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Your Organizing Needs By Astrological Sign

Aires: You are too busy playing and going and doing, and have little patience to organize your possessions, you are not that materialistic. You need a system that is easy and works into your busy lifestyle.

Taurus: You love your stuff. You take comfort from and can be sentimental about your stuff. You love a bargain, and want the best and newest toys and gadgets. You probably have too much of everything. You even like to keep all the shells, stones, and rocks you have collected along the way, enjoying anything that has to do with nature. You need a system for everything and can maintain a system once it is set up.

Gemini: You are similar to Aries in that you don’t have a lot of time or interest in stuff, you want to go play, travel, and socialize. If you do have a bunch of stuff, it will be reading materials, magazines, books, poetry, etc. that an organizer can help you get established.

Cancer: Like Taurus, you also love your stuff and feel a sentimental connection to items that represents someone you love. You have a hard time releasing anything especially if it was a gift. You love photos, kids items, kitchen gadgets, you love to entertain and to feed others; especially your family. You have lots of photos and cookbooks that need organized.

Leo: You are proud of your home and and like to show it off. You will have the newest and best items and are set up to entertain. You want a home you can have fun in and you don’t always have the patience to do the organizing yourself. You would totally benefit in working with an organizer.

Virgo: You are pretty darn organized by nature and like to categorize and organize. On top of everything being organized your home is almost always clean and tidy. You lean towards minimalism, with a few well chosen classy items because you like it clean and are efficient, and too much stuff doesn’t work for you. There isn’t a whole lot a professional organizer can teach you; in fact you may be a professional organizer!

Libra: With your head in the clouds, your romantic self often misses the every day details needed to stay organized. Also you don’t really like doing things alone, so let’s organize together. You have an eye for beauty and symmetry and a designer’s flare for art and color. You like your home to be beautiful but decisions are really hard for you and this is an area that an organizer can help you with.

Scorpio: Depending on where your moon sign resides, may determine your level of organizational skills but often your place will be dark, romantic, and mysterious like you! You like interesting and unique items. You could benefit from some help as your not particularly organized, however; you have a hard time trusting others into your private space. Take the leap and once it is done, you will enjoy it on many levels, as you are so sensitive to the energy around you.

Sagittarius: You like it sparse, you need to breathe and have space, you will like photos and items that represents your world travels. You like things that are fun and whimsical. You could use help organizing and it should be done easily and quickly as you don’t usually have too much stuff.

Capricorn: You like antiques and traditional items with a history. You like things that have a purpose and are practical. You could have too much stuff and feel weighed down by heavy wood furniture. You don’t necessary have an eye for how to put things together to please the senses, so ask for help in this area.

Aquarius: You also like unique and different items. You most defiantly could benefit from some organizational systems and supports. You are a bit scattered and don’t usually come back and put away the stuff as you move from one new interest to another. You would enjoy learning new systems and another’s perspective on how your space could be.

Pisces: You like a safe comfy retreat and whatever you need to feel that way should be emphasized. Pretty art, blankets, flowers, music, books, and sacred objects. You need room to meditate but also to dance. You most likely could use help setting up systems especially time management systems; as you are not so good at this.

Karen Brooks is an Inspired Organizer at her business, Master Your Disaster, LLC. She helps people and companies create organized and sacred spaces for a peaceful and harmonious life. Serving in McMinnville, Newberg, Lincoln City, Salem, Oregon, and surrounding areas. You can reach her at masteryourdisaster@gmail.com or call 503-881-7652

One Person’s Experience with Hiring Me As Their Professional Organizer

This was my experience with Karen, Master Your Disaster, in my house organizing project.

Was there embarrassment and shame in my mess?

Yes, I couldn’t comfortably have friends over. Deciding to retire and sell my home business motivated me to just do it. I’d known Karen for a while and she’s honest and caring, not to mention organized.

Was my mess overwhelming?

Yes. Having the business in several rooms of the house, it took over the house and I didn’t feel like I had the energy to tackle any of it. It was too much. Feeling overwhelmed with it all stopped me from even trying.

What took me so long to hire Karen?

Finances and just finally deciding to do it. It does take energy & focus. I can’t say I was depressed about my mess but maybe some shame that I couldn’t invite friends and neighbors inside.

It helped to have several days between work sessions with Karen. It gave us time to adjust to the changes and to modify little details. Dear hubby still needed an office so we had to repurpose several rooms. We took breaks to replace carpet with hardwoods, do repiping and some long overdue foundation work.

The work is challenging (but rewarding).

Karen made it do-able and often fun with her sense of humor and creative ideas. She had the energy to keep going when I didn’t. She helped with the motivation. She appreciated treasures that had been boxed up and found places for all to enjoy them again. She didn’t even shy away from all the dust and cobwebs in the garage.

Karen asks in her introduction questionnaire what works and what doesn’t. Instead of on paper, I’d recommend a walk through and point out what does and doesn’t work.

One of the things that stymied my efforts to organize previously was not knowing what to do with things that were still good but I didn’t want anymore. Karen has connections with shelters, soup kitchen, charities, fire stations, etc. so that good but unwanted items don’t end up in the landfill and that is really important to me! (and to Master Your Disaster)

It’s taking longer for me to get rid of the last vestiges of the business than I’d hoped on my own and I have a few more structural jobs on the house that need done and then I plan on having Karen come back to fine tune a couple of areas that need organizing.

Next Steps.

I’ve recommended Karen to a good number of people and will continue to do so. She gives free consults and is realistic with her recommendations. She’s also confidential and non-judgmental. Also very important to me.

When you get the courage and energy to tackle your clutter, I hope you give Karen a chance. It was hard work but satisfying at the end of the day.

It‘s really worth the great results and happier living!

How Long To Keep Records

Adoption Papers – Forever
Articles of Incorporation – Forever
Auto Bills – 1 Year
Bank Statements (annual) – 7 Years – (toss the monthly once you get the annual)
Bank Statements (monthly) – 1 Year
Birth Certificates – Forever
Bonds (records of issuance) – Forever
Cancelled Checks – 7 Years
Contracts (past expiration) – 7 Years
Credit Card Records – 7 Years
Custody Agreements – Forever
Death Certificates – Forever
Deeds and Titles – Forever
Divorce Decrees – Forever
Envelopes – Toss (unless you repurpose as scratch paper or use to file a years worth in one)
Estate Planning – Forever
Financial Reports (annual) – Forever
Health Records – Forever
Home Improvement and Other Real Estate – 7 Years (after you sell home)
Income Tax Returns (with supporting docs) – 3 years to audit for errors and 6 years for under reporting income but 7 years minimum
Income Tax Returns (without supporting docs) – Forever per IRS
Insurance Policies (past expiration) – 4 years
Inventory List and/or Video – Forever – All major personal property, important accounts and items in safe deposit box
Investment Statements (annual) – 7 Years – Toss the monthly statements after you get the annual.
Investment Records (past disposal) – 4 Years
Life Insurance Policies – Forever
Loan Papers (after final payment) – Forever
Marriage Certificates – Forever
Medical Bills and Cancelled Insurance Policies – 3 Years
Medical EOB’s (Explanation of Benefits) – 1 Year
Medical EOB’s for chronic or serious illness – 7 Years
Military Discharge – Forever
Mortgage (Records that prove payoff) – Forever
Passports – Forever
Pay Stubs till get W2 to check for accuracy – 1 Year
Phone Bills – 1 Year
Privacy Policies medical and financial – Toss
Receipts, big item or warranty item – Forever (for insurance claims)
Receipts, cash – Toss (unless you know you want to keep it)
Receipts, credit or debit card – Toss after you check monthly statement
Records of Selling a House – 3 Years
Records of Selling Stock – 3 Years
Retirement Account Statements – Forever – toss quarterly after you get annual / keep until retired
Settled Accident Reports – 7 Years
Social Security Cards – Forever
Utilities – 3 Years
W2’s – Forever (or until you start collecting Social Security)
Warranties – Forever – keep with purchase receipt until it expires
Wills – Forever

Online Documents: Download to computer – encrypt the files and store backup copies on a USB, CD, DVD, external hard drive, or web-based storage.

Maintenance: Schedule time – 10 minutes a day or 1 hour a week PLUS a few hours annually

Shredding Documents: Purchase your own personal shredder at an office supply store or online such as Amazon.

Shredding Companies:

Stapes uses Iron Mtn: 971-261-4073 – $1/lb. – bring in as is
Iron Mtn: 877-378-7726 or 888-233-4430
National Shredding Alliance (NSA): 855-976-1040
Office Max: $0.59/lb. up to 5 lbs., $0.49 to 10 lbs., and $0.39/lb. 11 lbs. and up
Shred It in Portland: 503-825-8780
UPS Store: 503-207-4128 or 503-434-9238
Shred Nations: 503-207-4128

If you or someone you know needs help with downsizing, organizing, or creating a sacred space in your home, please get in touch with me today!

Financial Checklist After Death

Published in February 2020 by Karen Brooks. This information is to guide you and is based on my personal experience. This is NOT financial and/or legal advice as I am not qualified to give out this type of information. I am not liable for any unintended consequences and you are entirely responsible to make sure you are fully informed. So use this document in conjunction with other information. This is not meant to replace or be the only source of information when navigating these systems.

Financial Checklist After Death And Things To Consider

Make funeral arrangements: Funeral homes should be able to help you with immediate things to do.
- It is recommended to order 5-10 copies of the Death Certificate (DC) both long and short forms. (You will typically need one Death Certificate for each financial institution the deceased person had.)
Locate their Will and financial documents. Call the attorney that wrote the Will and set an appointment. You may need to transfer everything to surviving spouse and change beneficiaries.
- If there is no attorney, you can connect with one if needed for advice: Lawyer referral service is 800-452-7636.
Financial Accounts: If no list exists then create one by going through their statements and other paperwork.
Start a Notebook – or some other way to track calls and activity. Use a separate page for each financial account and keep a note of all phone calls made, dates, names of people spoken to, all action you did, forms you filled out, when they were mailed, etc. Keep this notebook until all change of accounts are done.
- Write down in one spot the deceased person’s full legal name, Social Security Number, date of birth, last address and phone number as you will be asked this with every phone call.
Identifying information: Keep deceased person’s driver license, marriage certificate, service discharge paperwork, social security card, and birth certificate – you will need copies of these to send out. If someone other than the surviving spouse is contacting the deceased person’s financial institutions you may need to grant them special permission to do this for you, either verbally or written.
Taxes: Call 1-800-829-1040 for assistance filing taxes for deceased. Keep all financial paperwork until taxes for the year are done, then file as you usually would. Contact the Oregon Department of Revenue for information regarding inheritance taxes: 503-378-4988.
Life Insurance: Collect on any life insurance policies. Call the company and ask how to file a claim- they will need the original long form of death certificate. If death was an accident, there may be accidental death and dismemberment benefits available from insurance companies and even from bank or credit union free policies.
- Also if surviving spouse has a policy then s/he will need to do new beneficiary forms as most likely the deceased spouse was listed as their beneficiary.
Social Security: 1-800-772-1213 7am-7 pm. Call and inform them ASAP (often the funeral home may report this for you). First phone call will notify them so they stop any payments the person was receiving. They will issue a one time death benefit of $255 to spouse or child if eligible and set up another appointment to determine if spouse/child are eligible for monthly benefits. They may need a copy of the marriage certificate.
- Important Note: If you receive a payment for a deceased person during the month of their death, you will need to return the payment. You will need to contact your bank if payments are auto deposited and ask them to return any payments that come in for the month of death or later. Do not cash benefits for the month of death. For more info and forms go to www.socialsecurity.gov.
Veterans Administration: 1-800-827-1000. The benefits available from the VA are determined by the deceased’s military status and if s/he died in a VA hospital.
- You may request a packet sent with the various available benefits.
- You can order a flag and have Military personnel available at the funeral.
- You may be able to activate mortgage cancellation if you have Oregon State Home Loan Mortgage, call 503-373-200. They will probably want a copy of military discharge papers and DC.
Railroad Retirement: If ever employed by railroad contact 503-326-2143.
PERS: If the deceased was ever a public employee or civil service employee call 503-229-5824 ASAP.
Income from retirement: Call and inform source – they may need DC.
Credit cards: Call and cancel them. (Continue to pay off if balance? Ask the attorney that wrote their will or an estate attorney for advice).
Credit Bureaus: There are three primary ones. In a letter send in the following information by mail to each –
- “I would like to report the death of X, on date XX/XX/XX. Would you please update the credit record to indicate that s/he is deceased? Would you also cancel all credit monitoring services s/he had as of the date of death? His/Her last address was: X His/her SS# was xxx-xx-xxxx. His/her DOB was xx-xx-xxxx. I have enclosed a copy of his/her DC, SS card and driver’s license (or 2 other valid forms of ID). I am his/her (state relationship and your name) and I have enclosed a copy of my driver’s license as well. Would you please send me confirmation that this has been done to my home address at x. Thank you for attending to this matter.“
  - Transunion, PO Box 2000, Chester PA 19016 (if you know the transunion file number include this in the letter)
  - Experian, PO Box 9701, Allen Texas 75013
  - Equifax – you can fax this letter to 888-826-0727
Bank accounts: Schedule an appointment to discuss what changes need to be made. You might want to leave one account with a deceased name on it until taxes are done, in case you need to deposit any refunds.
- You might need to transfer any joint accounts and/or safety deposit boxes to one owner or add a relative as co owner in case something happens to the surviving spouse so that someone can continue to pay bills.
- Do you need to order new checks? Update beneficiary forms?
- Check on any loans and make arrangements.
House Title: (this might be part of what the attorney does if you see one). If not, go to the County Assessor’s Office with a Death Certificate and change the house title to surviving spouse if it is paid off. If you are still making payments, you may need to change the title at the mortgage company.
Car Title: Go to DMV to change car title. You will need the title and funeral notice (not the Death Certificate). If the car is not paid off, send a copy of Death Certificate to the loan finance company. If a surviving spouse wants to keep a car and does not drive and has no drivers’ license, then whatever family member may be primary driver should be added to the car insurance policy. An Affidavit of Inheritance form must be signed if the car is only owned by the deceased.
Insurance: Any insurance that was just covering the deceased person (LTC, medical & dental, fire, disability) call and inform the company that they have passed. You should get a prorated refund on any paid premiums. They should not send you any more premium bills. For any insurance that you were both listed on (home, car) call and get it transferred to surviving spouse name only – there may be an adjustment in premium rate.
Retirement accounts: You will need to change beneficiary forms and possibly ownership if accounts were jointly owned. You will need to call each company individually and get instructions and forms on what is needed.
Medical equipment: Used equipment can be donated in McMinnville to Oakwood. Also if you have a Life Line and/oxygen – call and have company remove deceased person and prorate to surviving spouse any refund due.
Rx meds: Will need to be treated as hazardous waste. You can take them to the police department for disposal.
Clothes: You can sell new or slightly used clothes in McMinnville at New to You or Second Threads Clothing Exchange (woman’s). Or donate to Goodwill, St. Vincent de Paul, Henderson House, Provoking Hope, a Shelter, etc. Family and friends may want some of it too.
Be careful of people trying to scam you during this time! Never give out any private info. Do not pay anything that you do not know exactly what it is. When at funeral services, ask a neighbor or friend to watch your house as thieves watch funeral announcements to know when people are out of their home.

If you or someone you know needs help with downsizing, organizing, or creating a sacred space in your home, please get in touch with me today!

How To Have A Stress Free Holiday – Plan Mindfully

Have a stress-free holiday this season by planning your holiday season mindfully.

The kids are back in school, the weather is getting colder, the daylight is shorter, and the nights are longer. We just passed the fall equinox, when the light and dark were equal and balanced.

It is officially the fall season, which will soon lead us to the longest night of the year (the winter solstice on 12/21) and into the holidays. Working within the natural cycles of the earth and moon’s energy allows one to be in the flow instead of against it. Staying organized also allows life to flow freely around you, drama–free and stress–free (okay, maybe not stress-free, but significantly reduced).

Holidays can be highly stressful for a variety of reasons. Spending “quality time” with relatives, having unrealistic expectations, participating in consumerism run wild, and having credit card bills to show for it can all add up. Too many events and activities without getting enough sleep and enjoying too much rich food and drink can add up.

What if this year you did it differently?

Sit and imagine or think about how you’d like your winter and holiday season to unfold.

How To Have A Stress-Free Holiday – An Exercise

Part of being organized is prioritizing how you want to spend your limited and precious time.

Here is an exercise in thinking mindfully and planning how you will plan your holiday season. Sit down and make a list with three columns:

The first column lists the activities that you always do, are expected to do, and are tradition
In the second column, list the chores you will need to do to make this happen: buying food, making cookies, decorating, wrapping gifts, sending out cards, etc.
The third column lists what you always think about doing but never do.
Go through column 1 and circle the ones you love
Ditto for column 2
In column three, pick one to add to your schedule
The items you did not circle in columns 1 and 2 – cross out and choose not to do this year

The purpose of doing this activity is to self-reflect.

Think ahead about what you like about the holidays so you can be more proactive in your planning instead of reacting to things now. When making these things happen, you are doing it with a happy heart and are in the flow. I also hope it helped you start thinking about possible things to eliminate, giving you more time for the things you want to do.

Things you dread doing (something that you should be doing instead of what you want to do) will have negative energy, potentially leaving you feeling more stressed out.

Examine your to-do list for things you should be doing vs. stuff you want to do. Think about the energy cost to you when you spend time doing things that do not lift your spirit. Is it possible to delegate some items on your list to someone else?

It is time to set your priorities and spend time and energy on stuff that truly enhances your life.

Happy Holidays!

10 Excellent Reasons To Hire A Professional Organizer

Neutral Eye
An objective, non-judgmental, and neutral eye can see things differently!
Motivation
Help give you the oomph to tackle the job…not just tackle it, but have fun!
I Love Doing It!
This can be contagious.
Two Bodies
Lots of jobs require two people.
You Are System-less
Often there is not a good workable system in place – we will set this up!
Decision Making
Clutter is often just postponed decisions. In the process, you will have help making good decisions to move forward and stop feeling stuck.
Experienced
I have been doing this for a long time and have done many different jobs. This makes your job easier, quicker, and done well.
Save Stress, Time, and Money
Reduce your stress and stop wasting time and money looking for, storing, or re-buying stuff you already have.
Fill In The Blank ____________ (if not already mentioned)
You know why you need help getting organized better than I do, and I am here to learn and help.
Get It Done!
Getting organized has likely been on your to-do list for a while, and it’s still there! Since you will be paying for help, we will make the time, and it will get checked off.

For all the reasons mentioned, let’s organize your space how you want it!!!!

Why People Are Not As Organized As They Would Like To Be

Some Reasons Why People are Not as Organized as They Would Like to Be

There are many different reasons people struggle with staying organized. When I use the word “organized,” I refer to how people coordinate their time, money, scheduling, possessions, not just their living space.

Some of us have never been organized and may even feel uncomfortable without a bit of chaos and disorder. Or the people with great systems in place and enthusiastically use them for a while only to eventually drift back to their messy habits. Others are compulsive about everything being “in its place” (think of Felix Unger or Martha Stewart).

I believe there is a spectrum of organization, and every one of us falls somewhere on this spectrum. Our lifestyles are different – for instance, some of us work from home while others go to an office.

Our biochemical makeup and essential nature also determine where we are on a spectrum. What we learned growing up influences how we process. There are also situational factors that influence us, such as kids, pets, spouses, roommates, money, time, and physical health.

For instance, if you grew up in a home where clutter and chaos ruled, there is a good chance you have not learned the skills to keep yourself organized. The good news is, I have found that being organized is a skill that can be learned and grows with practice. This is where a Professional Organizer becomes a big help, and I teach these skills!

If you think your disorganization has more to do with your fundamental nature, maybe you are the more creative and artistic type. This could be very valid, and organization may not come naturally. Sometimes this has to do with what we tell ourselves – the mental messages we believe about who we are and what that looks like.

It is also about the way the brain works. Being creative-minded can add to and subtract from staying organized. I could write a whole bunch more about this, but for this article, let me use an example: writing a novel.

Generally, the creative impulse of the author happens first, and then they write their story.

Later an editor has to take the story and polish it up so a wider audience understands it. The editor looks at the story from an analytical side of the brain, ensuring the commas go where they need to go and the spelling is correct. Some people possess the skill to write and edit, but not generally at the same time. Sometimes a second person, coming from an analytical perspective, can clean up the writing. If we apply the author/editor analogy to becoming more organized in our living and working space, this is where you might hire an organizer (or “editor”) to do this type of work. A professional organizer can use the strengths of the creative mind and work with a person to develop an organizational system that works.

Another reason people become disorganized is they suffer from a biochemical and/or medical condition that limits their capabilities. Conditions such as anxiety, depression, arthritis, or a bad back make staying organized more challenging.

OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder) is a condition in which a person’s organizing has becoming extreme and is causing the sufferer discomfort. There is still plenty a professional organizer can help with, but we may require more support from a physician, therapist, and/or medications. Getting your life more organized can positively impact your condition and alleviate symptoms of the underlying condition.

External factors like kids, jobs, and lack of time probably won’t change any time soon, but accommodations can still be made to help reduce the stress and resulting chaos. Our external world is usually just a reflection of our values and priorities. And the time that our kids and jobs take most defiantly should take precedence. Unfortunately, the results may leave you feeling frazzled. A Professional Organizer can identify the systems that might work for your circumstances. Additionally, it may take having one come in on a more regular basis to help you keep up on stuff; kind of like having someone else do your cleaning or car maintenance because you may not have the time for it.

One of the primary reasons folks struggle regardless of their temperament or circumstances is they have TOO MUCH STUFF. This will tax even the most highly skilled organizer. See my articles titled Too Much Stuff and Taming The Paperwork Pile.

Use Energy Work to Create Sacred Space

What is Energy Work?

Energy work is working with the energy that surrounds us. Our sacred space could be our home, office, or any location. This article explains how to use energy work to create sacred space.

This energy impacts and influences us more than most people are aware of. Like gravity, just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean it doesn’t affect you. Mystics, psychics, priests, artists, and shamans live in this energy and understand how to use it and how to use it most wisely. I, too, am sensitive to it and how it influences my moods, decisions, daily activities, energy level, productivity, and relationships (whether at home or work).

Energy and Feng Shui

Where and how you display your items impacts the energy flow, also known as Feng Shui.

Numerous books and websites can explain this method better than I can. While I don’t consider myself a Feng Shui Practitioner, I use many of the principles and techniques employed in Feng Shui and find them highly beneficial.

Smudging for Energy Cleaning

Another ancient practice I use in my energy work is the Native Americans (and others) called smudging and calling in the directions. I use them to cleanse the energy in your home or office. Everyone knows how important it is to clean your home (usually in spring) especially after someone has made a mess. The same applies energetically. There is energetic dirt, dust, and grime left behind from general living and heavier, denser energy from illness or trauma. It would help if you energetically cleaned every time you regularly clean, and for deeper cleaning, you may need more help.

To do light, energetic cleaning, you can light a smudge or incense stick and walk through your home in a clockwise position, aiming to move dirty energy out. It is nice to open a window, but it is unnecessary. Another quick and easy method is to ring a bell in every room a few times until the bell sounds clearer, sharper, and louder. You can also spritz a lavender or sage water-based spray in each room. You can light a candle; different colors bring different results. There are numerous ways to do this, such as connecting with energy through sight, sound, and smell and using the elements: air, fire, earth, and water.

Another way I use smudging and calling directions is to create the intent and the blueprint for what you want out of your home/office. Whatever you desire to make for this room or area, we can do it together. I use the above methods, including salt, drumming, crystals, symbols, and alters, as well as astrology, numerology, Reiki, and feng shui principles. You would need to be clear on what intent you want to set and what type of energy you want to create, and together, we could make an individualized plan. Creating with conscious intention is very powerful and brings beautiful results.

What is Sacred Space?

Every day, you create (either consciously or unconsciously), and you may or may not like the results of what you have made. Every time you start your day 10 minutes behind, can’t find your car keys, or run around cursing your dog, the children, and the gods, you are building up energetic patterns that can create chaos.

To reverse this, start by being aware. For instance, put the car keys in their place as soon as you return home. Doing things like this builds up energetic patterns that can only make life easier.

An organized home has a flow; it feels good to be in the space. It is refreshing to you. You have created a sacred space with the energies supporting you. Sacred spaces can be taken to another level when you use a space just for meditation, prayer, reflection, healing, etc. When you want to create such a sanctuary, all the above ideas hold in creating this type of space.