Where can you donate your used items?

Decluttering is an important step in any organization process, but it's not always easy figuring out what to do with your items. For people who are downsizing, this can also be an issue - where do you take the items that you no longer need? A lot of the items we choose to part with are still in good shape, and can be reused or repurposed. Thankfully, there are many organizations in charities in Calgary that can take these items and put them to good use! A full list of organizations can also be found on the website here. 

• Habitat for Humanity: The ReStore at Habitat for Humanity recycles doors, appliances, furniture, lumber, electrical and plumbing supplies, and other building supplies. Visit their website for locations and contact information to find a drop-off place near you.
• Canadian Diabetes: Most neighbourhoods have drop-off bins, and different pick-up times are available throughout the year. This charity accepts gently used clothing for adults and children, as well as small household items. When leaving bags outside your home for pick-up, make sure they are clearly marked with a "D." Find more information here.
• Women in Need Society: This society operates a thrift store that accepts gently used merchandise including clothing, kitchenware and dishes, household items, furniture, and books. There are a few locations around the city (a full list can be found here) where items can be dropped off. They also have a free pick-up service that operates every day a week - just visit the website to schedule a pick-up! The donation benefits women in need in the city.

Alternatively, you can try selling your gently used items and try and make back some of the money you spent on your items. Calgary is home to many consignment shops that allow people to bring in their items and sell through the store. Depending on the store, each place will take a percentage of the sale, but you get back the rest of the profits. If your item doesn't sell in a certain time period, you'll get your items back.

• Peacock Boutique: This consignment shop also has their items available for purchase online, and is located in Kensington (1145 Kensington Crescent NW). Clothing and accessories are now being accepted for the fall season, which goes from August until January. 
• Sproutz Kids: Located at 2835 37 St SW, this consignment shop is the perfect place to sell clothing and accessories from the whole family. The store also accepts toys and other play items (with the exception of stuffed animals, puzzles, and certain brands). There is no specific season for most items, and everything will be accepted year-round, except winter gear, which is only accepted from August - December.
• Danielle's Consignment:  Danielle's Consignment caters to customers with items that are in very good condition and from higher end fashion brands. Located at 105 - 908 17th Ave SW, people with items to donate are encouraged to book an appointment to bring in their items for consignment.

Garage sales are still a common way for many people to sell their items, but with winter on the way, there aren't many weekends left to host a sale. However, there are a few communities that are still hosting a parade of garage sales, and a list of the communities can be found here. You can also try selling your items on your own online through Facebook, which has many Buy and Sell pages for Calgary and specific communities. Other online selling sites include Kijiji, VarageSale, Used Calgary, and letgo, which all allow people to sell their own items to other people in their local area.

It's time to transition your wardrobe for fall!

The warm weather may be here for now, but it won’t be long before the temperature drops and the snow falls. To make sure you aren’t caught unexpectedly without the right clothing, jackets, and shoes, start transitioning your wardrobe and organizing your closets for the fall season! Below, we’ve got some suggestions on how you can get the process started:

Don’t switch everything at once

Once September hits, you may be tempted to put away all your summer clothes, but the truth is Calgary can still get warm weather right up until the end of the month, but we can also get cold weather as well! No one can predict what kind of clothes you’ll need, but it may be a good idea to keep a few pieces from your spring and summer wardrobe, like t-shirts and darker-coloured blouses or tank-tops, just in case it stays warm outside. It also wouldn’t hurt to keep a pair of flats or lighter shoes for this reason. As we get further into the season and the warm weather is gone for good, these items can be put into storage with the rest of your clothing and accessories.

Declutter! 

Whenever you’re taking a large amount items out of your closet and putting them into storage, it’s time to go through them! Take this opportunity to go through your spring and summer items, and determine what should stay, and what should go. Did you wear all your items this summer? Chances are there are a few older pieces that are out of style or don’t fit anymore that you haven’t touched all summer, and there is no reason to keep these items for another year. If they’re still in good condition, donate them to a charity or bring them to a consignment shop.

Make sure everything is clean

Before you put everything into storage for the next summer season, make sure all your items are clean. Take this time to run everything through the wash one more time, or send them off to the dry-cleaners if they are more delicate items to make sure they are ready to be put away. You can also take this time to make sure everything is either hung nicely on a clothes hanger, or folded nicely into a drawer or storage bin. Depending on what kind of clothing you have, you may want to use different methods to avoid wrinkling the fabrics too much.

Organize your storage

 Once your clothes have been cleaned and are ready to put away, sort each item by type. Put like objects with likes, whether they are t-shirts, shorts, blouses, sandals, heels, or purses. Avoid using wooden or cardboard boxes as they can affect the clothing and it is harder to determine what items are stored in what boxes. Instead, try using clear plastic bins to store your items. Alternatively, you can use a section of your closet or a closet/wardrobe in a spare bedroom – just make sure you remember where you put everything by using labels or signs.

Sort fall items by type and colour

When you take your fall and winter items out of storage, you can also do a declutter of items that don’t fit, look out-of-date, or probably won’t be worn. Once this is done, organize each item into type, like sweaters, pants, jeans, and boots, and then sort these items by colour. This way, it will be easier for you to create outfits and find specific items of clothing when you need to. Leave hanging space for blouses, dress pants, skirts, dresses, and jackets/blazers, and fold the rest of your items.

Place items practically

Clothing and accessories that you are more often to wear, like jackets and boots, place in a more accessible location, like your hallway closet by your front door. This way, it will be easy to find and put on before you leave for the day. Clothing that you wear regularly should also be stored at eye level and within easy reach, whether it’s in your closet or your wardrobe. Other items, like heavier-weather clothing or special occasion items can be kept on higher shelves or towards the far right/left sides of your closet, because you won’t need to access them as often.

Don’t waste time trying to find the right clothes for the season. Take the time before the weather starts turning to get your wardrobe organized!

The countdown begins - get organized for back to school!

The start of school comes around the same time every year, but it is always a rush to get organized for the start of classes come September. Especially for students heading into a new grade or starting university on their own, preparing for the start of classes can be a stressful and chaotic time. However, by starting early and developing a routine that fits your schedule and study habits, the countdown for September doesn’t have to be so daunting!

Shop smart

Before a shopping trip is even planned, it’s important to take stock of the school supplies, clothes, shoes, and other items you already own. Moving up to a new grade or going to university doesn’t mean that a whole new wardrobe or brand-new supplies are required. The same pencils, pens, jeans, and tops used the year before will work perfectly for the new school year. Replacements may be needed for clothing that doesn’t fit or needs repairs, or any supplies that are depleted or need replacing. Make sure to do a thorough inventory and keep a list of items that need to be purchased. While it may seem tempting to buy a stash of supplies or extras, try to avoid doing this. Extra supplies will end up taking up unnecessary space and create clutter, especially because a lot of these extra supplies may not even be needed throughout the year. It’s better to keep track throughout the year of what you use and replace it only when needed.

Create a filing system

Homework, tests, assignments, report cards, permission slips, course outlines – a lot of paper is involved in going to school, and these loose pages often end up lost before the first week is even over. To prevent this from happening, implement a system or routine of dealing with paper as it comes in. Folders or trays can be allotted for paper that needs to be kept, paper that needs to be dealt with right away, and any other category that pertains to your school work. Train yourself to deal with paper as soon as you bring it home. First, determine if you really need to keep it. If it’s a course outline that you have access to online or won’t need to use, place it in the recycling bin. However, if it’s an assignment sheet or permission slip, make sure it’s place in a tray that you know means it must be dealt with or saved for a later date. This will help you keep track of any important documents you bring home, and prevent large piles of clutter from accumulating around your home! Consider implementing a similar system for your email to deal with any messages from teachers or professors.

Designate a study space

To keep organized year-round, establish one space for studying, completing homework, and storing your school items. Whether it’s an entire office or just a desk in the corner of a room in your home, having a designated space for school can help you stay focused. This space should be kept clean and organized – on a weekly basis, go through any papers, books or supplies that have started to clutter and make sure that it is kept clean and clear for you to study. Having a designated space to do work can help you stay on track of homework and assignments because you will always have a place to complete them. No more cleaning off tables last minute, shoving off piles of paper and assorted books, or getting distracted from a cluttered space! A dedicated space means that no unnecessary items or clutter can distract you from the task ahead, and will help keep your mind clear and focused on the task ahead.

Don’t start everything all at once

The start of the school year is often the start of extra-curricular activities like sports, music lessons, volunteering, and part-time jobs. However, starting a busy schedule right from the start can be very stressful, especially for students that are transitioning to higher grade levels, or a new school. The first month of school should be a time dedicated to becoming familiar with a new schedule and routine outside of any extra activities. This way, students can better understand what their homework load is, what their sleep schedule will be like, and how much time they can dedicate to outside activities in the evenings and on the weekends. Remember, it’s important to leave time in your week to relax! For students, September should be about establishing a routine and growing comfortable in a new environment. Try and wait a few weeks before introducing more activities into the daily schedule.