Pre-Holiday Purge

There's no better time than now to do a purge of your stuff to make room for the influx of holiday gifts - especially your children's toys. By setting - and sticking to - a "one in, one out" rule, you can maintain a comfortable volume of belongings and help control clutter. Your kids can be involved in the process, especially if you intend to donate unwanted items to charity. Letting them make the choices and understand that they'll be helping families in need can teach some valuable lessons and instill the true spirit of the holiday season.

If your kids are too young, you can make some decisions for them. If you're concerned about discarding a toy that they'll ask for later, try an "out box" system. Pack up the items and leave them out of sight for a period of time. If they don't ask within a few weeks, it's probably safe to let the items go.

And don't forget to go through your stuff, too. Charities are in need of warm clothing, food pantry donations, and basic household items throughout the year, but especially during the holidays.