Christa Wagner

It goes without saying we are all putting more information online than ever before.  I have a rule of thumb that is don’t say or do anything I wouldn’t want my mother to read or see.  But there are a lot of subtle ways we share much more information than we even think. 

Here is a great article called Online social networking: a fraudster’s dream come true!  Take a minute to read and protect yourself from hackers, fraud and identity theft.

As a professional organizer, I am always looking for new products to share with my clients and here’s one I came across the other day (from a friend on Facebook).  The company is called SpiceTable and the product is SpiceCare; a spice storage system. 

With the SpiceCare system, “You keep spices them fresh and simplify storage–in containers as distinctive as the spices they contain.”  The SpiceCare System is sold as a convenient boxed set or as individual containers, allowing you to build the perfect size spice collection for your needs. Extra screens, lids and labels are also available to help you manage and organize your growing collection.

SpiceCare could be a potential product choice for you if you have limited kitchen storage space, if you need to see things to know they are there and if prefer aesthetically appealing products on the kitchen counter.   Check it out and let me know what you think! 

Vancouver Professional Organzer, Christa Wagner, and founder of Savvy Solutions brings the plan, the products and the know-how to get organized and stay organized.

Be Weary of Too Many Deals

One of the positives of a down economy is that you can find nearly everything at least 50% off.  It’s crazy really how cheap some stuff is and consumers are being trained to never pay full price for anything.  Personally I see that as good and bad, but as an organizer what concerns me is I see people buying items they don’t really need simply because they are on sale.  

I recently saw a great article called When A Deal Isn’t Really A Deal and it really rang true for me.   Take a minute to read the article and then here are some tips to help you during the Sale Frenzy!

1. Purchase only what you need vs. want.  Ask yourself do I really “need” this.  Will I “use” this?  Do I “love” this?  If you don’t, then perhaps you should spend your money in a better area that serves a better purpose.
2. Wait for one week prior to making a purchase.  If you are still thinking about the item one week later, consider purchasing it. 
3. Where will you put the item?  Do you have room for it?  I can’t tell you how many spaces I have been in where there are extra TV’s, couches, beds, etc.  If you don’t have room for something, then don’t buy it. 
4. One in, one out.   This is an oldy, but a goody.  If you bring home a new shirt, which older one will you donate?  New shoes, same drill.  We only have room for so much stuff.  If you weed constantly you will remove clutter on a regular basis which makes life much easier and the process more enjoyable.
5. Create a monthly budget.  When you have a budget, regardless of what’s on sale you know what you can and cannot purchase based on fact.  Think of the money you will save and can put towards something wonderful like a paradise vacation! 

If you want to get organized, embrace a few of these simple organizing tips and you may find less is truly more!