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| January 2010 | January 2010 | | Meet 2010 Resolutions During January's Get Organized Month! Getting organized is at the top of so many of our New Year's resolutions. The National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) has announced January as Get Organized Month, or GO Month. MS Simplicity is a member of NAPO which has over 4,300 members nation wide. NAPO is a non-profit for professional organizers. A recent poll conducted by NAPO found that 71% of the people stated that their quality of life would improve if they were better organized Statistics also show that in order to make something a habit you need to consistently do it for at least 21 days. Curious that many of us by February have already stopped working on resolutions and have in fact given up. What is the one thing that can improve your chances of success? Support! MS Simplicity is here to give you support if you want to GO this month! MS Simplicity is forming Get Organized (GO) groups which will begin on Tuesday, January 12. - One group will meet at 9:00 and the other group will meet at noon.
- Each group will meet for 5 weeks for one hour each week.
- Some of the topics covered: Organize Your Mind, Organize Your Schedule, Organize your Cleaning Schedule, Organize your Priorities, Organize Your Personal Information, Organize your Finances and Organize Your Bill Paying System. Each week will build on the previous week and will help guide you towards organizing success.
- Cost is $50 plus the cost of the workbook for a total of $65
- Location will be determined by where attendees are located. Such as South Fargo or downtown Fargo.
- A minimum of 5 attendees per group is required.
- If you have a workplace or group of friends that would like to hold a separate GO group please contact MS Simplicity for available times.
- Contact MS Simplicity for registration information or for further questions melissa@ididit-fargo.com
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| QUICK TIP | | Our Love Affair with Stuff This tip comes from a great writer Sarah Susanka in her book " the not so big life". In it she questions why we buy stuff. When we own stuff, we have to maintain it. We also have to earn enough money to procure it, house it, protect it, keep it clean, and insure it against theft or loss. So every purchase has strings attached. She goes on to show us how most purchases happen. There's a subtle pressure, one we are typically unaware of, to meet the expectations of our peers and colleagues and families by keeping up with, or exceeding, their purchasing. We have unconsciously created a huge game in present-day consensus reality that entails accumulating sufficient wealth to purchase our way into perceived respectability and so, we assume, into significance. But it's a hollow dream. there's no meaning in all those acquisitions and no meaning in keeping up with the Joneses, other than sharing with them the frustration of feeling overwhelmed by the magnitude of the task of keeping up. As we come off of the holiday season look at your purchases and see if you were buying "stuff" to keep up with Joneses! |
| CENTS OF PEACE | | Organize Those Holiday Decorations NOW BY: MS Simplicity
- NOW is a great time to only put away the decorations that you actually use. Donate or give to family members the ones that sit unused. If you don't use the decorations, there must be a reason why, and most often it is because you don't like them - so get rid of them NOW as they are taking up space.
- NOW is a great time to buy those organizing totes to store the Christmas decorating supplies in. Make sure to buy clear totes or even ones with red lids to give you a visual cue as to them containing holiday decorations. This week many organizing supplies are on sale, so check your local adds.
- NOW is a great time to make sure you label what is in each tote or bin.
- NOW is a great time to test the lights as you take them off the tree and house. Either fix or toss any broken strings of lights in order to prevent a home fire. Why would you put away lights that don't work? Belive me, some people do!
- NOW is a great time to make a list of any items you need to purchase at the beginning of the holiday season next year. Do you have enough wrapping papers for the next 5 years....then make sure you don't buy any next season. Are your ornament hooks a jumbled mess....make sure you buy some at the start of next season.
- NOW is a great time to gather all of your holiday wrapping supplies in one space and dedicate them to a special area. If you need wrapping paper, NOW is a great time to take advantage of clearance sales.
- NOW is a great time to update your address book with all of the new addresses that you received from friends and families holiday cards so that next year your address labels are ready to print.
Plan a bit NOW and save time LATER! |
December 2009 | CENTS OF PEACE | | Simple Gift Ideas to Help Lead a More Organized Life BY: MS Simplicity
When I was young and getting ready to head to college my mom always gave me practical gifts that would help prepare me as I entered the world outside of my hometown. Now as I get older and "wiser" I am a fan of those practical gifts once again as they tend to help in my quest for simplicity in my life. I have compiled a list of 5 practical gifts that would make anyone on your list happy and full of gratitude! 1. Amazon Kindle is an electronic book reader that I have become a huge fan of. I have had my Kindle for almost a year and I love it more and more every day. Some of the things that I love about it is the feature of downloading samples of books for free. This way I can try out a book before buying it. Another great feature is that when I want to purchase a book I can do it within 60 seconds. Great for when I am a passenger in the car on a road trip or about to get on a plane. And for the organizer in me, it cuts way down on the physical books that I purchase that take up room in my home as it can hold 100's of books in one small device. Most books cost under $10 when you download them. The device itself is a little pricey, coming in at $259 but it is an investment that will save you money over time! 2. Busy Body Book is my go to organizing system for my family. This portable grid calendar has a spot for each member of my family so that my children can each look at their day and see what is going on in their day. No more trying to squeeze 5 activities on one small square on my old wall calendar. No more color coding each of the kids activities. The Busy Body Book helps me keep it all together in a very full life! Better yet, this gem comes in under $15! 3. Overhead Ceiling Mounted Shelving is for the person who just needs a little more space in the garage. I am always telling my clients to use all the vertical space that they can. This product in ingenious in finding that vertical space. How great would it be to have your loved one putting this shelving up for you on Christmas Day! Cost is $75.95 and you do need to buy a piece of plywood to complete the project. 4. Chore Pad is for the parent who needs to get family chores assigned in a quick and efficient manner. Won't the kids be thrilled when they receive their checked off chore assignment for the week? This may not be a gift for the kids out there, but every mom would love a streamlined way of making sure the kids get their chores done! The pad has a checklist of common household chores and even has a check box for the ever important thank you! The Chore Pad comes in at the price of $5 for a fun stocking stuffer idea. 5. Password Log is something we should all have. How many of us have passwords written on sticky notes or on scraps of paper? I am not someone who can remember passwords so this little book is a godsend. All of your passwords in one little book.....genius and the cost is only $4! |
November 2009 | CENTS OF PEACE | | Simplify and Enjoy the Holiday Season BY: MS Simplicity
(This article was published in "On the Minds of Moms" Winter issue. You can find this publication now until they run out at any of the 6 Hornbacher's locations)
Oftentimes, by the week before Christmas, many of us feel more like Scrooge and less like someone full of holiday cheer. It doesn't need to be like that! By simplifying a number of things on the holiday "to do" list, you can keep the holiday spirit and free yourself from the stress that the holidays can bring about. Start now by implementing some of the simple strategies below, and frayed holiday nerves will be a thing of the past. With mindfulness and a little planning ahead, you can make this holiday season more about friends and family and less about stress and trying to impress.
1. Start gathering addresses of friends, family, co-workers - anyone you intend to send a holiday card to - and enter the info into your address book or database. When it comes time to mail off your cards, you won't spend time rushing around trying to track down Aunt Meredith's new address.
2. Get your holiday cards ready now. If you plan to send a family photo, schedule a time now for getting photos taken. Maybe this year's card is a collage of the great things your family accomplished this year. There are many user-friendly online services that enable you to create a collage or card with your photos. Have fun with your creative side.
3. Sort toys that your children no longer play with. In order to bring more toys into your home, you need to get rid of some to make room. If you have a child who has a hard time getting rid of toys, talk to him/her about setting some used toys out for Santa to take back to the North Pole for repair and giving out to other children.
4. Keep three areas of you home clean: the entry, guest bathroom and kitchen. If you have last-minute visitors, you won't be stressed out about having the entire house clean. Focus on those three areas as they are the places that your guests most often see.
5. Think about giving consumables as gifts this year: coffee shop gift cards, baking mixes, candles, bottles of wine and lotions. A consumable is something that the gift recipient will use within a couple of months, and the gift does not become clutter!
6. Give gifts that are experiences: concert tickets, a stay at a hotel, spa services or a "gift certificate" for watching your sister's kids for the weekend so she and her husband can have a getaway.
7. Start to bake things that can be frozen. Dough balls, bars and quick breads always freeze well. Just make sure that they are wrapped carefully to prevent freezer burn. When those unexpected guests stop by, you can have fresh cookies coming out of the oven in a flash.
8. Check your wrapping paper supply. Too often people buy new wrapping paper when they already have more than enough on hand. A related tip is to wrap gifts as you purchase them.
9. Decorate with what you truly love. Simplify: decorate your home with things that make you happy. Maybe it is a small tree with only the decorations your children have made over the years. Or it could be the wreath that you made with your grandma.
10. Take time to enjoy your family and friends. If you are doing something that doesn't truly make you happy, ask yourself why you are even doing it. If making a 10-course Christmas dinner gives you the sweats and causes insomnia, why do you do it? Remember that less is more ... and besides, no one will miss cranberries prepared three different ways. |
October 2009 CENTS OF PEACE | | Simplify for the Fall BY: MS Simplicity
These are a few of the things that I try to get done in the fall since a little prevention can save money down the road.
· Wash the inside and outside windows of the house. Two easy tips: find a cloudy day to complete your task and use newspapers to dry the windows. They don't leave lint behind and tend to result in streak-free windows. Also hose off the screens and store them for winter. Hosing screens is an activity that kids enjoy as they have fun getting rid of the dust and dirt with the hose.
· Winterize the lawn mower and wash and clean it for winter storage. By keeping your mower nice and clean - and its blade sharp - you'll help extend the life of the mower.
· Give the grill a good cleaning and make sure it is stored in a proper place for winter. That may mean disconnecting the propane tank, or it may mean disposing of the old charcoal in a safe manner. I love using Soft Scrub to clean my grill as it cuts through the grease with minimal effort.
· Get your lawn ready for winter. For me that means putting down the last round of fertilizer, getting the yard aerated and mowing the lawn short. I have found that if my lawn is short, it tends to discourage winter rodent guests from taking refuge in my grass.
· Flip the mattresses. A great way to extend the life of a mattress is to make sure that it gets even wear and tear by flipping it. Doing so ensures that your bed doesn't all of a sudden become one where you always roll into the middle.
· Check the smoke detectors. What could be easier and have the potential to save a life?
· Change or clean your furnace filter. Some filters need to be replaced monthly and some less frequently. Save money on your heating and cooling costs by making sure you have a clean filter; your furnace and air conditioner will run more efficiently.
· Have the kids try on their winter clothing now. Take the time to assess what fits and what needs to be purchased. If you have kids in elementary school, it is always a good idea to have two pairs of snow pants, one for at home and one to be kept at school. Watch for sales at local department stores and purchase now while the selection is best. I always buy each child a good pair of gloves that they wear when they are playing outside for hours on end and need those fingers to stay nice and toasty. I also buy several pairs of inexpensive gloves that they take to school as these gloves seem to always lose a mate or two before the snow season is over.
· As the leaves fall off of the trees, remember to take a look at your gutters. Keep them clean of debris so that you have good flow of moisture off of the house, which prevents water from being forced into the eaves.
· Make sure to unhook and dry out all hoses that are attached to your house to prevent them from freezing and ultimately backing up the damage into your water lines.
· Clear out the summer clothes and shoes in order to make room for the winter ones. And as you know, winter clothes and gear take up a lot of room, so be diligent when making room so that everything isn't packed so tight that it is easier to leave clothes on the floor rather than hang them up. Do you have kids who never hang their stuff up? Make sure that you have hooks at their level to encourage them to be responsible with their belongings. As for snow boots, think about purchasing a shoe mat with a lip on it to hold the water from snow melting off boots.
· Schedule the carpets to be cleaned. Summer has come to an end, and the chances of muddy bare feet running through the house are slim. Did you know that you can extend the life of your carpet by having your guests take off their shoes when they enter your home? Of course there are exceptions, so be polite about it. If you could just get your immediate family to do that it would be a huge help! My family members take their shoes off in the garage so that they don't all get dumped in the entry of our home.
· Clean out the garage. Hose off bikes and lawn furniture before storing them away. Pick a sunny day so that they can dry before bringing them back into the garage. To inhibit mold growth, double check and make sure all cushions are dry before packing away. Think about putting a dryer sheet in between each cushion as you pack them. Look at your garage ceiling or walls for storage opportunities for bikes. Think about storage between your ceiling in the garage and the garage door.
· Freeze tomatoes. This is a new tip that I recently learned: simply place whole tomatoes in freezer storage bags. This works great for those winter soups and stews that call for tomatoes. The skins come off easily as the tomatoes defrost. Given my bounty of tomatoes this season, I know I am going to try this! |
September 2009 CENTS OF PEACE | | Organizing Your Digital Photos BY: Kathi Salvevold www.photographybykathi.com
How many of you can relate to one or more of the following:
o I have uploaded 983 photos of my daughter blowing out the candles on her birthday cake. Hmm...just a thought, but I don't think I need THAT many candle pictures.
o I know I have this really cool picture on my computer from the family reunion...just need to find it here. Is it IMG00879.jpg? No. Okay, maybe it's IMG00880.jpg? Nope. Who named these, anyway?
o I haven't printed a picture since February...February of 2007 that is!
o My computer just crashed...I can still get my photos off there, right?
Okay, so you know why it needs to be done, but the question really is how do you start the daunting task of organizing the photos on your computer? There are so many programs you can use to organize and edit your photos, and I have used many: iPhoto, Picasa, Bridge, Lightroom and more. Whether you use software designated for photos or not, I have found myself using a few universal steps to help de-clutter, organize and back-up the photos on my computer.
Tip 1: Organize pictures right away after uploading them.
This may seem like an obvious tip, but how many of you actually do this? The key to staying organized is to do the work up-front. You will find it really pays off in the end! If you absolutely do not have time to rename and organize your pictures after uploading them, I suggest creating a folder (aka album) titled "unsorted" to TEMPORARILY store your uploaded photos. Don't import your next batch of photos until your "unsorted" folder is empty from your previous upload.
Tip 2: Use logical names and be consistent.
Naming your photos is essential to staying organized. With the hundred of photos we take of events, there is no way you will be efficient sorting through photos that have the default name assigned by your camera. Here are some suggestions for logically naming your files:
· Use event names with a sequential number. For example: anderson_wedding_01, anderson_wedding_02, etc.
· Include the date with your names. For example: 2009-06-17_florida01, 2009-06-17_florida02, etc.
· If you have multiple children, use their names. For example: 2009-09-01_adam_football01, 2009-09-01_adam_football02, etc.
*Note: no two files can have the same name; therefore, using a sequential numbering system (01, 02, etc.) will eliminate that problem.
The naming scheme that you use for your pictures really is a personal choice. Once you decide how you are going to name your photos, be consistent. Consistency helps make the search for past photos a quick one.
One step further: If you are using a photo program and want to rename a bunch of photos you've already uploaded, many of the programs will have a "batch" feature. This is very convenient. You simply select all of your photos you want renamed, type in your naming scheme, and with a click of a button, all of your photos will be automatically renamed.
Tip 3: Use a rating system.
Are you a shutter-happy photographer? If so, you need to take the time to dump the 30 extra shots you took of the same thing (like the aforementioned candle blowing). After all, having 25 of your best, most fantastic photos of something is going to be much more memorable than 200 repeat photos of the same event.
My quick fix for dumping the extra photos has been to come up with a rating system. Here's how it works: My best, absolute favorite photos get a five-star rating. My okay, possible fixer-upper photos get a three-star rating. Finally, any pictures that aren't good enough to get a three or five star rating are deleted. Most programs have "ratings" that you can apply to your photos either in the form of stars or flags. If you don't have this feature, many times you can color code your files, so go ahead and use colors instead of stars.
Again, sort and delete your photos right away, and this will pay off big time when you come back a year or two later looking for a quick photo from an event!
Tip 4: Create folders (aka albums).
Once you have applied understandable names to your photos, you can organize them even more by sorting them into folders. Again, apply logic when coming up with the names for your folders and the folder structure. Personally, I like to make folders based on events, and I also like the idea of having a folder for each person in my family. For example, I have the following "event" folders: Chicago Vacation 2008, Halloween 2008, Holidays 2008, Summer 2009 and so on.
Once you have your folders created, go ahead and sort your pictures as you like. Most programs that have an album feature will allow you to add a photo to as many albums as you like. If you find this doesn't work when using folders, just duplicate the photo (or copy and paste) and then add each duplicate to the appropriate folders.
In addition to my event folders, I also have folders titled "Greg", "Addie", "Kathi", "Grandparents", and folders for other extended family members. Each person can get the photos that apply to them. I like that I can give all of us a copy of the same photo, too, eliminating the fight over who gets what pictures. Once I have the pictures organized into our folders, I can then burn a CD for each of us. Isn't that great?
Tip 5: Print/make projects from your best photos.
Here's the really cool part about taking the extra time to organize your photos: you may find yourself following through and printing those digital pictures! Just click on one of your folders, pick your best shots (remember, they'll be the ones with five stars) and print your pictures. Ordering from an online website is convenient because your prints will come right to you in the mail.
Even though people are printing less of their photos and just storing them digitally, I think it's still so important to print a few of your photos. You just can't replace the color, dimension and feel of a printed photograph!In addition to prints, you can quickly use your organized folders or five star photos to make books, slideshows, cards, and so on.
One step further: Some programs have a feature called a "smart" album, which is like applying a filter to your regular albums. You can edit the criteria for smart albums to be just about anything you want. Below is one example of how I like to use this feature.
Criteria I choose for my smart album:
1. picture must have a five star rating
2. picture must be in the date range of 1-1-2009 to 12-31-2009
3. picture must be from "Addie" folder
I apply my criteria, wait a couple of seconds for the program to create the folder and "wa-lah"...I have a folder that has my favorite pictures of my daughter from 2009 (which took all of 20 seconds to create). Now I can make a quick book or a slideshow for her titled "Addie: 2009", and she has something to keep, watch, page through, etc. The best part: her photos aren't just an anonymous file on my computer! Even better, I love that my smart album really is smart! As I upload and add star ratings to new pictures, they will automatically filter into that album.
Tip 6: Backing up your photos
Finally, I don't know that this is as much of a tip as it is a very important reminder. Anytime you work with digital photos, you need to treat your files as your negatives. While it's important to organize your photos, backing up your files is a MUST! There are many different ways you can backup photos. The important thing is to ensure that you have multiple copies of your pictures in case your computer crashes. Options for backing up could include burning to a CD or DVD, saving to an external hard drive, or using an online back-up service.
By following these tips, you'll have your digital photos organized before you know it. Get started today! |
August 2009 CENTS OF PEACE | | Taking the Chaos out of "Back to School" Time BY: MS Simplicity
The start of school is right around the corner. For many families, it can be a chaotic time of year. It doesn't need to be! Here are five easy steps for getting kids organized for school:
1. School supplies: The stores are now stocked with all the school supplies they'll be getting in for the season.
a. When to go: Now is the time to go while the selection is the greatest and the sales are hot. Avoid - at all costs - shopping on weekends or weeknights during the supper hour. The best time to go is an hour before the store closes. This forces you to get in and get your shopping done without the hassle of crowds. Another great time to shop is right when the store opens. If you have a kid who must have the latest and greatest, you have to go now - do not delay! Try breaking your child of the habit of always having the latest and greatest because if they always receive the latest and greatest, they come to always expect it. Here's an idea: how about buying their school folders and notebooks in their favorite color instead of what is trendy?
b. Backpacks: I buy good quality backpacks for my kids at Lands' End (www.landsend.com), and they last for three to four years. Granted, I have boys, and they don't always require the hippest trends, but the backpacks I bought for $40 each haven't cost me anything for the past four years because...get this...the backpacks don't fall apart, they aren't trendy, and they're built with good back support.
2. School clothes: When I was a kid, I got my yearly clothes budget at the beginning of the school year, and that was it. I had to make it last unless I picked up extra money babysitting. Now kids are inundated with clothes year around: Christmas, birthdays, Easter, fall clothes, winter clothes, summer clothes...clothes, clothes, clothes! My best advice is to not buy any new pants until at least October. With the way kids grow, you want to make those pants last as long as possible. Until October, most kids can still wear shorts or skirts to school. Buy a handful of new shirts that gives them the feeling of getting new clothes. By waiting to do the majority of your clothes shopping until October, you'll be able to find those "post back to school" bargains that the stores are trying to get rid of in order to make room for...you guessed...more clothes.
3. Create a system for the paper clutter now: Do you know where you are going to put the lunch menu, papers you want to keep for their memorabilia box or put in a scrapbook? How about ALL those cute art projects?
a. School menus, treat schedules, team practices and other schedules: Tape them on the inside of a kitchen cupboard. This allows easy access without the clutter on the fridge.
b. Memorabilia box: Purchase a large Rubbermaid container that either can contain one year's worth of papers or all of the elementary years' worth of papers. When the keepers come home, you now will know exactly where to put them.
c. Art projects: Have an area of your house where you display the art projects. Keep them on display for a few weeks, and then "rotate" them out, putting in new ones. What to do with the old ones? Either place them in a memorabilia box or purchase a large art portfolio to place them in. Another great idea is to create your own art portfolio out of tagboard with three of the ends taped shut. You could create one for every year.
d. Worksheets and tests: Use this easy test to determine if you should keep the daily papers that your child brings home: if it brings a tear to your eye, keep it; if not, toss it. For example: your child gets an A+ on a spelling test after he/she has been struggling all year to learn the spelling words. This is a keeper! Your child brings home coloring sheets or other busy work that is assigned; toss it. The first time he/she wrote his/her name: that is a keeper. The good news is that by the time they enter middle school, the paper clutter dwindles to a trickle, and then by high school it suddenly becomes nonexistent... and then you wonder if your child is really going to school each day or hanging out at the mall.
4. Establish a homework zone: Where does your child best study at? As a kid, I liked doing my homework in front of the TV. My mom did not understand that, and we battled constantly on that issue. If your child gets good grades and doesn't struggle in school, let him/her do homework in front of the TV. Maybe your child needs absolute silence to study. Find a quiet place in the home where homework can be completed without the distractions of siblings and other family members. Maybe your child needs to be moving all the time. Find a good rocking chair or stability ball for him/her to have movement while completing school tasks. Just remember that each child is different, and just because it works for one child does not mean it will work for another. Be flexible and patient so that both you and the child can have a good school year.
5. Set expectations: Let you kids know now that when they walk in the door, they should hang their coat and backpack up and bring you all of the papers to sort. Do you have a child who needs to do homework as the first thing upon arriving home? How about the child that needs to eat as it seems like school lunches were not that appetizing that day? There is also the child who just needs to let his/her brain unwind by doing nothing but veggin' in front of the TV. I heard there is also the child who comes in and practices his/her musical instrument every day....I have not seen such a child so I do not believe this to be true. Some children do better waking up early and getting the homework done or practicing the musical instrument in the morning. The key is to figure out what works best for each of your children and then communicate what you expect so that the routine can begin as quickly - and run as smoothly - as possible.
July 2009 | CENTS OF PEACE | | Family Car Trip and Packing Philosophy BY: MS Simplicity Nostalgia cluttered my thinking with memories of those car rides we reminisce about with friends. You know the ones I am talking about: the one where your brother rode in the back window and your sister slept on the hump on the floor......or the trip where your aunt threw up in your Barbie case. You know, the ones where you opened the window and arm wrestled with the wind as your dad chain-smoked all the way to California. The one where you just piled in the car and headed west...... the vacation where no motel reservations were made, and you had to sleep in the car...I call the back window!
For the past two summers we have taken long car trips with our boys. Last summer it was 2,700 miles in a Corolla with the 5 of us. This summer it was 2,200 miles in an Explorer with 4 of us. Last year in order to take the Corolla; I really had to have a method to my packing madness. I carefully thought about what to bring along, especially clothes as they take up so much room. During both of these experiences I developed a method to my packing madness:
1. I packed by day and put everyone's clothes for that particular day in one bag. When we made our stops, I didn't have to bring in our entire luggage, just what we needed for that day's stop. For example, if our first stay was at a hotel for just one day, I packed one bag with our clothes for the next day in it, and nothing extra. So when we checked into the hotel, we grabbed that day's bag. If we checked into a hotel for 3 days, I had 3 days worth of clothes packed in one bag.
2. I really packed only what we needed, nothing extra.
3. We always do laundry half way through our stay. Most hotels have multiple washers and dryers available and for about $10 you can complete 3 loads of laundry in about 90 minutes. You may want to call ahead to your hotel and check if this is an amenity offered at your hotel. Often we will stay at family and friends and they don't mind if you do a couple of loads of laundry. Just think of all of the time you will save when you come home and half of the clothes you unpack are already clean!
4. A separate bag for pajamas. This works really well as it stops the searching through the entire luggage for those missing pajamas. I only pack one pair for each of us and the pajamas also get washed at some point during our trip.
5. A bag with coats and pants. This bag did not come out of the car at all because we enjoyed warm temperatures our whole trip. Coats and long pants are bulky and take up a lot of room in luggage.
6. A bag for swim gear. Not every stop required swim gear, so we left this bag in the car until we needed it. Sunscreen, goggles and empty plastic bags for wet swim suits should also be placed in this bag. Make sure that you pack at least one towel so if you go to a water park you can have at least one towel to share (remember it is hot out and you will dry off quickly and multiple towels won't be necessary.
7. A sleeping bag and pillow in case someone needs to sleep on a hotel floor or wants to snuggle in the car to take a nap.
8. A collapsible cooler, to keep our day's supply of water cold.
9. One bag with everyone's toiletries (okay, so in traveling with four "men," I was the only one with toiletries; they had toothbrushes. This bag came in with us at every stop for obvious reasons.
10. Snacks purchased at the grocery store before we left so that when we were gassing up the car, we didn't add to the cost with high-priced junk food.
11. A portable DVD player with an adapter enabling it to play throughout the car (especially nice so that we could all listen to the sound of light sabers slicing through the air as we drove through arid Wyoming)
12. Small games and books that travel well. We have a box packed with various games such as mad lib's, card games, car bingo and of course for us the infamous Nintendo DS complete with car charger.
13. Individual MP3 players are also a great thing to pack as it gives the kids a break from what mom and dad are listening to on the radio.
14. I had bag that I kept all of our electronics and chargers in. This bag often went into the hotels with us so that we could make sure that everything became properly charged before the next days adventures.
15. Hubby and I even bring our laptops; there are free wireless connections everywhere these days except for business hotels where they charge an arm and a leg for internet usage.
16. If you are counting we probably pack on average of 10 small back packs or duffel bags, not huge suitcases. Because of the size of the bags they are easy to wedge in small spaces in trunks and even under seats.
I want these vacations for one reason: my family. Be it good or bad, this is a trip that we will always remember. The boys will be forever saying that the car was too small; really, it wasn't...well, maybe the back seat was. But is there a back seat big enough when traveling with three kids?
I challenge you to instead of reminiscing about the memories we had as kids, make your own memories with your kids. Become a road warrior in your own way: from traveling to small destinations within 100 miles of your town to taking a trip across the country. What will your kids remember in 20 years? I know what we will still be talking about! |
June 2009 | CENTS OF PEACE | | Summer Organizing with the Kids in Mind BY: MS Simplicity Stuffed animals: What is the number one gift that children love and parents strongly dislike....that would be stuffed animals. Stuffed animals are often large and bulky and are difficult to store. When that organizing bug hits you, your first instinct may be to donate them all while your children are not watching, but hold on and try some other ideas.
One way to get your kids involved and to take ownership in paring down their supply of stuffed animals and other out grown or unused toys would be to hold a Neighborhood Carnival. Think of some fun games with the prizes being stuffed animals, small toys or gently used books. Invite the neighbors and let the festivities begin.
Another idea to rid your house of these items is to find a soldier overseas who would be willing to receive a box of the toys and distribute them to the local children. Consider churches who collect items in order to take toys on mission trips.
Swim bag: Gather all of your swimming odds and ends in one location. Grab that sunscreen, goggles, beach balls, flippers, life jackets, towels and sand toys and place them all in one large bag or even a laundry basket. This will save time and frustration on trying to round those items up at the last minute as your kids are begging you to go to the pool or the lake.
Visit your library: Instead of buying the kids new books this summer, make a visit to your local library. Create a reading center in your home where all of the library books are kept. Many libraries offer summer reading incentives that are free to participate in. Libraries are not just for books anymore. They offer CD's, DVD's , video games, books on tape/CD, internet access and magazines among other things.
Plant a Garden: It is still not too late to plant a garden. A garden will save you money on fresh produce as well as the trips to the store. If you don't have space for a garden, think about planting a container garden of tomatoes, fresh herbs or even strawberries. It might even introduce your child to a new found favorite fruit or vegetable.
Trips to the park: Ride or drive to neighborhood parks to give the kids a place to get rid of all of that energy. Challenge the kids to see if you can visit all of the parks in your city. You may even discover some hidden out of the way treasures.
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May 2009 Garage Sale Organization BY: Diana Wilberscheid Blue Skies 701-371-7508 diana.wilberscheid@vodencorp.com
Spring is in the air, and that can only mean one thing - - it’s garage sale time! Garage sales can be a great way to de-clutter your home and put a little extra cash in your pocket. So here are a few tips for holding a successful garage sale. And it’s organized in a step-by-step chronological check-list.
TWO MONTHS BEFORE THE SALE: Set the date for your sale. This gives you a specific goal on the calendar to work towards. I find that Friday is the best day as it attracts the serious garage sale customers. You can also have a “Plan B” in the event that the day of your sale is rainy or has poor traffic, you might be able to hold the sale on Saturday morning too. Consider a joint sale with friends or family. This allows you to share the work, offer more items for sale and makes the event fun. Plus, it is great to have multiple people available to work the day of the sale; someone to man the check-out and cash box, someone to help customers find things or test items, someone who continually “merchandises” your items, etc. You’ll also have a lot more traffic at your sale if it is a neighborhood event. Bags needed. Start saving your grocery shopping bags and small boxes as you’ll be amazed at how many you’ll need on the day of the sale for bagging your customer’s sales. Print price tags. Print out price tags using your computer and printer labels. You’ll need lots of price tags! If you’re doing a joint sale, also include your initials on the labels. I don’t price anything lower than 25 cents, and keep prices rounded to the nearest dollar. Makes the check-out of customers much easier. Every item should be priced and clearly marked. Create a garage sale holding area. Ideally, this holding area is where the sale will be held – in the garage. This eliminates moving garage sale items numerous times prior to your sale. Once you’ve filled a box or Rubbermaid tote with priced items, you’ll be able to move it out to the holding area and it will be ready to sell. Decide what to sell. I like to make a list of every room in the house, and schedule a day on the calendar to sort through that room. Bigger rooms with many items to sort may require 2 days or more. Scheduling these rooms for de-cluttering and pricing, ensures that you’ll get through everything prior to your sale. Plus it breaks down the job of getting ready for the sale into smaller, more manageable projects. And you can also prioritize rooms. Rooms that are in desperate need of de-cluttering, typically have the most items for your garage sale.
Get your kids (and spouse) involved. A garage sale deadline is the perfect incentive to get your kids to sort through their toys, clothes and other personal items. By sorting through their items, they can easily determine what items they no longer use or like. And as an added incentive, I let my kids keep the money that they get from the sale of their items. When I print up my price tags, I print labels for each of my kids too. As they clean their rooms out, they can immediately price their items and put them in a box for the garage sale.
ONE MONTH BEFORE THE SALE: - Price tags
- Garbage can
- Recycling bin
- Boxes marked for garage sale items
- Box marked “Move to Another Room”
- Box marked “Fix”
- Masking tape and\or safety pins (great for putting small items together so that they don’t get separated prior to the sale. You can also use Ziploc bags.)
- Permanent marker (you may want to write additional notes on your sale tags such as; 2-piece set, used only once, etc.)
Then start de-cluttering the room, working from left to right. If there are drawers or closets, empty them completely. As you identify items to sell, put price tags on them right away and put them in your garage sale boxes. If you have items that you want to sell that need cleaning or fixing, put them in the “Fix” box. You’ll price them after they are in tip-top shape. By eliminating those items that you no longer use, don’t fit, are out-of-date or broken, you’ll discover you have a lot more space in your rooms for the things that you really do use. Do not wait until the night before your sale to start pricing!
Advertise your sale. The key to a profitable sale is to make sure that you have a lot of customers at your sale. So spend the money to place a classified ad in your local newspaper. I run my ad the day prior to and the day of the sale. You can also send an email to your friends promoting your sale, and encourage them to forward the message onto their friends. Be sure to advertise your unique or big-ticket items, as these are often what attracts customers to your sale. Include the date, time and location of your sale in the ad. Donate left-over items: Schedule a date and time for one of the local thrift stores to come and pick-up your left over garage sale items. Don’t let unsold items go back into your house or remain in your garage. I like to schedule this for the Saturday afternoon immediately after my sale, as this ensures that your garage is cleaned out. And to me this is the true measurement of success of your garage sale – you’ve de-cluttered (and hopefully made some extra money too)!
ONE WEEK BEFORE THE SALE: Signage. Make your garage sale signs that you’ll put up the day before your sale. Be sure to include the date of your sale, your address and the sale hours. Spend some money to make signs big enough for drive-by traffic to easily read. Also determine how many signs you need. You can make smaller directional signs to post on primary streets to direct customers to your sale. Change box. Go to the bank and get cash so that you can make change for your customers. Put this money in a cash box that you can use during the sale. And decide ahead of time whether or not you want to accept checks. Display gear. Track down folding tables, clothing racks, shelves, etc. that you can use for displaying your garage sale items. You want to have these in your garage and ready to go prior to the night before the sale, as this will make your pre-sale setup go much faster. You can even use a clothesline stretched across your garage to display your hanging items.
NIGHT BEFORE THE SALE: Prepare the sale area. Remove everything from the garage that you don’t want to sell or cover the items with a sheet or drop cloth. Display your items with style: Take some time to organize your items and display them in an interesting and easy-to-view format. Merchandising is key. Use clothing racks (you may want to even rent some) to hang clothing items, so that they are easier to see. Organize the items: Put like items together and take the time to place signs in your garage so that your customers can easily find what they are looking for. If you have lots and lots of children’s clothes, separate them by size and make simple signs to hang above the tables. Signs to create; Books, Housewares, Kitchen Items, Girls Clothing (sizes 7 to 12), etc.
DAY OF THE SALE: Promote the sale. Get up early and put out your garage sale signs. You can also use balloons to attract customers. Check out table. Setup a sturdy table to use as your check-out counter; you can even put up a sign so that your customers know where to go to pay for their items. The check-out table items should include; your change box, a calculator, a notebook for recording sales per participant, clipboards so that you can easily put price tags from one customer on them to tally their sales, markers, garbage bags for customer sales, trash can for garbage and tape measure. It’s also a nice touch to have a radio and have music playing during your sale. Assign jobs. It works best if you have assigned jobs for everyone helping out with the sale. You’ll need 1 to 2 people at the check-out table and someone else to keep your displays straightened throughout the day and answer customer’s questions. Switch jobs throughout the day. Security. If you have expensive items that you are selling, display them near your check-out table. Never leave your cash box unattended, and remove the large bills and move them to a safe location in your home throughout the day.
AFTER THE SALE: Clean-up. Don’t forget to take down your garage sale signs when the sale is over. If you have purchased laminated garage sale signs, save them for next year. Celebrate! Count out your money and divide up the profits. Don’t forget to subtract shared expenses (ad costs, signage, table rentals, etc.) and deduct your starting cash box balance. Pack-up. Pack up the leftover items so that they are ready to be picked up the next day by one of the local charitable organizations.
March 2009 Cash in Your Closet (or Garage, or Shed…..) By Teresa Bernstein, Financial Advisor When faced with challenging economic times, such as we are now, one thing stands out: Less is more! Many of us have adjusted our personal budgets bracing for the unknown in the job markets, etc. It’s time for a healthy purging! Our spending should be more conservative and we should be spending on things we truly need such as replacing clothes the kids have outgrown, necessities for personal care, etc. This is a great time to find cash in our closets. There is definitely a little planning involved in this, but it will feel great when you’ve cleaned out those unused items and turned them into cash! Prior to spring melting, look ahead to cleaning out spring and summer clothing. You always want to be AHEAD of the season as this is the time used clothing stores are getting out their spring and summer items. In our area, try consignment shops for your adult clothing or ones that pay for your clothing outright, such as Plato’s Closet. Children’s items can be sold at Once Upon A Child, which is a national franchise located in many cities. As you’re thinking of replacing your children’s clothing for new sizes, check out these shops to purchase items. You may be able to trade your used items for gently used larger children’s sizes without exchanging cash. Toys, cribs, and play equipment may also be sold to these places. Sporting goods can be sold or consigned at used shops. March and April are the time of year that shops are marking down winter items and making way for spring and summer sport gear. Baseball shoes, soccer items, Frisbees, water sports items can add up to cash used for summer fun for your family. Fishing gear and boating items are in hot demand especially for people that are “experimenting” with the sport and don’t want to spend a lot of money on new equipment. Books are one of the most exchanged items on the internet. There are many websites that buy books. Check your local area to see if there is a book store or book exchange that buys books. Unless you need the book as a reference item or it hold’s a special place in your life, purge the used books. The longer the book remains on your shelf, the less you will get for it when you resell it. It is easier for book exchanges to resell the book the closer they buy it from it’s publishing date. Collectible and Cook Books are always in demand by book resellers. Yard equipment is one of my favorite things to get rid of if it is not going to be used. That old lawnmower with a “few issues” can be sold or repaired for sale at a local small engine repair shop. Ask the repair tech to purchase it for parts or to repair it for you to sell on a regional website. Also in this category is used lawn furniture (you may need to paint or repair it), used play equipment, birdbaths, and anything that takes up space in your garage or storage shed and is not in use. Furniture is an easy sell. As long as it is clean and in good shape, this is an item that once listed should move quickly. If you are in a community with a college or university, the best time to advertise is one month prior to fall classes beginning. Try a used furniture store or an antique dealer depending on the age of the item. When selling these items to another store, bring a cushion in good shape and a picture of the item. Lamps and accessory decor can be sold to some used furniture stores. Sometimes a little creativity can go a long way. You can always try “bundling”. This is an idea where you advertise based on a category. An example of this would be “A COLLEGE KIDS KITCHEN”- used dishes, appliances, and cookware. Another idea is “COMPLETE LIVING ROOM MAKEOVER”- Couch, end tables, lamps, tasteful accessories. Whoever said, “One person’s trash is another person’s treasure” knew what they were talking about! Both customers and potential customers are interested in what's happening at your company. This page is easier and faster to update than a traditional printed newsletter--and it will save you money. Use the Web Parts and zones to break it up into topical sections as we have done here. | |
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