Making Room for Reuse

The stress of the holidays is falling away and the anticipation of resolutions fulfilled has us buzzing about like busy bees, cleaning, de-cluttering, and planning. Around here we are clearing away Christmas things and we (ok, it's mostly me) are planning for spring projects and how to put all the stuff we were given to good use.

I am not going to lie, we regift, a lot. Between the (very nice, but not for us) presents I will be regifting and the containers, boxes, ribbons, etc...that I am sure I will reuse one day, somehow, there is a lot of stuff that I need to store if I want to put it to good reuse.

This is a challenging task for us because we don't have a basement. What we DO have is the world's most square footage of closet space (ok, this isn't an actual fact, but it sure feels that way) and a couple big garages. Here's how we put it all to the best use possible.

1. Make REUSE a priority. Like many things that help the Earth and your wallet, committing to reusing things requires a little more effort. I do contend though that there is little more satisfying than gifting your child's teacher the unique gift of homemade oatmeal cookies in a reused oatmeal canister.

2. Get organized. The more organized you are, the more room you have for reuse and the more likely you are to be able to find what you need when you need it. One way to do this is to...

3. Designate areas. For us, we try to clothing, linens, and anything else that mold or critters might infiltrate, in the house along with re-gifting and reuse things so they are at hand. Everything else goes into organized and well labeled totes on shelves in the garage(s). Re-gifting items go in a sort of treasure chest so they are all in one place. Canisters, jars, etc...go in a reused clementine crate. When the designated areas are full, I have to find other solutions for the stuff like donating and recycling.

4. Develop an eye. It's good to keep in mind what your abilities are. If you haven't crafted anything in 5 years, the likelihood of you actually making cute little trees out of old paper towel rolls may not be very high. Try to save things that are quality to begin with, you have reasonable expectations for, or you will use within the next 2 weeks. And finally...

5. Find a system that works for you. Whatever system you develop has to work for you and your family or all the labeling tape in the world won't work. Communicate with your family and find something that everyone can be happy with and put to use.

What are your tips for organizing for reuse? What is something you were able to reuse recently?

X Marks the Spot

If you are planning on spending a year (or as much time as possible) buying nothing new, it's probably a good idea to have an idea of where you can shop. Those who are used to just jaunting up to the mall might have to rethink their plan of attack. I find it helpful to have an idea of all possible shopping options so that when a need arises, I know where to go. I am lucky enough to have a clothing resale, a furnishings resale, and an antique store right in my tiny little village, but if you aren't so second-hand flush, there are plenty of other options.

Garage Sales: I have a friend in Texas who is always posting her year-round garage sale finds on Facebook. We don't have that novelty here in the land of four seasons, but most of the year it is one of the most affordable resale options for most people.

Local Resale/Antique/Thrift Shops: Chances are that you have a resale, antique, or thrift shop close to you. I live in a village of only 2,000 people and I have three within 5 minutes. These are the ones I frequent most often, not only because they are nearby (and that saves on gas) but because it allows me to support the local economy and get the best deals. I know these shop owners by name and can tell them what I am looking for so when that item comes in or goes on sale, they can let me know. If you can make these close relationships with shop owners, not only do you get to know someone better, but you can get on email lists for deals and coupons and have someone looking out for you in your treasure hunt.

Goodwill/Salvation Army: These powerhouses of thrift are everywhere, so you can probably easily locate one in a nearby neighborhood. If not, try ShopGoodwill.com. Ask your local store about when they run their sales. My local Goodwill has 1/2 off everything the last Saturday of the month. This works perfectly because it allows me to get a great deal with the money I have left in my budget at month's end.

EBay: Speaking of online...I am sure you know of EBay and it is always there, although you might have to be discriminating to find already used items.

Craigslist: I love this because it is an online tool that you can use to buy not only second hand, but local as well. I find the key with Craigslist to be patience. I have been shopping there long enough to know that certain items pop up often and surely the perfect thing I am looking for will pop up eventually. It's also a nice resource to shop by keyword so you can get specific with your needs/wants.

Etsy: Search vintage or handcrafted from upcycled and support some of the world's most creative people.

ILikeItMama: One of my personal favorites, run by a mom, with resale clothing for the whole family, searchable by gender and size.

What do you love that I haven't mentioned? Any second-hand shopping tips to share? Are you gearing up to join us in the contest?

Making Your List

When it comes to treasure hunting, the possibilities are endless. Which is why it can be really helpful to have an idea of what you want. Part of this is just a matter of knowing your style and your budget. You are bound to find things that make your heart jump a little and you may never see them again. The key here is usually to have a heart jump limit-an amount you are willing to spend per item, per room, per day, however you need to break it down-where you can feel good about getting that item.

The other aspect of knowing what you want is having a list of things you want/need so that when you are out and about, you can easily identify or ask specifically for what you are searching. My list (in no particular order) is as follows:

-a buffet-like piece of furniture for my kitchen

-old maps/sheet music/ book pages for the boys' rooms

-frames to hang said pages as well as fun artwork they create

-a larger kitchen table and chairs

-rugs to cover my ever deteriorating carpet we can't yet replace

-novel toys or games for birthdays/Christmas this year

-a teapot

-bathroom rugs

Make sure when you are making your list and out there shopping you remember your personal limitations. You may be able to wield a paint brush like a seasoned pro. Me, not so much. So I know that the things I find on my list need to be in the condition I will be using them in-and that will cost me a little more.

Of course, the list will be growing and shrinking throughout the year, but it is helpful to have a jumping off point. Plus I find that it makes it easier to explain to my husband, who feels no need to beautify our space, that the purchases I made were on my list.

What's on your list?