June Mini Challenge

Last week I talked about taking the month of June off from a BIG monthly challenge and instead maybe doing a couple of mini challenges.

Since hurricane season started this month and there has been a lot of violent weather this past year, I thought it would be good to conduct an "Emergency Preparedness Challenge".

I found a lot of really good tips on the internet and wanted to share a few of them with you here.

Wish I could take credit for this "puppy" but I would be remiss if I didn't share Toni @ A Bowlful of Lemons outstanding work.

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She even developed an e-book and printables kit for $10 to help you set up your own Emergency Preparedness Station.

Another site that I found was for my own state of Louisiana. I would recommend searching the internet for your state's guide to preparing for disasters.

Louisiana Emergency Preparedness Guide

This guide offers great tips on preparation for disasters for family & pets.  It has checklists for supplies and even a Hurricane Tracking Chart and Recovery Assistance.

Lastly, I came across this one from American Red Cross.  If you don't have the time to put an emergency kit together yourself, you may want to consider purchasing something like this for yourself and each family member.

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Let's do this!  

Let's get ourselves prepared for emergencies and/or disasters that will hopefully never strike. 

It's kind of like insurance, when you need it, you will really be glad that you had it and if you don't, you will really regret that you didn't.

Are you up for the challenge?

Send me emails/pictures or just comments on this post about what you did to get yourself and your family prepared!

P.S.  In no way, have I been compensated for any of the above recommended products.

Happy Organizing!

Kim

What's in your Wallet?

Over the years, I have struggled with the best way to stay on a budget.

I've tried a couple of different ideas recently, but admittedly, failed miserably!

I was recently looking at a A Bowlful of Lemons website, when I came across a tab titled "Budget".  

You can read more about it here.  

In one of her posts, she talks about cash budgeting and why credit card purchases anesthetize the pain of paying.   In another post she discusses a cash envelope system.  I have actually tried a cash envelope system  in the past nd there were a lot of things I DID like about it.  However, the one thing I DIDN'T like...well let me just share an experience I had...

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Picture this:  Your standing in line at the grocery store checkout and your cashier has just given you the total. You smile, and oh so studiously, proceed to go into your purse to get the cash.  You've got six different envelopes that all look the same and you just need to find that one labeled "Groceries".

Searching....and searching....why is it that things go into a black hole once they enter our purses?

Jeopardy music is now ticking in your ears because you've got four people in line behind you.  You smile, and say "I know its in here, I just need a second".  

Here comes the sweatballs...

And then, you stumble across the old faithful credit card.  The voice in your head starts talking...."I shouldn't"...."the people behind you are getting aggravated"..."just do it...you can pay it back later"...  

Before you even stand a chance of thinking about it again....swipe away!

And just as you are pressing that last green enter button, there it is...magically, you're "Groceries" envelope rears its pretty little head.  

No....you don't dare ask her to void the charge and start over...

Are you getting the picture?

As I read on about the "cash envelope system" that Toni @ A Bowlful of Lemons uses, I had renewed faith that I could possibly make that "Cash System Budget" work!

She featured a pouch from Etsy at www.atime4everything.

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Without hesistation, I chose my favorite pattern and ordered my new pouch.

I opted for bright colors so it would be easy to locate in my purse.  I love that I can zip it closed and know that everything will stay intact.

It comes with six clear tabs but you can order more if need be. 

I received it in less than a week and have already written my categories on the tabs. I used a fine point sharpee to label my tabs and  I can change them if needed, by using rubbing alcohol and a tissue. Now I just need to fill them up with moolah!

And, if the renewed cash budget system fails again, well...I might have to look into Shopaholics Anonymous.

What type of budget system do you use?  How is it working for you?  

Happy Organizing!

Kim