Saturday January 28th from 10 am to 2 pm

   The Austin Chapter of the National Association of Professional Organizers is hosting its sixth annual Clear Your Clutter Day as a community service event. The event will be held on Saturday January 28th from 10 am to 2 pm at Bethany United Methodist Church, 10010 Anderson Mill Road (78750). 

   Bring one car-load of: junk; papers to be shredded; flattened moving boxes; used cell phones, computers, or other electronics; and durable medical equipment such as walkers, wheelchairs,  crutches, canes, commodes, and shower seats.

   There will be a prize for the Strangest Item. The 2011 prize went to the proud (former) owner of the rustically “Austin Weird” wooden cactus. 

   Important Notes: We cannot accept flammable, corrosive, toxic, poisonous, reactive, or explosive items, including paint and batteries. You will receive a certificate of shredding for papers to be shredded off-site.

   Download flyer with details.

A friend of mine attended a family holiday gathering a few years ago. John particularly wanted to see his cousin Mary who had cancer and was not expected to live more than a few months. Mary spoke frankly of her illness and life expectancy. She asked John if he would help her daughter Sally “when the time came.” John assured Mary that he would.

The time did come. Sally called John to share the sad news. But there was more. Mary had named Sally and John co-executors! During the process of settling Mary’s affairs, John came to understand that Mary had added him as co-executor as a check on Sally lest she be unduly influenced by her husband.

There is a lesson in this story. By the way, all my stories do come with lessons. If someone asks you to serve as an executor or to “help” settle their affairs, start asking questions now. If you ask someone to serve as your executor, prepare your executor to do the job.

Think over your conversations during the holidays. Is there someone you need to ask questions now?

   Buy MailStop.Envelopes from Catalog Choice. You simply collect and send in mailing labels. The prepaid MailStop Envelopes make perfect practical gifts for your friends, family, and co-workers. Plus they save trees and reduce clutter by stopping unwanted mail. 

   I purchased two online last Monday and received my envelopes by the end of the week. So there’s still time!

   Note: While you do not have to go online to use MailStop Envelopes, a valid e-mail address is required to use the service. You will receive an e-mail when your envelope is processed. Catalog Choice does not sell, rent, or exchange personal information about its members.  

Organizing Tip: Keep receipts together

   ‘Tis the season for shopping and gift giving. Get gift receipts when you can. Keep your paper receipts in an envelope or a plastic document holder. The latter are larger, come in bright colors, and are harder to lose. Keep your electronic receipts and confirmation e-mails in a separate folder on your desktop. Set a calendar reminder for January 31st to shred and delete.

   If tracking all your receipts seems like too much bother, you can always make or bake gifts. Homemade gifts are more likely to be treasured and are seldom duplicated.