2016 is almost upon us, but before we ring in the new year, let’s take a look at the Top Ten Horizon Goodwill Blogs Of 2015. Did your favorite make the list? [Read more…] about The Top Ten Horizon Goodwill Blogs Of 2015
January Is The Month To Get Organized!
It’s no coincidence that the National Association of Professional Organizers has deemed January National Get Organized Month! If the thought of going through all of your closets, cupboards, cabinets and cellars has you breaking out in a cold sweat, don’t, uh, sweat it…..because you’re in luck! This week we’re going to give you some helpful tips and tricks on how to pull your living space together, not only to make 2015 more manageable, but also to assist others in improving their job prospects. Sounds totally unrelated? It’s not! [Read more…] about January Is The Month To Get Organized!
10 Low-Cost Tips for Staying Organized at Home
If you’re like us, one of your New Year’s resolutions is to de-clutter and get organized. Being organized offers a heap of benefits: peace of mind, money savings, less stress and less time wasted searching for “missing” items. If you’re struggling to conquer the clutter, here are 10 low-cost tips for staying organized in 2014.
- Bring less into your home. If you have a lot of clutter, chances are you have a lot of stuff in general. Once things are in your house, it’s often harder to get rid of them. Instead of buying something or keeping it because you like it, only keep the things you love and have to have.
- Get rid of clothing, household items and gently used items you no longer use and donate them to Horizon Goodwill Industries. Not only are you clearing space and removing items you no longer need, but you’re also helping people in your community find jobs. Click here to find a drop-off location near you.
- Make an easy, workable to-do list. This helps you access what needs done around the house, how high a priority each task is, and gives you simple satisfaction when you complete a task and cross it off the list.
- Schedule a weekend or weekday where you can clear your schedule and get the entire family involved in simple, home organization tasks. This can include getting boxes and trash bags ready, or planning a drop-off trip to Goodwill®.
- Do one thing at a time. Taking on too much at once will only overwhelm you. To stay motivated in your organization endeavor, tackle one room (the garage, for example) or space before moving on to the next.
- Recycle. Do you have magazines or old newspapers lying around? What about junk mail piled high on the kitchen counter? Place recyclable items in the recycle bin, and donate your old computer equipment to Horizon Goodwill Industries.
- Find a “home” for every item. This is one of the big reasons things tend to pile up. Store items in rooms where they’re used. Put things away when you’re done using them so they don’t turn into huge piles. If it’s something you use regularly, keep in a place with easy access.
- Reward yourself. This doesn’t mean run out and buy another thing to create more clutter. Instead, reward yourself by hosting a Sunday luncheon with friends and family at your now organized home. Buy flowers for the kitchen table, or treat the family to a movie. It’s the little things that help keep you motivated.
- Delegate. Don’t be afraid to get the family involved. Assign tasks like straightening the playroom to the kids, and have the adults take on larger responsibilities like scrubbing floors and moving heavy boxes.
- Stop feeling guilty. Sometimes we spend money on things we never end up using — that $200 pair of designer jeans that don’t even fit now, for example. Stop feeling bad about the money you spent or why you’re not using these items! Donate them to Goodwill instead, and get rid of that guilt.
Kick Off the New Year by Donating to Horizon Goodwill Industries
One of the best ways to ring in a fresh, New Year is by de-cluttering your home or business and getting organized! It’s amazing how getting and staying organized can affect your mind and body. The cleaner and more organized your surroundings are, the more relaxed and motivated you are to accomplish simple daily tasks. And don’t we all need that come Jan. 1?
When you donate your gently used items, it’s important to give to charities you know and trust. Goodwill® is consistently ranked among the top charities that make your donations go further. Some thrift stores solicit your donations under the name of a charity, but as little as 5 percent of the money generated actually goes to charity. At Horizon Goodwill Industries, 90 percent of revenues go directly into employment and training programs for people with barriers to employment. In other words, we turn your old jeans into jobs!
The best part is all donated items in good, used condition qualify for a tax deduction. Please do not donate items that have been recalled by manufacturers or the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Goodwill must pay to dispose of poor quality donations, which decreases the funds available for our mission services. Check our “Donation Information” page for items we gladly accept. You can also donate old computers and peripherals to HGI, a member of the Dell ReConnect program, to keep computers out of our landfills. If you are thinking of buying a new car, consider donating your old vehicle to Goodwill — you could qualify for a tax deduction.
Clear that clutter and help people in your community by donating to Horizon Goodwill Industries this new year. Click here to find the closest drop-off center near you.