Sort, Purge & Cash Out: A Frugal Guide to Organization

When household possessions push against the borders of our homes, the results lead to a crunch of space, time and money. But space-saving solutions can generate cash and restore sanity. That's the verdict from Gia Lipa, author of TheDigeratiLife.com.

''I was born a pack rat,'' she told me. "I come from a long line of pack rats.''
She developed a system for sorting, selling and storing household items. A clutter-free environment maximizes improves the quality of life, Lipa says.

Here's how she does it:

• Start a value system. Measure the value of your space against the value (emotional, financial or practical) of your possessions.

• Accelerate the sort-and-purge process by creating four buckets: save, sell, donate and toss. Periodically, place your possessions in one of those categories and take action.

• Sell castoffs annually through online flea markets, yard sales, consignment shops or classified advertisements. The venue is less important than the timing.

• Save space by using unconventional storage areas, according to Millie Kay Grand, a contributor at TheSmarterWallet.com. For example, in her home, a footlocker serves as a coffee table and storage for comic books.

• Recycle and reuse. Find new uses for traditional household items. A shoe bag, for instance, can be used to store accessories, Grand says.
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