Today I am so thankful to all those of the Armed Forces who have fought to preserve the freedoms that our Founding Father’s died to save. As we celebrate our Country today, thank a member of the Armed Forces for their continued service to each American.
Archives for July 2011
Scheduling: Deep Cleaning
Photograph Credit: MorgueFile (Jane M. Sawyer)
Is a picked-up house, a clean house? Some would disagree with me, but I say, “NO.” Most of the time, I maintain a picked-up house: toys put away; floors vacuumed; laundry cleaned, folded and put away; etc. However, just because my house is organized, it is not necessarily clean.
Before I had children, my house was cleaned every 2-3 weeks. Now that I have 3 children with one in school during most of the year, my house gets a good cleaning every 3-4 months. These cleanings are my deep cleanings. As I write this post, I just finished a 3-day cleaning of my downstairs. Lest you think I live in a huge house, let me say my house is a modest 2-story home with approximately 2,000 square feet.
Why does it take 3 days to clean the downstairs? Glad you asked. I have a method to my madness. I clean everything. Here is my system:
- Begin on left and work around to the right. I work with the left wall first. I dust, wipe, and clean items in front of the wall. I put toys together and organize each section (like an end table, couch, toy station, etc.)
- Move items away from walls once cleaned and organized. As I complete a section, I move those items completely away from the wall.
- Work from top to bottom. Once the area in front of the wall is empty, I begin dusting the ceiling (especially corners, lights, and ceiling fans), walls (using Windex on mirrors and picture frames), and baseboards.
- Clean the floor. I will vacuum the floors with carpet or sweep and mop hardwood, tiled, or linoleum floors.
- Return clean items to their designated areas. When the area is clean, then I move the clean, organized items back and proceed to the next wall.
This system takes quite a bit of work and, in some cases, help from my husband in moving large pieces of furniture. Though the process is tedious and I get interrupted with requests from my children, meals to make, and errands to run, I enjoy the end result. I am able to find missing pieces, remove dust and grime from items, and organize messy stations. My time is valuable, and using my time wisely 3-4 times a year to get a good, deep cleaning for my house is worth every precious moment.
What about you? Do you have a time for deep cleaning (e.g., spring, fall), or do you have a schedule for cleaning each week or month? I would love to hear how you schedule the cleaning of your house.
Check-up: Credit Report Time
Photograph Credit: Flickr (Dan Eriksson)
If you are following the schedule for requesting your credit reports that I recommend, then it is time to make another request by the web site, telephone, or mail.
My preference is by phone to get a written response.
With the availability of a free report each year, I refuse to pay a service to issue my free report. By using my time wisely to track our credit, I request one report every 4 months. This month, I will be requesting Paul’s Equifax report and my Experian report.
NOTE: Before ordering your credit report, be sure you have waited at least one year since your last request for that report. If you make a second request within one year, then you will be charged for the second request.
When we receive these reports, I will review them for errors. If a discrepancy is noted, then I will dispute it. If all is correct, then I will replace last year’s record with this new report in the first file slot of my Box 1 documents.
I will also run a free Experian credit score. This score will then be placed with the current credit report. I will then put the file away until October.
How is your file coming along? Are you still disputing errors with the credit bureaus? If so, be thorough and get it right. You will be glad you spent your time wisely.
Staples: Combining Rewards with a Sale
Summer has turned out to be busier than I ever intended it to be. With this being my first summer with a child home from school, it has been different. I am used to having my girls at home in the morning, but adding that third older child in the mix has thrown me for a loop. It is all good, just different than what I had envisioned.
I have changed our routine slightly in order to get errands run without shopping all morning every morning. I try to work errands around stores where we will be for an activity.
One such errand was a stop at Staples after the kids participated in a Home Depot Kids’ Workshop. I had accumulated $18.40 in Staples Rewards, and there was a great sale on SanDisk 4GB SDHC. In stretching my dollars with the Staples Rewards, I was able to purchase the following:
2 packages tamper-proof envelopes – 20 count for $1 each (on sale from $4.29 each)
2 SanDisk 4GB SDHC memory cards – $9.99 each (on sale from $19.99 each)
Subtotal: $21.98
Used $5 Staples Reward
Used $13.40 Staples Reward
New subtotal: $3.79
Tax: $0.21
Total: $3.79
By waiting to use my Staples Rewards until a product I need or want goes on sale, I can stretch my dollars and my rewards. By waiting for this sale, I was able to purchase $48.56 of product for $3.79 which is a savings of $44.77 or 92%. What a great shopping trip! I was thrilled to have a great Father’s Day present for my husband and a Christmas gift for another family member.
Again, these deep savings are due to prior purchases I made where I spent $20 on product and then received the Staples Rewards. This post is the result of those prior purchases, earned rewards, and waiting for a great sale.
How are you stretching your dollars? If you match sales with coupons, rewards, or both, then keep up the great work!
Chick-Fil-A: 2011 Cow Appreciation Day
Photograph Credit: Chick-Fil-A
Do you know what time it is? No? It is time to get your cow costume ready for the annual Cow Appreciation Day at Chick-Fil-A.
The event is on Friday, July 8. If you dress like a cow from head to toe, then your combo meal is free. If you choose to only wear partial cow attire, e.g., a hat, a shirt, etc., then your entrée will be free. Here is a download for a cow costume.
This event is for the entire family, and it is so much fun. Last year, my mom was visiting, and she helped to “make” our costumes. She cut out cow spots and ears to adhere with tape to our white shirts and hats. Our “spots” fell off numerous times, but it was a fun free family event. Though the lighting was not ideal, I am still including our bovine family picture.
This year, I am using black acrylic paint to design the black spots on the white tee shirts I purchased from Hobby Lobby for $1.50-$1.99 each. I also wrote little slogans on the shirts. Now our “spots” will not be falling off our costumes.
What are you waiting for . . . get mooving. (Sorry, I couldn’t help the cow reference.) Mark your calendars, get your costumes ready, and enjoy a great free meal at Chick-Fil-A on July 8.