Tax season is over...The spring holidays have passed...
Hopefully by now you have sent your taxes in and recovered from your spring holiday preparation. You can Relax!
Sit back, get excited for summer.
Just don't let things slide too much. In order for you to be able to take the break you deserve, there are a few Vital organizing systems you need to have in place so clutter doesn't take over.
1. Mail-establish a place for incoming mail and outgoing mail. I like to keep a photograph box with my stamps, envelopes, tape, scissors, a combine of pens, and anything else I need to send letters.
For incoming mail, you can keep a tiered tray with dissimilar categories to look at a later date-bills, medical reimbursements, to file. Often check the tray to see when anything is due.
Keeping your mail in one location prevents paper pileup.
2. Receipts and coupons- develop a principles for receipts. You can use an expandable check file and label each section according to store, prestige card, or type of purchase. Think about where you would look to find it if you needed it.
3. Library books/movies-keep anything you can incur a fine for in one location.
4. Magazine basket-keep magazines in a basket and when it gets too full, sort and purge.
5. Keys-keep your keys in one place! It may sound inevitable to you but do you waste time desperately searching for your keys?
6. Birthdays-read more about retention a birthday tracking principles at [http://www.best-organizing-products-superstore.com/yahoo-birthday-reminders.html]
7. Gifts-I like retention extra gifts on hand for those last small necessities. This may sound terrible- but I also keep gifts that I receive (that I don't particularly like) in this location. I do not allow my home to become cluttered with gifts I did not like and the guilt that goes along with not using them!
8. Cds/Dvds-believe it or not, I have seen media take Over much floor space and counter space when no definite place is designated for it. Devote one piece of furniture with drawers to include all of your media.
9. Lists- This is my favorite! You do not need to have any fancy software or gismo for this. I open up a plain Microsoft word document for any list I think of-tax deductions for next year, things I have borrowed or lent out, habitancy to send holiday cards to, holiday list (for instance, I need a best can opener for next Passover), spring cleaning chores, books to read, wish lists, babysitting instructions, packing lists...
You name it! anything concept enters my head, I write it down to preclude reasoning clutter.
If you are more of a creative type of man and hate the idea of production lists, do it in a way that speaks to you. For instance, generate "landmarks" for your lists. For example, if you have a photograph of your spouse on your desk, perhaps retention a gift wish list or birthday list under his/her photograph would remind you to plan their birthday gift.
10. Grocery shopping and cooking-Keep a running grocery list on the front of your pantry or refrigeration (with a pen!) so you can write down items as you need them.
Plan one day a week to plan all the meals for the week with the ingredients that you need. Be sure to add those ingredients to your grocery list.
Designate the same day each week to go grocery shopping.
11. Laundry and Cleaning routines One of the most important routines is the laundry and cleaning routine. Part of it is just having the supplies on hand and a comfortable spot to do the laundry.
I literally love the clorox wipes- whenever you go to the bathroom, take a quick wipe of the toilet seat, vanity, and sink countertops.
Designate 2 days a week to do laundry or if it works best for you to throw a load in each morning, that's fine. Make sure you have laundry baskets in everyone's room and a large sorter basket in the laundry room. That way, each man can bring their basket into the laundry room on laundry day and sort it by color.
In terms of a cleaning routine, you have a lot of flexibility. You can prescription one day a week for cleaning in addition to cleaning for a 1/2 hour every morning and evening. Think like a bistro server-pick up after using, wash dishes, wipe down dirty surfaces often. That way you will not need a heavy duty cleaning too often.
Review! 1. generate a place for everything. literally give the items that clutter up your home an address.
2. Build habits-Establishing routines is a very important concept in maintaining lasting organization. Going to the grocery store the same day every week, or returning calls between 3-4 Pm every afternoon can save a lot of time and preclude physical and reasoning clutter.
It is my hope these tips for basic organizing systems enables you to relax more freely this upcoming summer season. Happy Organizing!
A Place For all things And all things In Its PlaceHere is a list of all I can think of that I do to save money. You may not agree with all I do. But this is how I make ends meet in this economy.
I'll show you mine, if you show me yours. How do you save money?
1. Online Coupon Code Obsession
Ever since I discovered coupon codes, I will not buy anyone online without a quick search. I am Obsessed with these codes because they unquestionably save me big dollars. Generally I never pay shipping and ordinarily get a % off or $ off code as well. Try these sites for codes for your favorite stores: Coupon Chief Good Bazaar retail Me Not mean Savings: Free Shipping, 10-30% off
2. Aldi
This is a chain of small grocery stores in 29 of the United States and 18 countries, where you can save 40-50% on your groceries. They generally carry their House Brand, but occasionally have special Purchases. This is where I spend the majority of my food budget. mean Savings: 0/year.
3. Buy One Get One Free (Bogof), Especially with Meat
Though I ordinarily do all my food shopping at Aldi, I all the time browse the ads from the other, more costly grocers. About once a month one or the other has a Buy One Get One Free Sale. However, I do believe they raise their prices for these events, so I am pretty picky. I ordinarily opt for the whole pieces of meat: roasts, turkey/chicken breast, chops, etc., where I get the biggest bang for my buck. mean Savings: about 40-50% off.
4. Cashing In On Kid's Presents, Gift Cards
Since my kids were born they have received many, many duplicate gifts or gifts that were the wrong style or size. There have also been things we simply didn't need or want, to be honest. Thankfully most population comprise a gift receipt these days. So, I do not hesitate to return many of these gifts for gift cards or store credit. My kids also get cash and gift cards as gifts, too.
I put the cash in an envelope and over time, buy the gift cards to be used for household purposes. I keep track of each transaction on the envelope and eventually my kids have a lot of cash. This is also a great studying sense for my kids as we talk about their "savings envelopes" often. I use this cash for Big marker items my kids want, but we can't afford. Recently, this money paid for 1/2 of a gorgeous swing set! Now we are salvage up for a Wii system. mean Savings: 0/year.
5. Diy
Anything aid population can do, I can do better! Well, not better, but by all means; of course cheaper! I all the time check my bookshelf and quest engine (try swagbucks) for ideas on "How to..." do anything.
* When the fridge leaked water all over
* When the washing engine quit
* When the carport door wouldn't open
* When the (gasp) computer wouldn't let me get online
These issues all occurred in the last 4 months. (Yes, I have had some bad luck). Out of these four possible disasters we managed to fix it all ourselves. My favorite websites for Diy repairs are: The Samurai Appliance Guru, heal 2000, and The Natural Handyman. (Thanks, Maggie May). mean Savings: 0+ in aid calls.
6. Make it Myself
I all the time try to make it myself, if I can. I make all my own cleaners, and baby wipes. I make my own concoction of:
* Hand soap : Clorox Natural Dish Soap, diluted 60/40 with water
* Shampoo: Baby Shampoo, diluted 60/40 with water and 10 drops tea tree oil
* Honey face mask: warm for 5 seconds in microwave and smear on face. Leave on 15 minutes. Results: less oily and softer skin
* Instead of Nose Strips: I packet Gelatin, with 1 1/2 Tbsp milk, warm in microwave for 10-15 seconds and apply to T-Zone. Leave on 15-30 minutes until dry. Will peel off and take hair with it, so be cautious where you use it. Results: minimizes pores.
* I make dinners in bulk and then frost them for future use. I especially like to make frost chimichangas. They are easy to cook from icy and so good!
* Acne: Ugh. Try using tea tree oil dabbed right on the blemishes.
Average Savings: 0-0+/per year.
7. icy Milk
Freezing milk saves me Big!
8. Swagbucks
Swagbucks is seriously my new favorite website. It's a lot of money saving, plus a little treasure hunting. You sign up and use them for searches, which are powered by Ask and Google. Every third quest or so, you earn 1-5 swagbucks. You can also subscribe to their Twitter feed and they will tell how to get a "code" to enter in their homepage, which will also get you a Swagbuck. I just earned 45 bucks in 5 weeks of casual use and turned that into a Amazon gift card. How fun! mean Savings: and counting!
9. Websites and Forums
My favorite money salvage websites and forums:
* frugal Girls!
* Money salvage Tips
* Pays to Live Green
* The Greenest Dollar
* Wise Bread
Average Savings: 0 so far this summer!
10. Never Carry Cash
When I quit smoking, I realized how the cash I carried lasted me so much longer. However, when I had kids, the opposite occurred. Any cash I now have on my person, is like gone, in a flash and I couldn't tell you where it went.
I now have a credit/debit card from my bank and I use it for Everything, even amounts less than (though there are few of those these days). My bank offers me points that add up to in free gift cards every three months. mean savings: -0/year.
11. carport sales/Goodwill/Clearance/Generics
I unquestionably only spend money on something if it's from a allowance store, on sale or clearance, at a carport sale, or maybe goodwill.
* carport Sales-I keep a running wish list of used things I'd like for a bargain. Examples include: an extra dresser, lanterns, night stand and clothes for my oldest.
* Good Will- I love buying clothes, jeans especially at good will. They sometimes also have clothes for my kids and occasional furniture I can refinish or paint. And all for a great cause.
* Sale or clearance- I *heart* sales, especially end-of-season clearance. Find out when the Kmart near you does their .99 on apparel sale, I believe it's twice a year and well worth a trip, even if things are already picked over. I found pajamas, work slacks, underwear for my kid and a bra for me. All .99 each. Really.
* allowance store - shop early and often to get the best deals. When allowance stores have clearance, you can bet you're getting the best deal out there.
* Generics or House Brands- I will buy just about anyone in the generic form (prescriptions, napkins, paper towels, food, coffee, wrinkle cream (not that I have wrinkles or anything), lotion, etc.
Average Savings: 0-0/year.
12. Lowering Utilities
This is easier than you think. Electric and Gas fellowships sometimes offer you a guide to variable rates. If you sign up, you can pick when to run your biggest vigor appliances, like dishwasher, washer/dryer and the air conditioner. In addition, spend in a power strip to use on your Tv/Dvd/cable box center. Turn off all when you go to bed. You can also turn off your hot water heater (covered in an insulation blanket) when you go away on vacation. Replace all those regular bulbs with Cfl bulbs. Install a digital thermometer so you can control the temperature. If you unquestionably want to get fancy, Install ceiling fans, and reuse your grey water from the washer to water plants. mean Savings: 0+/year.
These are tricks that have taken me years to learn; I hope you can benefit from them all right now, today!
My 12 Deepest, Darkest Secrets to salvage MoneyThe shopping cart must be one of the inventions of the Dirty Thirties we least think about nowadays. Still, back then, it immensely changed the way people shopped. They no longer had to hand carry colse to all the things they were buying, but could put all things comfortably in the new popular shopping aid: the shopping cart. Next time you're standing with a full shopping cart in line at the cash register, just dream how you would have been able to carry all that stuff without the cart.
But there is one huge question with shopping carts we think maybe even think less about; it is a great recipient for all kinds of germs and bacteria. It absolutely constitutes a real danger to our health, especially in these days of new flues and inherent epidemics.
It is not just the cope of the shopping cart that is a major risk. Granted, the handles are held by so many people day in, day out. You can be sure that some of them carry some pretty risky germs on their sometimes unwashed hands. people also cough and sneeze on them. And how about the shoppers that cope raw chicken, meat and fish? Do you think they are going to wash their hands before getting back at the cope of their shopping cart? All of this makes the cope of a shopping cart a whole one risk for virus or germ transmission to your hands. You might think that, all in all, it is not too risky since you can all the time wash your hands after you shop. But remember that with those hands you will be picking fruit and vegetables, handling your wallet or purse, and maybe touching your steering wheel and parts of your car.
Far worse and more risky however is the fold out child seat. people put their infants in there, some wearing diapers and some of those diapers might hold a present. Woman also use it to carry their purses that have may have been put on the floor for example. And how about older children? Lots of them stand on the seat before absolutely sitting down in it. The horrors they might have stepped in before entering the supermarket...
Yet, most of us also use that same seat to carry our vegetables and especially our fruits, so they don't get bruised. Lots of vegetables and fruits are eaten uncooked and just maybe even unwashed (try convincing your teenager he all the time has to wash the fruit he's going to eat...)
The inside of the cart is no stranger to germs and virus either. Kinds sit and stand in them, sometimes packages of chicken or meat drip juice, you name it. The risk of contamination here are way lower though.
The University of Arizona conducted a four-year study on shopping carts and found them to be full of human saliva, mucus, urine, fecal matter and blood and juices from raw fish, chicken and meat. Closer examination of the handles and the child seats showed some harbored E-coli, Salmonella, Staphylococcus, Influenza and many others. They absolutely ranked third on the list of worst collective things to touch, just below playground toys and the armrests of collective transportation. Shopping carts are far worse than collective bathrooms; at least those get cleaned way more often.
So what can you do to safe yourself? If the supermarket offer sanitation wipes, use them diligently on cope and seat. Clean at least the bottom of the cart. If the supermarket doesn't provide any wipes, use commercially ready ones, like Clorox brand or plainly use hand sanitizing gel with alcohol on cope and seat.
The Shopping Cart, a condition HazardThe shopping cart must be one of the inventions of the Dirty Thirties we least think about nowadays. Still, back then, it immensely changed the way citizen shopped. They no longer had to hand carry nearby all the things they were buying, but could put all things favorably in the new popular shopping aid: the shopping cart. Next time you're standing with a full shopping cart in line at the cash register, just dream how you would have been able to carry all that stuff without the cart.
But there is one huge problem with shopping carts we think maybe even think less about; it is a great recipient for all kinds of germs and bacteria. It certainly constitutes a real danger to our health, especially in these days of new flues and inherent epidemics.
It is not just the handle of the shopping cart that is a major risk. Granted, the handles are held by so many citizen day in, day out. You can be sure that some of them carry some pretty hazardous germs on their sometimes unwashed hands. citizen also cough and sneeze on them. And how about the shoppers that handle raw chicken, meat and fish? Do you think they are going to wash their hands before getting back at the handle of their shopping cart? All of this makes the handle of a shopping cart a number one risk for virus or germ transmission to your hands. You might think that, all in all, it is not too risky since you can always wash your hands after you shop. But remember that with those hands you will be picking fruit and vegetables, handling your wallet or purse, and maybe touching your steering wheel and parts of your car.
Far worse and more hazardous any way is the fold out child seat. citizen put their infants in there, some wearing diapers and some of those diapers might hold a present. Woman also use it to carry their purses that have may have been put on the floor for example. And how about older children? Lots of them stand on the seat before certainly sitting down in it. The horrors they might have stepped in before entering the supermarket...
Yet, most of us also use that same seat to carry our vegetables and especially our fruits, so they don't get bruised. Lots of vegetables and fruits are eaten uncooked and just maybe even unwashed (try convincing your teenager he always has to wash the fruit he's going to eat...)
The inside of the cart is no stranger to germs and virus either. Kinds sit and stand in them, sometimes packages of chicken or meat drip juice, you name it. The risk of contamination here are way lower though.
The University of Arizona conducted a four-year study on shopping carts and found them to be full of human saliva, mucus, urine, fecal matter and blood and juices from raw fish, chicken and meat. Closer exam of the handles and the child seats showed some harbored E-coli, Salmonella, Staphylococcus, Influenza and many others. They certainly ranked third on the list of worst collective things to touch, just below playground toys and the armrests of collective transportation. Shopping carts are far worse than collective bathrooms; at least those get cleaned way more often.
So what can you do to protect yourself? If the supermarket offer sanitation wipes, use them diligently on handle and seat. Clean at least the bottom of the cart. If the supermarket doesn't furnish any wipes, use commercially ready ones, like Clorox brand or naturally use hand sanitizing gel with alcohol on handle and seat.
The Shopping Cart, a condition HazardThe shopping cart must be one of the inventions of the Dirty Thirties we least think about nowadays. Still, back then, it immensely changed the way population shopped. They no longer had to hand carry nearby all the things they were buying, but could put everything conveniently in the new beloved shopping aid: the shopping cart. Next time you're standing with a full shopping cart in line at the cash register, just fantasize how you would have been able to carry all that stuff without the cart.
But there is one huge question with shopping carts we think maybe even think less about; it is a great recipient for all kinds of germs and bacteria. It assuredly constitutes a real danger to our health, especially in these days of new flues and possible epidemics.
It is not just the cope of the shopping cart that is a major risk. Granted, the handles are held by so many population day in, day out. You can be sure that some of them carry some pretty hazardous germs on their sometimes unwashed hands. population also cough and sneeze on them. And how about the shoppers that cope raw chicken, meat and fish? Do you think they are going to wash their hands before getting back at the cope of their shopping cart? All of this makes the cope of a shopping cart a whole one risk for virus or germ transmission to your hands. You might think that, all in all, it is not too risky since you can all the time wash your hands after you shop. But remember that with those hands you will be picking fruit and vegetables, handling your wallet or purse, and maybe touching your steering wheel and parts of your car.
Far worse and more hazardous any way is the fold out child seat. population put their infants in there, some wearing diapers and some of those diapers might hold a present. Woman also use it to carry their purses that have may have been put on the floor for example. And how about older children? Lots of them stand on the seat before assuredly sitting down in it. The horrors they might have stepped in before entering the supermarket...
Yet, most of us also use that same seat to carry our vegetables and especially our fruits, so they don't get bruised. Lots of vegetables and fruits are eaten uncooked and just maybe even unwashed (try convincing your teenager he all the time has to wash the fruit he's going to eat...)
The inside of the cart is no stranger to germs and virus either. Kinds sit and stand in them, sometimes packages of chicken or meat drip juice, you name it. The risk of contamination here are way lower though.
The University of Arizona conducted a four-year study on shopping carts and found them to be full of human saliva, mucus, urine, fecal matter and blood and juices from raw fish, chicken and meat. Closer exam of the handles and the child seats showed some harbored E-coli, Salmonella, Staphylococcus, Influenza and many others. They assuredly ranked third on the list of worst collective things to touch, just below playground toys and the armrests of collective transportation. Shopping carts are far worse than collective bathrooms; at least those get cleaned way more often.
So what can you do to safe yourself? If the supermarket offer sanitation wipes, use them diligently on cope and seat. Clean at least the lowest of the cart. If the supermarket doesn't supply any wipes, use commercially available ones, like Clorox brand or plainly use hand sanitizing gel with alcohol on cope and seat.
The Shopping Cart, a condition Hazard