What Do You Think?: Disposing of Your Own Trash

July 28, 2012 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: Fotolia

Around the blogosphere, many bloggers share their perspective on life. As I contemplate these many ideas (and some are really out there), sometimes I’m not sure what I think.

During this week of What Do You Think?, I share a topic and give you my 2¢. Please share your opinion.

The topics chosen will follow the posting schedule. Thanks in advance for your contributions on this journey to Using Time Wisely!

What Do You Think about Disposing of your own Trash?

Tracy’s 2¢: If you are on a shoestring budget and every penny counts, then you might consider using time wisely to dispose of your own trash rather than paying the city garbage bill. Knowing how fortunate our family is to live in a city where our taxes cover our garbage pickup, we do not write that $60 check each quarter for this service.

When I first read this Take Out the Trash: Reconsider the Cost of Garbage Service article, I thought how gross. But then I saw the price tag of $60 and understood the reasoning behind Audrey’s choice. For me, taking our family’s trash to the dump or recycling center is not worth the money, energy, and time.

Using our curbside service does not cost me more than dumping my own trash. I will still pay city taxes whether I use the service or not. So, in using time wisely, I choose to put our garbage at the curb each week. However, if you are seeking creative ways to stretching your dollars, then disposing of your own trash may alleviate a payment.

Is disposing of your own trash going too far or a viable option? What do you think?

What Do You Think?: Establishing a Designated Family Night

July 27, 2012 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

Around the blogosphere, many bloggers share their perspective on life. As I contemplate these many ideas (and some are really out there), sometimes I’m not sure what I think.

During this week of What Do You Think?, I share a topic and give you my 2¢. Please share your opinion.

The topics chosen will follow the posting schedule. Thanks in advance for your contributions on this journey to Using Time Wisely!

What Do You Think about Establishing a Designated Family Night?

Tracy’s 2¢: Our family does not have a single night dedicated to family night. I know of a family that declines all invitations on Monday evening to honor their family night. This arrangement works for that family, and I applaud them for building their family unit.

If you have a designated family night, how do you determined what you will do together? My children would choose a movie or play a game. However, my choice would lend more to a theme.

For example, with the Opening Ceremonies for the Olympics occurring tonight, I would choose an Olympic theme complete with games, like this long jump contest or online scavenger hunt, medal cookies, puzzles, and mazes.

At this time, our family incorporates weekly outings into our schedule, but the day, time, and activity changes from week to week. I often wonder if establishing a designated family night would help in planning and investing in our family relationships.

Though each family operates differently, I would love a designated family night. However, our schedule changes from week to week. What do you think?

What Do You Think?: Using Bananas Past Their Prime

July 26, 2012 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

Around the blogosphere, many bloggers share their perspective on life. As I contemplate these many ideas (and some are really out there), sometimes I’m not sure what I think.

During this week of What Do You Think?, I share a topic and give you my 2¢. Please share your opinion.

The topics chosen will follow the posting schedule. Thanks in advance for your contributions on this journey to Using Time Wisely!

What Do You Think about Using Bananas Past Their Prime?

Tracy’s 2¢: I peel and freeze our overripe bananas for a baking day. Since bananas sweeten with age and banana bread makes great gifts for teachers and friends, I add the defrosted past-their-prime bananas to my banana bread dough for a sweet loaf of bread.

In reading Five Ways to Use Overripe Bananas, I loved the idea of freezing the bananas in cube sizes, and using them to chill a smoothie. When using ice, the consistency changes from thick and smooth to a watery texture. The frozen banana keeps the smooth consistency while chilling the smoothie.

Might try the shoe polish suggestion, but will definitely test the banana’s medicinal effects on a wart (directions listed in the comments). My kids get planter’s warts from the pool at the water park. The over-the-counter wart remover took 2-3 months to cure the wart on my son’s foot last summer. The banana option is worth my time and energy, not to mention that I usually have bananas around the house.

As bananas ripen past their prime and become too soft to eat, do you toss them, bake them, or find another use like shoe polish or wart remover? What do you think?

What Do You Think?: Saving Personal Information Online

July 25, 2012 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: AboutOne

Around the blogosphere, many bloggers share their perspective on life. As I contemplate these many ideas (and some are really out there), sometimes I’m not sure what I think.

During this week of What Do You Think?, I share a topic and give you my 2¢. Please share your opinion.

The topics chosen will follow the posting schedule. Thanks in advance for your contributions on this journey to Using Time Wisely!

What Do You Think about Saving Personal Information Online?

Tracy’s 2¢: Regarding this topic, I prefer to err on the side of caution. In the organizational field many organizers recommend the free service of AboutOne. This service is designed to hold all your information in one place: videos, pictures, appointments, receipts, address book, and more. The idea is to eliminate paper clutter.

Ridding my home of paper clutter is always a high priority in using time wisely. However, I am not comfortable putting my life online. With so many security breaches and loop holes, I prefer to keep my family’s personal and day-to-day schedules, documents, and personal information offline.

Do you use AboutOne or a similar service? What do you think?

What Do You Think?: Children Writing Thank You Notes

July 24, 2012 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: Life Your Way

Around the blogosphere, many bloggers share their perspective on life. As I contemplate these many ideas (and some are really out there), sometimes I’m not sure what I think.

During this week of What Do You Think?, I will share a topic and give you my 2¢. Please share your opinion.

The topics chosen will follow the posting schedule.

Thanks in advance for your contributions on this journey to Using Time Wisely!

What Do You Think about Children Writing Thank You Notes?

Tracy’s 2¢: Yes, children can and should write thank you notes. Growing up in a home where my mom taught my brother and I gratitude for tokens of kindness, I learned to write thank you. After Christmas and birthdays, mom would sit down with me and help me compose my own notes.

My children are at different stages, but they all help write their thank you notes:

Toddler: I write the thank you note, and she “signs” it. Her signature is in the form of lines and scribbles, but she sits down and signs them all at the same time. She then delivers or puts the notes in envelopes to mail.

Preschooler: Again, I write the thank you note, and she writes her name. Depending on the length of her friend’s name, she may write her name on the envelope or top of the note. She also hand delivers the notes or helps address the notes for mailing.

Elementary student: Though simple, he writes his own notes making sure to include something personal. His notes are not long, but he writes them. I help him compose his notes, and we usually have 2 to 3 sessions since he tires easily.

As my children grow, they continue to develop their writing skills. A great way for them to practice is by showing their gratitude via writing thank you notes.

The free printable thank you note templates offered by Mandi at Life Your Way are perfect for children. Even beginning with a simple picture drawn to show their gratitude will encourage children to write thank you notes.

Question: Do your children write thank you notes? What do you think?