By Ann Springer

People frequently ask me what products I recommend they purchase to get organized. I think it’s a common misconception that getting organized costs a lot of money. In reality, I think you need a few great, inexpensive products and the motivation to work hard to complete the task.

Below are a few items that can help convert any cluttered and messy room into an organized and deliberately, designed retreat. To begin, you can remove the excuse of a lack of funds from your list of reasons why you haven’t started organizing. All of these items combined total less than $100.

1. Shelving. You can find beautiful and functional floating shelves at any hardware store these days. Shelving frees up space in a room and adds interest on a bare wall. You can use baskets to store away items on the shelving and then intersperse show pieces (candles and small frames photos) amongst the baskets. Closets and garages will double or triple in storage capacity once shelving is installed. Standard shelving can be used in these areas to save money.
2. Baskets. Beautiful baskets in natural textures bring the outdoors in and warm up a room. They also provide a space for storing small items that would otherwise clutter up and overwhelm an area. In the bathroom you could use it to keep beauty products together or hair accessories for young girls. Baskets can be used in an office area to gather papers or supplies. The possibilities are endless. Nice boxes, or attractive plastic bins, can also be used if baskets aren’t your thing or if you’re working in a kid space.
3. Label makers. I love my label maker and feel like no organizational project is complete unless you can find the stuff after you’ve organized it. Attractive labels that actually stick to the storage bin they’re intended for can help you locate objects faster than forging around each bin individually.
4. A trash can. The secret weapon to winning the war against clutter is the trash can. You need it to get the renovation rolling and you need it to maintain minimalism. I can’t think of many rooms in a house that couldn’t benefit from a waste basket. Whether it’s the laundry room, office, a bathroom, or a kid’s room, all have a greater chance of staying orderly if you have a system for disposing of unwanted items.

By Ann Springer

School has already commenced in some parts of the country, while others are still preparing for the big day. Returning to the school routine is both a great and dreadful day in many households. It marks the end of the fun summer but also the beginning of a fresh school year full of possibilities.

The back-to-school ritual is also a time that requires a lot of purchasing and preparing, but with the right

preparation you can save both time and money. The smell of freshly picked apples and the sight of school supplies can excite us for the commencement of a new school year, but if we’re not ready for it, it will overwhelm us and squelch us of our energy.

Here are some of the things you can do to prepare for that day that is an American tradition: The First Day of School. Even if you’ve already starting hitting the books again you can still take these steps to make sure the rest of the year goes smoothly.

1. Assess and take inventory. I take stock of every single item of clothing my daughters own, from their socks to their hats. We sort through every drawer and each closet, evaluating each item while we ask ourselves, 1) Does it still fit? 2) Do you wear it? If not, will you wear it ever? and 3) Is it stained, does it have a hole, or is it missing a button? This year I was shocked that we filled two full bags of clothing to be donated or passed down to younger nieces and one full bag of trash! That is one bag of unwanted items per child taking up space in our life.
2. Make a list. Once I’ve whittled each of their wardrobes down to what is actually useable for the coming school year, I make a list of items that we need to purchase.
3. Wash and wear. It’s amazing how an old, crusty pair of tennis shoes or a sticky backpack can look as good as new after a spin through the washing machine. The dryer may damage plastic snaps on backpacks, or add to the wear and tear of other items, so it may be best to let some items air dry.
4. Talk it over. Each year we seem to be adjusting alarm clocks to fit the needs of our schedule for that particular stretch of time. Instead of blurting out the awful early morning hour to my kids I let them count backwards and come to their own conclusion about what time they need to get up in the morning. It’s also a good time to set goals for helping them to become self-reliant in the morning (setting their own clock, showering, making lunch, etc.)
5. Review the rules. My husband and I always set aside the week before school begins to review all of our “Stranger Danger” warnings with the kids. The older they’ve gotten the more detailed we’ve been able to get in these topics. Our children aren’t out of our sight too often, but school is a place where our children are exposed to all kinds of people and things often without our knowledge. It’s a great time to remind them that they can always discuss things with us if they have questions or are confused by things they’ve heard or seen at school.
6. Go out with a bang. Set a date on the calendar amidst all of the busy preparations to have one last day of fun.