Using Time Wisely

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2012 Quick Tip Week: Use Disinfecting Wipes for Quick Cleanings

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Photograph Credit: Flickr (Nora Warens)

Our week of quick tips continues in the household category. (If you missed yesterday’s post, you can check out Tip #1 from the document category.)

During seasons of busyness, my household may or may not look clean or picked up. Cleaning usually does not occur, but sometimes I must get that bathroom cleaned quickly, especially if company is coming.

This second tip allows me to clean each bathroom in 5 minutes or less. 🙂

Now, I would prefer to clean from top to bottom. However, my schedule does not always grant a designated day of cleaning.

During these quick times, I use this next tip to get the job done while using time wisely.

Quick Tip #2: Use Disinfecting Wipes for Quick Cleanings

With little ones who love to experiment with toothpaste, soap, and shampoo, my bathrooms can get messy rather quickly. When I need to remove the unwanted debris, my go-to cleaning supply is the tub of disinfecting wipes.

These pre-moistened wipes require little energy and get the job done. Depending on the mess, one or two wipes complete the task. I wipe the sink and then toilet. Once the toilet gets wiped, I toss the wipe to prevent spreading germs.

If you prefer to make your own disinfecting solution, check out Bonnie’s homemade disinfecting spray recipe. Besides using less chemicals, Bonnie’s recipe can save you money.

In using time wisely and wanting a clean home, use disinfecting wipes for quick cleanings. When your schedule slows back down, you can return to your regular cleaning schedule. Using the disinfecting wipes keeps my house presentable during busy times, like the month of May. Happy cleaning!

Question: What cleaning product assists you during busy times?

2012 Quick Tip Week: Designated Space for “To Be Filed” Paperwork

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Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

Having completed another large event, I placed blogging on the back burner during the busyness.

In an effort to catch up, I give you a week of quick tips for each category in the blogging schedule.

In using time wisely, these tips can save you money, energy, and time. 🙂

The first tip comes from the document category to help during seasons of busyness when the paperwork keeps coming and you cannot stop to file the documents.

Quick Tip #1: Designated Space for “To be Filed” Paperwork

In dealing with the daily mail, printed statements, and receipts, choose a designated space for the paperwork that needs to be filed. By sorting the mail and discarding unnecessary items, you will have only the pertinent items remaining.

In using time wisely, place these items in a designated space for future filing. I like to use a wire basket. If I need an item before I get a chance to file it away, I know where to look.

With all your paperwork together, you will save time and energy from searching for an item that you know you have. Designated space for “to be filed” paperwork” is worth your efforts while using time wisely. Happy organizing!

Question: What type of space holds your important documents until you can file them?

Medical Benefits: Are You Using All Your Resources?

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Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

Medical insurance is not cheap. With the different plans and policy riders, you may have extra benefits available to you.

Though it will take some time, reviewing your medical coverage might save you money in the long run.

Paul and I hold a Cancer and Critical Illness policy. One of the riders for this policy will reimburse us $100 for our annual physical exams. Since this policy covers each member of our family, we are eligible for $500 in reimbursement.

Even though our major medical coverage pays 100% for our children’s well-child visits, Paul and I end up paying $200-$300 each for our annual visits since preventive care is not a covered cost through our policy.

Without getting on my soap box about the lack of preventive care through our major medical policy, I am thankful for the added benefits through this cancer policy to off-set the price of our preventive care.

To get our reimbursement, I have found the following system beneficial:

1. Make and keep the doctor’s appointment,

2. Within 48-hours of the visit, I contact the doctor for an itemized statement of the charges including the codes for the annual visit,

3. Write a short letter to the insurance company requesting the $100 reimbursement,

4. Fax the letter with the itemized statement, and

5. Wait for the check to arrive in the mail

By reviewing our medical benefits and policy riders, I have saved my family $500 in benefits. Taking the time to read and understand our insurance policies and riders was using time wisely and helps in stretching our dollars every year.

As you continue organizing your important documents, read your policies. You may have other resources through policy riders that will save your family money. In stretching your dollars, remember to use all your resources through your insurance policies. You already pay for the benefits, so don’t miss out. Happy savings!

Questions: How do your insurance policies help you in stretching your dollars?

Free Rainy Day Activities – Part 1 of 4

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When the day is dreary and wet and the kids need a change of scenery, you don’t need to leave home or spend any money. With a little creativity, you can turn rainy days into special days with some fun activities.

In this month-long series, I will share four ways our family has embraced rainy days beginning with an indoor picnic.

Living Room

We have eaten our grilled cheese sandwiches with tomato soup in our living room. With our blinds open on the large window, we can watch the rain while enjoying our lunch. My children get excited in the new space since we usually eat at the dining room table. But on a rainy day, the change of scenery is a welcomed exception.

Within a day or two of our indoor picnic, my girls enjoy pretending and playing indoor picnic during play time. 🙂

Bonus Room

When the rain is pouring down, the view from our bonus room over the garage gives a much different perspective. We can watch the water stream down the street, beat off the cars, and pound on the concrete. Enjoying a picnic from the second floor intrigues my children while we enjoy a rainy day at home.

When rainy days arise, adjusting your routine may result in a fun family activity embracing the day spent indoors.  With a little creativity, you can have a house full of activity even on a rainy day. Happy rainy day planning!

Question: What room in your home offers a different perspective on a rainy day?

2012: Garden Journal – May Edition

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Our garden this month experienced two nights of frost and a couple of days of 90 degree heat. With the extreme temperatures, our garden has survived. Thankfully, I did not kill it. 🙂

I have pruned lots of leaves that dried or froze, but overall the garden is growing.

         

Strawberries

We lost one more strawberry to a bird’s snack, but our strawberry plants are rebounding from the cold and heat. Though no more berries at this time, the leaves are healthy and the plants are growing.

Tomatoes

One of our tomato plants is producing four cherry tomatoes. They are green and perfectly round.

  

April 21, 2012 with 3 tomatoes               May 1, 2012 with 4 tomatoes

Overall Progress

We started with a few plants, harvested our strawberries last month, and watched our tomatoes grow this month.

  

April 21, 2012                              May 1, 2012

Though I have forgotten to water a few days here and there, our garden has been very forgiving and continues to bless us with outdoor activity, topics of conversation, and beauty. In using time wisely, I enjoy spending time tending our garden while watching the changes to our fruits, vegetables, and herbs. Happy tending!

Question: Did you plant a garden this year?