Using Time Wisely

Organized to save money, energy, and time

You are here: Home / 2011 / Archives for September 2011

Archives for September 2011

Event Planning: Cutting your Losses

by

Photograph CrediT: Flickr

After a busy spring and bustling summer, I thought fall would be smooth sailing now that the school routine is in place. Once again, I was wrong. I am coming to the conclusion that the slower pace with preschool-age children and toddlers is behind me.

Each season is different with the activities and responsibilities. By preparing myself for this season of busyness, I am learning to declutter my activity schedule to keep it manageable and organized by cutting my losses.

Planned Activities

As activity leaders for our Sunday school class, Paul and I are quickly learning that we are not the only ones in a busy stage. The lower attendance at our planned events indicates busy schedules for all. In an effort to assist our members with great family adventures that meet their needs, we find it necessary to periodically cancel an activity.

Canceling Activities

Having 3-4 gatherings a month can be too frequent. Though it would be nice to have more, Paul and I spend a lot of time preparing, scheduling, and running these activities. Knowing our limitations, we sometimes choose to cut our losses and cancel good events that may work better in a slower month. Again, the slower months are few and far between, but the start of the school year has proved to be filled with plenty activity.

Rescheduling Activities

Whether you are attempting to schedule a dinner party, play group, or afternoon at the park, don’t be discouraged if your request gets declined. Try not to take it personally. You are not being rejected. The offer is getting rejected. If schedules do not permit gathering now, then try again in the winter or spring. All families have busy seasons and by cutting your losses on some events will free up time and energy for other activities.

By cutting our losses when an activity does not materialize, I am using time wisely on my other responsibilities and priorities. In your season of busyness, take heart, declutter your activities, cut your losses, and use your time wisely while focusing on your priorities. Happy planning!

Breaking Out of my Organizational Funk

by

Photograph Credit: Flickr (Anne Stauf)

Fluctuating between high energy and low energy days this week, I struggled! My motivation was non-existent, and I was in a funk.

I wanted to get things done, but I really did not feel like cleaning, organizing, or making progress on any of my To Do list items. Coming off a sick week, I really needed to get motivated, but my energy level was not there.

My Problem

After operating in survival mode while I was recovering from my cold, I needed to change my thinking. As I began to envision a clean, organized household, my motivation slowing recovered. In “seeing” where the clothes needed to go and wanting that space clean, I found myself wanting to pick up the clothing and put it away.

My Current Solution

As I walked to the cleanest room first, I tidied it up – just needed to add pajamas to the hamper and pick up two toys. Now I had one room picked up. Momentum was beginning.

Then I walked to the next room, I picked up a book, made a bed, and fixed a rug. Two rooms down, and then I just kept going. Before I knew it, the entire upstairs was uncluttered. After running the vacuum, I felt so much better. By now my momentum was in full swing.

With the added motivation, I picked up the downstairs, and my energy level did not drop. I was thankful to have the mess under control, and my house back together. With my surroundings organized, my thoughts became organized. I finished a menu plan for the week based on what I had at home, created my grocery and drugstore lists, paid bills, and filed insurance paperwork.

My Evaluation

Though my week was full of ups and downs, I was thrilled with my week’s progress. Most of the progress took place on the weekend, but I did not feel behind starting a new week.

If you find you are in a funk with your household items piling up, then try cleaning or organizing a small task. Once that task is complete, work on another small to medium task. As you gain motivation, you will be tackling that monster project with gusto.

Keep using time wisely to accomplish the goals you have set for today. Think about the final project, envision a nice clean space, and work to that end. You may not master success today, but moving forward is better than standing still. Happy organizing!

Question: How do you get out of an organizing funk? Please add your answer to the comments.

Vehicles: Car #1 – DMV Records

by

Last week I shared eight insurance-related documents kept in the tenth file slot of Box 1 of my important documents. In addition to the insurance documents, I also keep the DMV (Division of Motor Vehicles) records for car #1 in this file opening.

Our DMV records consist of two documents:

Registration

After paying our vehicle property taxes, I receive our registration in the mail. Before separating this document from the instructions, I make a copy. Once the registration has been removed from the paperwork and placed in my glove compartment, I will place the copy in this file opening behind the insurance documents.

License Plate Decal

When I receive our registration, the license plate decal is usually included. Again, I make a copy of the document before removing the decal and placing it on our license plate. The copy will be then be placed in this file slot with the copy of the registration.

These two documents are either stapled or paper clipped together, and placed behind the insurance documents for our vehicle #1. Next week, I will share the last set of documents for car #1 housed in this tenth file opening under the vehicle category.

Question: Does your registration and decal arrive at the same time? To add your answer, please leave a comment.

Daily Deal Site: LivingSocial – Part 2 of 2

by

Photograph Credit: LivingSocial

Stretching your dollars is possible with daily deal sites like LivingSocial. If you subscribed to your city’s daily deal (instructions given in last week’s post), then you might have seen the Whole Foods deal earlier this week. The deal included many cities that contain a Whole Foods grocery store. During those few hours the deal was live, one could purchase a $20 voucher for $10. These 50% savings for groceries helps in stretching those dollars and maximizing savings.

By having the deals delivered to my personal e-mail account, I can evaluate the deal and make a decision before the vouchers sell out or the deal expires. In case you are confused about the deals or need more information, here’s how to purchase a deal, locate your voucher, and redeem your voucher.

Purchase a Deal

1. Read the fine print. All the deals are a little different, so you want to be sure that you are purchasing a voucher you can use. If you are purchasing a Christmas gift, then you want to be sure that the expiration date is in 2012. I recently found a voucher that was due to expire by the end of September. Knowing our family could not use the voucher, we gave it to relatives who were thrilled with the gift.

2. Press the “Buy Now” button. When you are satisfied with the fine print guidelines and price for the deal, press the “buy now” button.

3. Adjust your options. On this page you can change the quantity, add gifts, change your payment options (when you are signed in), and view your purchase total.

4. Select “Purchase my deal” button. When you have adjusted your options, select “purchase my deal” button. Your payment will be processed. Please do not select this button if you are not sure you want the deal. Once you press “purchase my deal,” the deal is yours.

Locate your Voucher

Via E-mail

1. Check your e-mail account. Once you purchase the deal, you will receive an e-mail confirming your purchase and giving you instructions regarding when your voucher will be available.

2. Watch your e-mail account. Another e-mail will be sent when your voucher is available to print. When you receive this e-mail, a link will be included to direct you to your voucher.

3. Click the link in your e-mail message. When you click the link, you will be directed to your LivingSocial My Vouchers page. All your available vouchers will be listed.

4. Click “view voucher.” To print your voucher, click the “view voucher” button. A .pdf of your voucher will load, and you can print it for use.

Via LivingSocial

1. Check your LivingSocial account. After purchasing the deal, LivingSocial will place the voucher in your account after processing your payment. This process can take minutes to a day depending on the popularity of the deal. To access your LivingSocial account, go to www.livingsocial.com.

2. Log in. Enter your e-mail address and password to log in.

3. Go to “my vouchers.” In the upper right hand corner, click on the “my vouchers” tab. All your available vouchers will be listed.

4. Click “view voucher.” To print your voucher, click the “view voucher” button. A .pdf of your voucher will load, and you can print it for use.

Redeem your Voucher

1. Read the fine print. One of our deals required a reservation. Therefore, I called prior to the date we planned to use the voucher, and the establishment honored our reservation. The fine print will give you the information you need for unusual circumstances.

2. Take your printed voucher to establishment. When I used our water park voucher, I took the printout up to the box office.

3. Present your voucher. When the cashier greeted me, I presented the LivingSocial voucher. We were then given our arm bands and thanked for making the purchase. Most establishments are aware of the LivingSocial deals, and they welcome your redemption of the voucher.

As you partner with LivingSocial, purchase your deals, locate your vouchers, and redeem your vouchers, you will be able to stretch your dollars. To make the deals better, you can subscribe to LivingSocial to have the deals delivered to your e-mail inbox which helps in using time wisely.

Though you may not be a fan of daily deal sites, as you see the savings to be had, you might change your mind. I post on Using Time Wisely’s Facebook page my daily deal purchases. Come “like” Using Time Wisely and add your favorite deals.

Question: How many vouchers do you have your account? Come add your answer to the comments.

Simon Kidgits Club

by

Our family has been a member of our local Kidgits Club for over 5 years. I first heard of Kidgits when my New Mom’s Club walked around the mall every Wednesday morning. As I passed the Kidgit advertising throughout the walking area, I began to inquire about the club.

When I learned that the annual membership fee was $5 per child which included monthly activities with goody bags, a tee shirt, and a birthday present, I did not hesitate to join. Per the Kidgits’ web site, a yearly membership includes:

Photograph Credit: Kidgits

Our son joined right before he turned one, and we continue to renew each year. At present, all three of my children are active members.

Each Kidgits’ mall offers different events. Some events are nationwide, but others are local events. To find your nearest location and event information, please visit the Simon Kidgits’ Club web site. Our Kidgits offers an event almost every month. Here are some Kidgits activities we have attended this year:

Safety Event

Book Blast Event

Back-to-School Event

Our events are scheduled on Saturdays from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Most are in center court, but others have been down at the Kidgits Korner (an indoor playground). I definitely prefer the center court activities since the playground gets so crowded. Our Kidgits Korner is designed for preschool-aged children, but the events are geared for ages 3-12. The older children on the playground are not always looking out for the little ones, so I tend to be over-cautious and keep my kids out of that area on event days.

In addition to the event, our family has won these cool door prizes:

  • The Jungle Book
  • Peanut Butter and Jelly game
  • Jenga game
  • Dalmatian puppy (stuffed animal)
  • Kidgits Book

If you have elementary-age children and a Simon Kidgits Club in your area, then go join. Some events are better than others, but all are enjoyable family outings. For $5 you can try it. The tee shirt and goody bags are worth more than the $5 fee, so you really have nothing to lose and lots of fun events to gain. Maybe you will be one of the lucky recipients of a cool door prize. Before you say, “But we never win,” you have a greater chance of winning when you join, attend, and enter the drawing. 🙂

Enjoy your time with your family this weekend. I know I will!

Question: What is the least expensive annual membership you have purchased? Please add your answer to the comments.