Ellen Hankes

Collectors Face Downsizing Dilemas

Are you a collector? Do you find variations on a theme irresistible? Do you get a rush when you find a piece of china that is the missing link to your memories of Grandma? Perhaps you collect books by a certain author or matchbooks from every state.

What do you do when you outlive the fondness for your collections? Interests and lifestyles change, and sometimes we have to make room for fewer things in our lives. Making decisions about what to do with collectibles requires know-how, time and energy.

Antique and collectible author and spokesperson Harry L. Rinker provides valuable information on what to consider when downsizing collections in his book "Sell, Keep, or Toss? How to Downsize a Home, Settle an Estate, and Appraise Personal Property."

Tiny Staple is a Big Timesaver

These little half-inch slivers of metal are big timesavers! With a stapler on my desk I can securely fasten together multiple pages that might otherwise get lost. You can argue that paper clips are not much larger and they have multiple uses as well. When you are filing papers, stapled pages just work better. Staples can be removed fairly easily if need be.

Are you a stapler? Have you found a unique use for staples? Tell us more by responding to my blog.

Spring for Seasonal Closet Reorganization

With spring's arrival, we often exchange the winter-weary wardrobe for lighter colors and cooler fabrics. Do you have a plan for your Spring Closet Transformation?

Try our easy 3 step plan to get your closet ready for spring:

1. Weed. Remove items that don't fit your body or your lifestyle. Donate to charity, repurpose or discard, depending on condition and style. If possible, store winter items in a way that allows maximum space for current clothing needs.
2. Check it out. Take inventory of your spring and summer clothing and accessories. Get rid of what doesn't fit your needs.
3. Make a wish list. By having a list of what you need to fill in the gaps, you will be less vulnerable to impulse shopping and overspending. Your purchases can be planned as resources including time and money are available.

Make a date with yourself for a Spring Closet Reorganization.

What have you rediscovered in your closet? Let us know by sending me a note.

Savy Shoppers Select Reusable Bags

Reusable shopping bags are everywhere. Modestly priced and made of recycled materials, they give today's consumer an alternative to plastic shopping bags. The ones I purchased at my local large discount store were a buck apiece. Each bag is made from approximately 4 recycled plastic soda bottles.

The people of earth are using over 1 million bags a minute according to resusablebags.com, Plastic bags have significant environmental impact due to litter, lack of degradation, and incompatibility with wildlife. Cloth or bags of recycled materials can dramatically reduce the use of plastic bags.

Here are some tips to put those reusable shopping bags to work for you: