Friday, February 26, 2010

Magazine overload and organization

I like magazines.  I like receiving something in the mail each month that is just for me, and filled with recipes, decorating ideas and other fun tidbits that I can put to use in my daily life.  In recent years, though, I've been on magazine overload.  Some years, I've had 5-7 different subscriptions arriving each month!  That brings a lot of inspiration, sure, but it also leads to a bunch of clutter.  It was time to pare down the magazine stacks--in all, I estimate that I had over 400 magazines lying around my office.


Of course, some magazines are definite keepers...like my issues of Martha Stewart Living.  Obviously. ;)


I kept all of my Family Fun magazines as well, though I have let that subscription expire for the time being.


Finally, I kept all of my Taste of Home magazines.  I have many complete recent years from having my own subscription, and My Big Martha keeps me supplies with back issues she finds.  I have issues going back into the 90's, and I have no intention of parting with these. 

But what to do with all the magazines I didn't want to hang on to?  This actually has an easy solution, and it's something I started doing years ago (and clearly got out of this habit in the past two years). 

I simply tear out the pictures/recipes/articles I want to keep....

And place them in three-ring binders for easy reference. 

To keep things organized, each binder is organized by topic (Desserts, Holidays, Life Lessons, etc.) and each clipping is kept in a protective plastic sheet. 

Now that I've pared down the magazine collection to a very manageable 150 or so, I plan to keep it under control by 1. not subscribing to so many magazines, and 2. making my practice of clipping and filing the useful articles a more regular habit. 

Now, what to do with all the magazines I no longer need? I'm guessing I have 250 or so that I am ready to part with. 

Readers, do you have any suggesions?  I'd love to hear them!

4 comments:

Helen said...

You need to go to Half Price Books. Google them, there are a few locations around here. They take all books, mags, CDs, DVDs, etc. Pay you, and you take NOTHING home with you. Whatever they don't keep to sell, they donate!

cheapdate said...

Take them to a local school . Theyre used for many projects, collages,reports etc.

evonne said...

Wow. Three-ring binders! That's . . . that's hard-core. So hard-core I had to de-lurk. :P I salute you, ma'am.

Sarah Eliza @ devastateboredom said...

I totally used to do the three ring binder thing! I have like 12 of them and they are SUCH a pain to move lol. But they can't be beat for organization and its definitely a lot better than holding on to the whole magazine... which by the way I unfortunately reverted to doing. Not quite to 400 yet, but I'm definitely getting there. I will to use this opportunity to be inspired to pick it back up again.... :)