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My Child's Health Records Book
ORGANIZING TIPS
Here is my collection of things I do every day to help keep me on track, keep my house from becoming a jungle, and make sure I (sort of ) know what's going on. If you have any tips you would like to share send them to me using the form at the bottom of the page and I'll add them to this page, with credit given to the author.
How many web sites do you go to that requires a user ID and password? There are so many different requirements for password length, then you have to change passwords on some sites regularly (such as my online banking). It gets to be too much to remember. So every time I open a new account, I write down the site, USERID and Password on a 3x5 card and keep them in a card box in a locked desk drawer. When my computer got a bad trojan and had to be wiped clean and reloaded, I lost all my sites and the "keep me signed in" features that I depended on. I was able to pull out my cards and get all my accounts set back up again, including configuring my e-mail without having to call tech support or send for lost passwords.
My job requires me to work a different schedule every day and my daughter works part time at an ice cream shop, so her schedule is variable also. I took a large desk pad calendar and put sticky back magnetic tape (available in the craft stores) on the back and hung it on the side of my refrigerator. I keep our work schedules, the 3 kids events, weddings, showers, sales parties my friends invite us to etc on this highly visible calendar.
I have 3 kids who always fought over who fed the dogs last, who takes out the trash the most, and whose turn it was now. So, on the refrigerator calendar (above) we took an orange highlighter and put a large first initial on each day of the month, alternating days. So, now every three days, each child has a "chore day". Anything that needs to be done that day, trash, animals, helping with dishes etc. get assigned to that person. No more fighting or arguing.
My Wal-Mart has meat in those sturdy plastic tubs. After washing and rinsing, I let them soak in a little bleach water. Then they have all kinds of uses.
I try to buy meat in the large family packs, then separate it out into smaller packages. When I buy hamburger, I take a large zip top freezer bag, put 1 1/2 pounds of meat in it, then mash it all flat. It lays flat in the freezer, takes up less space and thaws out MUCH quicker. If you use a pound or less for your family, the quart size bags work well.
I have never had a clean, organized house. I do manage to sweep and vacuum, keep clothes clean and put away (sometimes!) and keep dishes washed, but I never could keep up with ALL the things you need to keep clean around a house. So I made a list and kept adding to it over a few months until I think I covered just about everything. Then I divided everything up into daily, weekly and monthly chores. I created a table in my word processor, nothing fancy, just a list under each period heading. Then I laminated it. We use either a water color marker, or a grease pencil to check things off as we get them done. Now, as I go about my week, when I have 5 minutes or so, I can look at my list and see what still needs to be done. I still can't say I keep my house in magazine cover shape, but it's better than it was! See my chart here.
Instead of doing a refrigerator purge every week, we have leftover night on Friday nights. I place all the leftovers on the kitchen bar and yell at everyone that it is first come, first served. Everyone gets a plate, puts whatever they want on it and microwaves their customized supper. Whatever is left after we all eat gets thrown out. This way, I ensure that nothing in the refrigerator is over a week old and I don't have to cook one night a week.
I became really tired of wondering what to fix for supper every night, and it seemed like we ate the same things every week. So I sat down and listed everything I knew that every family member would eat. Main courses on one list, veggies on another. (click to see my lists) Then I laminated the pages I ended up with 34 main dishes. So every week, I stand in front of my refrigerator calendar (see above) and write in a different meal for every day that week, along with veggies. Then I go through my pantry and see what I need to buy for that week's meals. I mark off the meals we have already had on my master list. That way, we get a different meal every night for month, I never wonder what is for supper, and my grocery bills have been kept to a minimum.
My Bill Paying Book
Keep your bills handy and paid on time. Know what is due,
when it's due and when it was paid.
My Babysitter Information Book
Notes From Home - School Forms
Make sure your babysitter knows all the rules -- for your
kids and the sitter! Emergency lists included
School Envelopes and Notes sheets make sure money gets to the
right person, signed papers get returned and more!
My Pet's Health Records Book
Family Affairs
Keep your furry babies healthy with regular Vet visits. Keep up with
illnesses and meds too. Important numbers list kept handy
Let your heirs know your wishes and where everything is
located. No more guessing, confusion, or fighting for family members.