Most people have some cash available at home. However, I have found clients do not always take appropriate steps in securing their cash. As quoted in the article by MSNBC, I said.

“I’ve found money taped to the back of headboards, in clothes pockets, under loose floorboards, in fake books, and in shoe boxes,” says Scott Roewer, a certified professional organizer from Washington, D.C., who also does estate sales. “It’s amazing what people come up with to hide their money.”

Perhaps you’ve heard the story of a Tel Aviv woman who purchased a new mattress for her elderly mother and tossed out her lumpy mattress. What she didn’t know is her mother had stored her 1 million dollar life’s savings in the mattress, now buried at the dump.

I work with individuals of all ages, and find that all age-groups hide money. I typically urge my clients with cash or other valuables lying around their house to either deposit the cash in the bank, put the valuables or cash in a fireproof safe, and to tell someone where they’re hidden the items, even if they do it via a note in their will.

“I advise against hoarding cash,” he says. “I’ve seen instances of fire, robbery and accidental death where clients had money hidden but nobody knew and it was gone forever.”

Do you stash money at home or have any interesting stories to share about hoarding cash? What steps have you put in place so your money is not lost, forgotten about, or lost? You can read the entire MSNBC article here.

It’s simple, “Real Simple” in fact! Enter every day between now and June 15th, 2009 to win the sweepstakes sponsored by Real Simple and The Container Store. The grand price is $3,000.00 worth of cool organizing swag along with the help of a “Real Simple” professional organizer to do the work for you.

We’ll, it’s not me helping you organize your home, but it’s a heck of a deal! Why not enter and win?

There is a free electronics recycling event on December 14th in Bethesda, Maryland.  Now is your chance to make a difference.

The event is from 12 PM – 4 PM at Walt Whitman High School.  I recommend you get there early. Accepted items include:

If you can’t make it on December 14th, the Shady Grove Transfer Station has electronics recycling every day for Montgomery County residents!  No need to wait for those special monthly collection events.   There is a limit of three TV’s per drop off.

Shady Grove Solid Waste Transfer Station
16101 Frederick Rd
Derwood, MD 20855

* Please use the Car Entrance to the facility.
* Open daily 9:00 AM. to 5 PM (Sunday – Saturday)
* Household Hazardous Waste can only be received during these hours — please do not drop off this
material at other times.
* These hours are only for Montgomery County residents – sorry business owners.

Identity theft is one of America’s fastest growing crimes. Shredding your personal papers is one of the best ways to protect yourself.

NBC4, PNC Bank and Shred-It have once again, teamed up to bring you the next NBC4 Safe & Secure Community Shred event. You can bring up to five boxes of your personal papers and they will shred them for FREE!

You must drive up (not walk) with materials to be shredded. No business or commercial material will be accepted! Only 5 boxes of papers maximum per car!

Date: Sept. 27, 2008
Time: 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Please note, cars must be in line by 11 a.m.!

Location: Prince George’s County Community College, Lot B

• Beltway exit 17A to Rte. 202. From Rte. 202 make right onto Campus Way. From Campus Way make left onto Prince Place to access road to Lot B.
• Central Avenue to exit 15 to Rte 202. From Rte 202 make right onto Campus Way. From Campus Way make left onto Prince Place to access road to Lot
• Rte. 50 to Landover Exit Rte 202. From Rte 202 make right onto Campus Way. From Campus Way make left onto Prince Place to access road to Lot B.

The entrance into the Center City Parking lot will flow:

• Curb lane south on 9th Street
• Right onto curb lane on H Street
• Staying on the curb lane making a right onto 11th Street
• And into the parking lot

You can take the following items for destruction:

• All types of paper (staples and papers clips are OK)
• Empty binders
• Unwanted/expired credit cards
• Computer disks (may be shredded off-site)

As a victim of ID Theft, I encourage you to pay attention to your personal information.  Especially in your online action.  The majority of ID Theft happens when you enter information online in a spoofed website or click a link that’s phishing for information.

• Shred confidential information, such as bills and anything with account numbers
• Order a credit report each year from AnnualCreditReport.com
• Don’t use your SSN on your drivers license or checks.  Keep the card at home in a safe place
• Empty your mailbox daily.  If away on vacation, have a neighbor pick up your mail or stop delivery online by visiting the USPS website
• Only carry the credit cards you need
• Consider signing credit cards “Ask for ID” instead of your signature

I dare you to follow these steps. I dare you to take a step forward by stopping unwanted mail. Do you accept this dare? If so, here’s how!

Step One

Stop unwanted junk mail by registering

with the Direct Marketing Association’s Preference Service.  Click on “remove my name from those lists.” You have to select each company individually, which can take some time, but in the long run it’s worth the extra effort. A credit card is necessary to confirm your identity, but there will not be a charge.

Step Two

Take a stand to reduce local junk mail through these resources.

• Valassis Marketing – Call 888-241-6760 between 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM EST or complete this online form
• VAL-PAK Coupons – You need to have a current pack envelope when you remove your name. Complete this online form
• Call Carol Wright – 800-67-TARGET to get off that list

Step Three

Remove your phone number from the lists those

pesky telemarketers use by completing the Do Not Call Registry online. This list was previously only good for five years, but in February 2008 a new law made it permanent.

Tip to Share with Friends

If you move, do not fill in the USPS change of address cards. I’ve heard over the years that the address changes are sold to companies.  I reviewed the privacy statement and the 62 FAQ’s on the USPS website, but didn’t find anything for or against this belief.  I believe it is true, so stay away!   If it is true, you’ll be right back where you started.

Step Four

Cease bank and credit card offers by contacting the appropriate bank.  Banks and credit providers offer the opportunity to opt out of marketing efforts.  Some banks require a form, others require only a phone call.  Here are a few popular banks in the DC area:

• Wachovia’s Online Form
• Bank of America’s Online Form
• Citibank – Call 888-214-0017 and tell them you’d like to update your privacy choices.
• Chevy Chase Bank – Call 301-987-BANK or 1-800-987-BANK to update your privacy choices.

Step Five

Fellow organizer Ramona Creel offers additional tips on stopping junk mail in this post.  If you aren’t satisfied with the suggestions above, she offers some unorthodox approaches.

We’re passionate about stopping junk mail.  Be sure to subscribe to our blog by RSS Feed or via email (see upper left corner to enter email address).  We’ll be sharing more helpful information in the near future focusing on companies who will help you get rid of junk mail.

Do you have any other tips for our readers?  Please leave a comment with you ideas.

I do love the modern design and look for the magnets. I could imagine them holding receipts or business cards on my desk before I enter each into my database. According to the FAQ on Dynomighty website, I wouldn’t want them to close to my iMac .

The nice thing about this organizing product is they will never break or fall apart. That is, unless you have a ‘hot’ project on your desk which ignites a fire over 250 degrees Fahrenheit. What are your thought? Are they worth the price of $20.00? Do you think they’re more useful as an organizing tool or as a toy that relieves stress? Leave a comment below with your response.

Use this opportunity to buy office supplies for both yourself and your family. The sales tax exemption will apply to each eligible item, no matter how many items are on the bill. Don’t go overboard with the purchasing supplies you do not need. A bargain isn’t a bargain unless you need the item on sale. Buy what you need to get organized and know that you can always buy more in the future.

The supplies are defined as pens, pencils, stationary, art supplies, book bags, lunch boxes, calculators, and other items purchased for educational use in the classroom, at home or for any school activity.

]]> http://www.declutteryou.com/2008/07/shop-tax-free-for-organizing-supplies-in-dc/feed/ 1 http://www.declutteryou.com/2008/07/book-donations-for-a-cause/ http://www.declutteryou.com/2008/07/book-donations-for-a-cause/#comments Fri, 18 Jul 2008 16:21:00 +0000 Scott Roewer http://www.declutteryou.com/?p=102 Donate and Make a Local Impact

I love Books for America, a local organization in DC.
They have the inspiring goal of building and improving libraries in area schools, shelters, and hospitals, supporting reading programs, and providing children in the Nation’s Capital with their first take-home books.

The organization’s retail location, called ‘A Bookstore with a Purpose’ and located in Dupont Circle, is a fun place to visit. I stop in to both donate and buy books.

A Bookstore with a Purpose
1417 22nd Street, NW
Washington, DC 20037
Hours: Mon, Fri & Sat 10-6; Tues -Thurs 10-9; Sunday 11-5
What should I donate?
How do I arrange for a book donation pick-up?

Donate and Make a Future Impact

The number of incarcerated individuals in the U.S. is staggering. Although we have less than 5% of the world’s population, we have more than 25% of the world’s prison population. Most inmates are only allowed to receive books donated through programs such as Books to Prison. Books can be dropped off in DC at Foundry United Methodist Church on Wednesday evenings, or in Brentwood, Maryland at the Quixote Center during normal business hours. They’re located approximately four blocks from the Glut Food Co-op.

Foundry United Methodist Church
1500 16th Street, NW (16th & P ST NW)
Washington, DC 20036

Quixote Center
3502 Varnum St
Brentwood, MD 20722
301-699-0042

Find a local Books to Prison program in your area by visiting their online directory.

Donate and Make an International Impact

Book donations can also have a big impact internationally. According to the Camel Book Drive in Kenya’s blog, children’s storybooks are most popular, general fiction is also in high demand, and there is much interest in nonfiction books covering topics like astronomy, geography, and history. Books by African authors are especially appreciated. Both gently used hard and soft-cover books are welcome, but paperbacks are preferred due to weight considerations. These books often reach their final destinations via camel! The librarians suggest that the donor inscribe a note in the books, as this helps the patrons feel connected to places which they can otherwise only imagine.

Wajir Library
For Camel Library
Librarian in Charge, Mrs. Maryan Osman Warfa
P.O. Box 217
Wajir, Kenya
How do you donate books?
Where do I send the books and what’s the cost?

Check out this amazing story, compliments of the Video Journalist Africa, that shows the Camel Library in action.

For more resources on book donations, check out this list published by the American Library Association.