Going through items in storage
(Sorry if mileage post stressed anyone out...I'll try to stay off tax topics for a little while.)
I believe it's a good idea to go through all your stuff, particularly things that are packed up and in storage (closest/basement/attic/shed/whatever) every six months or so, once a year at the least. Since I'm effectively snowed in today, and the kids I watch are staying home, my mother and I decided to tackle the basement.
Our basement has become a mounting pile of chaos, which I'm sure was violating more than one fire code over the last few months, so while we really needed to get down there, it was an intimidating project. After about ten to twenty minutes of dazed "where on earth do we start?!", my dad came down, and three of actually got quite a bit done. Hopefully we'll get some more accomplished this afternoon.
It's really good to go through piles/shelves, even if you think you know what's there. My mom insisted that she had gone through a particular set of shelves several times, and didn't want to get rid of anything. But after she broke down and went through it, she found several items that she no longer felt a need to hang onto. My dad, more than once, exclaimed "I forgot I had this!" I was able to claim/reclaim a few items as well, so there were wins all around.
Might be a little too close to the end of January to call it New Years cleaning. But if you haven't recently, try to take some time to look through your cabinets, closets and other storage spots and just see what you have.
I believe it's a good idea to go through all your stuff, particularly things that are packed up and in storage (closest/basement/attic/shed/whatever) every six months or so, once a year at the least. Since I'm effectively snowed in today, and the kids I watch are staying home, my mother and I decided to tackle the basement.
Our basement has become a mounting pile of chaos, which I'm sure was violating more than one fire code over the last few months, so while we really needed to get down there, it was an intimidating project. After about ten to twenty minutes of dazed "where on earth do we start?!", my dad came down, and three of actually got quite a bit done. Hopefully we'll get some more accomplished this afternoon.
It's really good to go through piles/shelves, even if you think you know what's there. My mom insisted that she had gone through a particular set of shelves several times, and didn't want to get rid of anything. But after she broke down and went through it, she found several items that she no longer felt a need to hang onto. My dad, more than once, exclaimed "I forgot I had this!" I was able to claim/reclaim a few items as well, so there were wins all around.
Might be a little too close to the end of January to call it New Years cleaning. But if you haven't recently, try to take some time to look through your cabinets, closets and other storage spots and just see what you have.