Another clutter problem I have is the need for convenience. I tend to have duplicates of things in the basement and in the garage. I also have duplication down the Cape. I have many sets of hand tools. I have many storage containers of similar hardware in different locations.

 

Same here, garage and basement. I detail out of my garage so I have everything organized within easy reach and a foldable cart with most of my supplies so I am not running back and forth to get stuff. Time is money.

 

I have so many duplicates of tools it is embarrassing. Duplicates in the MG garage, house garage, house basement (mostly for the wife), and in the MG itself. And within the MG garage there are lots of duplicates - you got'a have them when you have friends helping out on projects.... just to keep them from drinking all the beer. Having friends bring their own tools over never works out well. Its too easy to mix them up.

 

So far the item I advertised on a boating web site has received zero interest. Anybody need a pair of Turbolifts?

 

I have no idea what those are but my sick mind did come up with a couple not-at-all-politically-correct thoughts.

On a similar but different note; this thread must have stuck in my mind. I was looking for my keep-sake book of my 1961/1962 LeMans stuff. I found 4 picture albums from my 1990-1999 vintage race days (Chicago Historics at Road America were the hands-down best in the country then) when I was crewing and spectating with a couple MGA race teams. That included Glen, Mosport, etc. In keeping with the spirit of downsizing I tossed out 95% of it. Wonderful photos of wonderful cars (everything from Ferrari's 1951 race car, Fangio's winning cars, GT-40s, etc.) but as cool as those cars all were, the photos wouldn't mean anything to anyone else.... and like most pictures (for me) of cars, they don't mean much as time passes. Its the people that matter, that is I want to remember. Boy do I hate those sticky back photo albums that we stuck a gazillion photos in... Naturally I had huge big 3-ring binders for them.

At least I'm downsizing a little.

 

I use the Contacts database app that comes on every iPhone. All of the containers in the garage have a First Name that identifies the number of the container, the Last Name is always "Garage". So a search for "Garage" in my contacts will give me a list of the containers in numeric order. The Notes field of each contact then has the inventory of each box. It also synchronizes with Microsoft Outlook on my PC which gives me a living back up.

By way of example, the notes field in Garage A001 is:
Horn airbag
Honda tan floor mats
Honda belt
Black leather remanent
Tan leather remanent
20 inch wiper assembly
18 inch wiper assembly
Left hand – rear seat panel
Various shift knobs
Crosstour front brake pads
Rapidfire deck screw device
Corvette Z06 brake ducts

 

Well that's thinking outside the box. Well done.

 

No offense, but I think I will stick with my system. Example, No. 7:
7 - CHROME

Wiper blades & arms

Wiper blades (5) 1 set new?

Knock-offs (4)

Dash mirror (2), neither good

Hood air vent (6)

Ash tray

Misc. chrome & brass accessories

Bullet mirror

 

It reminds me of one of my high school buddies dad.
He had the cellar, which was packed to the gills with stuff, alphabetized by where it was stacked.


Harry I probably would hae just used the spreadsheet ap.

 

Harry, just wondering if the contacts app allows you to find the box number based on the part you are looking for? For example, if you wanted to find the Z06 brake duct can you just enter Z06 into your contact search?