OK.....So I am speaking to the parents with teenage children and older living at home. We all hear it, I'm too busy, I have homework, sports practice .....etc., etc., etc., not only 30 minutes later they are glued to their phones or laptops. Well, I am hear to tell you there is a way, no magic involved, to get them to actually clean out their closets and maybe donate a few items to Good Will. Try following these tips and hopefully it will work!
1. Ask politely (this is the least to work but worth a try)
2. Mention that if they donate clothing it goes to a good cause (this can work to some degree but you might get an eye roll and "are you trying to make me feel bad..I know it goes to a good cause"....kind of answer)
3. This is where you will need to use a little bribe...call it persuasion if you like.....offer family dinner night but something of their choice....and yes it will not be the typical McDonalds night out it might be something that a younger "foodie" is in to these days.....exotic flavours, mashup, fusion, trust me they are good but some soups that my daughter enjoys can start at $15 easy....yes I said soups...lol no more good old fashion chicken noodle soup.
4. Why not, if you are in the mood to splurge buy an Apples iTunes card $25 should be ok to let them download some tunes while they clean.
5. This is the best way because it not only gets them to help and organize themselves, it is a great way to help keep a home up to date which is important for the overall value. I suggest adding closet organizers. They are amazing and you can find so many that can fit your budget. I personally love Ikea but they can be on the more expensive side of things. We made a family weekend out of it. We went to Ikea, picket out the proper size for my daughters closet and even got those amazing Ikea hot dogs when we were done shopping. My husband decided to put it together while I picked up the Ramen Soups for everyone...remember the $17+ soups.
I am not saying that my daughters room stays clean all the time, but it is more organized that is for sure, she takes care of her clothing and is ready to donate when she finds it too full. It has added an updated look to her room which overall helps with the value of the home. Hey....it is worth a try! Make fun with it, enjoy the project together as a family because that is the most important thing of all.
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