Ask:
I feel like I am pretty organized, but there is always something that rises up to haunt me... like not being able to find my voter ID card or the one receipt I really neeed out of all the hundreds I have filed away. Or worse- that gift card that was flaoting around the kitchen counter that I finally put away in a safe place... only now I can't remember where tha safe place is.
I feel like I'm pretty strong on the library book situation- I rarely have late fines, which is pretty good considering I often have 50 or so books checked out at one time. I use the library's on-line renewal system to keep things under control
I feel like I'm weakest in controlling everyday clutter... coupons, magazines, mail... still searching for the perfect systems for those.
Answer:
Yes, same here. I am organized everywhere in the house except for the mail. I go thru it when it comes in, but am terrible with filing it. Same goes with my coupons. I save all the sunday coupons sections and they pile up on the counter and never get clipped. I'm so bad about coupons.
Answer:
I think that organization is one of my strong points. There is just a couple of places that fall between the cracks...the kitchen junk drawer, the toy box, the stuff that piles up in our "drop" spot as we come in the door.
I do pretty well with bills, mail, coupons, menus, etc...
Answer:
Yes...I have been called an "anal retentive, compulsive, lunatic"
I have systems for EVERYTHING.
Even my junk drawer is organized...
Answer:
Originally Posted by Spoodler
Yes...I have been called an "anal retentive, compulsive, lunatic"
I have systems for EVERYTHING.
Even my junk drawer is organized...
Would you be willing to share your favorite organizing systems with us? Maybe a "best ways to organize" post? I need some fresh ideas for my clutter control
Answer:
Im not organized by nature but by circumstances.
I have had to be organized to keep us organized and work outside the home.
I/We set the breakfast table before we go to bed, have the lunches made as much as possible and in the fridge.s
In the winter Ill put the slow cooker on overnight if we are having oatmeal or ill put the main course in the slow cooker overnight and it will be ready when we get up and can be stored in the fridge till e come home. Thats half the dinner sorted.
I/We set out clothes an uniforms the night before for the next day too. On Sunday night Ill put a weeks worth of outfits right down to accessories on hangers for me. Then I donthave to think about whats clean, what goes with what, you get a better chance to mix and match and stretch your clothes and I can do it in 10 mins
I keep the calender in the kitchen up to date with what everyone has to do, its the operating system in this house. If you dont write it on the calander you dont get a lift!
I bank online, pay bills on line, shop for the household basics once a month online. THat saves a load of time
So you see Ill do anything to grab an extra five minutes in bed!!
Anne
Answer:
Originally Posted by jnbythesea
Would you be willing to share your favorite organizing systems with us? Maybe a "best ways to organize" post? I need some fresh ideas for my clutter control
The single most important thing to me is NOT to put things off. Period. Write down the doctors/dentists appointments on the calendar as soon as you make them, fold the laundry when it is dry, sort through the mail when you get it, pay bills and file them away when you are done, get things ready the night before...make lunches, check diaper bags in case you need to restock, put a note out by your purse not to forget something, etc. Also, if you use something, replace it right away and you are not caught off guard in the future, example: if you use the extra set of "emergency" clothes in your diaper bag replace them AS SOON AS YOU GET HOME. Don't wait, do not pass go, do not collect $200.
I am just as busy as everyone else and doing things right away does not pose a problem for me or my family.
If we absolutely don't have the time to do something right away we keep a running list in the kitchen with things we can't forget to do on them...no matter how small. I have even trained my husband to put things on this list as soon as he thinks of one of those "don't let me forget to..." items.
Another thing that helps us is to keep a running list on the fridge of items we run out of and need at the store. The hard and fast rule is, if you empty it, put it on the list.
I am about to run out the door but I can post more ideas on organizing later.
Answer:
You are right- it is so much easier to keep on top of things when you take care of them right away. Maybe the secret to being organized is to take five minutes now and save thirty or more minutes later of hassle. I would love to hear more of your philosophy when you have time... thanks
Answer:
I try hard to be organized and always seems something slips through the cracks!!
Lisa
Answer:
Ok...I am back, dd is down for her nap and I have a few minutes to veg out. Here are a few simple things I do to keep on organizational track.
-you should have a place for everything and put that something in it's place EVERY TIME NO MATTER WHAT. For example: sometimes dh leaves his wedding ring on the ledge in the shower, we have a certain decorative box where we put our wedding rings when we take them off for...oh, I don't know...cleaning with harsh chemicals, yardwork (mostly me because my solitaire gets caught on things), forgets it in the shower, etc. We always know where they are if they are not on our finger. There is no frantic calling home...looking around everywhere...all day worry about it. We also keep all of our shoes in a large vintage picnic basket by the back door...that sucker is HUGE it can fit 5 or 6 pairs of adult shoes and two pairs of dd's shoes and still close the lid. We don't have the problem of shoes strewn all over the house.
-Purge! Purge! Purge! To put it simply...if you don't use, like, or need it GET RID OF IT!!!!!
I was bad about keeping things around just because someone gave them to me as a gift. I had tons and tons of crap stuck everywhere that people had given me. If you don't want to throw it away then donate it and someone who may love and cherish aunt Mable's doo- doo brown and lavender widget can buy it. Otherwise it is just sitting in a box or dark closet somewhere feeling unloved and lonely.
-I LOVE lists...I keep a list of larger sized clothes I buy for dd at yard sales in my car so I don't overbuy in certain sizes or items. I have a constantly running "to do" list on my kitchen counter to keep me on track...it has larger household projects like -clean gutters- on it as well as -don't forget to call Joe and wish him a happy birthday- or -clip the dog's nails-.
-One thing that we do that everyone who sees it LOVES is we bought two antique dressers to put in the living room and store our movies in them. We have hundreds of them and I don't like them to be out where people can see them...just don't like the look of it. Dresser drawers are AWESOME for this! They are in neat rows in alphabetical order and all are easily seen when you pull a drawer out, then the drawers close and all are out of sight!