For many of you, there’s a to-do list today. School drop offs and pick ups, mounds of laundry, bills to pay. Of course, for many of you you’re also very organised, great at delegating, and have a space in your home already that’s just for junk that no one but you can see. Either way, my experience has told me that there’s always something that people “mean to get round to” but it takes about a year to actually do it. So, in the words of my Manager, let’s “Get it Done!”
- The Multiplier effect
The what? You know that old saying “Kill two birds with one stone”? That’s what I’m talking about here – what can you get done in the course of doing something you already do? Let’s say you have a pile of old school uniforms lying in the laundry that you don’t know what to do with. Get rid of them! While you’re on your way home to the school pick up, or while you’re waiting in the car for your child to finish practice, why not make use of that time – “Well I was going there anyway..” and pop any unwanted, old, outgrown uniform in to the School Uniform Bank at VisionWest Community Trust in Glen Eden. It’s on one of the main roads in Glen Eden, not off the beaten track, and, even if the Uniform Bank is closed, you can drop your things into the main reception. This is the only uniform bank of its kind in Auckland and it’s one step up from giving to the items to an Op Shop because you know the right items are going to the right families for the right purpose. Everyone’s a winner.
- Be Prepared
For those of you who ever did Girl Guides, you’ll know that their motto is “always be prepared” – and it”s a good motto to have. I have a work colleague who, as soon as her daughters have outgrown something, puts the item straight into the boot of her car. That way, she is prepared every time she sees a donation bin. She doesn’t have to “remember it for next time” or add it to her to do list. It gets out of the house straight away, and, with so many convenient places to pass things on, it’s not hard to keep her car clean too. Westfield Westcity now has collection bins at their Customer Service desk for donations towards the VisionWest Op Shop. So, next time you’re at the mall, you can be prepared with the gear in your boot, and clear the car for the new purchases at the same time.
- Reduce, Reuse, Replace
Replace? Yes, we often here all the others but replace is a good one too – instead of putting more “stuff” in your home, try “replacing” instead – for every new outfit you buy, donate an old one to VisionWest OpShop. This can apply to homewares, bedding, and sports equipment as well as clothes. Of course, when you do donate something, check it for rips, tears, holes, and other damage – if you’re never going to wear it or find time to mend any of these then do you think someone else will? If not, donate it to textile recycling, If it’s only minor, then put a ribbon or rubberband around the area first so it can be easily identified when the Op Shop team are sorting it. Are you getting any use from a mismatched pair of shoes? No? Then noone else will either. Take it to textile recycling.
Of course, all of the above still require you to pick things up, and get them into the car but why not get the kids and other family members involved? Make it their responsibility to put any ill fitting, old clothes/uniform/sportsgear in a designated bag in the same spot in your house then, when you put the recycling/rubbish out each week, put that bag in your car/by the door so when you leave the house next, you’re set. What about you? Email us your top tips to a clutter free home to partnerships@visionwest.org.nz