Natural Order Blog

$99 Tax Relief Organizing package

Darci Lee — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 02:50:00 GMT

In addition, I am offering a Tax Relief Organizing package! We're already into the 2nd quarter of 2011 and over 1/3 of the way through this tax year. Do you know anyone that had difficulty getting their tax papers together this year or have you or someone you know filed for an extension? NOW is the time to get organized!

Kick start your post-tax season with a 3 hour organizing session for only $99! (savings of $111)

Additional hours may be purchased at a reduced rate.

You will learn how to maximize your existing systems (or how to set one up if you don't have one).

By getting organized now, you'll be able to quickly locate your tax deductible receipts, track your mileage, and save money.

To take advantage of this package call (360) 690-5675 or (503)318-2178

email me at Darci@NaturalOrderLLC.com.

Free Shred-It Day in Vancouver

Darci Lee — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 02:37:00 GMT

The 2010 Tax year is now in the rear-view mirror (maybe). If you're like me, you found a lot of duplicate receipts and forms when preparing my 2010 taxes. This was especially an issue with my family's medical receipts. We received copies from the provider and insurance companies. You don't need two copies for taxes but you also don't want to simply recycle or throw the extras away. With all the cases of identity theft you cannot be too careful.

Courtesy of MetLife Home Loans you can shred those documents this Saturday, April 30th from 10:00am - 2:00pm. They will be set up at 400 E. Mill Plain Blvd in Vancouver. They will be accepting cash donations and new or gently used children's clothing on behalf of Northwest Children's Outreach. If you have any questions you can reach them at (360)699-8760.

Holiday Shopping Savings

Darci Lee — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:08:00 GMT

It's Time for Holiday Savings

This year consider bypassing the long lines and crazy traffic. Stay home and pull out the laptop. Go and shop until your heart is content but don't press 'check-out' until you check out the sites below.

Almost every site now offers Promotion Codes or Coupon Codes. They are found when you get to the check out area. Go to the sites below and just type in the website where you're shopping.

Retail Me Not

Coupon Cabin

Coupon Mom

Savings

If you must go to the store go to the following sites to print out coupons (or use these in your everyday shopping to save even more).

Coupons

SmartSource

Still don't see what you need - do a search for 'coupon code' or 'promotional code' adding the website name.

Happy shopping!

Certified Relocation & Transition Specialist

Darci Lee — Fri, 01 May 2009 05:23:00 GMT

CRTS - We're now Certified!

Recently owner, Darci Lee, completed a month long class and independent third-party examination in Senior Moving. As Senior Moving Specialists are a relatively new classification this certification offers not only additional education but also a means by which to verify individuals are insured and pass a background check.

Moving is always a stressful event but for seniors it is even more so. Imagine living in your home and raising your children, playing with your grandchildren and living life's best moments, and yes, lowest moments too. Now imagine others, often family, telling you that you can no longer live in your home. Although you may or may not understand that a move is in your best interest, separating from a great deal of your belongings as well as the place you've called home for so many years can be very difficult and emotional.

As Certified Relocation and Transition Specialists we are uniquely qualified to help seniors navigate the process of downsizing and moving. If you are or know of a friend or family member that is approaching the time that they need to consider moving please let them know that there is help. We offer free consultations and have various levels of assistance to fit every budget.

www.NaturalOrderLLC.com
(360) 690-5675
(503) 318-2178
info@NaturalOrderLLC.com

Want to move but the housing market keeping you in your current home?

Darci Lee — Fri, 01 May 2009 04:44:00 GMT

More and more I'm talking to colleagues and clients that 2 years ago would have moved to a larger home.
This is a growing trend that even I find myself in. It's not always that a larger home is needed - it might be the need for another bedroom because of a new baby or it might be that your home based business is taking over your guest room and you'd like a true office.

Through the process of sorting, purging and then organizing you can continue to live in your home and not feel the squeeze.

Starting is always the hardest part so schedule it and start in a non-emotional space. This is a space like your linen closet or a guest room that is being use for storage. The idea here is to quickly get momentum to keep you motivated to keep going.

Once you have your first space organized look at working on a more personal or urgent space. Again schedule the time and start at the time of day you are most alert and energized.

If you have trouble getting motivated consider inviting a friend to work with you on a space and then return the favor by helping them.

Best wishes for an organized day.

How many sets of yellow pages do you own??

Darci Lee — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:33:00 GMT

I've opt'ed out of every junk mailer I could find but still every year that stack of phone books waited on my doorstep.

Now you can go green and Opt Out of the Yellow Pages and White Pages.
It only takes a second to save a tree.

http://www.yellowpagesgoesgreen.org/

Also there is an easy way to opt out of credit card offers, and it works! Call: 888-567-8688

Search the Internet = Give to your favorite Charity

Darci Lee — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 03:35:00 GMT

A quick and simple download (takes approx. 30 seconds) can allow you to donate to your favorite charity without spending a cent.

How is this possible? A new and wonderful website... GoodSearch.net.

You can add the search engine to your toolbar (Firefox, IE, or Mac). Then each time you use the GoodSearch tool you donate $.01 to your favorite charity. I personally donate to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary but choose your own.

You can donate even more by linking to other sites to purchase items. Various sites offer a percentage of your purchase price to your charity of choice. On the GoodSearch/GoodShop website you can choose to shop at online stores from Amazon (1.5%) to Zappos (6%).

This is a great opportunity to go about your everyday activities and give back to worthy causes.

Happy Holidays and Happy Giving!

How to know if a charity is legitimate?

Darci Lee — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 17:25:00 GMT

This time of year I get 3-5 calls each week requesting donations for this or that charity. Most of them are well know, but others have names that sound similar to well known organizations. With all the requests we receive to donate to various charities, how can we know that the money we send is put to good use.

There are several good sites that can help you steer your way through the maze of different yet similar organizations. One such site was recently posted on Monica Ricci’s blog, http://www.charitynavigator.org. Two other useful sites are: http://www.charitywatch.org and http://www.give.org information provided by the BBB Wise Giving Alliance).

If you want to find out if a charity is registered in your state go to: http://www.nasconet.org .

It is said that it is better to give than receive. I believe this whole heartedly.. just make sure that the group to which you choose to donate does the good work they claim.

Happy Giving!

Fall is here.... now what?

Darci Lee — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 02:00:00 GMT

If the calendar didn't say so the weather today sure did.... it's Fall.

September 22 is the first official day of fall this year. What better time to begin going through all your fall and winter clothes from last year to see what is no longer your style or what doesn't fit just right.

Clothing re-sale shops (such as Spanky's in Vancouver, Here We Go Again in Portland or just about any other consignment shop) take in clothes based on the season that they are worn. Right now they are taking winter clothing. If you wait until November or December it will be too late to get your winter clothes into consignment shops. However donation locations, such as Goodwill or Salvation Army will gladly take these and offer you a tax write-off.

Speaking of which, most people underestimate the value of their donated items. There are great tools available to help you determine the value of your donations. My personal favorite is 'It's Deductible' by TurboTax (http://turbotax.intuit.com/personal-taxes/itsdeductible/index.jsp). This program is available online (link above) and best of all it's FREE!

Once you have gathered all your items together that you plan to donate take a few minutes before running off and do the following steps... I promise in the event of an audit you will thank me.

1) Lay out every item so that you can see it through the lens of a camera (if it's clothes it doesn't have to show the whole shirt, but enough to be able to verify the condition/style.

2) Take photos of everything (I lay o
ut clothes- folded- so that you can see each piece) You can get several items in each picture. Digital photos are great because you can download and save them as well as print several on a single piece of paper.

3) While items are laid out, write down how many of each type of item you are donating (i.e. (3) turtlenecks, (4) ceramic mugs, ...)

4) Now gather everything up in a box or bag and load them up. If you're not ready to take everything to the donation center, assign a place in your garage/basement where you can continue to add items as you wish.

5) Load everything up once you're ready to go to the donation center. When you drop them off be sure to get a tax deduction receipt. When you get home take the list of items you wrote up, the photos of the items and the tax receipt and staple them together. Now they are ready to place in your tax file for the year.

It sounds like a lot of work but when you get ready to complete your taxes for the year you'll find this not only saves you a lot of time, but also rewards you with a hefty deduction!

What does 'Organized' mean?

Darci Lee — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 03:50:00 GMT

Do you subscribe to the Martha Stewart definition of organized?

Do you feel neatness is synonymous with organized?

If either of the above leave you feeling less than a perfect office or home manager, fear not.

My organizing philosophy is simply - find what you need when you need it. Easy as that!

How does this work?

Keep track of your movement throughout the day. Do you always come in the same door? If so, where do you typically put down your mail, keys, purse, etc...? Is it always the same place? If not, do you have a small table or hook near the entrance where you can place these items?

Does the flow of paper into your home or office have a path or does it end up in a pile on your desk or floor? 80% of what comes into your home is 'junk mail' - or unsolicited paper. If you can stop the flow before it makes it into your home or office you will reduce the paper clutter.

If you come in the garage with your mail set up a mail center. Place a recycling container and/or shredder in the garage or near your entrance where you can open and dispose of any unwanted magazines, brochures, fliers, credit card solicitations, etc... Open your regular mail here as well and recycle the ever-present product ads they include with your water bill. Bring in only the paper you need and know exactly where you are going to put it.

Every type of paper should have a home. Magazines in a basket to read, bills in a folder in the office and invitations with your calendar to remind you to RSVP. This will reduce stress when you come home from a long day because you'll know exactly where things go. A little planning ahead will save you from the anxiety that comes with not knowing where to look for misplaced items.

Best wishes for an organized week.

Recycling Plastics - Easy as 1-2-3!

Darci Lee — Mon, 12 May 2008 23:05:00 GMT

You see those symbols on the bottom of your plastic containers... but what do they mean?

Which ones can you recycle and which ones are headed to the landfill? Below is a breakdown provided by
The Daily Green on the various types of plastic:

Number 1 Plastics -- PET or PETE (polyethylene terephthalate)
Found In: Soft drinks, water and beer bottles; mouthwash bottles; peanut butter containers; salad dressing and vegetable oil containers; ovenable food trays.
Recycling: Pick up through most curbside recycling programs.
Recycled Into: Polar fleece, fiber, tote bags, furniture, carpet, paneling, straps, (occasionally) new containers It poses low risk of leaching breakdown products. Recycling rates remain relatively low (around 20 percent), though the material is in high demand by remanufacturers.

Number 2 Plastics -- HDPE (high density polyethylene)
Found In: Milk jugs, juice bottles; bleach, detergent and household cleaner bottles; shampoo bottles; some trash and shopping bags; motor oil bottles; butter and yogurt tubs; cereal box liners
Recycling: Pick up through most curbside recycling programs, although some only allow those containers with necks.
Recycled Into: Laundry detergent bottles, oil bottles, pens, recycling containers, floor tile, drainage pipe, lumber, benches, doghouses, picnic tables, fencing HDPE carries low risk of leaching and is readily recyclable into many goods.

Number 3 Plastics -- V (Vinyl) or PVC
Found In: Window cleaner and detergent bottles, shampoo bottles, cooking oil bottles, clear food packaging, wire jacketing, medical equipment, siding, windows, piping
Recycling: Rarely recycled; accepted by some plastic lumber makers.
Recycled Into: Decks, paneling, mudflaps, roadway gutters, flooring, cables, speed bumps, mats PVC contains chlorine, so its manufacture can release highly dangerous dioxins. If you must cook with PVC, don't let the plastic touch food. Never burn PVC, because it releases toxins.

Number 4 Plastics -- LDPE (low density polyethylene)
Found In: Squeezable bottles; bread, frozen food, dry cleaning and shopping bags; tote bags; clothing; furniture; carpet
Recycling: LDPE is not often recycled through curbside programs, but some communities will accept it. Plastic shopping bags can be returned to many stores for recycling.
Recycled Into: Trash can liners and cans, compost bins, shipping envelopes, paneling, lumber, landscaping ties, floor tile Historically, LDPE has not been accepted through most American curbside recycling programs, but more and more communities are starting to accept it.

Number 5 Plastics -- PP (polypropylene)
Found In: Some yogurt containers, syrup bottles, ketchup bottles, caps, straws, medicine bottles
Recycling: Number 5 plastics can be recycled through some curbside programs.
Recycled Into: Signal lights, battery cables, brooms, brushes, auto battery cases, ice scrapers, landscape borders, bicycle racks, rakes, bins, pallets, trays Polypropylene has a high melting point, and so is often chosen for containers that must accept hot liquid. It is gradually becoming more accepted by recyclers.

Number 6 Plastics -- PS (polystyrene)
Found In: Disposable plates and cups, meat trays, egg cartons, carry-out containers, aspirin bottles, compact disc cases
Recycling: Number 6 plastics can be recycled through some curbside programs.
Recycled Into: Insulation, light switch plates, egg cartons, vents, rulers, foam packing, carry-out containers Polystyrene can be made into rigid or foam products -- in the latter case it is popularly known as the trademark Styrofoam. Evidence suggests polystyrene can leach potential toxins into foods. The material was long on environmentalists' hit lists for dispersing widely across the landscape, and for being notoriously difficult to recycle.

Number 7 Plastics -- Miscellaneous
Found In: Three- and five-gallon water bottles, 'bullet-proof' materials, sunglasses, DVDs, iPod and computer cases, signs and displays, certain food containers, nylon
Recycling: Number 7 plastics have traditionally not been recycled, though some curbside programs now take them. Recycled Into: Plastic lumber, custom-made products A wide variety of plastic resins that don't fit into the previous categories are lumped into number 7. A few are even made from plants (polyactide) and are compostable. Polycarbonate is number 7, and is the hard plastic that has parents worried these days, after studies have shown it can leach potential hormone disruptors.

How Clutter Reduces your Bottom Line when Selling your Home

Darci Lee — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 01:20:00 GMT

When you put your home on the market, you are no longer living in your sanctuary - your are living in an asset, a piece of real estate.

Prospective buyers that come into your home need to see the 'bones' of your home, not your stuff. I don't say this to be insensitive, but to remind you that most people cannot see past your color choices or your favorite family photographs. When you have the prospective buyer's attention, you want them to admire the beautiful fireplace not the pile of children's toys in the living room.

If you are considering putting your home on the market, here are a few tips to get you on your way to a quick sale and top dollar.

Picture your home as you would a brand new model home.

1. Clear out all personal photos, trophies, knick-knacks, or posters. Pack them up in preparation for your move.

2. Clear out stacks of magazines and books.

3. Remove photos, magnets and children's drawings from your refrigerator or walls.

4. Look at each room as a picture. Remove any large scale pieces that appear oversized. Oversized furniture makes your room appear smaller. You are trying to sell square footage and the larger a room appears the better for your bottom line.

5. Open each cabinet and closet - because prospective buyers will. If they are packed full, remove about half of the stuff in each closet/cabinet. You want to show buyers that your home has plenty of storage.

6. If your children's' rooms are stuffed to the gills with toys, now is a great time to go through and determine what toys they still play with and those they've outgrown. This is a great opportunity to teach them about giving and donate toys to local charities.

By following through with the tips above you'll be on your way to your new home.

Best wishes for a successful move.

Stop the Junk before it hits Your Mailbox

Darci Lee — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 06:38:00 GMT

Have you ever made a purchase online or through a catalog only to find your name was sold to EVERY catalog mailing list imaginable? To dwindle the quantity of catalogs you receive, sign up at Catalog Choice and then choose those you do and DO NOT want to receive. This is a quick and free service.

Go to each of the sites below to remove your name from various mailing list services to reduce junk mail.

You may also want to contact each of your credit card companies as well as your mortgage company and banks to request that they do NOT give your name to any third parties.

Consumer Research Institute

Direct Marketing Association

Ecofuture

Junkbusters

Obviously.Com

Private Citizen

Stop Junk Mail Now

Stop The Junk Mail

National Clean Out Your Computer Day!

Darci Lee — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 00:46:00 GMT

Last Monday was National Clean Out Your Computer Day. Never has something been quite so timely for me personally. On Sunday, my home computer (where all my business data is backed up) had what I can only describe as a 'Vista' problem. Now at the PC doctor, I am unable to retrieve my data that was backed up onto the hard drive.

I do have my laptop and was able to retrieve those files that I had backed up via an online service. This online service has saved me twice in the last six months so I feel it necessary to let others know about it as well. Who knows when your computer decides it needs a rest or that you've asked it to do just one too many things.

The program is Carbonite and it is $50 per year (or less than $5 month!). Click HERE to go to their free trial offer.

My plead to you is to back up your computer today! However you decide to go about it (an online service, backing up to a CD/DVD or copying your data to a thumb drive or external hard drive). Don't delay! You'll save yourself a lot of time and aggravation by taking these measures.

I've enclosed an article on my site to walk you through the process of cleaning out your PC at HTTP://www.naturalorderllc.com/documents/NationalCleanOutYourComputerDay.pdf

Best wishes,

Darci Lee