Grocery Shopping...It's All About the Planning!

Who would have thought that being organized could help save money? Food costs continue to rise with no end in sight! With a little planning and some organizational tips, saving money at the grocery store is a breeze. Here are some tips!

1. Create a standardized grocery list. Type up a list on the computer. Include categories such as produce, bakery items, dairy, etc. I like to organize mine in the same order as the aisles of my grocery store. That way, I minimize the time I spend walking back and forth (I save time too!). Once the list is created, make copies and keep them on the kitchen countertop or posted on the refrigerator. Write items down as soon they are low. This will save time having to recall everything at once. It also helps to eliminate extra trips to the store for forgotten items.


2. Plan out enough meals for the week plus one day extra. For twice a week shoppers, try to have at least 4 days of meals on hand. Keeping an extra day's worth of meals prevents the temptation of ordering take out if shopping can't be done on the regular day. I try to have a few things on hand to create a fast and easy meal if need be. Here are some good things to try: pre-cooked pizza shells and the fixings (pita crusts work well and the kids will have fun making their own mini pizzas), frozen ravioli (mix with jarred sauce, top with mozzarella then bake for a quick pasta dish that will delight the senses), and shredded cooked chicken (simmer in your favorite barbeque sauce and serve on rolls).


3. Organize coupons by expiration date. Organizing coupons by category tends to make it more likely that they will be forgotten. I only have two categories of coupons at home: one for retail stores/restaurants and another for grocery/drugstore items. Every week I look through the coupons that are going to be expiring soon and try to plan around these. If I know for sure I am going to use a particular coupon that week, I put it in front of the stack in a smaller envelope. This helps to save me time at the cash register as I don't want to be sorting coupons when I am focusing on putting my groceries on the conveyor belt. Try to resist purchasing items just because they are on sale or because there is a coupon. Unless that item is going to be used, it is actually a waste of money and has the potential to create clutter.


4. Clean out the pantry regularly. Every month, try to plan meals using what is already on hand in the pantry. Use the internet to research recipes for unusual ingredients. I once was told that canned beets can be used in a recipe for chocolate cake! Here are a couple good websites to try: http://www.recipesource.com/ and http://www.cooks.com/.

Happy Organizing!

Paper Management 101. Creating a filing system for important papers.

Every home needs a main filing cabinet for sorting and storing important paperwork. This may sound like a daunting task, but there is no time like the present to get started. The following are some suggestions for the separate filing categories. I like to use hanging file folders for the main categories and manila folders for the subdivisions. Keep in mind that these categories and their contents may vary depending on individual needs.

1. Identity Paperwork - Copies of birth certificates, marriage licenses, social security cards, driver's licenses, and passports. Keep the original documents in a fireproof safe or a security deposit box at the bank.


2. Financial - Information about bank accounts, credit cards, loans, investments and retirement accounts. Keep statements dating back from the last year or two. If there is online access to these accounts, saving paper statements and cancelled checks may not be necessary. If something is needed for tax purposes, save it for seven years (the IRS rule).


3. Home - Deed, mortgage information, property taxes, insurance, utilities, repairs and maintenance, and appliance instruction booklets and warranties (throw these out when the appliance is gone).


4. Taxes - The past seven years of tax returns. Here is a time saving tip! Create a folder for the current year so that pertinent information can be filed there as it is accrued. This will save time gathering it all at the end of the year. This folder can be further subdivided into categories such as medical receipts, donations, etc.


5. Auto - Title, insurance and repairs/maintenance.


6. Medical/Health and Wellness - Receipts (for prescriptions and copays), insurance information, medical records, updated medication lists, gym membership paperwork, pet records.


7. Education and Employment - Resumes,reference letters, copies of personnel records, copies of high school diploma and college degrees, transcripts.


8. Miscellaneous - Try not to let this be a "catch all". If there are several similar paperwork items, create a separate category in the filing cabinet. In the miscellaneous section, I keep files for Christmas ideas (pages from catalogs that I save), computer accounts and passwords, inspirational sayings, and ideas (random magazine and catalog pages).

Once the filing system is set up, set aside time regularly to file items. Always start with the new incoming items then chip away at the older ones.

Happy Organizing!

You've got mail! How to develop a mail management system.

Paper flow management is a common area with which people need help. Like rabbits, paper tends to multiply rapidly. In working on developing a paper flow management system, I recommend starting with mail as this is one main source of daily incoming paper flow. Here are some things to consider when creating a mail management system.

1. Start with new mail. This is not the time to start with that old pile of mail. Starting with the new mail is less of a burden and therefore, is less likely to be discouraging. Once a mail management system is in place, then chip away at the old pile when spare time allows.




2. Designate a central area as a place to gather/organize mail. Examples of good areas are a kitchen countertop or a small table near a main entrance. Designating a specific area for mail make it less likely that it will migrate to other areas.




3. Create a filing system for different types of mail. This can be as simple as a container holding a set of manila file folders. Whatever arrangement is chosen, make sure to label one area as Urgent/Immediate Action. In this section, place bills that are due soon, permission slips that need to be completed and other items that need to be dealt with in a timely manner. Other files could be used for coupons, school notices, bills, receipts, etc. Set aside a few minutes each day to deal with the items in the action pile and to go through the other folders. Move items to the action pile accordingly. Old receipts, bills, and papers can be moved to a main filing cabinet (a topic which will be addressed later on). Personal letters and cards can be tricky to deal with. I recommend keeping a small decorative basket to store them in. When the basket is full, this is a cue to sort through the basket. Those that are saved should be filed into momento boxes or scrapbooks.




4. Get rid of junk mail immediately! This will help reduce clutter potential drastically! If you aren't sure about a particular piece of junk mail, put it in the action pile temporarily. This will force you to deal with it before it creates a problem.




5. Keep magazines and catalogs confined to one to two areas in the house. As new magazines and catalogs are received, make it a point to get rid of some of the old ones. Use the one in, one out rule. Recycle old magazines or better yet, take them to the doctor's office or gym.

Happy Organizing!

Where to start?

The most difficult part of organizing is figuring out where to start. Here are some tips.

1. Think small. Start with small jobs such as organizing a drawer or a shelf. Paper flow management is an area a lot of people need to work on and can be a great place to start. Designate an area in your home for mail/paper flow. Create folders for bills, receipts, coupons as well as a folder for those items that require immediate action. Don't feel the need to file all the old paper items immediately. Focus on the incoming paper flow, then chip away at the old piles when you have spare time. Shred junk mail immediately instead of saving it to deal with later.
2. Schedule time to organize. Build organizing time into the schedule and stick to it like an appointment. This will ensure that organizing becomes a habit. Never underestimate the power of 15 minutes! That is enough time to organize a small drawer.
3. Hire a professional organizer. If finding a starting point is difficult, sometimes it helps to hire an objective second party. The National Association of Professional Organizers (http://www.napo.net/) can help you find a professional organizer near you.
4. Start with the "hot spots". These are places that are used frequently such as the kitchen and the living room. Clutter often interferes with the function of these rooms. For example, cluttered counter tops in the kitchen make it difficult to find space to prepare food. Again, start small. If you can only tackle one counter top for the day, it is better than nothing! Remember to be patient! It took time for clutter to accummulate, therefore, it will take time to get rid of it.

Happy Organizing!

To Organize or Not to Organize

The purpose of this blog is to help teach the skills necessary to manage the clutter of everyday life. You can learn how to be organized! It is a set of skills that can be acquired!

With that in mind, let's talk about the benefits of being organized.

1. Gain time! Everybody seems to be short on time these days. When there is a designated place for everything, it eliminates the time spent looking for lost items.
2. Be less stressed! Most people will agree that clutter is not only unsightly, but distracting as well. Having a "filing system" for items ensures that one can find what is needed when it is needed. This goes hand in hand with the concept listed in number one. Just ask anyone how frustrating it can be spending time looking for car keys or an important receipt.
3. Find money! Not only is there the chance that one may find actual money, but often times, valuable items that were once believed to be lost reappear! When organizing the pantry, one might find extra food items that might help reduce that week's grocery expenses.

Happy Organizing!