One way I have reduced my clutter is by selling used and  vintage items on in an online shop. My busy and complex life can present a barrier to efficiently mailing out packages to my customers. A packaging center is my strategy to organize  mailing and packaging supplies to get the items to my customers in a timely manner. I set up two different systems to make packaging and mailing cards, bills, letters and packages without creating additional stress and worry to my life. I set up one system for my home and a traveling system for my car. By utilizing these two systems, I can easily pack, label and mail items quickly and efficiently.  Both systems are similar to the stationary center that we have already designed but the home packaging center is an independent center. The car packaging system combines both the stationary center and the packaging center to afford the access to mailing and packing supplies even when I am on-the-go.

The Home Packaging Center

My at home packaging system includes a storage device for

• boxes
• padded envelopes
• tissue paper
• foam peanuts
• bubble wrap
• mailing labels
• address embosser
• notecards
• stamps
• packing tape
• permanent markers
• digital/ postal scale
• Record keeping ledger (to keep track of mailing receipts, tracking numbers, dates and addresses of when items are sent and cost)

I house all these in a large vintage trunk/suitcase to keep them all together yet out of the way. Go through your house and gather these items. Group them by similar items and place them in your storage device in a manner that makes them easy to access. Make a list of any items that you may need to ensure a functioning packaging system.  The next time you need to send a package, utilize your new system to determine functionality and adjust until you feel you have an appropriate system that serves your packaging needs.

The Travel Packaging System

The Travel Packaging System is a smaller version of the home packaging system. It mainly includes the smaller items such as cards, stamps, envelopes, packing tapes and tissue paper. I also include pens, scissors, ribbon and mailing labels. I chose to use a multi-compartment computer bag for my travel packaging/stationary system.  This afforded me plenty of space to house all the items I need to take with me to send cards, letters, bills, or packages on the go. I can then utilize this center to prepare items for mailing if I am at a ballgame with my kids, waiting for an appointment, or even sitting in traffic. I am able to write, label, stamp and send anything as I have all the items I need with me. This makes my life so much easier as I am not frustrated trying to gather all these items at home and then realizing that I have forgotten something at home. It saves me money as then I am not purchasing things that I don’t need as I know that I have them handy and accessible.

A helpful tip is to audit and restock both centers once a month to keep your supplies on hand for maximum efficiency.