Using Time Wisely

Organized to save money, energy, and time

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Archives for October 2011

Grocery Shopping: Gathering your Savings – Part 2c of 3

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Photograph Credit: Flickr (Karen Brockney)

If you happened to be at one of our local grocery stores on Tuesday and heard some high-pitched giggling and occasional screaming, then that was my family. Yeah, those were my kids.

With my son running ahead of the car cart and the girls “driving” to run him over, we made it through the shopping trip in one piece. I am thankful for the small grocery list this week. Even with the raucous and my repeated, “please keep it down,” our shopping trip was a success.

At checkout (which we will begin covering next week), my son asked me, “How much do you need to pay?” After all the sales and coupons were tallied, I owed $7.33. (The subtotal was $34.98 with the sales and coupons subtracting $27.67, and adding $.02 in tax for a total of $7.33.) When I answered my son, he responded, “You did great, Mom.” The nice cashier agreed with him as we celebrated our 79% savings.

Savings occur because of deliberate choices made with a plan of action. Thus far in our Gathering your Savings series, we addressed the first two steps for shopping our grocery list in Part 2a, the next two steps in Part 2b, and today, the final three steps will complete Part 2 of 3 in the grocery shopping process.

STEP FIVE: Choosing Deals

As I gather the items on my shopping list, I check to be sure that my family will eat the flavors offered. If the store’s shelf for a needed item is bare, then I circle the item on my grocery list and write “rain check” and the flavor desired on the side of my sheet. I will use this information after checking out to get the rain checks needed.

If I have a coupon for an item on my list, I may check the coupon in my envelope to be sure the item I want to purchase meets the coupon requirements. Sometimes the sales flyer does not specify which brand items are BOGOF. In that case, when I get to that item in the store, I view my coupon, the sale stickers on the shelves identifying which items are BOGOF, and then make a decision on whether or not to purchase those items.

STEP SIX: Bypassing Not-So-Great Deals

When the deal is not what I thought it was, I cross the item off my list and move to the next deal. Just because the item is on my list does not mean I will purchase it. Seeing the deal will either sell me on the deal or nix it from my list. Be ready to bypass deals that do not fit your family’s current needs. Remember that another sale will be coming in a few weeks. 🙂

STEP SEVEN: Noting Menu Planning Options

Often I get menu planning inspiration while grocery shopping. As I place the pasta in the grocery cart, I may reminisce about a favorite comfort food – baked macaroni and cheese.  Whether or not I have the ingredients at home, I will still jot down this idea on my grocery list. Later, I can check to see what additional items I will need to make this family favorite.

By choosing deals, bypassing not-so-great deals, and noting menu planning options, I complete my shopping trip and prepare for checking out. In using time wisely, I repeat this process at each store. The more often I repeat, the more efficient I become at completing my errand. Though grocery shopping is a necessary stop each week, I execute my plan to increase my savings while using time wisely. You can, too. Just take it slowly and learn from each shopping trip. Happy savings!

Question: How is your shopping experience different from these steps? I am curious to know if you have a plan when you grocery shop.

Using Time Wisely: Counting my Blessings (1-10)

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Allergy season has definitely arrived. All three of my children have been congested, miserable, and exhausted. Zapped of energy and just needing snuggles and hugs, my children have camped in my lap this week.

Instead of worrying about the piles of laundry, menu plans, grocery shopping, and other Mommy-responsibilities, I have been counting these blessings:

1. A wonderful husband, who after working all day comes home to play and snuggle with our children, assist with dinner, and handle the cleanup;

Family picture - Summer 2011

2. Slobbery kisses from my 20-month-old;

3. Special breakfast shared with my 6-year-old son;

4. My 4-year-old organizing partner;

5. Benedryl to relieve the allergy symptoms;

6. Soft pillow and a warm comforter;

7. Going to bed early and waking refreshed;

8. Listening to my son read;

9. Hearing “Mommy” (even though it is repeated way too many times); and

10. Lap filled with snuggling children.

Hard to believe this picture is almost 2 years old. I need to continue using time wisely because time is flying by!

A day is quickly coming when my children will no longer desire to crawl into my lap for comfort (insert sad face here). But rather than dwelling on the inevitable, I am choosing to count my blessings.

Keeping my perspective on the blessings of today and thanking my Heavenly Father for another day to spend with my family, I am using time wisely by living today with no regrets. If you find life getting overwhelming with responsibilities piling up, try changing your outlook by counting your blessings.

Question: For what are you thankful today? What are your blessings? Wanna leave a comment?

Inspiration: Additional Halloween Party Ideas – Part 3

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Photograph Credit: Flickr (Camille Styles)

With our schedule slowing down a tad and all these great Halloween party ideas, I think our family will host another Halloween party this year. My eldest daughter is already talking about last year’s party and who we should invite this year. Thankfully, I have most of the items needed from previous years, and these great party ideas just add to the flavor of the event.

To keep the inspiration coming, here are 6 additional party ideas for your Halloween gathering:

Non-spooky Decorations

1. Pumpkin Carving Tips

2. Jack-O-Lanterns from baby food jars

3. Bats and Mice made with black construction paper

Yummy Seasonal Menu Items

4. Pumpkin Butter

5. Pumpkin Rice Krispies Treats

6. Free E-book: 23 Unforgettable Halloween Party Recipes

NOTE: You do not need to sign up for the newsletter. Just click the “close” button to download your free copy. Remember, you can place this e-book in your free Kindle for PC application.

With all these great party ideas, will you change your mind and host a ghostly event? If so, please be sure to post pictures for us to enjoy. Happy planning!

Question: What is your favorite Halloween decoration or food item? Keep the inspiration moving by adding your answer to the comments.

Organizing: Children’s Clothing – Part 4 of 5

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Finished Closet

Have you finished updating your closets with your fall and winter clothing? I am almost completely done. The clothing for my youngest daughter and my son are complete.

Where my daughters receive hand-me-downs from their cousin, my tall son, who is about the same size as his cousin that is 2 years older, does not have an abundance of clothing items. Besides under garments, socks, and tights, my daughters’ closets and dressers are fully stocked.

To keep up with my growing son when hand-me-downs are few, I keep a close eye on sales, especially at the end of each season. In fact, I just ordered my son more clothing items during The Children’s Place sale since his fall/winter wardrobe was quite lean.

Though I am currently working on my oldest daughter’s closet, I have completed these steps for all of my children’s apparel: Step 1 – Prepare, Step 2 – Purge, and Step 3: Pack. The next step I am currently working on is Step 4: Place.

STEP FOUR: Place

Beginning this step with a semi-empty closet and dresser, I located the bin with the appropriate label. For my youngest daughter, I needed the 18-month to 2T winter items. Upon locating the tote, I unpacked the items one at a time, placing them either on a hanger for the closet or in a drawer of her dresser.

Closet

For items in her closet, I organize by color and type of clothing. The bottom rod includes her long-sleeved shirts, overalls and outfits, long-sleeved onesies, turtlenecks, shirts with jackets, and sweaters and sweatshirts. The top rod includes her short-sleeved shirts and dresses.

1. Each of these sections is organized by hanger color:

Bottom Rod:

      • Pink hangers: Long-sleeved shirts
      • Purple hangers: overalls and outfits
      • Pink hangers: long-sleeved onesies
      • Green hangers: turtlenecks
      • Clear hangers: shirts with jackets
      • Pink hangers: sweaters and sweatshirts

Top Rod:

      • Clear hangers: short-sleeved shirts
      • Green hangers: dresses

2. Each of these sections is then organized by clothing color in order of the rainbow:

      • Pinks
      • Reds
      • Oranges
      • Yellows
      • Greens
      • Blues
      • Purples
      • Browns
      • Blacks
      • Whites

Now this type of organization may be too organized for you. For me, having all the clothing in order makes putting laundry away a breeze. The hanger is already in its place, and I just need to play a simple matching game: match the clothing item with its correct hanger.

In using time wisely, this system has served me well. Laundry is not a daunting task because every space is already organized and ready for the items to be replaced. Having a designated place for each item is my best tip for using time wisely.

Dresser

My daughter’s dresser has 6 drawers which I have designated for different items:

      1. Socks, tights, and under garments
      2. Smallest sized clothing, i.e. her 18-month outfits, pants, and pajamas
      3. Largest sized clothing, i.e., her 2T outfits, pants, and pajamas
      4. More space for 2T clothing items
      5. Empty – As she grows out of items, I place them in this drawer. When it is time to repeat this process in the spring, I will have a head start on purging her wardrobe. Having a place for smaller items that is out of sight helps keep her room clutter-free and organized.
      6. Next sized clothing – If I purchase additional items in the next size, I will add these clothes to this drawer.
Shoes

After growing out of her size 4 shoes, I placed the size 5 shoes into her changing table drawer. These shoes were in another tote labeled “girls shoes sizes 1-5.”

Donations

If I find items that I do not love or would not place on my daughter, I add it to the donation pile.

At the end of this fourth step, my daughter’s closet, dresser, and shoe drawer have been filled. Knowing what she has helps me know what items she is missing. Being the second girl in our family with my older daughter’s hand-me-downs, her wardrobe is usually complete, like it was at end of this step. Next week, I will conclude the fifth step in my “organizing my children’s clothing” project. Until then . . . happy organizing!

Question: How do you organize the clothing in your closets? Feel free to post a picture with your answer.

Credit Check-up: October 2011

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Photograph Credit: Flickr (Dan Eriksson)

Before continuing with the last file opening in Box 1 of my important documents, I need to do a little maintenance. Having ordered our credit reports this past week, I realized I had not posted a friendly reminder this month.

If you are following my recommended schedule for requesting your credit reports, then it is time to check another report from a credit bureau. You may make your request by phone, mail, or through their web site.

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. With the option for a free report each year, you do not need to pay a service fee for your report.

In using time wisely, I request my husband’s and my credit report every 4 months. By alternating which report is checked, I can keep an eye on any irregularities throughout the year. This month, I requested Paul’s TransUnion report and my Equifax report.

When the reports arrive by mail, I will review them for errors. If a discrepancy is noted, then I will dispute it. If all is correct, then I will replace this report with last year’s record in the first file slot of my Box 1 documents. I will also run a free TransUnion credit score. After comparing this score with last year’s record and noting any changes, I will file this record with the current credit report. The file will then be put away until February 2012.

By using time wisely and keeping my important documents’ file organized and up-to-date, I can easily find items needed within a short block of time. In the event I need to access these records, I will have accurate information at my fingertips. Keep plugging along. Your investment of money, energy, and time in getting these documents organized will save you frustration, headaches, and irritation in the future. Happy Organizing!

Question: How many discrepancies are your finding in your credit reports? Looking for your answer. 🙂