Give to Others and to Yourself

Here's a quick tip you can use this fall that allows you to give to others while also helping yourself out financially:

Simplify and get rid of unused items.  You’ll be helping others in need, and if you itemize, charitable contributions are fully deductible.  Estimate the value of non-cash items like clothes, furniture, and books. Always request a receipt for your records.  Just by cleaning out your closets each spring and fall you can easily save $200 to $300 -- and at the same time bless others who would treasure your "junk".

We do a massive cleaning twice a year. Basically, we go through the house and anything that hasn't been used in a year (and has no foreseeable future use), gets given away. I know what you're thinking: "As soon as I give it away, that's when I'll need it." Well, I used to think that, but we've been going through this process for five years now and have never had it happen -- though I have had my wife sneak in a few things I wanted to keep but she saw an opportunity to dispose of them. ;-)