A friend of mine is a professional organizer and speaks all over Minnesota helping busy moms stay organized and sane. She is offering a class right here in Hutchinson, MN next week that I wanted to let you all know about in case you are able to attend.

Professional organizer, Cindy Haugland with Tidy Tightwad$ will share her favorite organizing tips, techniques and strategies to create a memorable, stress-free holiday geared toward busy women. This is similar to a “home party” except there won’t be any shipping or handling fees and you won’t have to wait a week or two for your product to be delivered. Unlike a traditional home party, for $20.00 you won’t return home with piles of expensive trinkets. Instead, you’ll leave the party with relevant, helpful organizing information that you can use immediately to improve the quality of your daily life. You will fill out a holiday inventory, a holiday task list, a holiday countdown calendar and a holiday gift list all tailored for you and your family. I will also give you some holiday gift giving tips and holiday simplifying tips.

DATE: Thursday, November 5th

Cost: $20.00

Location: Vivid Image 897 Hwy. 15 South Hutchinson, MN 55350

Time: 6:30-8:00

PLEASE RSVP to  jchaug@hutchtel.net  or call me for more info ( 320) 583-0409

To meet this challenge you must prevent “stuff” from entering your home in the first place and develop an organizational plan.

For a general strategy, make the following resolutions to lessen the amount of clutter that accumulates in your home.

1) Clear your plate-

• If you get a gift that you don’t like or can’t use, either return it for something you can, or get rid of it.
• Learn to say “NO” to your sister’s castoff sofa!
• If you are knitting a scarf for Aunt Martha and it’s been 2 years since you put it down, either finish it (because you can’t start another project until you do) or else pitch it because chances are you’re not going to finish it anyway, and it’s going to get shoved in a closet.

2) Develop Organized Habits-

• Treat your home like your car; schedule regular tune-ups.
• Every time you get something new, get rid of the old, or if you bring a new sweater into your closet, add one to the EF (Epilepsy Foundation) box. A new pair of shoes-toss your least favorite ones.
• Books-pass on to a friend-book swap once a month.
• Wash dishes after every meal-put away before the next.
• Discard old papers, etc. that are one week old
• Pick up toys after each playtime
• Tidy your work space or living area after you’re
  done using it.
• Resists the urge to buy a souvenir on vacation. Ask yourself. “Would you buy this in a store at home?” Carefully consider why you want it ,and where it will be displayed.

3) Call in a Professional

• Having trouble organizing space? An expert organizer will teach you how to stop storing things you don’t need and prevent you from losing things you do need.
• Getting organized is a personal process, and it’s best to work with someone who understands and respects the way you think and the way you live.

Author, Cindy Haugland is the owner of TidyTightwads, a professional cleaning and organizing business. She posts blog updates to help people save money, stay organized, make homemade cleaning products and more. You can find Cindy on Twitter: @tidytightwad