Get Organized Now! Newsletter by Maria Gracia http://www.getorganizednow.com Issue: January 9-15, 2010 Number of Subscribers: 181,999 ====================================================== Hello {!firstname_fix} ====================================================== ====================================================== Organize Those Mountains of Paper Once and For All ====================================================== So many people have spoken of the so-called paperless society. There's no doubt that the world hasn't caught on to this concept yet. There's more paper than ever... bank statements, insurance paperwork, schedules, school-related reports, medical records, warranties-- and of course all the fun paper too, like memorabilia, articles, hobby-related stuff and more. This is not to mention all the email messages and computer documents that get printed and copied each day--even more paper! These papers start small, quickly turn into piles, and then grow into mountains. Sometimes, these mountains of paper get so high, that the thought of tackling them is just too overwhelming-- especially when you don't have a good filing system in place or much time to put one together. If you're sick and tired of the piles of paper taking over your home and your life and you just don't know where to start, I have a solution for you. The good news is, this solution won't take hardly any time at all, and the result will be stunning--a filing system that will allow you to dismantle those mountains and find whatever you're looking for in seconds. Visit: http://www.getorganizednow.com/filing.html P.S. I guarantee you'll be able to get all your paper organized, in an efficient, easy-as-pie to set up filing system that will be the envy of all your friends. Here's what a few of our customers had to say ... Your My Oh-So-Organized Filing System was just the ticket for me to finally get my files lean and mean! I started one Saturday afternoon with four file drawers and two boxes. A few hours, three bags of shredded material and one Pride and Prejudice miniseries on DVD later, I was down to just one two-drawer file cart with a handful of stackable trays, one grab-and-go file holder for my desk and an organized box of manuals and warranties for my husband's workbench. All I had to do was open the filing system, put labels on folders, and get to work. Besides having everything all planned and printed, the most helpful aspect of the system was the handy guide. I learned there were plenty of papers that needed to be shredded instead of filed and I gleaned some really useful tips for keeping information at my fingertips. I never realized how much information I kept scattered around the house. Now it's all in one place--easy to find and easy to use. The day after I finished setting up the system my husband needed a manual for one of our appliances. I was able to locate it within seconds. Boy, was he impressed! Thanks again for such a great product. --Cate Brizzell, Author of 'Real People Don't Diet' I wanted to thank you for putting together My Oh-So- Organized Filing System. It is such a simple idea, but worth every penny. I put your system to work immediately, and you should see my filing drawer--it's beautiful! I could not have achieved the level of success without your completely thought out system. It's wonderful. Everything is filed away and neat and organized. I can find anything. I showed my husband and he was so impressed, he was telling the neighbors! Excellent product--I highly recommend it! --Jennifer Thoden, Drapery Sewing Supplies I received the filing system today and have started to label and organize my files. I hesitated to get it, because, after all, why should I pay for file folder labels when I could just write out my own? After receiving the booklet and labels, I'm so grateful that so much of the organizing work has been done for me! This system seems very well thought-out and is a breeze to implement. Thank you so much for developing this system-- it is well worth the money and then some! --Lorri Nicolini ====================================================== Save or Toss? 10 Things You Should Ask Before Making a Decision ====================================================== Many times a day we have decisions to make, whether it is decluttering, handling paper mail, filing or email. We have all kinds of decisions to make and there is sometimes confusion as to what we should do. In general, asking one or more of these questions will help you to make the decisions that you need to make. 1. Do I absolutely love it? This question may not be applicable in all situations, but it certainly is an excellent question to ask yourself when you are trying to decide whether to keep an item, or get rid of it. If you cannot honestly say you absolutely love the item, you don't need to keep it. 2. Does it serve a useful purpose? Now at first glance, this may seem like a no brainer, but sometimes we need to ask the simplest questions. How many times to we put something in our homes that we don't really have a use for? So, ask yourself if items you are holding on to serve a useful purpose. If the answer is no, or not really, let it go! 3. Will it be out-of-date before I need it again? Sometimes we hold on to books and publications thinking we will need them again. Too often the information is out of date before we need it again. Knowing this should make it easier to let loose of your old textbooks, or even professional publications. Besides, it’s just too easy to find the most up-to-date information on the web. 4. Am I hanging on to it out of obligation? Let’s face it, we all feel a twinge of guilt when we think about not keeping a gift. It’s good to ask ourselves the question of whether or not we're keeping it out of obligation. If we are, then we need to remember that a gift is given without strings or obligations, and the receiver is free to do as they wish with the gift. 5. Will it affect me financially if I toss or shred it? When it comes to paperwork, it seems that we hang on to paper more so than anything else--fearing financial repercussions if we toss or shred. There are many places that you can get advice on what financial records you need to keep and for how long. Beyond that, you can shred financial papers without fear. If it’s a receipt for an item you still own that is under warranty, by all means keep it with the owner’s manual, but other than that, fear not! ====================================================== Finally Organized, Finally Free -- for the HOME by Maria Gracia * HOT PRODUCT! Huge (405 Pages) HOME Edition! * Finally, a comprehensive resource to help you get organized once and for all! * Get 2,175 organizing tips, ideas and techniques to help you organize your home, your time and your life! Are you absolutely sick of all the clutter that seems to seep into every single room in your home? What about your overflowing email inbox? Do you wish the mountains of paper would magically vanish into thin air? Do you always feel like you can never catch up with your endless to do list? Is your family sabotaging your organizing efforts? In short, do you wish you can live a more organized, happy, less chaotic life? Visit: http://www.getorganizednow.com/foffhome.html P.S. Make 2010 your year to get organized! ====================================================== 6. Do I have a place for it? How often do we bring something into our home knowing exactly where we'll place it? Not that often if we're honest. More often than not we make impulse purchases and then have to deal with where to put it. So, make a conscious decision to stop and think before you buy, and decide based on knowing exactly where it will go in your home. Chances are, you won't make that impulse purchase after all! 7. Do I really need to buy it, or can I rent it? How much have you purchased that you only needed once or twice a year? In most cases, rather than owning and thus storing, you can rent much of what you use for entertaining, especially if you entertain infrequently. The charge to rent isn't usually anywhere near the cost to purchase and you don't end up with clutter that you have to store! 8. Do I need to keep a hard copy? When it comes to paper, we often hang on to more than we need to, creating the need for storage space. Rather than printing from your computer, save a copy to your computer a copy of whatever you might ordinarily print off just to file. Create different folders on your computer or better yet, on a removable or external drive. For other paperwork you need, why not scan a copy and save it in one of your folders! 9. Do I use it? We all have things we've kept that we've never used. Why are these things taking up space in our homes? If we don't use it, lose it! If we don't wear it, donate it! If we don't eat it, get rid of it! Think how much less work there will be around the house if we don't spend all our time maintaining stuff we never use, wear or eat! 10. What's the worst thing that could happen if I get rid of it? By trying to figure out the worst ‘what-if’ we can be assured that in all likelihood, it won't ever be an unrecoverable act to get rid of something. For example, say you shred your bank statements and end up needing a copy of one of the statements? No problem, simply contact your bank for another copy! Or, if you have scanned and stored copies, you have them at the ready without having paper taking up valuable space. In nearly all cases, recovery is that easy! ====================================================== Finally Organized, Finally Free -- for the OFFICE * HOT PRODUCT! Huge (395 Pages) OFFICE Edition! * Finally, a comprehensive resource to help you get organized once and for all! * Get 1,875 organizing tips, ideas and techniques to help you organize your office, your files, your schedule and so much more! Your phone is ringing, your email inbox is bursting, your To File tray is spilling onto the floor. You can't find the paper you're looking for. Your To Do list is already so long, and growing by the second. You can never leave work on time, you're missing deadlines and you're up to your eyeballs in work. As they say, somethings gotta give! Are you ready to get organized at the office? Visit: http://www.getorganizednow.com/foffoffice.html ====================================================== New Stuff and Site Updates ====================================================== Everything below is accessible by visiting: http://www.getorganizednow.com Please note that we update our site on a weekly basis, so the new stuff and site updates below may only be available for one week. ** Get Organized Now! Blog: Department 2 Read my personal comments, stories tips and observations about getting and staying organized in today's hectic world. You don't want to miss it. Newest entries: 1) 1/07 - What do you see? 2) 12/30 - Celebrating the Old and the New 3) 12/23 - Christmas is Not One Day 4) 12/14 - The UN-hectic Approach to Holiday Shopping 5) 12/07 - Good Things Are Often Planned Visit: http://getorganizednow.typepad.com/get_organized_now_weblog/ ** NEW Weekly Organizing Challenge: Department 1 Each week, you'll get a new challenge. How fun knowing that lots of people are working on the same goal! Check out what this week's challenge is. We've just posted our Week of January 9th challenge. Go to the link below and look for the woman putting away her decorations. http://getorganizednow.com/#challenge ** FEATURED Articles: Department 3 This month, we're featuring these 5 super organizing articles: 1) Organizing Phone Calls 1-2-3 2) Save a Minute. Gain Hours! 3) Saving Time by Asking Why 4) Stow It Away 5) Time is Not Money Go to the link below and look for the red telephone. http://getorganizednow.com/#articles ** January Monthly Checklist: Department 1 2010 is here! Make this your year to get organized. Start today with our new January monthly organizing checklist. Go to the link below and look for the Happy New Year sign. http://www.getorganizednow.com/#checklist ** Web Poll: Department 14 Our featured multiple choice question is, 'When it comes to most meals at dinner time, do you eat home-cooked meals, use a personal chef, order in or eat out?' Go to the following link and cast your vote. It only takes a second, and your opinion can be heard. Visit: http://www.getorganizednow.com/#webpoll ====================================================== At Last! How To Take The Digital Photos You've Always Wanted, And Finally Have Them Turn Out Like A Professional Photographer Has Taken Them--...Even If You've Never Used A Digital Camera Before And Don't Know Anything About Photography. ====================================================== Did you know that you can go from getting average digital photos to a professional looking photos in just 14 days? Did you also know that you can take beautiful, 'reach-out- and-grab-you' photos on just a 2 mega pixel camera and you do not need all the flashy, expensive equipment to do it? Let me smash this myth; you do not need loads of megapixels in your digital camera to take beautifully clear photos with your digital camera. And let me tell you one very important thing too; you can go from taking less than satisfying photos to taking superb, outstanding photos, with sharp clarity and perfect definition, right from the comfort your own home. In fact you can even do it from the chair you are sitting in right now.... Imagine being able to take your camera anywhere and get the shots to turn out exactly the way you want, every time. Your photographs will be the envy of your friends, and you'll have beautiful memories to last you and your family a lifetime. Visit: http://641a0fsfwnm8zrh3v1ngureya6.hop.clickbank.net/ ====================================================== An Organizing Tip From One of Our Readers ====================================================== When you find a pair of jeans with worn or damaged areas, you can cut the legs off before tossing. Stitch the bottom together, stitch a hem at the top and insert a pull string. You could add a longer shoulder carry strap while stitching. This creates a neat carry bag for many uses depending on the length you choose. A tall bag can carry a camera tripod, an exercise matt, or even a bag to store dowels in the work shop. --Steve Badger, Boston, MA * * * * * Submit your favorite organizing tip! Visit: http://www.getorganizednow.com/readertip.html ====================================================== Drowning in a Sea of Loose Papers and Sticky Notes? Here's Help! ====================================================== Movies you want to see someday, books you'd like to read, phone numbers, addresses, goals you wish to meet, recipes you want to try, wish lists, ideas, your cleaning checklist, your to do list... There's so much information you have to keep track of, but where do you put it all? Typically, it ends up on scraps of paper and sticky notes stuck to the refrigerator, bulletin boards and computer monitors, scattered on your kitchen table and your desk. Are you at your wit's end? If so, you'll be happy to know that I have the perfect solution to this problem. Visit: http://www.getorganizednow.com/ezorganizer.html ====================================================== An Organizing Tip From One of Our Readers ====================================================== Is your address book a mess because people move or change phone numbers? To alleviate this problem use a pencil to write down your family and friends information. If someone moves or changes information you can just erase the previous info and start fresh. This has reduced buying a new address book and keeps the information organized and neat. --Jen Lenau, Sandwich, MA Jen is married, the mother of a 5 year old son, and a nanny of a 3 year old boy. Staying organized is a must with all the activities that these little guys are involved in. * * * * * Submit your favorite organizing tip! Visit: http://www.getorganizednow.com/readertip.html ====================================================== Finally... A Quick and Easy Way To Get Dinner On The Table AND Enjoy More Quality Time With Your Family ====================================================== Inside this special report you will learn ... --Why not planning your meals ahead of time can cost you hundreds of dollars and precious hours not spent with family and friends. --How a regular family dinner can result in a more loving relationship with your kids, less trouble at home and even a reduced risk of school dropout and teen pregnancy. --Get started right away with a Free Menu Planner and Shopping List. Claim your Free Menu Planning Basics Report and Printable Resources right now. Visit: http://www.menuplanningcentral.com/order/go.php?r=3346&i=l0 ====================================================== Organizing Challenge Notes ====================================================== Week of . . . January 2, 2010 Donate 3 Things to a Favorite Charity. Got it done already, donated unused Christmas decor that no one will miss for next year and a few outgrown (too large, yeah!) pieces of winter/holiday clothing. It all went through my local Free-cycle group, love it! Thanks always for the inspiration! --Dawn in NJ I made this super easy. Every year I struggle, getting out all of the Christmas decorations. I have far too many to put out in our small home, but nevertheless keep them ALL! Well this year I set a big box aside and tossed my not so favorites in as well as the fixable, broken ones that have been on the list to mend for years and ignored. OF COURSE, ALL of the decors is sentimental, but setting it in this box seemed to give them a home for the holiday. As we put up everything into the rafters yesterday, now that the holidays are over, my husband and grandson spotted one last box to put up. I hadn't looked into it, decided not to, and told them it is off to charity, the closest drop box. It felt good, even though it was only one box, but I collect EVERYTHING memorable, so this is a big step forward into the new year! Hooray! --Deb Cavanaugh, Aurora, Colorado ====================================================== Are you in an unhappy relationship? Considering Leaving? Here's how to make the best decision possible about what's right for you. ====================================================== A lot of people think that if they don't really focus on their hurting relationships--and whether they wish to stay in the relationships or break free--that the problems will magically somehow heal themselves. They won't. If you don't invest some quality time now in taking a true, honest and truthful look at the state of your relationship, you could stay stuck in this place of indecision for a very long time. Why waste so much precious time when you could be experiencing an incredible relationship filled with love, passion and joy? I encourage you to decide that you're not willing to live without the love, passion, intimacy, tenderness, connection or happiness any longer. You have to take the first step to create the kind of relationship and love you want in your life. Visit: http://41de94phtquavt4e878gs4zw8e.hop.clickbank.net/ ====================================================== Become Our Fan on Facebook ====================================================== http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Get-Organized-Now/50467098715?ref=ts * * * * * Follow Us on Twitter http://twitter.com/getorgnow ====================================================== In Closing ====================================================== There's a trick to the graceful exit. It begins with the vision to recognize when a job, a life stage, or a relationship is over, and let it go. It means leaving what's over without denying its validity or its past importance to our lives. It involves a sense of future, a belief that every exit line is an entry, that we are moving up, rather than out. --Ellen Goodman And remember . . . there's no better time to get organized, than to Get Organized Now! Warmly, Maria Gracia Get Organized Now! http://www.getorganizednow.com ====================================================== (c) Copyright 2010 by Maria Gracia, Get Organized Now! ====================================================== * Copyright, contact and reprint information: http://www.getorganizednow.com/contact.html * You signed up to receive our Idea-Kit and/or our Newsletter at our Get Organized Now! Web site. We never add names unless you have voluntarily opted in. * We never rent, trade or sell our email list to anyone. You'll never get an unsolicited email from a stranger as a result of joining this list. * To subscribe, visit: http://www.getorganizednow.com/free-ezine.html * To unsubscribe, click the link at the bottom of this email. 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