I know that you are all lookirng at this and wondering what is wrong with me that I find fear in everything. Well, that's not exactly true, but sometimes its' close...
Boxing day is the day we all put out our Christmas present boxes for recycling. Well, that's how it started anyway. So I'm driving around town thinking, dang, I didn't get it all out and I'm going to have boxes left. Small boxes as I don't usually get large gifts, and because I keep the bigger boxes for use later. So I'm learning what all my community members got for Christmas.
Big screen TV. New computer. Furniture. Electronics. It's the electronics that really get me. As far as I'm concerned this is a day that we all put up a sign out front that says "Hey theives, check out all the great new stuff with serial numbers I haven't yet recorded that I got" Really? Do you want to announce that you have a house full of new expensive stuff so soon after people spent all their money?
No, this doesn't mean I'm out to get your stuff. No, it doesn't mean I think eveyrone is out to steal things. There are some wonderful safe neighborhoods. I'm just saying, if someone is desperate, do you want to tell them what you have? My solution? Break the boxes down and fold them decorated side in, or put them all in another box. I don't really think people are driving around looking at your recyling, and honestly, if they are going to break in somewhere then they will. It just seems to me like putting it all proudly full sized on your front lawn is as good as a billboard.
Boxing day is the day we all put out our Christmas present boxes for recycling. Well, that's how it started anyway. So I'm driving around town thinking, dang, I didn't get it all out and I'm going to have boxes left. Small boxes as I don't usually get large gifts, and because I keep the bigger boxes for use later. So I'm learning what all my community members got for Christmas.
Big screen TV. New computer. Furniture. Electronics. It's the electronics that really get me. As far as I'm concerned this is a day that we all put up a sign out front that says "Hey theives, check out all the great new stuff with serial numbers I haven't yet recorded that I got" Really? Do you want to announce that you have a house full of new expensive stuff so soon after people spent all their money?
No, this doesn't mean I'm out to get your stuff. No, it doesn't mean I think eveyrone is out to steal things. There are some wonderful safe neighborhoods. I'm just saying, if someone is desperate, do you want to tell them what you have? My solution? Break the boxes down and fold them decorated side in, or put them all in another box. I don't really think people are driving around looking at your recyling, and honestly, if they are going to break in somewhere then they will. It just seems to me like putting it all proudly full sized on your front lawn is as good as a billboard.
Simple ways to relieve this new worry I instilled?
1. Fold boxes with the label in, or even break them down so they look smaller. This also makes it easier for the people who pick up your recyling, they probably don't enjoy cramming all the large boxes into the truck (I've seen the size of the opening they go through, sometimes they have to fold or break the box themselves...)
2. Keep some boxes to store things in, or to install your a/c in the summer. Let your kids build forts with them or decorate them. This gives them an actual useful purpose and keeps them off the streets (the kids AND the box)
3. Disperse them among a couple recyling days
4. Take them directly to the recyling depot in your area.
5. Cut them and use them as kindling in your fireplace or for summer camp fires (seems silly now, but come spring you'll be scrambling for something to start that fire with!)
6. Give them to someone