Latest news with #declutter
CTV News
2 days ago
- General
- CTV News
17 Kitchen Organization Products That'll Help You Reclaim Some Space
From containers for your pantry goods to storage solutions for your utensils, these game-changers will transform your kitchen. Keeping your kitchen organized can be hard, but that's why storage solutions exist. From in-drawer clutter control to cupboard and countertop must-haves, we've rounded up a few of our favourites to make finding what you need less stressful. If you've got chaos in your kitchen and are in desperate need of a declutter, these space-saving products will help you get the job done. Here are a few of the best kitchen organization products you can find online right now: Here Are The Best Grilling Accessories On Amazon Canada For Spring 2025 Our Guide To The Best Freezers In Canada In 2025 (And Where To Get Them) Testing the Viral Ninja Swirl by CREAMi Ice Cream Machine: Here's What You Should Know Disclaimer: The prices displayed are accurate at the time of publication. We'll do our best to keep them as up-to-date as possible, but you may see slight changes.
CTV News
11-06-2025
- General
- CTV News
One person's trash could be your free treasure this Curbside Giveaway Day
Barrie residents are invited to participate in a city-wide treasure hunt this Saturday as Curbside Giveaway Day returns for its spring edition on June 14. Think garbage sale meets scavenger hunt, with zero dollars exchanged. From 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. residents across the city can set out gently-used, no longer needed items at the curb in hopes someone else might find a new purpose for them. Everything from books and toys to small furniture, tools and kitchen gadgets could be up for grabs. If it's still got life in it, it might just be what someone else is looking for. For those looking to declutter, it's a chance to clear out those once-loved belongings now collecting dust without sending them to the landfill. For others, it's a no-cost way to pick up some useful items and keep them out of the trash. The event encourages a 'circular economy' approach, making the most of resources by reusing and sharing instead of tossing. The City asks participants to clearly label items with a FREE sign, and ensure any leftover items are removed from the curb no later than 9 p.m. There won't be a special collection for items left behind, so whatever doesn't find a new home should be properly disposed of.
The Sun
11-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
I've made thousands selling on eBay as a side hustle – it takes no time but you must follow my 10 rules
SUPER eBay seller Danielle Raine has made thousands selling items on eBay. Over the last 21 years, the 37-year-old, from Preston, has sold everything from Lipsy dresses to food processors and even cardboard boxes. 4 4 She works full-time as a buyer but her eBay selling nets her about £2,000 a year on the side. The 37-year-old says she has a 'one in, one out' policy for her clothes so she'll often try to declutter by selling on eBay before buying new items. Whether you're looking to make a profit or you're just wanting to declutter like Danielle, these are her tips on making more as an eBay seller … Don't upload everything all at once If you're doing a big clear-out you might be tempted to blitz everything all in one go. But Danielle says it actually pays to spread out when you're uploading items on your profile. That's because the eBay algorithm rewards frequent uploads. So if you have 10 items to sell, it might be best to upload two items a day over five days rather than all 10 in one day. If you're a frequent uploader then eBay will push what you're selling to more buyers, Danielle says. Know when the best times to upload are It's not just about how often you upload items - it's also about when you do it. Danielle says she always uploads items in the evening because her listings get more attention. CHANGES AT EBAY 'You get more people looking because they've come home from work and they might be chilling in the evening,' she says. If you're selling your items using eBay's auction feature then you should also set the auction to end in the evening so people will be available to place bids. Danielle reckons that about 7pm is the sweet spot for posting. She also tries to upload more items at the end of the month near pay day as people are likely to have more money to spend. On a typical week she sells about two items but near pay day it increases to about 10. Use the Buy It Now feature If you've used eBay you'll know that some items are listed as auction-only while others can be bought instantly through Buy It Now. The auction-style feature means items can increase in price dramatically as bidders fight against each other for them. But Danielle says she always lists items as Buy It Now because shoppers have got used to fast delivery services like Amazon Prime and 'want things now'. Research how much similar items have sold for If you're not sure what price to set your items at, it's worth looking at what other items have sold for. Danielle says she always does this before selling an item. When you go to search for an item, you can filter it by sold and completed listings only. 'Usually if it's selling for about £10 then I'll put mine up for £7 or £8 because then I think it might sell a little bit quicker,' Danielle says. Make your listing more attractive One of the best ways to catch buyers' attention is to take good photos of what you're selling. Danielle says she takes pictures on a white background, such as against a doorframe, and makes sure there isn't any clutter visible. 'As a buyer myself, I wouldn't like it if there's clutter in the background, if it's on dirty carpet, or if there's feet in there,' she says. She tries to take as many pictures as possible to show off the item - and she'll make sure the description has plenty of detail too. For example if she's selling clothes she'll often put the exact measurements in rather than just the size. She also makes use of eBay's AI description writer. 'I don't use that as the only description, I use it to add to mine, but I think that helps with keywords,' she says. Don't skimp out on the packaging Danielle says you should take extra care with packaging anything you've sold. 'I send quite a few things out in a box because you don't know how things are going to happen in transit and then at least you're covered if anything goes wrong,' she says. She also buys mail bags which she says look nicer than sending an order in a carrier bag, and can mean you might get better feedback from buyers. The 37-year-old says she buys packs of 100 mail bags for £5. You can also get cardboard boxes for free if you pop to a local shop, or you can keep hold of any boxes your own online purchases are sent in. Post promplty Shoppers expect their buys to arrive quickly, so Danielle says you should post as soon as you can to get good feedback. She always aims to post by the next day. You should look out for Royal Mail lockers near you as these are open 24/7 so you won't need to wait for your local Post Office to open or have to join a queue. Protect yourself against dodgy buyers Danielle takes several steps to make sure she's covered if a buyer makes a false claim. She says some buyers will 'try their luck' and try to claim an item hasn't arrived so she always chooses to track the postage. Recently a buyer said their parcel hadn't arrived but when Danielle phoned up eBay's customer service they told her not to worry as she had got tracking on the item. Some sellers also film or take photos of themselves packaging up any expensive items they're selling as proof they've been packaged securely, in case someone claims their purchase was damaged in the post. Danielle also avoids negative feedback from buyers by being upfront about any imperfections on the item and including pictures in the listing. 'So if anybody disputed anything, I can say, well, it was already in the listing,' she says. Challenge any unfair feedback Danielle says it helps to have good feedback from buyers as it will make you look more reliable and trustworthy. But sometimes buyers can leave unfair feedback that damages your overall rating. You don't have to put up with this though - you can have negative feedback removed if eBay decides to side with you that it's unfair. Danielle says she recently had neutral feedback removed after a buyer complained that their item wasn't the exact dimensions they wanted. But when Danielle contacted eBay's customer service team, they agreed to remove the feedback as she had been clear in the item's description that she had given 'approximate' dimensions. 'eBay's customer services are very fair. So they will look at it. It's not a bot looking at it - it's a real person who will evaluate it,' she says. You can either contact customer services by phone or by web chat. Invest in a label printer If you're going to be selling frequently, Danielle recommends getting a label printer to print out your postage labels. She says this has made the process much easier and saved her money in ink and paper. Although there was an upfront cost of £75, she says she's made her money back because of how much she was spending on ink and paper for her printer previously.
CTV News
28-05-2025
- Automotive
- CTV News
16 Amazon Canada Products That'll Help You Keep Your Car Organized
The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us. Keeping your car organized can be hard, but that's why storage solutions exist. From backseat clutter control to trunk must-haves, we've rounded up a few of our favourites to make finding what you need less stressful. If you've got chaos in your car and are in desperate need of a declutter, these space-saving products will help you get the job done. Here are a few of the best car organization products you can find on Amazon Canada right now: Disclaimer: The prices displayed are accurate at the time of publication. We'll do our best to keep them as up-to-date as possible, but you may see slight changes.
The Sun
25-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Sun
I'm a celeb stylist, why you shouldn't bother with viral buys and the one year rule that will save your summer wardrobe
AS WE head into the long-awaited summer months, it's the perfect time to embrace the seasonal shift with a full wardrobe refresh. Lynne McKenna, who has styled high-profile celebrities including Davina McCall, Emma Willis and Rochelle Humes and works alongside Klass as their resident stylist, has revealed how to get your wardrobe summer-ready by decluttering it. 'Think of it as a seasonal reset,' says Lynne. 'It's not just about clearing space; it's about rediscovering what works for you and letting go of what doesn't serve your current style or lifestyle.' Start with structure Begin by taking everything out of your wardrobe and organising items into clear categories - dresses, tops, trousers, jackets, etc. Then within each category, arrange items by colour. 'This not only gives you a clear visual overview of what you own,' Lynne explains, 'but helps identify duplicates, missing items, and where you can streamline. 'Consider investing in matching hangers and storage boxes to create a space that feels inspiring and functional.' Use the one-year rule Haven't worn it in a year? It's probably time to part ways. Lynne says: 'Be honest with yourself - if it hasn't been worn in the past 12 months, ask why. If it's not because of special occasion use or sentimental value, donate it. You'll feel lighter and your wardrobe will be more focused. I recommend creating three piles: Keep, Donate, and Maybe - revisit the 'maybe' pile after a few days with a fresh perspective.' Be mindful about summer buys When shopping for the new season, Lynne recommends building a capsule wardrobe made up of high-quality staples that can be mixed and matched easily rather than opting for viral or trending pieces. 'Think cotton shirts, a timeless piece that can be dressed up or down, as well as linen-blend trousers, a few flattering midi dresses, and a great lightweight jacket,' she says. I'm a personal stylist – Here is my affordable Autumn essentials to dress to impress 'Ask yourself: will I wear this at least three different ways? If yes - it's a keeper,' Lynne added. Revisit last year's favourites Before reintroducing spring/summer items from storage, do a mini edit. Lynne advises checking each item with four key questions: Does it fit? Suit my current style? Is it in good condition? Does it make me feel confident? If the answer is no to any of these, it's time to let go. 'Your wardrobe should lift you, not weigh you down,' she adds. 'Keep pieces that serve you now, not who you used to be.' Styling tips for women 50+ Our Fabulous Fashion Editor Clemmie Fieldsend shares her top tips... GET A BRA FIT: Underwear is the foundation to every single outfit, so make sure your bra is the correct fit. If you're off to a good start you'll finish with a great outfits. EMBRACE COLOUR: Bright colours will lift your skin tone and will give you glowing skin. INVEST IN GOOD BASICS: You'll need your essentials like a good pair of straight leg jeans, white shirt, white t-shirt, black blazer and well made black shoe. You can't go wrong with rotating them when you don't know what to wear. AVOID SHAPELESS: Hiding your figure under shapeless silhouettes is doing to date you and make you look frumpy. Try fitted clothes that aren't figure hugging - you need to be able to breathe. EXPERIMENT: Try different items you wouldn't usually go for and mix them with what you already have. The results can mean a better dressed and more confident you.
