• Leasing versus Owning Phone: There is no reason today to lease a telephone from your local carrier. Check your telephone bill and see if there is a line item for leased equipment. If there is, head down to your local retailer that sells telephones and pick up a phone that suits your needs. Chances are you will be able to purchase a telephone with more features and at a cost that will save you a tidy sum every year. There are many retailers that sell phones for well under $100 with some below $50. There are many telephone carriers that charge leasing fees up to $20.00 per month or $240 per year. Today that is just a waste of money.

• Cramming: Get into habit of reviewing your telephone bill every month. Although reputable telephone carriers do not indulge in spurious practice of cramming, they do occasionally make a mistake. Cramming is practice of placing additional charges for goods and services on your telephone bill that you did not authorize or purchase. It is illegal. In case of a mistakes or suspected cramming, you need to contact company and ask them, politely initially, to explain charges. If you didn’t authorize purchase then ask your carrier to remove it from your bill. If they fail to remove charge from your bill, and you feel that charge is wrong, then contact your local office of

Public Utilities or go to FCC web site and file a complaint.

• Added Features: There are many fine features that can be added to your telephone service to enhance its functions and permit a broader range of useful information. But if you are like me, and could care less about fancy bells and whistles, remove those services that you really don’t need or want. Unfortunately, there are many seniors that are sold a package of goods and services when they sign up for a new service or when telemarketers call with latest gizmo. If you don’t need it, don’t get it. If you have it and don’t use it, remove it. All of these little “extras” increase your bill and could be a waste of money.

• Saving on Calling Plans with Fixed or Low Income: The Federal Government is committed to providing telephone service to all Americans. The Federal Universal Service Fund includes low-income program; which provides discounts on telephone installation and basic monthly service to qualifying consumers. There are two components to low income program, Lifeline Assistance (“Lifeline”) and Link-Up America (“Link-Up”). Lifeline and Link-Up are available to all qualifying low-income consumers nationwide. The FCC’s enhanced Lifeline and Link-UP programs, however, which offer additional discounts, are available only for qualifying consumers living on Tribal Lands. Check with your local provider and ask about these programs in order to earn discounts on basic telephone service. For more information about these low income programs click here. ( http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/tribalfactsheet.pdf )

• Changing Long Distance Carriers too Much Trouble: Many people feel that switching carriers is just too much trouble and a bit too confusing. They are probably right. But in any event, if you decide to keep your existing carrier then at least check with them to make sure you are getting best value for your money and cheapest rates they offer. Do some of other tips we suggest here, such as getting rid of leased equipment and extra features and you will be able to trim your bill substantially.

Set mini-goals so that you can feel a sense of accomplishment. Focusing on one theme (such as holiday or vacation photos) will be a lot more manageable than trying to tackle entire photo collection at one time. Don't sabotage yourself by thinking you need to set aside an entire day for your organizing. Take advantage of small blocks of time – even 15 minutes – and take some action. Small progress is still progress!

4. Purge your photos!

Photographs hold so much meaning and significance for us, and most of us consider our photographs to be among our most prized possessions. Because of this, many of us would never dream of throwing away a photograph. It sounds dreadful doesn't it?

But guess what? You don't have to keep every picture! Don't be afraid to sift through your collection and free yourself of those photographs that don't stir your emotions. For starters, release anything that is dark, blurry, or otherwise unattractive.

If you insist upon keeping every photograph, then your truly special photographs will be lost in mass of other photographs. Keep those photos that inspire you, and release rest. Purging your photographs is one simple thing you can do to dramatically simplify your organizing.

5. Develop a system for handling just-developed pictures.

We realize that you probably have oodles and oodles of older photographs that need organizing. So, you may think it odd that we’re focusing on handling just-developed pictures. The simple reason for that is that you need to feel a sense of achievement, and this will give you an easy starting point. It may take you a while to go back and organize your older photographs, but at very least you’ll feel in control of your pictures from here on out. The system that you create should be simple, so that you’ll use it every time.

6. Capture your memories that go along with your photographs.

Your photographs will hold more meaning, for you and your loved ones, if they know story behind them.

As you begin to get your photographs in order, you may be interested in discovering joy of scrapbooking! Scrapbooking is art of safely and creatively showcasing photos and memorabilia in albums using archival, acid-free albums and products. Pages are embellished with stickers, artwork, and journaling. Scrapbooking is fastest growing segment of craft industry, with good reason.

“Scrapbooking is truly a magical activity with immeasurable benefits. It allows us to record our family stories and reflect on life’s greatest treasures”.

Whether or not you plan to scrapbook, be sure to take time to capture those magical moments in life. You know, those times in life when something wonderful happens and everything seems right with world . . . or you're amazed by your child's words of wisdom. Capture those special moments as they happen.

Copyright 2003-2004, by The Sentimental Playground. Article may be reprinted with permission. Please contact info@organizedphotos.com