How to Organize Your Money Trails - 5 Easy Ways

It's no fun when your financial records are in disarray. It's certainly stressful when you can't find much-needed records. So many people get stressed out when there's a need for their financial records because they don't know or they've forgotten where the said documents are.

To prevent such scenarios, here's a guide to scheduled tasks that will keep your money-related paper trail in order:

Once a day

Take note of how much cash you have on hand and record how much is left at the end of the day. Keep track of this so you can actually account for your expenses down to the last cent. This way, you'll be more aware of your spending habits. Most people don't realize how the little things add up to a significant amount until they actually commit to listing down all of their purchases and expenses.

Once a week

Organize your receipts, billing statements, invoice, and other money-related paperwork. Use ledger or a computer program where you can consolidate all this data. Have back-up copies of your records. Photocopy them and then place them in a safe place. You could also ask a trusted friend or family member to keep your stash of documents at his or her house.

Once a month

Pay your bills on time and follow up on debts you're owed. Create a checklist for this monthly reckoning. Consider keeping track of the pattern of your utility bills so you can more or less predict how much you'll spend each month. This way, you can easily curb your spending when you feel that you're in danger of going beyond your monthly budget.

Once a quarter

Consult your organized documents and filing systems so you can get an accurate picture of your progress towards meeting your personal financial goals. Make the necessary adjustments to spending, savings, or investments. You should also double check all the entries in the documents. Make sure that you haven't missed anything.

Once a year

Do some spring cleaning. Update your files and discard outdated items. Remember that you don't have to keep all your financial records forever. You can keep any tax-related records for seven years, bank statements for one year, and pay slips until you receive your end-of-the-year tax statements. Meanwhile, documents for big-ticket items should be kept permanently -- or until the said item has been "retired" or, perhaps, sold.

Make a commitment to devote the necessary time to these tasks so you won't ever get stressed out whenever somebody asks you for your financial records.

Paula Owen has been passionate about writing articles for the last 5 years.

Organize Your Home With a Shoe Bench

Shoe Benches are a great tool for smaller homes or apartments. A shoe bench is a bench that has cubbies of different sizes for shoes and boots to be stored. The top of the bench can have a seat cover or cushion that you can sit on while putting your shoes or boots on. Most of the time the shoe bench would be placed in an entry or mud room for easy access and use when entering or leaving the home.

The benches can be used in many ways to make your home more comfortable and less cluttered. Each pair of shoes has their own cubby so that they don't have to be in a mountain of shoes at the bottom of a closet or even in a box in the basement. This will create a very organized look to your home. The cushioned seat can also double as extra seating when you have company over. It also could work as a time-out spot for your children. It would even be a great place to send your family to wait for you before leaving the house, as a meeting area to check everyone's appearance.

There are many benefits to having a shoe bench in your home. In smaller homes or apartments the shoe bench is almost an essential tool to keep everything in its place as space can be very limited. Having all of the family's shoes in one place avoids the never ending, "Mom, I can't find my shoes!" The bench itself becomes a great tool for younger children as a time-out place, as well as a meeting place to be sure they are dressed properly before leaving the house.

The bench can also become an anchor point in any decorating scheme, especially with a cushioned seat cover. The fabric can coordinate with the decor that you already have in your home. Most benches are made of wood that can be stained to match the woodwork already in your home.

There are alternatives to having a shoe bench in your home. One option would be to have a shoe rack that can either hang on the back of a door or fit in the bottom of a coat closet and place a small chair or stool near the door. This would create the same benefits of a shoe bench, without actually having one.

Peter keeps his home organized with a shoe storage bench and would recommend a shoe bench to anyone having a hard time keeping their entryway clutter-free.

50 Ideas to Organize Your Home

"Organize" is a familiar word heard on many of today's popular decorating shows. Every family has its struggles with some type of clutter whether it is stacks of papers or a cluttered and cramped bathroom. In fact, the National Association of Professional Organizers reports that 80% of what we keep we never use, we wear 20% of the clothes we own while the other 80% hangs there just in case, and 25% of adults say they pay bills late because they lost them.

If you have stacks of papers, frazzled mornings, or lost car keys, use the following ideas to help you organize your family and home.

Evenings/Mornings:

1. If you have rushed mornings, make lunches, set out clothes, and put everything you need for the next day in a designated area the night before. Have kids pack homework and books in their backpack so they will be ready for the next day.

2. Place your purse, briefcase and keys in a designated area every day so you always know where they are.

3. Decide the night before what is on the menu for breakfast the next morning. If the family is to have cereal, set out the cereal boxes, bowls, and spoons.

4. Make a "to do" list for the next day and organize it according to what task needs to be completed first.

5. Fill the gas tank the day before so you won't have to worry about getting gas if you are running late the next morning.

Bathrooms:

6. To organize countertop clutter, purchase a plastic tub with a handle on top. Place all of your accessories such as hair spray and lotion, in the tub and place under the counter. Take the tub out when you are ready to use it and then put it back under the counter when you are finished with it.

7. To organize your shower, buy shower caddies to place your soaps and shampoos in. There are numerous styles available in many discount and fine department stores.

8. To help keep your shower doors clean, buy a water squeegee (like you use on your windows) and place it in the shower. When you are done taking a shower just wipe down the doors with the squeegee and you'll have a clean and dry shower door. Many of the squeegees come with a whole in the handle, which is convenient for hanging it up in the shower with a suction cup.

9. Install a straight magnet in your medicine cabinet for tweezers, nail clippers, and scissors.

10. Store reading material in a decorative magazine rack. As you add new magazines, throw away the older ones to keep the magazine rack from overflowing.

11. Throw away items in your bathroom that are old or you don't use anymore, such as make-up, lotions, prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, old razors, sunscreen, and perfume.

12. If you are out of space in your bathroom cabinets for towels, roll them up and display them in a decorative basket next to the shower or bath tub.

13. Install hooks on the back of your bathroom door or wall space for towels and robes.

14. Use drawer organizers for makeup, jewelry, ponytail holders, and other loose items.

15. Place a shelving unit above the toilet for storing extra towels, washcloths, and other accessories.

16. Put a clock in each bathroom so everyone can be on time.

Closet:

17. Place baskets in your closet for laundry and dry cleaning.

18. Sort through your clothes and anything you don't wear anymore, bag and donate to a local charity. This includes clothes that are no longer in fashion, no longer fit, or clothes you haven't worn in a year. Also, get rid of those worn out and/or uncomfortable shoes you no longer wear.

19. Separate your clothes by season. If you have a tall closet with several rows of rods, place current seasons clothes on the lowest level and move out of season clothes on the tallest rods.

20. Categorize your clothes by purpose, such as work, casual, and formal.

21. Gather all unused wire hangers and take them to the dry cleaners to recycle.

22. Hang scarves on a hanger or scarf rack. Also, hang belts and ties on hangers or racks.

23. Use a shoe rack to keep shoes organized and throw out shoe boxes that clutter the floor.

24. Install hooks on the closet wall to hang up hats and purses.

25. Store clothes that you want to save in a vacuum sealed plastic bag. These bags pack down for storing under the bed or in a closet. Remember to save only the clothes that you think will be worn!

Kitchen:

26. Organize your cabinets into several categories such as plates, glasses, Tupperware, kid's plates and sippy cups. Place the plates on one shelf, the glasses on another shelf, and so on. This way when you empty the dishwasher, you or other family members will always know where everything goes.

27. Group your foods together in the pantry for easy access and to help you identify when inventory is getting low. For example, group together your canned goods, cereals, pasta, etc.

28. Place all packets (gravy, Jell-O, sauces) in a basket and place on shelf.

29. Purchase a spice rack that works best for your cabinet. Alphabetize your spices and place frequently used spices on the front of the rack and all others towards the back of the rack.

30. For all of those plastic containers and Tupperware items, dedicate one cabinet or drawer for those items and try to purchase stackable containers to maximize your space.

31. Save your countertop space for items you use daily. Only display cookbooks that you really use and if possible store your canister set in your pantry instead of on the counter.

32. If you have a collection of clipped recipes that are filling drawers and countertop space, purchase a three-ring binder in a color that matches your decor, a box of plastic sheet protectors (to protect your recipes), paper, and a set of dividers with tabs. Glue each recipe onto a piece of paper (use front and back of each piece of paper) and then place into a sheet protector. Categorize recipes (breakfast, desert, etc.), label the tabs, and place recipes in binder. Additional tip, if you purchase a binder that has pockets, store clipped recipes that you want to try in the pockets before adding them to your collection.

33. Do you have mounds of plastic bags from the grocery store? Place about 10 bags inside of 1 bag and throw the rest away. You can always get more the next time you go to the grocery store.

34. Get in a habit of cleaning out your refrigerator every time you bring home groceries. Dispose of any food that is no longer edible or your family is not going to eat.

Kid's Room:

35. In a boy's room, put a basketball hoop over a laundry basket for slam-dunking dirty clothes.

36. Place a two-compartment hamper in your kid's room so he or she can sort light clothes from dark clothes as they undress.

37. String a clothesline in your child's room and have your child clothespin his or her favorite artwork.

38. Hang a fish net from the ceiling to store stuffed animals, dolls, or action figures.

39. Add a bookshelf and help your child organize their books.

40. Buy the kids their own alarm clocks and teach them how to get up on time.

Misc.

41. Make sure everything in your house has a home. Teach all family members to mind their own messes. For example, if you take it out, put it back; if you open it, close it; if you throw it down, pick it up; if you make a mess, clean it up; and so on.

42. Put wastebaskets in every room and place several unused trash bags in the bottom of each one. This will eliminate countless trips to retrieve new trash bags and give all family members a place to throw away their trash.

43. Place a decorative basket on the coffee table to keep remote controls in.

44. Use a plastic caddy (instead of shelf space) to store cleaning supplies in and tote it from room to room.

45. Keep baskets or tubs for toys in every room for fast pickup and play time.

46. For kids' outdoor toys, purchase a weatherproof, bench-style storage box and store toys inside. Also, gather all outdoor balls and place into a large, mesh drawstring bag and store in garage.

47. Each night before bedtime, have all family members pick up clutter for 15 minutes. Make a game out of it and see who can pick up the most things in the shortest amount of time.

48. Create a family message center on the refrigerator or other prominent place and use it for shopping lists, reminders, calendars, and phone messages.

49. Make a master grocery list on your computer from a spreadsheet or Word document. Categorize the groceries into sections such as frozen, dairy, and so on. In each category, list the most frequent items that you buy. Organize the grocery list according to the way your favorite grocery store's isles are set up. Print copies and keep one copy handy for the current week. When you see you are low on a product or you're preparing your grocery list for the week, simply highlight whatever items you need. Keep the document current by adding new items and/or deleting items you no longer buy. Also, create a space on the document for Misc. items where your family members can write down what they need that is not on your list.

50. Create an in box on your desk for papers (bills, permission slips, etc.) that need your attention.

The goal of organizing isn't to make your home pristine but rather to make your life more calm and functional. Work with the above ideas and you will end up having less clutter, a simplified home, more quality time for yourself and your family, and improved productivity.

Lesley Dietschy is a freelance writer and the founder of http://www.HomeDecorExchange.com - The Home Decor Exchange is a valuable website full of information and resources about home and garden decorating.

In addition to editing the Home Decor Exchange website, Lesley is a crochet pattern designer and needle fiber artist. You can view her crochet patterns and needle fiber designs at: http://www.ErinOliviaDesigns.Etsy.com

The Three Big Food Storage Mistakes Most People Make

If you are storing food long term for disaster, survival, or job loss, there are three very common mistakes that most people make. Look at your food storage habits and be sure you aren't doing one of these.

The first big mistake is storing food that you don't like. While it's not realistic to store months of food from your favorite recipes and dishes, you can't have food stored up that you really don't like eating at all. Put things into your storage supplies that you actually look forward to and enjoy eating. Be sure there are plenty of things like salt, sugar, and spices to make the food taste good.

Another mistake is not rotating your supplies. If you go to the store and buy a new jar of peanut butter, put that into your food storage containers. Take the old one out and use that one for day to day use. This keeps everything that is stored on a constant rotation making sure things stay fresher. This also helps with problem one where you are actually used to eating the food you are storing.

The third mistake is storing all your food in the same place. This is a huge mistake made by many. If there is a fire or tornado and takes out the part of your home where all that food is stored, you now have none. If you are doing long term storage consider putting it in different places around the home. As an additional step consider storing some food at a different location as well.

Do you have a plan for natural disasters or pandemics?

Shop Hard to Find the Best Home Organizing Stores So it Doesn't Cost You an Arm and a Leg

If you are thinking about decluttering your home, think about visiting a selection of home organizing stores to buy some new organizational systems. It doesn't have to cost you an arm or a leg if you do a comparison shop.


Comparison shopping is really important if you are on a budget and want to get the best value for your dollar. There are an abundance of home organizing stores both on the internet and physical shops. Here are some things you need to look out for when you are deciding which shop to buy home organization items from.

What are you buying

Decide what you are buying first. In fact, to be brutally frank, the easy bit about reorganizing our home is the shopping bit. We have to admit that shopping and buying stuff certainly has much greater appeal than staying home and exhausting ourselves with the actual task of tidying up and throwing stuff away. So before you even head out the door to do a spot of shopping, do yourself a favor and declutter your home first.

Set some goals

Set yourself some home organization goals. Make it a reward that if you clean up your living room, then this will entitle you to do one hour of shopping at a home organization store of your choice. If you do a really good job of clearing up your living room, the sad thing is that you may find that you no longer need to visit a home organization shop. What a disappointment. I am sure if we persist we will definitely find something good to buy at the shops. Think about any extra storage that you require, or any new storage solutions that would suit a particular room.

Get rid of surplus stuff

If you plan on buying stuff from your homeware shop, try to get rid of any excess junk in your house, before you embark on your shopping spree. These homeware shops are very tempting and offer all sorts of solutions to get your organized. Some interesting items that they sell include bag holders, utility carts, cap and hat racks, shelf organizers, and storage cubes. So don't get tempted to buy everything under the sun till you have done your own homework.

Look for Sales

Once you have decided what items you need to buy, look for the specialty shops that sell that particular item. We are now getting into the crux of smart comparison shopping. For each shop where you can source that item, create a simple spreadsheet and list the price of that product at each shop. So you will know which shop offers the best bargain without engaging in any guesswork.

Don't forgot to reduce clutter in your house first. Then treat yourself to a spot of shopping at a home organizing store. You deserve it now that you have done some decluttering.

DEBRA CARLTON is a home organization and declutter enthusiast. For a free mini course on how to declutter and create a well organized home, visit http://www.declutterdaytips.com.

Six Secrets of Organized Moms

A mom often wears many hats, taxi driver, cook, housekeeper, bread-winner, shoulder to cry on, and more. So, how does mom juggle it all? The following are six secrets of organized moms to help make things easier:

1. Routines. Organized moms serve dinner at the same time each night, have strict bed times, have after school routines with homework and socializing. If you want to be an organized mom, you have to have a routine you stick to. This might mean that you get your child up at the same time each day, and expect them to get dressed and make their bed before they come in to breakfast. You may have a few different routines, such as your morning routine, your after school and evening routine, and your weekend routine. A routine helps you, the mom, keep things on track, and helps your children to know what to expect, and what is expected of them.

2. Meal plans. Organized moms do not spend extra time in the grocery store, or standing in front of the refrigerator trying to determine what to prepare that night. Organized moms take a few minutes once a week to create a meal plan for the week. Monday: Soup, Tuesday: Chicken, Wednesday: Pizza, Thursday: Hamburgers, and the list goes on. The idea is that if you know what you are going to make you can be prepared throughout the day. For example, if you are going to roast a chicken for dinner, you will need to get it out of the freezer in the morning in order for it to be defrosted by dinner time.

3. Rules. Organized moms have rules or guidelines for their families. They may be simple like dinner is at 5:30. Or they may be more complex like, no friends, television, or snacking until your homework is completed. A mom can't keep the whole family organized without some participation, so rules, and guidelines are helpful. Make them clear, and enforce them.

4. Time off. An organized mom does not let herself get overly stressed, or overwhelmed because she knows when to say no, when to de-stress, and when to take a break. She knows that when she is starting to lose her cool, that letting dad take the kids to McDonald's rather than fixing a nice meal, is sometimes better, even if it is not the healthiest option. The organized mom knows when she needs a break, and figures out how to take one.

5. Organized home. The organized mom has an organized home. She creates a place for everything so that school mornings are not spent hastily trying to find shoes, backpacks, pens that work, etc. Instead, everything has a place, and the kids know where things go, and contribute by being sure to put their backpack on the hook, in the cubby, or whatever the case may be, the night before.

6. Back-up plans. Organized moms always plan ahead, and prepare for the worst. They carry a spare outfit, some cash, and phone numbers of friends and family, just in case. They take things in stride. So, for example, if your tire goes flat while driving, and it is your day to do carpool, the organized mom has the numbers of the other carpool moms on hand, and knows which ones can typically swap days. So, have a back up plan.

Beverly Frank is a stay-at-home mom and writer. For more parenting tips, visit http://www.surfnetparents.com.

How To Organize Your Scrapbook Supplies

Once you start getting any amount of supplies together for scrapbooking, you will realize that you have to have some way to keep everything organized. Things can quickly get out of hand and more time will be spent just trying to find what you need than actually putting scrap book page layouts together! Since scrapping time is precious and often hard to come by, I have come up with 5 inexpensive tips to keep everything in order!

1. Invest in a good paper storage system. I have been using an accordion file system for all my papers. I have them separated by colors and by type, so all the red cardstock is in one file and all the red patterned paper is in another file. This helps reduce the amount of time I spend looking through paper! I also have a smaller accordion file for all the scraps I have and organize them by colors, too!

2. Eyelets and brads can be some of the most troublesome scrap book supplies to keep in order. They often come in little plastic bags that can’t be reused, so unless you like them spilling all over everything, you have to get some containers to organize them. Most craft stores sell small boxes with dividers inside that make keeping colors and shapes apart very simple. I also like some of the plastic screw top containers. Or, if you are on a really tight budget, you can take small baby food jars, spray paint the lids and use them to keep everything nice and neat!

3. Ribbons, fibers and yarns can be such a pain in the neck to keep from becoming one big tangled mess! Ribbon spools can be thread onto small dowels or even pant hangers. These methods are nice because you can see each ribbon and cut from the spools easily. I know many people like to put short pieces of fibers and ribbons in large canning jars. Not only is this a good way to keep colors together, but it makes for a nice display. One way I have used to store yarn on the skein is by unwinding a small piece and putting the skein in a zipper plastic bag with the unwound piece hanging out. This makes finding the end to cut from much easier than trying to fish it out every time.

4. Stamps can be a challenge, especially if they aren’t the new acrylic stamps that can easily fit in binders and other small spaces. Again, using storage boxes for wood mounted rubber stamps and organizing by themes is a good way to keep them organized. To make the process of finding a specific stamp easier, just stamp each image on a piece of paper and adhere it to the outside of the box.

5. If stickers have got you stuck, I have the best suggestion I’ve found: the Crop in Style Paper Sticker Binder. Not only does the binder keep all the stickers in a zipped up unit, but it has divided pages and dividers to keep different sizes and themes apart. Once I started using it, it not only helped keep everything neat, but it makes it so much easier to actually use the stickers I have! It saves you money by not buying more of the same kinds of stickers!

I hope that these five tips can help you get a good handle on all your supplies. All these tips are inexpensive tricks, but I have also really enjoyed having large totes and bags to take with me to crops. These products often have organizational pieces integrated into themselves like bags, pen and scissor organizers, etc.

Want a secret?? If you search some of the tool departments of your local discount stores, you might just find a rolling hardware tool box that will work beautifully for your scrap book supplies. I found a great one for under $25 several years ago and have loved it! It doesn’t have all the bells and whistles that the ones specifically made for scrap booking do, but it serves its purpose and I had some money left over to invest in more scrap book supplies!

Just find a system that works well for you. You might go through a couple systems before you find one that really works for you, but don’t give up! The time you will save by keeping all of your scrap book supplies in order will be worth all the effort!

Susan Whitehead has been scrapbooking since the birth of her first child in 1998. Her love for the craft has grown exponentially since then and has resulted in her becoming a scrapbook instructor with her own online scrapbook business. Her website is http://www.BarefootMemories.net and her blog is http://www.scrapbookbarefoot.blogspot.com

How to Get Organized for the Artist

How to Organize Your Workplace

Some artists have an issue with keeping everything organized. A way to solve this problem is to separate things into different spaces. All the work should be in a certain space and there should be a drafting table for the work to be completed on. There should also be a drafting chair to sit in and get comfortable while creating art. Art is something that is created and for most people getting creative requires a comfortable and organized workspace. Separating certain things into certain areas would really create a different space to work in.

The table where an artist created their art at should be used for one purpose and that is all. This purpose is to create art. If the drafting table is all cluttered with papers and things it is next to impossible to be creative and get work done. It does not take much effort to clean up the work area so there really is no excuse not to. A good drafting table that is clean and organized can make a huge difference. It is a much more efficient workspace. It is also much less stressful without the clutter and disorganization.

Having an organized drafting table is one thing that can be extremely helpful, but it is not the only thing. Having a comfortable, efficient drafting chair can make a difference. It may not seem like it would make a huge difference to have a chair with the drafting table, but it does. Without the chair the table would be pointless. The chair could create a feeling of limited stress, which can bring a feeling of relief. When this feeling is present working is much easier. The drafting chair does not have to be top of the line expensive it just has to get the job done.

There are many things that can be done to organize a place of work. The first thing to do is to get rid of any clutter around. This just eliminates the things in the space that are pointless and meaningless to the job that is being accomplished. When there is a clear area to work in, more can be accomplished in less time. It is a lot easier, less stressful, and much more efficient. It is not a hard task to complete if it is done the right way. There are also many ways that you can organize a space. It can be done in any way that is necessary to meet any particular expectations.

Organization can be the key to success. It is not something that is extremely difficult. If things are kept organized in a place of business than the potential of something going wrong is slim to none. The important key is to have certain spaces for certain things. For example having a drafting table and chair are used for drawing or anything else only. If the desk becomes used for other things it loses its general purpose and most of the time it is hard to restore it to how it used to be used.

Connor Sullivan usually buys his drafting tables online for his office. He also purchased drafting chairs online for the office as well. http://www.artsupply.com/alvin/tables/alvintables.htm

How to Organize Your Life to Eliminate Stress and Worry

If you are not a very organized person, then you may realize that your disorganization can create a tremendous amount of stress in your life. If you take the time to get organized, you may notice that your level of stress goes down. Sometimes this can be just want you need in order to reduce the stress in your life. Stress can really take its toll on your body and your life. It can bring you down, and ultimately make you unhappy. If you want to look into reducing your stress level with some easy steps, then take the time to get uncluttered and organize your home.

The first thing that you should do is to make a to do list. If you have a list that you will follow when working on your things then you will be that much more likely to get everything done. Have you ever had a whole list of things in your head to get done, just to find out that you forgot to do a few of them? This is very common, especially if you do not make a written list. Writing things down will not only help you with your memory, but having them in writing will allow you to check them off as you go. This can be very effective when you are getting ready to get organized.

Once you have a list of the things that you need to do, then you need to add some priority to it. Remember what you need to do in order to get organized, and then take the steps to check them off one by one. If you have a long list, delegate certain things to do on certain days. If you do this, you are likely to find that you get everything done more quickly than you would sitting around looking at the list of things to do. Do not stress out over having a lot to get done, just start doing them one by one and only bite off as much as you can chew. This will give you a sense of accomplishment in the end.

If there are some things that may not be very important, then you should think about not doing them at all. While you may not want to think about things and then cancel them, it may be the best way to reduce your stress. Do not take on more than you can handle because that is the sure fire way to get stressed out. Remember that you do not always have to say yes to everyone. Practice telling people no if you do not feel like taking on another task.

Make a daily list each morning. This will help you when it comes to getting everything done in a timely manner. When you look back at the things that you are able to accomplish once you are organized, you will be that much more prepared to take on the day without the load of stress that you may have had before hand.

Herb enjoys learning how to become a more organized person. Please visit his website with information on outdoor floor lamps and tips on outdoor post lighting. http://www.outdoorfloorlamps.net/outdoor-post-lighting.html

6 Organizing Habits For Clutter Control

How many times have you said to yourself I wish I could stay organized? I am a professional organizer and I tell the women I work with it is possible to keep organized but I don’t think it is possible to stay organized. The word stay gives the impression that once a task is done it is done for good. But if you have a life, live with someone, have children or have a home no matter how organized things are they just get undone. Here are six tips to help you keep organized by clearing clutter and getting a grip on clutter control on a consistent basis.

1. Put things back after using them AKA: get rid of the evidence. This is an easy habit to get into and it will make a big difference in clutter control. Teach your family to put things back after using them. If you make a sandwich put everything away that you took out to make the sandwich before you sit down to eat it. Put the bread back, replace the perishables in the fridge, and put the utensils you used in the dishwasher and wipe off the counter. No evidence remains that you fixed a sandwich. This will help eliminate clutter around the home when you get in the habit of doing this in every room.

2. Don't set something down to deal with later. Later usually means clutter is starting to creep and piles are being made. When you have something in your hands, go ahead and deal with it then and there. Put it where it belongs. You may think it is simpler at the moment to set something down and deal with it later, but it just creates more work later. Get in the habit now of putting it away the second you're done with it. Teach your family members to do the same.

3. Every night plan on a nightly pick up that will take no more than 10 to 15 minutes. Things do get undone and left out and papers and magazines dropped where they were read and maybe the laundry is folded and sitting on the couch—you get the idea. Have family members help pick up before going to bed because then you won’t have a mess staring you in the face the next morning. This is doing clutter control a little at a time which makes the task easy.

4. Involve the family in learning to keep organized. The reality is that every member of the family plays an important role in maintaining an organized home. Hold a family meeting to decide as a family which responsibilities will be done by each family member.

5. When you are living with the things you love and use and that light you up keep it that way by making sure that everything you bring into your home has a purpose and that you need it or just can’t live without it. Clutter control can be possible if you can adopt the attitude of one in and one out. When you buy something, let something else go. This isn’t always possible to do if you are buying things you need and use but it is something to consider.

6. Keep a toolbox in a place where everyone knows not only where to go to get a tool, but where to go to put it back when they are finished with it. By keeping a toolbox handy, you'll have the correct tool for the job. It is much easier to pound a nail with a hammer than a shoe, or screw in a screw with a screwdriver rather than a butter knife (which scratches and bends your good knife). Get into the habit of putting the tools back in the tool box as soon as you finish with them.

Clutter Control will be effortless when you use these timely organizing tips and you will be able to Keep organized.

Marilyn's Bio:
Marilyn is a professional organizer who works with women and seniors in clearing clutter and providing organizing tips. Clearing clutter helps those she works with to have less stress in their lives and feel more joy in living.
Marilyn invites you to visit her website http://www.marilynbohn.com where you can find organizing solutions. You will find fun stories and free organizing tips in her blogs, articles and videos.

Marilyn is a creative organizer who helps women, seniors & their families to create space and end clutter in homes and offices by setting up custom made systems. Visit her website http://www.marilynbohn.com for free organizing tips.

How To Organize Bedroom Closets

Whether you have a standard closet or walk in, organizing your bedroom closets can be easily accomplished. It gives me a great sense of pride to open my closet and have everything organized and accessible.

Even if you have a small closet there are techniques that you use so you are using all the space you have available to your organizing advantage.

Take everything out of the closet and measure length, width and depth. The worst thing is to buy a product and it does not your space or your needs. Decide if you need more shelving space or hanging space. Make a layout of your closet and space in your needs. Now that you have decided what you need and what you want you are ready to start organizing your closet.

The first step to organizing your bedroom closet is to get rid of the clothes that you do not wear. Yes, you may love it but do you wear it, is the garment your style, does it fit? If you have answered no to any of these, then it is time to donate the garment. Make piles as you go through your clothes, donate or throw away. I personally donate all my clothes to Good Will.

When you put your clothes back into the closet, organize them so it will be easier for you to find items that you need. Hang all long sleeve shirts together by color and all short sleeve shirts by color. The same for pants.

There are add on clothing bars you can add into your closet or closet rods so that you can hang your shirts on one row and your pants below...saves a ton of space. You could also install shelving that doubles as a shelf and rod together increasing your shelf and bar space.

And for us short people an easy reach closet hook is great, no more standing on a stool to get what you want from your closet. Utilizing the higher space in your closet will increase your usable area.

I know that you are with me when I say all those little things in the closet drive you crazy! Belts and Ties slipping off the hangers is the worst. Invest in an inexpensive non slip tie and belt holder and not only will your bedroom closet be more organized but will lessen your aggravation level.

I know that most of us women, have more than 1 handbag, some lots more. There are also great ways to organize your handbags and still keep your bedroom closet organized.

OK, so I admit it, I am a shoe addict! I love shoes, heels, wedges, sandals, sneakers I have them all and then some. Hmmm now where to store than all and keep them organized.

You could keep them in their original boxes but then you can't see what's in each one unless you label them or use clear shoe boxes.
Depending on your space limitations, there are many ways to keep your shoes neat, orderly, organized and easily accessible.

Another option is to utilize under your bed as storage. By storing your shoes or other items under your bed, you will be freeing up space in your closet. This is a great option if you have a small closet or limited space.

I just have to say a word about hangers, it's a thing with me. I actually have colored hangers, blue to one son, green to another, black to husband. Plastic hangers or wood hangers with no slip pads are great. There are so many different types of hangers it's actually surprising. Wood, Plastic, Tiered, Pants, Shirts and the list goes on.....

Tiered Shirt and Slack hangers will save space in your closet by not using so many hangers.

Ann Cohen is a mom, wife, friend and caterer who love babies, "green", decorating and holiday's. Being able to entertain and decorate on a budget is important today and loves finding that "great deal." To get some more tips on how to's, green, organizing and saving money tips check out Organize Your Bedroom Closets and browse her selection.

Ann Cohen is a mom, wife, friend and caterer who love babies, "green", decorating and holiday's. Being able to entertain and decorate on a budget is important today and loves finding that "great deal."

Kitchen Organizers that Clear Cabinet Clutter

Are you tired of searching your kitchen cabinets and not being able to find anything? When you open a cabinet, are you flooded by an avalanche of cans, pans, or spices? These are some of the signs that tell you it’s time to organize your kitchen cabinets. The good news is that there are numerous solutions to help you address this problem.

Let’s start with the cabinets where you keep food, canned items, foils, wraps, and similar items. Get those cans out of the way with a three-tier can rack shelf that can hold up to 60 cans. It has an angled roll down rack — so when you remove one can, another rolls down to take its place.

Organize your plastic wrap, wax paper, aluminum foil, and freezer bags with an under shelf wrap wrack. This item clips to the underside of your cabinet shelf to keep all of these items in one place. You can also turn your shelf into a dual-level storage area with an additional kitchen cabinet drawer. With a drawer that slides out from underneath a wire shelf, this simple storage device doubles your cabinet space.

Okay, now it’s time to tackle the cabinets underneath your kitchen sink. You probably have sponges, cleaners, brushes, and other cleaning products scattered about in there. One thing that can help is a set of under sink sliding drawers, which are large enough to hold bottles, spray cans, and boxes as well as brushes and sponges.

If you want a storage system that perfectly fits your cabinet space, you should opt for an expandable under sink shelf. This shelving system has five removable rungs on each side, which allow you to customize the shelf to suit your specific storage area. You can also position the shelving trays to fit around your sink’s drainpipe if necessary.

You can’t forget about your pots and pans, which can swallow up cabinet space in a hurry. First, use a pot lid holder to organize the multiple lids you use to cover your pots and pans. This rack mounts to the inside of your cabinet door and holds up to five pot lids.

For more convenient access to your cookware, try an expandable chrome kitchen shelf. This product features a shelf that slides forward to make it easier to retrieve your pots and pans without digging through the back of a cabinet. If you want a storage system with flair, look for a Pan Tree (no, not a pantry)! This cylindrical plastic storage rack, which requires no tools for assembly, can organize up to 14 pieces of cookware so they are always within easy reach.

Wouldn’t it be nice to find the spice or seasoning you want quickly and easily? There are several spice storage solutions for you to choose from. Use a wire 3 tier spice rack to store seasoning containers on the inside wall of your cabinet. If you need something a bit less bulky, you can choose a spice clip set, featuring rows of plastic clips affixed to your cabinet wall to keep spices organized and uncluttered. Or you can select a more complete spice storage system like a spice stack. This three-tiered storage device holds up to sixty spices horizontally — but each shelf slides out and pivots downward for easy display and retrieval of all your seasonings.

Finally, let’s move over to the cabinets where you store your dishes and glassware. Again, there are lots of solutions that can help you get the most out of your storage space allotted for these items. Keep your wine, martini, and other drink glasses safe with either a stemware rack or a large stemware holder. Both of these racks are made of sturdy metal wiring with a chrome finish, and they mount easily to the top of the inside of any cabinet.

Instead of trying to stack your coffee mugs and risk breakage if the piles collapse, you should install a handy pull out mug caddy in your cabinet. This rack, which mounts to the underside of your cabinet shelf, has hooks for eight mugs and slides forward for easy access to all of them.

All of these creative, space-saving products will vastly improve your kitchen storage situation. Now you can save time by finding exactly what you need without rooting through all your cabinets looking for that can, pan, or spice. Not only will these organizers keep your items from falling out when you open cabinet doors, but they will also keep your kitchen looking clean and tidy.

Chris Martin is a freelance writer who writes about kitchen organizers.