| De-cluttering can be a huge hassle, especially when it | | | | the past four years in the garage could end up |
| comes to all of the other activities that your busy | | | | entertaining an American Iraq veteran, a child from a |
| pre-moving phase comes with. Fortunately, going green | | | | low income family, or even a local animal shelter with |
| with stuff you no longer need is easier than ever, with | | | | little to no funds for their own computers. |
| the help of the Internet. | | | | Flipswap |
| For a greener, cleaner move that won't taint the | | | | Want to make a few extra dollars during the |
| atmosphere and that can immeasurably improve the | | | | de-cluttering process? Start digging through all of your |
| lives of others, take a look at these three life-changing | | | | junk drawers in search of cell phone gold. This |
| organizations: | | | | company will take all of your outdated cell phones and |
| Freecycle | | | | channel them to people in need, giving you a chance to |
| The Freecycle Network is an online community of well | | | | help others and make some money while you're at it. |
| over 7 million members, and the numbers keep climbing | | | | The process is quick and easy: just find your model |
| as word gets out about its benefits. Here, people can | | | | cell phone, answer a few questions, and print out a |
| post all of their unwanted items and wait for replies | | | | shipping label. You don't have to pay a dime to ship |
| from others, eager to give those goods a second | | | | your phone because Flipswap pays it for you. In three |
| chance. Membership to Freecycle is one hundred | | | | weeks, you will receive a paycheck in the mail, so be |
| percent free and is run by local volunteers. That | | | | sure to go through this company at about the same |
| means that you won't have to spend any money | | | | time that you start posting on Freecycle - two months |
| shipping your stuff anywhere. It also means that | | | | prior to moving day. If the phone you send can't be |
| scheduling a drop off or pick up of your unwanted | | | | saved to serve a new life with a different owner, then |
| stuff is going to take some time. Be sure to post your | | | | the company plants a tree in honor of the fallen cell |
| stuff at least two months in advance of your moving | | | | phone, while recycling its parts in an environmentally |
| date in order to effectively get rid of all your clutter. | | | | friendly way. |
| Computers with Causes | | | | Here's some food for thought, just to tantalize you |
| Another gem in nonprofit organizations, Computer with | | | | even further to clear yourself of clutter before you |
| Causes will accept all of your outdated and unused | | | | move (if the above organizations didn't do it for you): |
| desktops and laptops. Your data will be wiped out, and | | | | reducing the amount of stuff that goes in the back of |
| all of the settings will be reconfigured by IT | | | | the moving truck will lower your rate with professional |
| professionals that work with the organization. | | | | moving companies. If you want a cheaper move, going |
| Computers with Causes then donated the refurbished | | | | green and recycling your unwanted goods is definitely |
| computers to charities and people they believe in. That | | | | the way to go. |
| desktop of yours that has been accumulating dust for | | | | |