Another New Topic for “O”……Budgeting!!

Don’t you just love that word?! If we are not careful, organizing can become an expensive hobby! So, I decided “Budgeting” might be a nice addition to the “O is for Organize” blog.

It's a lot more fun to make a purchase when you know you bought it on sale and possibly at the best price available. So why not know when that time is, right?

Image courtesy: www.freedigitalphotos.net

For the first “Budgeting” post, I’m sharing a topic that might serve as some help when deciding the best time to make purchases.

This is the most recent information, which came out earlier this month, that I found after doing some research:

 

BEST TIME TO BUY IN 2013
JANUARY	CLOTHING * LINENS * WEDDING SUPPLIES * GAS GRILLS * AIR CONDITIONERS
FEBRUARY	CELL PHONES * TELEVISIONS * BROADWAY TICKETS
MARCH	LUGGAGE * GOLF CLUBS * FROZEN FOODS * CHOCOLATE
APRIL	CRUISES * SNEAKERS
MAY	REFRIGERATORS * MATTRESSES * OFFICE FURNITURE
JUNE	DISHWARE * GYM MEMBERSHIPS & EQUIPMENT * TOOLS
JULY	HOME DÉCOR * FURNITURE * TOOLS & VIDEO GAMES
AUGUST	LINENS & STORAGE * KIDS' CLOTHING * OFFICE SUPPLIES * SWIMSUITS
SEPTEMBER	BICYCLES * CARS * LAWNMOWERS * HOLIDAY AIRFARE * OFFICE SUPPLIES * WINE
OCTOBER	APPLIANCES * BROADWAY TICKETS * JEANS * PATIO FURNITURE
NOVEMBER	CANDY * TELEVISIONS & ELECTRONICS * TOOLS
DECEMBER	CHAMPAGNE * GOLF * POOLS

Budgets can be very rewarding if you stick to them. Stay tuned for more "Budgeting Tips" at O is for Organize throughout the year and together we can make a difference.

Happy Organizing!

An Update on this Month's Challenge

Kitchen Drawer Challenge Update

We are a little more than halfway through the month and I thought I would check in to see how everyone is doing with this month’s challenge.

I received emails from readers who’ve started working on their kitchen drawers and I’m so excited to see people getting involved.  I thought I would share a couple of them with you today.

Here are some before and after pictures from one of my readers:

This was a Kitchen Utensil Drawer before…

And here is the after…

I love how she maximized the use of the container.  It looks like it was made for the items she has!!

And here is a Junk Drawer makeover:

And here is another follower’s After Photo:

Looks like somebody is ready for “baking”!!

Please keep sending in your pictures to oisfororganize@gmail.com

KITCHEN DRAWER ORG TIP

If you are feeling like you can’t seem to find the time, consider picking a drawer that’s a quick makeover.  Maybe it’s the dish towels and hot pads.  While you are waiting for that pot of water to boil, pull everything out and spruce it up.  Get rid of those items that need to go to the “recycle” box or even the “toss” box. Grab a pen and pad and make a note to pick up a couple of new ones next time you are at the store.  By the time you’re done, the water should be boiling!!

Happy Organizing!

Food Fun

I mentioned in a previous post that I would be bringing some new topics to the blog in 2013, and one of those topics will be about food!  Yummy food!  After all, we all love good food ideas, right?

So, to kick this new topic off, I decided to share a breakfast recipe that was passed on to me a few years ago and has been a huge hit for our family and friends.

Cream Clouds

Here's what you will need:

1 - 10 count can or 2 - 5 count cans of refrigerated buttermilk biscuits
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 - 8 ounce package of cream cheese
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, melted

Directions:

Separate dough into 10 biscuits and press into 1/4" thick

Mix sugar and cinnamon in shallow dish.

Dip cream cheese cubes in melted butter, then roll in the cinnamon & sugar mixture.

Place cream cheese cubes in center of dough and gather up sides to close filling. Press edges together. Place seam side up in sprayed muffin pan.  Drizzle remaining butter and cinnamon mixture over the top of biscuits.

Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.

Serve immediately.

Mom's Birthday

Well, this wasn't what I planned to talk about today, but sometimes God takes us in a different direction and I know this is where my mind and heart are today. My mother would have turned 87 years young today and I know I can speak for all of my siblings when I say that our hearts are heavy.

Mom taught all seven of us a lot of things about life, one, of course, being organization. We had to be organized, or at least she had to be for us. Can you imagine trying to keep up with laundry for nine people (including her and my Dad)? Or, making sure that every one of us had what we needed to be prepared for school? And meals, she always managed to get dinner on the table at the same time every night and somehow please all of us (well, almost always please all of us). I will never forget when we would take family vacations and she never left an item behind. I asked one day not so long ago how she did that. Her beautiful face lit up whenever she would talk about the past and this time was no different. She giggled, and then said, "I would make a list of everything that went into the suitcase and then pin the list to the inside. When it was time to pack up and leave, I would check the list and that way I knew I had everything." Wow! What a simple concept. But, really, how did she even have time to think straight? I'm sure there was nothing simple about taking care of seven kids.

There are so many more beautiful things I could and would love to share with you about my mom and probably will from time to time. For now, I'll just say, Happy Birthday Mom! We love you and miss you but know you are with Dad and the good Lord in Heaven!

Checklists

If you search the Internet, you will find all kinds of checklists for cleaning and organizing and if you are anything like me, you LOVE LOVE LOVE checklists. What is it about checking things off your list that gives you such a feeling of accomplishment?

Whatever the answer, I know it definitely motivates me. I've been told if you tackle the item on your list that you want to do the least first, your day will be more productive. I must admit that I don't frequently follow that rule, but when I do, it does seem to make the rest of the day go smoother! You might try it and see how it works for you.

Nonetheless, I thought I would share some lists with you that you might find helpful in planning your day, week, month and/or year!

I came across these lists from Martha Stewart a few years ago and was thrilled to find them still available online.

If you click here it will bring you to the website where you can print them yourself for your own personal use.

Some of you may have your own checklists that you currently use that work great for you. If so, we would love for you to share. Feel free to email us at oisfororganize@gmail.com.

Happy Organizing!

Filing Agonizing....I mean Organizing

With the start of the new year, it's always a great time to get papers organized. So what do you say we spend some time this month setting up a filing system that will keep you in order (that is with papers) throughout the year.

I have read and been told different things about how long you should keep certain files; and I am definitely not an expert on this subject matter, but I can refer you to some websites that might be of some help.

According to the IRS, you should keep tax records up to........ click here: www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p552.pdf . Well, of course it wasn't going to be that simple.

And there is this one for other documents - Managing Household Records www.usa.gov › Money and Taxes › Personal Finance

Just remember that ultimately it's up to you to decide what you want to keep and what you want to toss. To help you make the decision you may want to consider how many times you went back to that file and pulled anything from it.

Now that you've done your research and decided what needs to be kept and tossed, it's time to go through your piles of papers or your current files and remove what can be tossed. I recommend shredding and recycling the "toss" stuff!

Next step: decide on a system for the papers that ended up in the "keep" category. Again, there are different systems and you have to decide on what works best for YOU!

I will share a system with you that I am considering, but the jury is still out. It's called "Freedom Filer" and can be found here. It seems like a pretty simple concept. I'm still trying to decide if I can do it cheaper myself, or if I should just bite the bullet and make the small investment. What do you think?

I would love to hear from you if you decide to join me this month and organize your papers! What system did you decide on? I can already feel the sense of accomplishment when we are done. Did you feel it too?

I know I didn't show you any of those pretty decorative file folders that make us all go "ooh-la-la" but stay tuned, I'm on the hunt!

Happy Organizing

What's in a planner?

Choosing a planner to keep your and/or your family's life in order can be overwhelming these days. A lot of people use electronic planners to keep their busy lives in order, and then there are people like me who just love the art of writing on a piece of paper. There are endless planners out there and range drastically in size, color, price and options.

Most of you have probably already purchased or created your 2013 planner, but if you haven't, or if yours isn't working for you now, you might want to consider a few things before purchasing your next one.

I found this checklist at www.myattentioncoach.com that can help you determine what your planner should include.

To use the checklist, place a check mark next to each characteristic you would like to have in a planner and indicate an A, B or C priority next to each characteristic you check.

A = planner must have this

B = would be nice for planner to have this

C = not so important to me

After you select which characteristics are important, take the list with you to the store or have it next to you while you search on-line. This will help narrow your search and end up with a planner that really works for you.

Planner Characteristic Checklist:

_____ Month-at-a-glance view

_____ Week-at-a-glance view

_____ The ability to see each day separate from all others

_____ Spiral bound so I don’t lose any pages and can have the entire year in one product

_____ Binder format so I can add and remove pages as needed

_____ Zippered binder so I don’t lose any pages

_____ Electronic with no need to print

_____ Electronic with the ability to print a To Do List

_____ Electronic with the ability to print an appointment schedule

_____ Paper so I can write in it when needed

_____ To Do List available for every day

_____ To Do List for the whole month

_____ To Do List for each week

_____ Room to plan for multiple roles (i.e. Employee, parent, spouse, business owner)

_____ Calendar and To Do List integrated into one planner

_____ Calendar and To Do List separate from each other

_____ Small size for easy portability

_____ Large size for ease of writing and room for more items

_____ Medium size as a compromise between small and large

_____ Time slots for meetings and appointments all day

_____ Specific time slots included in the Calendar section

_____ Pockets for other items such as cell phone or wallet

_____ Wall calendar format

_____ Portable format

_____ Attached strap so it can be carried like a purse or briefcase

_____ Price is no object

_____ Budget = $______

Add your own characteristics here: __________________________

Here is the one I ended up purchasing at Wal-mart and it was less than $10! It comes in different colors and sizes. I chose the Morocco pattern in pinks and yellows and the size is 8 1/2" x 11".

I love having the 2 page spread for the quick glance at my calendar.

The individual week pages give me plenty of space for "to do" and notes for the day.

Good luck making your selection and happy planning!