Recent entries by Julie Morgenstern

A handbag is so much more than a convenient way to carry our daily essentials - a handbag symbolizes our age-old desire to contain and control our lives. In an over-stimulating world, the perfectly sized bag, containing exactly what you need, makes you feel gleefully self-reliant, organized, and ready-for-anything.

But why is that perfect bag so darn elusive? Half the women I know covet a quarry of semi-abandoned purses, none of which works, all of which once held the promise of perfection. One study published in London's Daily Mail recently found that the average woman buys 145 handbags over her lifetime surely, the American statistics are competitive (or worse). How do our bags become such complicated and cumbersome carriages of belongings---costing us not only the toll of our abandoned handbags, but the cost that chaos always brings?

STEP ONE: Limit what you carry

Clean out your purse standing over a trashcan. Brace yourself for what you might find--shredded tissues, outdated stamps, abandoned hand creams, old shopping lists, nameless phone numbers, forgotten vitamins and grit covered gum. Toss obvious trash and sort whatever remains into two piles - "permanent" and "transient" items. The permanent pile should include things you need everyday: keys, wallet, eyeglasses, cell phone, planner, outdated receipts, writing utensils, notepad, business cards, basic makeup and personal care items. The transient pile consists of anything you're transporting just for the moment - documents to copy, items for repair, newspaper, work projects, bills to pay, etc. Now, pare each pile down to the true essentials. Most people only use about 20% of what they carry, so be brutal. TRUST yourself to make the right decisions (e.g. two shades of lipstick, one blush, one pack of kleenex, a maximum of 10 credit/ID cards should be plenty!) If you like having options, consider keeping back-up supplies in your car or desk drawer, to prevent lugging them on your back. Don't put something in your bag unless you've scheduled a specific time to use it - this includes projects you schlep home from work out of guilt! Establish weight limits for yourself--i.e. no hard cover books, and no files thinker than ½" go with you on the road.

STEP TWO: Select your bag

Knowing exactly what you want to store in your bag makes it easier to settle on a size and style. Ask yourself these five questions. (1) Basic function - Do you like carrying one bag for everything, or a small purse for essentials, plus a tote or briefcase for transient items? (2) Handle style -Shoulder strap, backpack, or handles? (3) Compartments- Lots of little compartments vs. Large general areas throughout the bag? Totes are a common favorite, but they need subdivision to avoid slipping into chaos. Zippered pouches, or a new clever product called a 'purseket" (which provides pockets and slips in and out of each bag) are handy to organize the interior. (4) Weight when full--Style aside, keep this in mind! 5) Search and rescue--- keep in mind that an interior lining--a different color than black--helps you find your stuff more quickly; a bag that's more wide than deep is easier to get in and out of; and whatever bag you choose should be big enough for everything you need, without having to cram things in too tightly.

STEP THREE: Arrange the bag.

Organize your bag into zones, assigning each section its own category of items - for example, "money" in one zippered pocket for security's sake, "personal care" in another zippered compartment for privacy, "communication" tools such as cell phone and planner in an easily accessible space, and "projects" in another separate section. Consistency is the key here! If you follow the same pattern in each bag, you'll be able to locate items with your eyes closed.

Commit to a daily routine of unpacking and resetting your bag each night. Create a purse changing station at home. Store spare handbags on hooks, or an open shelf in your closet, and establish one drawer for all spare wallets, credit & ID cards, travel size toiletries, etc. The state of our handbags reflects what's working and what's not in our lives. If your bag is constantly overwhelmed with items you're not getting to, maybe you need to refocus your priorities. Not unlike an organized desk, a functional bank account, or system for paying bills...keeping your personal belongings lean and organized can help make you far more productive and prepared.

Wasn't it in Jack & the Beanstalk where the giant sat at a magic table that kept replenishing the food, even as he ate?

As we enter this season of guests, parties, feasts, and gatherings (not to mention the voracious production of freshly baked gifts from our hearths), our penchant for overabundance can really hit us where it hurts--in our bank accounts. And I don't mean overdoing it /indulgence/on the eating side of the equation (that is between you and your maker....or your personal trainer).

I am referring to the purchasing and preparation of the right quantities of food for our festivities. Running out of food is every hostess's nightmare. To avoid that mortification, we often go way too far in the other direction, ending up with three weeks of leftovers after every dinner party. And that private little moment of prayer for forgiveness as we jettison the excess down the disposal.

The tendency to overdo it is a habit developed over many years that needs breaking...easier said than done. Yet, learning to buy only what you need - no more, no less - is good for you emotionally, good for the world and good for your bank account. Here are three practical steps to get you started.

Do the math. Embrace your calculator. People who excel at having "the perfect amount" aren't just good guessers - they take time to do the math. When shopping for a dinner party, they figure out the number of glasses of wine per bottle (four), tally the number of wine drinkers in attendance and estimate the glass per drinker ratio (2.5). At the farmer's market, they know what meals they're planning to cook, for whom, and how much each person will eat. And voila! So many people skip this simple step because it requires us to slow down just the tiniest bit. Take a minute to embrace your calculator and do the math - it may help save you money.

Ask Google, people when in doubt about quantities, take advantage of the fact that the answer is but an internet search away. Seriously, if you're wondering how many pounds of salmon are required to feed 12 hungry diners, the answer lies on the internet. Expert advice made ever-more accessible by the interwebs can be the foil to your over-buying tendencies by providing an outside opinion, additional facts and links to more information.

Create a what NOT to buy list. If you knew you already had 8 cans of chicken stock or three bags of egg noodles, you'd be less likely to buy more, right? Every time you're making a shopping list for a party, also make a list of what you don't need. Stand in front of your fridge and pantry, and write down the staples you already have in stock. This controls your mindless impulse purchases. You can either do this on a case-by-case basis (e.g. holiday dinner, Sunday brunch, etc.) or keep a master list of the things you always buy too much of on your smartphone (the Notes app on an iPhone does the trick).

Sometimes the smartest way to entertain is to remember the old adage: less is more!

No woman is an island, and as we manage our crazy-busy lives, we all rely on other people to keep us in order and help us save money. In the village days of yore, those service providers were once neighborhood based (and dependably around for years)- the butcher, the baker and candlestick maker, to name a few. You developed a relationship by frequenting their shop, they in turn got to know you well, and you could trust them to keep your home and life in order--while saving you money when they could.

Today, that kind of long-term loyalty is harder to find and sustain. Service professionals go in and out of business, change careers, move, and retire. We are left bereft, wondering where-oh-where we find another reliable resource. On the other hand, we have become less loyal (and dependable) as customers. As a time management expert, I know that over-busy schedules often lead to putting off repair and maintenance chores--which means, two years can go by with the same bag of clothes in the front closet waiting to go to the tailor. Or pictures waiting to be hung. We have also become bargain hunters, and with more options out there than ever before, we may always be looking for the next best price.

I'm all for finding a bargain, but I believe there are some key professionals you must take the time to find and build a relationship with, by going to them frequently enough that they get to know and like you as a loyal customer. Hopefully you will be repaid with quicker service, more practical solutions, and professionals who will look for ways to save you money, rather than gouging you or charging you for things you don't really need. And, if time is money, think how relationships prove valuable in time.

Knowing that neighborhood pharmacist makes all the difference when a child needs cough medicine in the middle of the night. Think of the emergencies that can happen when you can't get into your apartment because the lock has jammed---years of friendship with the hardware store owner down the block can prove crucial in a speedy house visit.

Here's my suggested list of the Go-To Experts who I believe are worth investing time in. This is the team that can help extend the life of your car, home, wardrobe, energy and bank account. Are there any others you would add to the list?

• Handyman
• Mechanic
• Tailor
• Shoemaker
• Professional Organizer
• Nutritionist
• Financial Advisor
• Bank Teller
• Pharmacist

How mindfully do you work at developing these relationships by becoming a regular, well known customer? Hopefully by building these relationships they can help save you time, money and there's also the invaluable sense of support they bring to your life. Women seem, by nature, forever guilty of "trying to do it all". With a dependable team of go-to experts, we can come pretty close -they are the magic behind the curtain. Take time to get to know them.

"Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful." Gracious advice offered by the 19th Century designer and artist William Morris. Yet, almost every client I have ever worked with has a junk drawer or junk closet lurking in some corner of their home. The worst offenders harbor an entire junk ("Spare"; "Store") room, filled with who-knows-what. What are these places really? Hideouts to stash all the stuff you can't decide what to do with.

What starts as the room you'll get around to doing something wonderful with - becomes the project you never get to. Before long it becomes the door you slide past while giving friends the grand tour of your home: "Ohhh, that's just the junk room." The financial loss weighs heavy on your mind as you calculate the square footage of the room multiplied by cost per square foot (not to mention the large volume of money spent on all the dormant objects inside). Wasted space is wasted opportunity...not only could this be the place where you can live more fully but it might also be an opportunity to bring much needed income, energy or people into your life.

Transform your "Den of Miscellany" into a fully functioning space. Here's how:

Step 1: Override your Fear of Commitment. Often, junk rooms grow out of indecision--a fear of assigning the space one particular purpose. Transcend your waffling by making it a space that produces something for you. For example, your "spare room" could be used to:

• generate revenue (rent to a tenant or start the small business you've been dreaming up);
• create energy (a place to express your creativity as a craft or hobby room);
• cultivate relationships (a beautiful guest room or a peaceful nook for lounging and conversation);
• fuel your health (a haven for exercise, meditation, yoga, etc.)

Decide which function you could really use in your life right now.

Step 2: Storyboard the Space. When reclaiming a Junk Room, start conservatively by setting up the room with what you already own. This enables you to truly see the room's potential before spending a fortune. Let's say you've decided to turn your spare room into a home gym. Instead of rushing out to purchase a top of the line universal machine and wall mounted 63 inch flat-screen TV, just clear out the room of the "junk" and set up a few hand weights, an exercise ball, yoga mat, and a portable TV or even speakers plugged into your computer to play workout tunes. With the basics in place, you'll be able to see if the space really is a fit for your lifestyle.

Step 3: Test-drive for 3 months. Now comes the fun part-enjoying the new space that sat idle for years. Start working out in your new gym. Invite close friends to stay in your guest room. Meditate in your quiet retreat. Spend a few hours per week in your new home office, or knit, scrapbook and play to your heart's content. Do you like being in the space? Is it producing the results you had envisioned? Are you making the time to enjoy your new haven?

If the function you selected actually begins to produce what you'd hoped (enhanced revenue, energy, relationships or health) you may be ready to invest in the bigger ticket items,such as carpeting, hanging some art on the walls or buying furniture and window treatments you need. Consider taking the room that is now useful, and make it beautiful. William Morris would be proud.

Storage Wars is a suspenseful reality TV show in which people blindly bid on the contents abandoned (or seized) in self-storage lockers in the hope of finding items of value inside. When the locker doors are finally cut open--the winning bidder gets to pick among the old, dusty stacks and piles. Sometimes it's all a bust, but a typical yield includes salvageable furniture and household goods that can fetch a few bucks at a re-sell shop. Jackpot items include vintage clothing, antiques, and collections. Yet, for every locker opened, probably no more than 10-20% of the space is occupied by the treasures. The rest? Money down the drain in storage fees.

The United States has more storage space than any other country on earth: fifty-eight thousand facilities cover two and a half billion square feet - an area equivalent to three times the size of Manhattan. What does it cost us? According to the National Storage Association, $22 billion a year.

Why our overuse of storage? The story is almost always the same: people don't want to get rid of something because they paid for it, (and might need it in the future) but end up spending more to store the items than it would cost to replace them. (E.g. the dining room table purchased for $1,200 costs $6,000 in storage fees.)

If you have items in storage, odds are the expense may not be worth it and you might want to commit to recouping that cash. Calculate how much it's costing you (the monthly cost multiplied by how long you've had it), then do quick cost/benefit analysis. If the sum exceeds your threshold of reasonable value, you may wnat to consider going to your unit with the goal to deep-six 75 percent of contents on site and bring the remaining 25 percent home to either use, give away or sell.

If you absolutely must put items in storage, follow these tips to make sure you don't forget what's there, abandon the contents or spend more to store the items than they were ever worth.

Create a detailed inventory. To combat the out of sight, out of mind syndrome, create a detailed inventory of exactly what you put away. "Kitchen stuff" is not sufficient - write exactly what's in each box (e.g. plum Le Creuset French oven, etc.) Taking photos of every item (or set of items) is also a good method to keep track of what you stow away.

Give yourself a deadline. Decide how long you will store an item before you put it in your storage space. This is a simple math calculation: I am willing to spend $XX a month for XX months, at which point I will either take the item out and use it, or let it go. Literally set an appointment in your calendar (November 30 at 2pm) when you will decide.

Sidestep storage completely. There are some items that should never go to a storage facility because the conditions in a storage unit (water damage, dust, heat, cold, etc.) might ruin them forever. This includes things that are truly irreplaceable, such as art, family heirlooms, antiques, etc. Ask a family member or close friend if they'd be willing to babysit these pieces while you can't use them. Think of it as a way of giving someone else the opportunity to enjoy items that are meaningful to you.

When it comes to objects, you have to decide what's worth more: money in your bank account, or the emotional value of whatever's hiding away. Letting go of things is hard, but it's essential - to create space for things that are meaningful to your life now, and to lessen the burden on your bank account.

Promises, promises, promises. Every year, you vow to control holiday expenses by getting things done early, yet inevitably end up doing the old 11th hour rite-of-season shuffle. You can't believe you're one of the people rushing to the mall at the last minute--again?--busting your budget on expensive items you don't even want to buy-but, you're stuck.

The beauty of planning ahead is that you can think clearly, potentially save money and, imagine that-even enjoy the process!!! This year, meet your holiday goals of frugality and fun, by simplifying your approach, and freeing your spirit of lastminute-itis.

Think like a Minimalist

Your goal is to spend the least amount of money that will connect you to the meaning of the season. Just because you're starting early doesn't mean you should get fancy! Reduce stress by limiting your lists (no need to include every person you ever met), and shrinking the scope of the projects. A pot luck holiday party is easier to pull together and takes less time and money than a soup to nuts home meal you assemble yourself. Remember the point of these gestures in the first place- it's a chance to express love, reconnect, or extend social decorum.

Conquer your Holiday Card List

Decide now if you want to send ecards (earth-friendly, easy, and least expensive); store bought (for the personal touch) or home-made cards (only for the super-experienced). Gather names from a variety of sources: your cell phone directory, email history, and last year's envelopes (if you happened to save them) provide the best clues. Address the envelopes in batches, A-D, E-H, etc) over a couple of weekends or evenings, and everything will be ready to send by Dec 1st!.

Simplify Gift Shopping

Make a master list of everyone you want to buy for, including notes about each person's interests, sizes, style, etc. Before you do an ounce of shopping, scour your favorite hiding places for gifts you tucked away, (ditto for leftover wrapping paper and ribbons); chances are you can check off at least 25% of your list immediately. List in hand early, you can miraculously get all your shopping done with barely an effort while browsing gift shops on long Fall weekends, at craft fairs, or even pouncing on advertised sales at local stores or via the internet.

Book Holiday Travel Early

Take out your calendar now and figure out if you'll be visiting friends or relatives (or just escaping the madness) for the holidays. Then, make your reservations or sign up for fare alerts for discounts on airfares and hotels at your destination. Consider cashing in miles or points from your credit card early, to help ensure YOU are the one who gets to claim those limited seats and rooms.

Make it easy to keep track of spending

Keep excellent records of your expenses, making it as easy as mincemeat pie. The low tech way is to save all receipts into a single folder, and tally the dollars on a weekly basis. For even more control, you may want to think about setting up a special Holiday bank account, fund it with your designated budget, and pay 100% of your holiday expenses out of that (getting a bank card to make it easy).

Remember, there's more to the holidays than cards and gifts...it's a time to build relationships and relish the joy of the season. So no fingers-crossed on your promise this year! Keep it simple- leaving yourself enough time to stop and smell the gingerbread.

Ah, to sleep, perchance to dream. If you have trouble settling down at night because your mind is racing, you need to first determine what is keeping you up at night. Are you trying to remember your to-do list for the next day? Is your mind brimming with ideas for a big project you are in the midst of? Sleep deprivation is serious -- it can lead to weight gain, memory loss, and chronic disease. And, of course, it steals energy and productivity from the next day--so you don't get as much done, and the cycle starts all over again.

Here are five ways to clear your head and reclaim the power of sleep back into your life.

Unburden your memory. Eradicate the need to worry about what you might be forgetting, by having a reliable system for capturing to-do's and ideas all day long. Get yourself a single, consistent planner-and commit completely to it--recording every to-do, call, task, project and meeting as it occurs to you throughout the day. Get an individual notebook for ideas--just one notebook, so that once a genius idea is written you know exactly where to look to find it again.

Do NOT keep a notebook on your bedside table. Granted, this is the exact opposite of what many recommend, but I discovered this technique in my early years as an entrepreneur, when my mind would be brimming with ideas almost 24-7 on how to grow the business. The "bedside notebook" is an enabler - a bad influence - it sends your mind a message that it's ok to never shutdown. If an idea is really worth recording, get out of bed, pad down the hall to your office or kitchen or living room and write it down. This sets a boundary between work and relaxation, so you can let go and get some rest.

Create a bedtime ritual. Establish a soothing routine with sensory indicators that tell your body it's time to sleep (even if your brain refuses to listen). Begin the ritual at the same time every night-an hour or more before bed. Try deep stretches, soft music, candles, a cup of tea. Lay out your clothes for the next day, walk around the house locking the doors, straighten the sofa pillows and bookshelves. Train your mind to make a habit of rest.

Black out. At least 1 hour before bed, avoid turning on anything with a screen--TV, computer, email--communication devices which contain messages that stir you up, rather than calm you down. Reading can be relaxing--but gravitate towards novels, short stories, poetry, not the newspaper or a how-to book. And, cover all electronics that emit light in your bedroom (alarm clocks, laptops, cable boxes, etc.) Those hazy green lights can be stimulating, making it hard to relax.

Change your mindset. Here's an interesting question: Do you think of sleep as the end of one day or the beginning of the next? I find that people who think of sleep as the "end" of the day often have trouble letting go at night - like little kids who refuse to leave a party for fear of missing out on some fun. Try flipping your thinking--when you view sleep as the start of your next day--you can't wait to get into bed, excited to charge up your batteries, and fill your fuel tank for the day's adventures.

Changing habits may take a little planning and mindfulness, but think about the rewards. With a good night's sleep, you'll bring the best of yourself to your work, friends, family and goals. You'll feel much more productive each day, which will boost your sense of security and allow you to turn off at night. Sweet dreams!

Time is Money, as the saying goes, and in these uncertain economic times, more and more people are trying to figure out clever ways to supplement their income. Whether considering a second job, starting their own business, or reselling items on ebay, clients often seek my counsel on how to balance their schedule while tackling additional ventures.

The trap for most people is that far too many "get rich quick plans" come with a crushing time burden that is hard to see in advance. The result is what I call Time Quicksand; where hundreds of hours (and often thousands of dollars) are consumed, with barely a nickel to show for it, before abandoning the project. You can avoid that mistake by filtering every idea through a strict time lens; seeking activities that take minimal effort for maximum rewards.

If you are thinking about making extra money here are three efficient ideas to consider that could boost your income without spending a ton of time:

Rent out a space. If you are house rich, cash poor; why not make your real estate assets generate some income for you? Look for underutilized spaces in your home that could be valuable to someone else. By investing a few days decluttering and prepping, you could generate an ongoing source of revenue. Rent out a spare bedroom to a year-round tenant, or your whole house for a few weekends a year, while you go stay with (loving) relatives. Consider the needs of local entrepreneurs.... Could your garage serve as rehearsal space for a local band, workshop for a local carpenter or studio for an artist? Do you have a room with a separate entrance that would make a perfect office for a local therapist, writer, or lawyer? It may even be worth creating a new entrance to a part of your house that you could section off. If parking (or storage) are in short supply in your town, do you have a space that you could lease out to help meet that market need?

Peddle your talent. The best way to dip your toes into entrepreneurial waters is to leverage a skill or talent you already possess, and start small. Love to play the guitar? Offer music lessons on the weekend. If you have a green thumb, throw a lifeline to struggling gardeners, by making house calls for a fee. If you're talented with electronics, peddle your skills as a set-up wizard. Pick something that comes naturally to you (and that you enjoy) and start off with just one or two clients. If you are good, your name will get passed around: soon, two becomes four or five customers, and you begin profiting from your passion, without the stress and time commitment of a full-time business.

Leverage auction sites wisely. Most people drastically miscalculate the time (and space!) required to run a profitable online store, between identifying items to sell, snapping photos to post online, writing copy to describe each one, monitoring bids, executing the sale, shipping items - before long, it truly takes over your life. Making money with minimal effort is possible, though, if you focus your attention on a handful of high value things to sell. Try to think in collections of items that you can move in batches. Travel mugs? Vintage t-shirts? Stamps? Antiques? Pick a category of items that are easy to describe, hassle free to ship, and price competitively. Investing a few hours to post, pack and ship something that you earn a few hundred dollars for is a high-value use of your time.

Supplementing your income without throwing your schedule out of whack isn't easy, but is possible. In today's demanding economy, time and money are two of our most precious commodities. Spending one wisely to generate more of the other is a noble and worthy goal.

 

No matter the name you give it - Garage, Rummage, Tag, Yard, Estate, Moving or (shudder the thought) Junk sale - the act of shedding excess household belongings to clear space and generate cash is an age-old, fun tradition.

But tag sales are a ton of work. And there's nothing worse than putting in hours of effort, and walking away with a pittance, or the heartache that you only got $5 for your Aunt Sara's dresser. Here are some strategies you may want to consider to help you reap the most you possibly can:

• Combine big & small ticket items. Start with a handful of bigger ticket items you can sell for $75 or more (furniture, large appliances, high-end electronics), but omit true collectibles where you can likely fetch a higher price on an auction site like ebay. Add mid-range treasures in the $10-$50 range (small appliances, power tools, baby equipment, designer frocks, etc.) and bulky fillers (books, everyday clothing, toys) that would clear out significant space in your home , which people will rarely spend more than a few bucks on, but can add up.
• Make your merchandise as attractive as possible. Clean, polish, de-gunkify, and fold or hang items to make them look well taken care of. Go through pockets, handbags, suitcases and flip through books to make sure there are no credit card receipts or pieces of personal information tucked inside. Set up folding tables, tablecloths, and groundcovers to display items, and group things logically--making signs to reflect the categories (Kitchen, Toys, Household) like a mini-department store.
• Pre-price. Adding price tags (adhesive labels, tie-on tags, or even blue painter's tape) relieves the pressure of having to think on your feet during the chaos of the yard sale. It's ok to leave a little room for negotiating: As a starting point, try charging two-thirds the original cost for nearly new items and one-third for gently used items --- Original receipts or printouts from the internet can prove the value of higher priced items. Table signs will work for small items--e.g. "Books: .25/each" or "All items on this table $1."
• Set up the register. Situate the cash register(s) near the entrance to prevent people leaving without paying. And start with enough cash - $50 in singles, $20 in quarters, $3 in dimes, $2 in nickels - to make change. Add a small note pad and pen for receipts and plenty of packing materials, including shopping bags and newspaper for wrapping fragile items. Avoid personal checks unless you're willing to risk them bouncing.
• Enhance the shopping experience. Create enough space between tables for people to mill around. Pipe in music to create a festive atmosphere, and offer cookies and beverages, to make it inviting for people to stop and shop. Keep display tables replenished and full as items get sold so no shopper feels like they're picking through leftovers. If you're selling clothes or jewelry, have a mirror available. Also provide a power strip so buyers can test items (electronics, power tools, etc.) that need electricity.

Finally, consider buddying up with another family or two and making your tag sale the neighborhood social event. Joining forces means you'll have a wider variety of items to sell, more foot traffic and more manpower to market and run the sale. You may not be able to fund your entire retirement on your earnings from a yard sale, but you (and dear Aunt Sarah) will be happy you were able to convert your stuff into the most cash you possibly can.

Every woman's had it happen to her: the necklace forgotten on a hotel bureau; a favorite earring lost during a spectacular night of dancing; a ring perched on the edge of the bathroom sink for just one millisecond....and down the drain the next. I speak from experience. My college boyfriend's father was a jeweler. For my birthday one year, he gave me a beautiful ring that went rattling down the drain of my bathroom sink (I'd removed it to wash my hands), lost and gone forever. I'm still not over it.

Jewelry is expensive. And fun to wear. It's also, unfortunately, among the easiest of things to lose track of. Why? Because as a woman's jewelry collection grows over time, her system for keeping it organized doesn't always keep pace. It's easy to forget what you have or simply lose items, when your collection is scattered among random jewelry boxes, drawers and pouches.

Wrangle (and yes, untangle) your baubles in a few simple steps:

Step 1: Regroup. Almost everyone makes the mistake of organizing their jewelry by when they get it (new bracelet goes wherever there's enough space). Instead, organize your jewelry by how you wear it. There are a few simple options: by occasion (e.g. office appropriate vs. black tie event), by color (e.g. all turquoise together, all orange together) or by type of item (rings together, necklaces together, etc.) Whatever groupings you choose, designate appropriate containers for each category. Re-purpose existing jewelry boxes, drawer dividers and wall hooks to corral each collection logically.

Step 2: Secure. Take the time to get your most expensive items and heirlooms appraised, and then keep them under lock and key. Not only will it deter theft, it will give them the place of honor they deserve. Look for clever home safes (if I told you what they looked like, that would defeat the purpose), and learn to use the hotel safe when you travel. Go online in search of "earnuts", which are rubber, metal or magnetic security backs that keep earrings where they belong, in your lobes!

Step 3: Park safely. When going about your daily business, stop taking your jewelry off and setting it down in any old place. Develop fool-proof habits that make it impossible to leave your treasures behind. If you're out in public and must remove a piece of jewelry, keep it on your body: stick it in a pocket, place it in your wallet or even tuck it in your bra. If you're sleeping away from home, stow jewelry in a special travel pouch in your bag, instead of on the nightstand or vanity. And at home, for each sink, place a beautiful bowl designed just for this purpose, to hold items whenever you take them off, so they don't go swirling down the drain.

Simple tools, simple rules...making sure the adornments you adore, stay yours forever (or at least as long as you treasure them). And when you take good care of your jewels, it's much easier to make the case for why (and how) you should add to your collection.