Handy Organizational Items

Last week I was asked to donate to a silent auction item to benefit a fundraiser for SmileTrain and the local Baltimore food banks sponsored by Legacy Associates LLC.

As a personal organizer I put together a lidded bin filled with organizational items. The bin itself can be used to store off-season clothes.

I put in some nesting hangers. They take up so much less space in your closet.

Then I thought about all the magazine subscriptions people have and added two magazine holders. They are also great for the white and yellow pages phone books. It was fun coming up with items that everyone could use.

Drawer organizers were added, the kind with small separate compartments for socks or tights.

Two photo boxes were added to keep those vacation and family pix in order.  Also I included an accordion folder with 13 separate dividers. There lots of ways to use this handy file system, as a bill paying system or a place to store appliance instructions.

Then I added a bag of coins rollers. Roll up those coins and you can buy something you wouldn’t have been able to purchase otherwise.

A 2010 day planner was a no brainer. All your appointments, phone numbers, dates to remember, are all in one place.

Finally I added a package of markers. I use them to date spice containers and perishables with date of purchase. Then you never have to guess if an item is out-of-date.

It was fun to gather seemingly unrelated items and know that ultimately they can be used in any household.

Steps to Setting Up Your Workspace

If you are starting a home business office there are lots of things to consider to make it an efficient and comfortable place to work. Having a dedicated space is ideal.

If you do this, a part of your residence can be claimed on your income taxes as a business area. That means however, that you don’t use that space for anything other than your business operations. The IRS is strict about this and we REALLY don’t want any problems with the IRS.

The next thing to consider is the equipment you will need to outfit the space for your needs. Do you need a photocopier, fax machine, dedicated phone line, computer and a printer?

The next thing to decide is how much space is available to house these items. I like a stacking shelf system that is near enough to an electrical outlet to plug into a surge suppressor without an extension cord.

Another consideration is your filing system. For papers you will need to access often I recommend a mail sorter with labels. These can be hung on a wall so as not to take up valuable floor space. After the bin is full or you feel you can file the papers, a stationary file cabinet or file bins are the next step.

Desk placement is also important. You don’t want the glare from a window shining on your computer screen all day. Position the desk facing or perpendicular to any windows and utilize artificial light to illuminate your work space.