What Do You Think?: On-line Bill Managing Tool

July 22, 2012 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: Manilla

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 Using an On-line Bill Managing Tool?

Tracy’s 2¢: My bill paying routine consist of logging due dates on a calendar and sending the balance due amount via on-line transactions. I only have two set payments setup on bill pay through our credit union. Every other payment is made manually.

Hearing and reading reviews of Manilla.com, I wonder if this tool would save time and energy. Do you use it? Would you recommend it? What do you think?

What Do You Think?: Washing Clothes Periodically

July 23, 2012 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: Flickr (Casey Fleser)

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 Washing Clothes Periodically?

Tracy’s 2¢: As you know, I’m all about saving money, energy, and time, but this article about being a chronic over-washer was a bit funny to me partly because I do both. Since I am not an all-or-nothing type of person, I adjust to the situation.

For example, if the outfit I wore today did not get dirty, then I will put the outfit aside and wear it another day. On the other hand, I will gather all the clothes on laundry day to wash, even if that pajama set was worn for the first time last night.

During the school year, my kids go through two outfits every week day since I have them change out of their school uniforms into play clothes. I do not worry about whether their clothes are clean or dirty; all their clothes go into the hamper. So, I wash my kids’ clothes after every wear.

Towels are another story. I like to wash our towels once a week. We do reuse our towels unless it gets left on the floor. When that happens, that family member gets a new towel. Since our visits to the water park come once or twice a week, I choose to wash towels when we arrive home from the water park. This option eliminates wet items on the floors.

On a side note, I do wash wet disposable swim diapers one or two times before tossing them in the trash. Of course, *dirty* diapers get tossed immediately. But, if my toddler only wets the swimmy, then I toss it in the laundry. I do save money, but I weigh the situation.

Do you wash clothes after every wear, evaluate the outfit to see if it needs cleaning, or launder periodically? What about disposable swim diapers? Does that gross you out? 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?

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?: 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?