| We all wish we had more time to do the things we | | | | send it off in plenty of time for it to arrive by the |
| enjoy. But the list of things to do seems to never | | | | deadline.) Store everything you need for paying bills in |
| end. Here are seven simple organizing techniques that | | | | a separate file of your file box so you don't waste |
| can save you a few minutes every single day or | | | | any time looking for the essentials: stamps, address |
| week, and that's time you can spend doing absolutely | | | | labels, envelopes, calculator, and pen. |
| anything you like. | | | | 4. Organize items that you will need to reference |
| 1. Get a portable file box (which you can generally | | | | occasionally, such as warranties and instruction |
| purchase for $10 or so) as well as a box of letter | | | | manuals, in a three ring binder with clear plastic |
| size hanging file folders. Create a separate file for | | | | covers (which will let you slide papers inside). This will |
| monthly bills, bank statements, medical bills, a "To Do" | | | | allow you to easily flip through the binder to find the |
| file, and so on. Then hang these files in your file box | | | | one you need. |
| so you can move your "file cabinet" to the area | | | | 5. Set up a Chore Chart to help your kids learn the |
| where you pay your bills. This type of box is easily | | | | value of being organized. Assign each child's chores |
| stowed out of the way when you are not using it, | | | | on an age appropriate level. You may even want to |
| too. | | | | ask your kids how they would like to divvy up the |
| 2. Stand in front of the shredder, recycling box, and | | | | chores. (Kids love to give their input.) Make a table in |
| file box when you go through the day's mail. Make a | | | | your word processing program for each child, so they |
| point to touch each item only once. Each piece of | | | | can put a checkmark when they have completed |
| mail gets recycled, shredded, or filed in the "To Do" | | | | each task on each day. We have our chore chart |
| file of your file box. (You can save yourself even | | | | posted on the refrigerator, and I'm always amazed |
| more time by reducing the amount of junk mail you | | | | by how excited the kids get to check off their |
| receive. Simply send your full name and address, | | | | chores (even though they are earning nothing but a |
| along with a $1 check or money order, payable to | | | | checkmark). |
| DMA to: Mail Preference Service, P.O. Box 282, | | | | 6. Keep a grocery list and a pen on the fridge. Don't |
| Carmel, NY 10512). You will also want to place in the | | | | use a dry erase board for grocery lists because you |
| "To Do" file any documents that need your attention | | | | want to be able to rip off the list and take it to the |
| in the short term, such as rebate offers and | | | | store. |
| newsletters from the church or children's school. | | | | 7. Make sure you have a good appointment book and |
| 3. Designate a particular day each week to handle the | | | | write all of your commitments and deadlines on one |
| items in your "To Do" file. Pay the bills, catch up on | | | | calendar: work engagements, important things to do |
| your filing, and write down deadlines in your calendar | | | | with the kids, carpool schedules, birthdays, due dates |
| for bills you aren't going to pay right away. For credit | | | | for bills and library books, etc. Schedule your daily |
| card bills, for example, I write down the payment | | | | workout, too. |
| deadline, and I also make a notation in my calendar | | | | Now take a break and enjoy the extra time you |
| ten days before the deadline (to make sure that I | | | | have saved by being organized. |