19| O akville B eaver | T hursday,N ovem ber 8,2018 insidehalton.com Autumn is here. Mum- ble, mumble. Many of us are planning on being co- oped up for the next sever- al months. That means it's a good time to get rid of some stuff so you can ma- noeuvre around indoors. One of the best avenues to get stuff gone fast is right at the end of your driveway - the curb. A lot of us use this method for instant results. Isn't it fun- ny how the closer your su- perfluous stuff gets to the curb the less attached you are to it? And it's less like- ly that stuff will find its way back into the recesses of your house. You did your due dili-You did your due dili-Y gence: you tried selling the stuff, family have said, "Nay, nay," and nobody wanted it for a buck at your garage sale. Yet there it clutters,Yet there it clutters,Y making closets hard to close, poking out from be- hind the couch, dripping down like stalactites from the basement rafters. It's clutter on clutter. Maybe it's time to walk the stuff down driveway. Make a habit of giving useful free stuff away on non-garbage days and people will absolutely re- ciprocate by making it go away. A "free stuff" sign beside it is essential. Two lovely sisters who frequent my diverse selec-frequent my diverse selec-f tions dubbed it, "The Out- door Store." My neighbours know they can always snatch up a find: toys, books, tools, snappy clothes, doggie paraphernalia, cottage cups, garden fairies, gar- den supplies, old china tea cups, bicycles, boots, home decor, cleaning sup- plies and dishes. You name it, and it hasYou name it, and it hasY appeared at the end of my driveway at one time or another. Nothing beats treating a neighbour to something for free. for free. f Sometimes there are small gatherings curbside at my place where conver- sations and all manner of wonderful social interac- tions abound. Bonus. Try it. It'll bring a little therapy to your home. Stephen Ilott is a pro- fessional home organizer with decluttering.ca and author of "The Domestic Archaeologist." For more information, visit www.decluttering.ca or contact him at info@de- cluttering.ca or 416-460- 8098. DOWNSIZING STUFF? KICK CLUTTER TO THE CURB OPINION A SURE FIRE WAY TO SEE STUFF VANISH IS BY USING THE CURB IN FRONT OF YOUR HOUSE, WRITES ILOTT STEPHEN ILOTT Column YOU'RE INVITED TO JOIN OUR River Cruise Presentation Featuring our th27 Anniversary cruise-tour thDeparting June 8 , 2019 to Helsinki & Russia Wednesday November 21st, 2018 2:00pm - 4:00pm Monte Carlo Inn, Oakville ON 374 South Service Road E., Oakville Please R.S.V.P. Refreshments will be served 905-338-2077 / 1-800-361-6688 Ti co R eg . 4 40 68 56