You've probably heard that term
before. It means that as you're sorting a cluttered area, you will
regroup everything into 'like' sections. For example, storing your
fabric in one area -- they wouldn't be mixed up but, rather, you'd sort them by
color and/or type of fabric. Another section could be for your beading or
needlework supplies. Instead of having all craft items jumbled into one
huge cluttered area, you sort 'like with like'.
I'm an avid quilter and, thus, I
specialize in organizing sewing and craft rooms. Just yesterday I was
working with a client who's a quilter and a scrapbooker. She uses a
an extra bedroom to do both crafts, but her storage areas
overlapped. I moved her furniture around and was able to create separate
work areas for her sewing/quilting supplies and for her scrapbooking
supplies. Thus, we grouped 'like with like'.
In the kitchen, I group by usage: Cooking spices go near the
stove; silverware and dinnerware are kept in cabinets between the
dishwasher and the stove; baking supplies and products are grouped in cabinets
around a large work surface close to the oven. Now, this doesn't mean
that there aren't exceptions.
In our home, I've got the dried dog food stored in vertical containers
(with air-lock lids) in an area adjacent to the kitchen. I also store the dog
bowls there, because this is their feeding area. When it comes to washing
the dogs, however, all of their supplies are kept in the laundry room on the
other side of the house because that's where the bathing sink is. So, I've
still grouped 'like with like' but in this case it isn't practical to
group all of the dogs food/supplies into one area.
Now, onto a different, but timely, subject. We're fast
approaching tax season, and I hope you've used my advice from previous
columns to organize and maintain your paperwork. Most people don't take
nearly enough of a legitimate tax write-off when it comes to valuing their
donations of clothing, toys and other household items. We
all have old college textbooks or professional books that take up
space, so donate them to your local library! You can take a deduction
even if the books were given to you as a gift. Travel costs are
deductible as a charitable donation when they are not reimbursed by the charity.
And, of course, you can deduct your mileage to and from the doctor and
pharmacy. For more information, check out
www.itsdeductibleonline.com.
ItsDeductible is known as 'The Blue Book for Donated Items'. It has been
a great reference tool for me and my clients for many years. And, if
you're too inundated with paperwork and receipts to even get started on your
taxes, please utilize the services of a local Professional Organizer.
He/she can sort and combine 'like with like' to get you on your way
to your accountant.
