Buying Boxes

Simple Tip #9 Supplement: Buying Boxes

Here are some links if you don't want to make you're own boxes, but are still looking for affordable storage:

IKEA

Target

Staples

Amazon

Container Store

Walmart

Simple Tip #9

Simple Tip #9: Room Storage

This is one of those things that comes from reading too many IKEA catalogues, and watching too much Queer Eye for the Straight Guy as a kid. I like the idea of organization and putting things in boxes in their proper place so you can find them.

This is always a good tip for if you're currently living in a small apartment (God knows there are MILLIONS of apartment buildings around L.A) or if you just want to put some things in a nice discrete place in your house.

Now, you can go out and buy storage units (boxes and the like) for cheap at places like Target and possibly IKEA (not too sure about that one). But I want to talk about making your own storage.

All you really need is some shoe boxes or a couple bigger boxes, some wrapping paper, and sharpies. First off, I would decide what to store. I really don't have all that much I need to put away, so I've made up boxes for my CDs and birthday/christmas/other cards.

Well, anyways. Decide what you want to store and then take a box that you think will fit your things. Try fitting everything you want to put into the box first so you know if you need to downgrade or upgrade in size.

Next take your pick of wrapping paper. Some bright in colorful is always nice. I recently used some Japanese fan print paper I had left over from a one sheet. Take this and cover the lid of the box with it. Make sure it's nice and flat when you tape it down. Cut it up in pieces and tape it if you have too (I did this, and it was a lot easier to control the bumpiness of the paper).

When you're done with this, you have the option of doing the rest of the box. If its just a plain cardboard box or if its a plain color, it's not really necessary, but you are always welcome to do it. If it has writing all over it, then you'll probably want to cover it.

Once you're done wrapping the boxes, you can cut a piece of the wrapping paper (if you have left the bottom half of the box plain) or a piece of computer paper (if you did not) and write whatever is in the box.

You're done! Voila! You have easy, reusable and recycled storage boxes! Enjoy!

Simple Tip #6

Simple Tip #6: Out with Old Design, In with New

If there's one thing I know from shopping for furniture with my mom, looking at prices can sometimes make you want to have a heart attack. Therefore buying new furniture isn't the best idea unless you really really really need to change it.

Sure, new furniture can change a room, but so can rearranging some things. Besides reading American Girl self-help books (Room for You was essentially the design bible to my sister and me as children), I learned a lot about rearranging from my grandmother. She had the right idea.

She had the same furniture for years, but when I was younger, every few months, she would move around all the furniture in her bedroom for a new look. She loved doing and did it all by herself. Imagine an 80 year old woman pushing a king sized bed from one end of the room to another; I respect her for that stubborn ability to do things for herself.

I follow this rule too. I haven't had new furniture in my room since I was maybe...8 or 9 years old. I've had the same bedstead, desk and dresser drawers for years. Having it in the same spot for those many years just gets boring. So, I brought in the bookcase from my sister's room, pushed my desk under the window, bed to another wall. I just didn't change the dresser's place because that thing is too damn heavy. It made all the difference!

So, to save up money, just change things around. It makes a real difference! And plus, after all the cleaning out you may have done, everything will REALLY look different and really great too.

:)

Charity and Selling

Simple Tip #3 Supplement: Charity and Selling

Here are some links on where to donate and sell clothes and household items around L.A:

Salvation Army

L.A. Mission

Out of the Closet

Buffalo Exchange

A Place Called Home (Toys for children)

Goodwill

American Cancer Society

and many more...

Simple Tip #3

Simple Tip #3: Going Through Old Possessions

Clutter can be a really terrible thing. When someone has way too many possessions, life becomes cluttered. In Los Angeles, there are really two extremes: the far too extravagant and materialistic, and a clean minimalism. Then there is the inbetweens that teeter on clean and cluttered.

Cleaning out the clutter is a lot like cleaning out your clothes. When cleaning, separation is key. It's best to create three piles: Need, Charity/Sell, and Throw Away.

The things you need should be necessary to life or things that are of extreme importance to you (importance meaning, for example, books that have been passed down, and NOT that globe you bought at Pier 1 Imports that you thought gave the house a more worldly feel).

Things that go to charity or that will be sold should be things that other people can use, but that you don't want anymore. These things should be in good condition, not something that is stained, somehow destroyed, or in otherwise questionable condition.

Things that are thrown away is anything that is in bad condition, broken beyond repair or just useless to anyone. These are things that should be routinely thrown away before it starts to gather up in your garage.

Try and avoid storage, because then you're just paying for something you don't know whether you will use or not. I think that storage should be used when you're doing something to your home, moving, or putting things (that are important) away for your kid while they're at college, etc.

When you give to charity the best is to give to the Salvation Army or other charity organizations akin to that. Thrift stores are also excellent places to donate your things to.

Selling things can be done in a few ways. You have online (Ebay, Amazon, Half, etc), garage sales (if you live in an apartment, you should check with your landlord on whether you can do this), or selling to thrift stores.

Once you clean house, everything may feel lighter, bigger, and more livable. Plus, making some money by selling yourself is never bad either. It puts a little extra cash in your pocket or your bank account, and may even start a business for you.