Stop Throwing Money Away , livre ebook

Table of Contents
 
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Special Thanks
Welcome
Why I Wrote This Book
Half-and-Half Organizing: The Solution to Your Clutter Problem
Am I Wrong?
My Promise to You
Good Terms to Remember
How to Get the Most from This Book
Start a Moneyize Group
Take the Self-Assessment Clutter and Money (CAM) Quiz
 
Chapter 1 - Are You Broke and Disorganized? The Clutter-Cash Connection
 
What’s That Got to Do with Being Organized?
Lies We Tell Ourselves
Small Changes Can Make a Big Difference
Aside from Money, What Is Clutter Costing You?
Get into the Habit of Organizing
Busy versus Lazy
 
Chapter 2 - Stop Procrastinating and Organize Your Life Embracing Your To -Do List
 
Do You Suffer from ODS (Organizing Distraction Syndrome)?
Fifteen Ways to (Finally) Achieve Your Goals
Organization Is a Lifestyle, Not a Destination
Doing Nothing Is Not an Option
 
Chapter 3 - Calculate Your Clutter Savings Hunt for Treasure at Home
 
Are You Living out of a Laundry Basket?
How Much Can You Earn from Your Clutter?
Go Team!
You Can Do It!
 
Chapter 4 - Shop at Home Think Outside the Box
 
Look at Old Items in a New Way
Don’t Let Your De-Clutter Solutions Turn into Clutter Themselves
Fill Your Need with Online Resources
 
Chapter 5 - Collect the Cash Where the Big Bucks Are
 
Your Five Boxes: Finding Stuff to Sell
Who Are You without All of That Stuff?
Don’t Trip over These Stumbling Blocks When You Hunt for Sellables in Your Home
 
Chapter 6 - Beat the Home Office Blues
 
Home Office Overhaul: The No-Filing-Cabinet System
Dealing with Virtual Clutter: How to Organize Your Computer
“I Know I Have My Receipt Somewhere, Just Give Me a Minute”: Making a Receipt Receptacle
Fees, Fees, and More Fees
Coupons, Rebates, and Points—Oh My!
 
Chapter 7 - Conquer Your Kitchen Clutter The Heart of Your Home Is Draining ...
 
Start with Your Cabinets and Drawers
Make Your Kitchen Counters Clutter-Repellent
Look in Your Fridge for Cold, Hard Cash
Make Your Pantry Pay Off
Take Charge of Your Junk Drawer
The Frugal Family Table
How to Organize Your Recipes
Managing Your Takeout Menus
 
Chapter 8 - The Zen Way to De-Clutter Your Closet A Wardrobe That Suits You, ...
 
Maximize Your Wardrobe
Shoe Mania
Avoid Buying Endless Variations of Purses, Bags, Totes, and Clutches
How to Have a Custom Closet on an Off-the-Rack Budget
 
Chapter 9 - Find Savings in Every Room of Your Home Avoid Sneaky Clutter-Cash Traps
 
First Impressions: Is Your Entryway Organized or Overflowing?
How to Have Pleasant (Clutter-Free) Dreams
Your Bathroom: Stop Flushing Money Down the Drain
Your Purse or Wallet: Stop Carrying Extra Weight
Designing Your Craft Room
Book, Movie, and Music Madness
Clear Away Car Clutter
Make Room in the Garage for Your Car
Teach Your Kids to Organize Their Rooms
 
Chapter 10 - Turn Clutter into Cash How to Maximize Your Profits, Selling ...
 
Trash or Treasure? Make Sure before You Ditch It
Selling in Your Pajamas: Where to Sell an Item Online
Sure Ways to Sink a Sale
Insider Tips to Collect More RICHES
Can Someone Sell This for Me?
Auction Houses
Consign for Cash
Yard Sale 101
Flea Markets
Classified Ads (Online and Newspaper)
Flyers and Other Creative Ideas
 
Chapter 11 - Swap Yourself Rich Try This Cash-Free Way to Profit
 
Swap Like a Pro
Swap at Home, Wearing Your Pajamas
Hosting a Successful Snack-’n-Swap Party
Swapping Skills and Labor
Online Borrowing from Virtual Friends and Neighbors
 
Chapter 12 - Spend Thirty Days with Jamie
 
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8
Day 9
Day 10
Day 11
Day 12
Day 13
Day 14
Day 15
Day 16
Day 17
Day 18
Day 19
Day 20
Day 21
Day 22
Day 23
Day 24
Day 25
Day 26
Day 27
Day 28
Day 29
Day 30
 
Conclusion
Index

Copyright © 2010 by Jamie Novak. All rights reserved
Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey Published simultaneously in Canada
 
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise, except as permitted under Section 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written permission of the Publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, (978) 750-8400, fax (978) 646-8600, or on the web at www.copyright.com . Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Permissions Department, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030, (201) 748-6011, fax (201) 748-6008, or online at http://www.wiley.com/go/permissions .
 
Limit of Liability/Disclaimer of Warranty: While the publisher and the author have used their best efforts in preparing this book, they make no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this book and specifically disclaim any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. No warranty may be created or extended by sales representatives or written sales materials. The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for your situation. You should consult with a professional where appropriate. Neither the publisher nor the author shall be liable for any loss of profit or any other commercial damages, including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential, or other damages.
 
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:
 
Novak, Jamie.
Stop throwing money away : turn clutter into cash, trash into treasure—and save the planet while you’re at it! / Jamie Novak. p. cm.
Includes index.
eISBN : 978-0-470-60651-3
1. Storage in the home. 2. Orderliness. 3. Thriftiness. I. Title.
TX309.N687 2006
648’.8—dc22
2009041791
 

 
To you, someone who strives to create a rich, authentic and clutter-free life by finding and keeping more of your money, time, and energy!
Special Thanks
To my mom, Sue Novak, who taught me among many other lessons the benefits of keeping a bunch of paper towel tubes, margarine tubs, and shoeboxes on hand. To Dad and Stacey, who have taught me about caring for our planet and those who live on it, including each of their special cats. To my sisters, Brandy, Jessica, and Kristy, who picked up the phone every time I called to brainstorm ideas, even if they were in the middle of planning a wedding, having a cookout, or walking one of their children to school.
To Jessica Faust of Bookends, the most superfantastic literary agent any author could hope for. You’re the literary version of eHarmony, consistently matching me with the project that’s just right for me. To Christel Winkler, my editor at John Wiley & Sons, who believed in this book, and to the entire publishing team, each whom of contributed his or her own touch to make this book the best it could be. To my many Girl Scout leaders, including the spirited Mrs. Betty Riker, who taught me respect for the people and things around me. Because of her, I always leave an area better than it was when I found it. And to my Mastermind Group—Karyn Greenstreet, Pamela Wilson, Katherine Scott, and Susan Burger—like any great Mastermind Group, these ladies inspire, support, and challenge me. Thanks for the s’mores, ladies!
Welcome
Because you picked up this book, I have to ask, how would your life be different if you had an extra thousand dollars? Really think about it. Do you have a home repair that needs to be made or a child getting ready for college? Are you living paycheck to paycheck, or would you simply sleep better knowing you had a little more money in the bank? No matter where you are financially, we can all agree that an extra thousand bucks (or two or three) would be nice to have. So, whether you want to take a five-star vacation or save your home from foreclosure—or use that money for anything in between—this book is for you. You’ll learn how to keep more money in your pocket and even make money by paring down your possessions. You’ll also discover how to plug up your cash leaks by shopping at home.
I promise, this is not your mother’s financial planning book . It is unlike any other organizing book on the market. Although I have financial planning in my background, my true love is organizing. I mean, I really love it, with an I-can’t-wait-’tilmorning-jump-out-of-bed-this-never-feels-like-work kind of love. As a result of my many years of working in clients’ homes and meeting people who attend my workshops, I know one thing for certain. We’re overwhelmed, and we feel hopeless about our state of disorganization. I mean, even I have had to clean up before company arrives, have misplaced the brand-new printer cartridge, and have bought another jar of marinara sauce when I already had more than I can use in a year sitting in the pantry. You never thought you’d hear an organizer admit that, huh? Well, it’s true. I try, but I’m not perfect. That’s what makes me the World’s Most Relatable Organizer.

Why I Wrote This Book
Many years ago, while working for a large financial planning company, I often met my clients over their kitchen tables, and I noticed a common theme—clutter. Many clients had to move piles of papers off their tables before we could sit down. Then the