20, Jun 2022
You may have done a few DIY moves over the years. Often students will throw their belongings into a buddy’s pickup truck and drive over to their new place all for the low, low, price of pizza and beer. Everyone wants to reduce moving costs, but there are several common… Read more
21, Mar 2022
When it comes to household chores, some people would rather clean toilets than manage their money. I can understand that. We used to have paper-based banking (Do you remember having a bank book?) Then, financial institutions moved towards digital banking. However, some accounts are still paper-based, so we end up… Read more
17, Jan 2022
Over the past few weeks, store advertisements have flooded my inbox with their storage container sales. The deals are tantalizing – from shelving units and storage bins to food containers and toolboxes. Discount prices seduce you with the idea that by purchasing these containers, you can miraculously organize your home…. Read more
13, Dec 2021
In theory, when someone gives you a present, it is yours to do with as you please. In practice, however, when people give gifts, they choose a specific item with the recipient in mind. When you think about it in this way, regifting can be a precarious endeavour. However, you… Read more
07, Dec 2021
Most people think professional organizers rarely shop, so I bet you are surprised to learn I am a frequent shopper. I explained my reasons to Anita Saulite in the Tangerine article “What Kind of Holiday Shopper Are You?” (internet archives) I created a “Gift Ideas” list in the Notes app… Read more
21, Dec 2020
At the end of children’s birthday parties, each guest gets a “loot bag,” a small bag of goodies (candy and cheap toys), to take home. Children devour the candy quickly, and the toys and gadgets break equally fast. As a professional organizer, I find loot bag clutter in almost every… Read more
09, Mar 2020
After managing hundreds of moves, the Out of Chaos team has learned a thing or two about which furniture is easy to move and which is not. We’ve seen what pieces are simple to assemble and disassemble, which items will withstand several moves, and which will fall apart. With about… Read more
06, Feb 2020
I was happy to write an article to help people with organized buying on MaxSold Auctions. Here is the intro… “I normally spend time helping people downsize and sell their items by auction with MaxSold. However, people do need and want stuff, despite wanting to have a clutter-free lifestyle. They… Read more
11, Nov 2019
Most Canadians do not consider moving in the winter as most of the country experiences freezing temperatures, snow, and ice for several months. However, there are a few benefits. Moving companies are generally less busy during this season. There is more flexibility on dates, and the costs could be significantly… Read more
09, Sep 2019
Once you have gone through the process of sorting, purging, and emerging from chaos, it is time to look for organizing products. With entire stores dedicated to selling organizing tools equipment, it is all too easy to spend hundreds of dollars on containers, baskets, and bins only to find that… Read more
Get FREE clutter control tips from a professional organizer direct to your inbox! Sign up for my newsletter!
Thanks for really making a difference in my life (no exaggeration!)
— Dave L., High School Teacher