Archive | October, 2008

Financial Clutter

Posted on October 28, 2008 by in Office Organizing, Paper Management, Productivity

I am a big fan of Suze Orman, in the last few weeks she has been on the Oprah Show talking about the financial crisis our country is facing.  Explaining the crisis in simple terms and breaking it down to make it easier to understand.  

On a recent show she says, “When somebody doesn’t have debt they also keep everything in order.  Clutter = debt. Order = No Debt.  When you respect what money can buy you, you respect money itself.”  

Maybe you have debt, maybe you don’t.  No matter what, you have a choice on how to keep your life in order.  We do not have control with what happens to the stock market, but what do we have control over?

We have control on how we organize our financial papers, our home office, our bills, etc.  Now is the time to get these papers in order.  We may not like what we see on the statements, but at least we know exactly what we have.  

Some tips to get you started:

  1. Filing your financial papers-  Buy a large three ring binder with tabs.  Label the tabs with each different financial account you have.  Keep all the statements in one place.
  2. Know what statements to keep and for how long.  Email nikki@takecontrolorganizing.com for a complete list of items. 
  3. Re-evaluate your home office or financial organization system.  Is it working?  Make necessary changes.
  4. The general rule is we use 20% of what we have.  Look at the other 80% whether it is in the home office or somewhere else in the home, start analyzing what you have, what you need, and what you want.  Everything else? Let it go.  
  5. Think before you buy, how does buying it make you feel?  Any buyers remorse?  Maybe now is not the time.  Make the right choices for you and your family.
During these hard economic times, it is easy to feel out of control with your finances, but being organized and clearing out the clutter you do not need, can take some of that control back into your own hands again! 

Organizing Your Holiday Decorations!

Posted on October 23, 2008 by in Holiday Organizing, Staying Organized

Over the next couple of months, I will write in my blog about how to organize during the holidays.  To get you started, here are some simple tips with decorations.  

  • You probably have your Halloween decorations up now, were there any you did not use and put back in the box?  If so, consider donating them. 
  • Are you keeping them because of sentimental value?  Then instead of storing them with your current decorations, think about storing them with other memorabilia items.  Remember you don’t have to keep everything… Only keep the things that matter most.
  • When packing up your decorations, organize in categories.  Put all the lights in one box, all the hall decorations in one box, all linens in one box and so on.  
  • I talked earlier about colored containers… Consider buying the colored ones after the holiday, they are sure to be on sale.  And only buy the containers after you know what you need.. 
  • Label your containers with the category names you have chosen. 

Imagine — All of your Halloween decorations are now categorized, labeled, and contained!

Seasonal Storage!

Posted on October 19, 2008 by in Holiday Organizing, Staying Organized

Right now at Target, www.target.com, you can buy seasonal storage box’s on sale for $6.49!  What a great deal!  When you organize your holiday decorations by the box color, it makes it so easy to know where everything is.  Orange and black for halloween, maroon and orange for Thanksgiving, green and red for Christmas etc.

KMTR – Local 4 Less

Posted on October 18, 2008 by in Home Organizing, Office Organizing

In about a month or so, I will be featured on KMTR’s website in the Local 4 Less section… So not only check me out, but check the other services and business’s being featured.  This is a great opportunity to buy a gift certificate for half of the price!  It’s a great program and I recommend checking it out… Especially with the holidays coming up!  www.kmtr.com

Staying Organized!

Posted on October 18, 2008 by in Staying Organized

The project is completed!  You can feel the sense of freedom this new organized space has given you!  You feel now as your time and control is back!  How to maintain?  Being organized is a commitment!  Be aware of your actions and know you have to take action to stay organized!  Here are some simple but action steps you can follow:

  • When you buy something new, get rid of something old!  This can be done with clothes, books, anything!
  • Have a “clean up basket, bin or bag” in each room, so at the end of the day it easy to place items not belonging in a certain room back to their home.  If everything has a home, it’s easier to clean up at the end of the day, because you know right where it goes!
  • When your done in an area, for example your done paying bills or cooking dinner, clean up the area as soon as your done with it.  Don’t leave it for later… You’ll feel so much better later when it is already done! 
  • Have clean up with your children everyday!  These areas get so messy, and the only way to maintain them daily is to clean them up daily.
  • Take inventory of your belongings every once in while.  Keep only what you love and use often! 
  • Remember all of the wonderful benefits of having an organized home, take before and after pictures, and commit that you’ll never go back.. Kind of like losing weight isn’t it!  Clutter weight!