poster with a key showing what each dot means, price wise, such as a green dots equal one quarter, yellow dots are fifty cents, blue dots are a dollar, etc. The advantage of this method is, it is easy to slash prices at the end of the day, since you can just change the key for what the dots mean.  If you want, you can add these sticker to the item as you go through your home decluttering, so you don’t have to have a marathon session for pricing right before the sale.

The key to a successful sale or event is advertising.  I can’t tell you how many “garage sale” signs I pass and the information is so small you can hardly read it.  Either make bigger signs OR use arrows.  I actually found an amazing sale with just arrows pointing at every corner on the “garage sale” sign.  It was tucked away but people were finding it because of the signs.  Okay, enough of my soap box.  LOL

Try to coordinate with other families in your neighborhood, if possible, to all have your sales on the same day. The more sales, the more people will come to all of them. This will also help you commit to a deadline for your sale, since others are also participating, which can be a good motivation factor.

Now, spread the word far and wide. Some of my favorite inexpensive methods include ads on Craigslist, large colorful signs on major roadways, and notices on community noticeboards, such as in your local grocery store.  If you do a community yard sale, maybe invest in a classified ad in the newspaper.  Social media is huge so they will get you some customers too BUT don’t rely on just it for your foot traffic.  .

The key to keeping your sanity during all of this is be organized about the process. I know it sounds crazy because if you were organized – you wouldn’t need to de-clutter and have a sale, right?

During the whole process keep your two goals in mind as you prepare: #1 – make some money, and #2 – get rid of clutter.

You won’t be able to do a sale on your own and it is more fun, if you enlist helpers for the day. Give each helper a specific task, including directing crowds, answering questions, making sales, and taking payments. You may also want someone to help with entertainment, such as keeping nice music going, passing out (or selling) refreshments, etc.  Having some cold water or cookies are always a good way to make some quick sales AND get the kids involved.Make sure you  have lots of small bills and change.

Part of the fun of garage sales for those buying is scoring a deal and bargaining. Be ready to haggle and cut deals, since your goal is to get this stuff out of your home. Throw in freebies, or buy one get one half of deals, anything to get the stuff out of your home.  Don’t wait till the end of the day to haggle – be willing to do it all day long.

The truth is, you won’t sell everything.  Make arrangements for a charity to come pick up the rest, or drop it off yourself directly from your lawn at the end of the sale to the charity of your choice.  Remember we are clearing clutter!

A long post but hopefully a helpful one!  Share your best garage/yard sale tips with us.  Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

 

 

My One Word

WOOHOO!  The New Year has arrived….

I’m ready to kick off 2019 with my ONE WORD – COURAGE!

By definition “courage” is “the ability to do something which frightens you.”  It is the mental or moral strength to venture out, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty.  The history books are full of social activists, like Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela, who spoke out against injustice at great personal risk. Entrepreneurs like Steve Jobs and Walt Disney, who took financial risks to follow their dreams. They are like modern-day knights, exemplifying the rewards courage can bring.  Courage can range from physical  strength and endurance to mental stamina and innovation.

So why did  I pick this word?  Believe me I didn’t pick it, God placed it on my heart many times over the last few weeks.  I have A LOT of things which frighten me…  In being “courageous”, I have begun planning for 2019 – stepping out into some fearful territory.  Check out some of the NEWNESS coming…

• The expansion of Rays of Hope – Angel Connection
• Monthly mystery themed “pink boxes”
• Monthly random acts of kindness to those who are struggling
• Applying for disability and learning to live with and accept my MS struggles

Looking back over my “one word”, I realize God is answering my prayers, in his time not in mine.  My vision is to make a difference in the life of others but I need to know my limits.  My life has always been an open door so I can help others.  Over the years, I have stopped sharing those experiences – it is time to have the courage again to share the good, the bad and the ugly.

My first year selecting “one word” was In 2013 and my word was FAITH.  Faith to believe when the way is rough and faith to hang on when the going is tough will never fail to pull us through and bring us strength and comfort too. Helen Steiner Rice. “And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” Matthew 17:20

FAITH led me to my word in 2014 which was EMBRACE.  The goal was to EMBRACE all of the blessings God had in store for me.  I needed to have FAITH before I could EMBRACE the me everyone else saw – confident, thinner, and some might even say fun.  I learned to EMBRACE challenges as blessings without a visit from Doubtful Debbie or Negative Nellie.

Having FAITH and moving forward as I EMBRACED the blessings in my life, I had to learn to TRUST in 2015!  Learning to lean on God for ALL things and TRUST him to direct my path was probably the toughest for me.  I had to learn to stop taking control when things didn’t go my way.  God is in control and I TRUST he will direct my path. I grew in my FAITH, knowing God will provide for my needs.

The inner gremlins were rearing their ugly head so in 2016, my word was CONFIDENCE!  I needed CONFIDENCE to believe when the way was rough and the going was tough.  CONFIDENCE as I learned to live with my recent diagnosis of MS.  CONFIDENCE as I squashed the inner gremlins which had haunted me all of my life.

Then in 2017, it was all about being ACCOUNTABLE.  Being accountable meant in all areas of my life not just my business. It meant watching what I ate, working my business as a business. Most of all, it meant being fully transparent in my relationships which was scary as HELL!

In 2018, my goal was to be intentional in my words and my actions. It started off a bit rocky but at the halfway mark, I was being intentional and making thoughtful choices in my life. Was it easy? NO!  Did I struggle?  Without a doubt.  I learned so much over the year as I started to grow as a person. You would think when a person hits the age of 61, they have learned.  Sadly, many old behaviors had crept back into my life and I needed to face them before I could move forward.  I can say, I ended the year by no longer doing things by the “seat of my pants”.  I plan and actually bounce things off of other people to get their input before I take action.  A new concept for me but one which reaped many benefits.

All of these lead me to this year of COURAGE!

Whatever your word is for this year, I wish you a safe, healthy and Happy New Year.  May this year bring you everything you desire….

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

De-Stress Your Mind and Body

“Self-care is not selfish or self-indulgent. We cannot nurture others from a dry well. We need to take care of our own needs first, and then we can give from our surplus, our abundance.”           Jennifer Louden

Happy Friday!  This isn’t just any Friday.  It is the Friday of a holiday weekend.  For many, it will be the kickoff to 3 days of family, fun and sun.  For some, they will use this time to relax and recharge while others will think of the million things that need to get done.

Yup, I am the one who pushes myself.  For years, I didn’t seem to have an off switch.  I mean to be successful you need to work hard, right?  I am learning that self-care is important for me to reach my BIG goals.  Sometimes I think the latest round of health challenges was the wake up call that I needed so I had no choice but to nurture and heal myself.

It can be tough finding time to practice self-care, we all need to nurture ourselves—emotionally, physically, spiritually, and mentally.  Here are some tips that you can start to practice this weekend…

1. Take ownership.

Take personal responsibility for your wellness. We need to form and maintain healthy habits that enable us to thrive. No one else can do this for us.

2. Commit.

It wasn’t until the brain fog, the chronic tiredness along with the aches and pains set in was I willing to make a commitment.  It was when I was unable to do the things that I loved that realized the many things that I took for granted.  Identify the self-care practices that help you function at your best—meditation, short walks, getting out in nature; anything that helps you recharge physically, emotionally, mentally, or spiritually. Then schedule these activities into your day.  Start with just 10-minutes a day so it isn’t so overwhelming.

3. Practice mindfulness.

Mindfulness is the foundation of self-care, because we’re only able to identify our needs when we’re present in our bodies. Mindfulness also nourishes our spirit by rooting us in the present moment. By practicing mindfulness, we become engaged with our surroundings.  Meditation is a great way to get a sense of calm, peace, and balance.

4. Take breaks for deep breathing.

I always thought this was crazy BUT taking regular mini breathing breaks throughout my day helps me to connect my mind, body, and spirit. Believe it or not, a few deep breaths during the day also energizes me.

When you breathe in, feel the gratitude for your life.  When you breathe out, et go of all the unnecessary demands that you place on yourself.

5. Nourish your spirit.

This could be getting outside and enjoying nature—a leisurely walk at sunrise or sunset, a swim in the ocean, or even just stepping outside into the fresh air and stopping to acknowledge how truly miraculous the world is. It is the simplest of acts that will fill your spirit with light.

6. Beware the “busy life.”

We are all BUSY.  Some believe it is a sign of success. How successful are you when you are stressed, exhausted, physically and mentally depleted, and missing out on opportunities for joy in your daily life?  I am trying to set boundaries so I am not using being too busy as an excuse for living a beautiful life.

7. Keep it simple.

It is only when we slow down that we’re able to recognize all the chaos that can fill our world. Keeping life simple is now a priority.  Where can you simplify or scale back? Where are you creating unnecessary stress or drama in your life?  When I keep it simple, I am open to accepting more love, laughter, joy, and happiness into my world.

8. Recognize and eliminate energy drains.

Who and what drains your energy?   What habits, activities, or relationships aren’t healthy for you? What, if eliminated, would provide a huge sense of relief?  When you are exhausted, and your energy is depleted, you need to learn to manage and replenish your energy—mind, body, and spirit—so that you can recover quickly.

You are worthy of self-love and self-care every day. We all are. For every positive choice we make, we support our mind, body, and spirit. Self-care fuels us with the strength and energy we need to achieve all of our dreams.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

 

Personal Development

This week’s calendar is filled with lots of things and I am wondering if I overbooked.  I thought I was learning how to block time for every aspect of my life – well, at least most of it.

Personal Development is something that I usually leave for last.  I know, after  LOTS of networking and training events with Thirty One and as an Executive with a non-profit you would think I would know better, right?  Or at least add it to my calendar blocking.  As I have said before, I do better when I am busy – when my calendar is full of appointments, meetings calls and parties.  Then it is easy for me to carve out time for me (and my family). Weird, huh? But, I never seem to find time for reading or doing things that will improve ME!

Today’s calendar is all about personal development which just happened by mistake.  I am starting with a Leadership Call with Thirty One.  From there I move into a training with JulieAnn Jones on Virtual Parties.  Yes, I said “virtual” not Facebook.  As soon as I understand the difference, I will share it with you all!!! In between these two things is my National Leadership Mentorship training.  I am hoping that all of this will keep me moving forward to reach my goals in personal volume this month.  Okay, so you are wondering, why is she rambling on about all of this, right?

Personal development is defined as “activities that improve awareness and identity, develop talents and potential, build human capital and facilitate employability, enhance quality of life and contribute to the realization of dreams and aspirations”.  

I have identified some of my weaknesses in my business so I am working hard to learn all that I can about improving those skills.  Did I just realize what they were?  NO!  I just never thought I had a lot of time for personal development.  I left it for conferences and trainings without seeking out ways to improve on my own.

I have identified areas in my emotional, mental and social life that need to change too.  So, I am taking steps to make those changes.  It is not always easy but they are important.

Personal development is about change – accepting what is lacking in an area, looking for solutions or ways to improve, being willing to change and then EMBRACING the change so that it will become a habit.  I bet you never thought about personal development like that, right?  All along having faith (even the size of a mustard seed) that God’s plan for you will come to fruition.

What are you doing for YOUR personal development?  Need help in finding some solutions… share with us and maybe one of our readers can help.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!