by Danielle on October 22, 2012
Spend a Little, Save A Lot
How?
You have heard the adage “you have to spend money to make money”. But have you ever considered that you can “spend money to save money”? Prioritizing, saving and smart money management is simply good practice. But what if I told you that by hiring a Professional Organizer, you could actually put money back into your pocket? “How?” you ask.
- Eliminate duplicate purchases. Purchasing duplicates – big or small- is easy to do when those rarely used items are stuffed away and out of sight.
- Return items you never used. Sounds strange, but while uncluttering you may uncover items you purchased months ago that still have the tags on them. Many large department stores have a generous return policy.
- Re-gift. Who has never rewrapped and re-gifted a gift that was never taken out of the box? It is so acceptable that a term was created for it –“white elephant”.
- Know what is in your pantry and make a grocery list. When you go to the store without a list you spend 60% more on average than if you had one.
- Knowing what is in your pantry aids to better meal planning. Food prices will continue to increase so be creative and stretch out that food dollar.
- Eliminate late fees. If you don’t adhere to a monthly bill paying routine, bills can be misplaced and ultimately paid late.
- Empty out the paid storage unit. The average cost of paid storage is over $700 per family per year.
- Cash in the cushions. It’s shocking what you will discover in those pockets or old purses when you dump them upside down.
- Sell stuff you no longer want. There are so many options – on-line actions, local consignment stores, neighborhood garage sales.
- Once you have organized space and systems in place, you will want to maintain them. Your urge to shop will diminish when you discover how great it feels to live in space without the extra stuff lying around.
These are just a few ways that a Professional Organizer can help you save money. There are many many more benefits offered by a Professional Organizer– financially, mentally, emotionally as well as the positive impact your renewed space will have on your physical health and on your relationships. The rewards are limitless.
Being organized is more than de-cluttering and creating peaceful space. It is about creating systems that compliment your busy life. It’s about knowing where everything is and feeling confident that you are spending wisely. It’s about saving time and planning activities you enjoy. It’s about feeling liberated.
Don’t let fear keep you from opening up your home. The S.O.S. Crew are trained Professional Organizers. Our goal is to help you achieve your goals of renewed space, restored balance and, in the end, more time and more money to focus on things that bring you and your family joy.
Take advantage of our Free Assessment.
Call or email S.O.S. today
Your S.O.S. Crew
by Danielle on July 31, 2012
Home Safe Home
Is Your Home Ready for Your Future Needs?
By the time we find our place in this world and we have planted roots, raised a family and become part of a community, it can be difficult, for some, to consider uprooting and making another move in later years.
Increasingly, baby boomers are making the decision to live in their family home for the duration. Although this is a great option for many aging adults, let us not overlook the fact that most homes are not well equipt with the aging adult in mind, especially those with
dementia or
Alzheimer’s Disease.
- 5.1 Americans currently have Alzheimer Disease. That is 13% of population.
- 70% of people with some form of memory dementia live at home
- Only 5% of nursing home beds are allocated for Alzheimer’s Disease
- By 2030, the number of people with dementia is expected to increase 50% to 7.7 million
- By 2050, that rate is expected to reach 16 million
- Twice as many women as men will suffer from Alzheimer’s Disease- women live longer
The Basics: It is necessary for a caregiver or family member to regularly evaluate your aging adults home for safety concerns as needs may vary dramatically and change over time. This basic checklist will help you begin assessing the home for upcoming changes.
- De-clutter: Clutter can result from an inability to care for one’s home, or is the outcome of Hoarding tendencies. It is important to understand the difference, as the approach to eliminating clutter will be different.
- Clear out closets and limit options: Options become overwhelming as Alzheimer disease progresses.
- Furniture placement: Critically assess furniture placement as it pertains to safety such as providing clear pathways and eliminating the potential for falls or other accidents. Don’t move furniture unless necessary as this may be confusing.
- Area rugs: Remove rugs that are not securely affixed to the floor.
- Lighting: Increase incandescent lighting in general. Increase lighting in task specific areas- under cabinets, near a favorite chair, along walkways. Include nightlights in bed/bath.
- Décor: Busy furniture patterns, decorations and wallpaper can be confusing for individuals with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Replace with solid contrasting colors.
- Important Documents: Important documents should be organized and easily accessible by family and/or caregiver. Assess what information is available to an individual with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.
- Doors and Locks: If wandering is an issue, install appropriate locks. Be sure there is a spare key safely concealed outside of the home should you get locked out or a friend/neighbor need to get inside.
- Designate a locked location for items that may become dangerous such as cleaning supplies and tools.
Taking it One Step Further: Making structural changes as it relates to dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and Aging in Place are often necessary steps toward creating a safe, universal and barrier free design that is comfortable and non-institutional for all residence. An Aging in the Home assessment should consider current as well as anticipated needs and should be done by a certified and trained specialist.
Please contact S.O.S. for a detailed discussion on how we can assess your seniors home for safety concerns.
Please share your successful strategies to ensure your seniors safety in their home.
The S.O.S. Crew
