As a crafter/sewer/home decorator Joanne's & Michaels are two of my favorite haunts. I find myself at either or both stores just about every weekend. A while ago I figured out that for me to stay on task I needed to shop these stores a little differently. Most of the time I will make a list of needed items for current projects (I can't stress current enough). Otherwise I find myself purchasing items I either don't immediately need and forgetting about or repurchasing items I already have. Recently, however, I have found it best to survey the stores for new items, some of which I didn't even know existed. I will admit this does take a little time commitment, but since I'm there its worth it to me. I use an app to catalog new products or products I currently need so that I can either pick them up with the next coupon I get and to jog my memory the next time I'm in the store.
Anyone who knows me knows that if I can get something on sale or using a coupon, that for me is the only time to buy the item. I will wait for a sale or coupon to do just that. Sometime ago I noticed that while I seem to always have coupons, most of the time I am hard pressed to find an item in the store that I can use my coupon on, because of there is always a sale going on of course. Yes, I could get in line over and over and check to see if any of my items are on sale, but that would make for an epic store visit. This is when my list really comes in handy. Thankfully they seem to have just installed price scanners in most of the stores (a little late with that one) but the fact still remains I still need to find something NOT on sale to use the coupon on. Well, again, having my list of needed items comes in handy so that I don't wonder aimlessly around the store for hours. This way I can decide to purchase now or wait until I can get a better deal.
As you may know many stores (lots in fact) have much more to offer in their online storehouse. But then you have to deal with shipping cost and whether or not it is worth it to just try to find an item locally. That's where today comes in. Occasionally (I have to admit, I haven't tracked the frequency yet) Joann's will offer FREE or almost free flat rate shipping without a certain minimum purchase amount. Anyway, today is the day (and only for today*). If you go to Joann.com and input promotion code GMYS012 in the online shopping cart shipping will cost you only .32$! So if there is something you have been searching for, see if Joann.com has it and order it today for super low cost shipping.
*Order by 11:59 EST 1/12/14 for .32$ flat rate shipping
It occurred to me sometime ago that I needed to set up processes to help me be successful in certain action items I need to conquer. I have such limited time in my busy schedule to deal with anything outside of my daily routine that without a system, nothing gets done. So I have been dabbling in this for the last two years, trying to start the year off with organizing, purging and reintroducing myself to my wardrobe/closet. This is a huge undertaking and could be quite intimidating. To make the task more appealing, I have lovingly named it my LOL Project - Love it OR Leave it (finally a real use for LOL).
Here's how it works; every weekend in January (might need to extend into February) I will focus on a certain type of item in my closet to assess whether it should remain or get kicked to the curb, i.e. do I love or do I leave it. Using an inspirational pin I found, "If I saw this in the store today would I buy it?", the goal is to touch each item and reintroduce myself to my wardrobe. My hope is to let go of items that no longer speak to my style sensibility while making room for new items in the new year. The rules are to remove any less than desirable items and either sell, donate or trash them. If repairs are needed to resuscitate them, now is the time. During the process I will focus on finding better organizational systems for each category of items so I can actually see what I have.
PROCESS:
- GET IT OUT: Pull every item out.
- TOUCH EVERYTHING: Separate into: KEEP, SELL/DONATE, TRASH
- WHERE WILL IT LIVE: Find best storage/display for what stays.
Ok, ok lets do this! Each week in January I will update on how each category purge went.
First up: Shoes & Purses (next week is Pants, Jeans & Skirts)
