Getting rid of clutter doesn't have to be a long, drawn out process. You can complete this entire list of clutter - reducing projects in an hour or less.
1. Toss 10: Grab a trash bag. Find ten items in your home that you no longer need or want and put them in the bag.
Toss the bag in the trash or put it in your donation box, and never look back.
2. Clear a surface: Find at least one cluttered surface, like a coffee table or dresser top, and completely clear it of all clutter, swiftly dumping any trash.
3. Toss old magazines: Go through your home and gather any old magazines or newspapers you've already flipped through.
Recycle or donate them today.
4. Weed out 5: The thought of weeding out your entire filing system may seem daunting, but anyone can weed out just 5 file folders.
5. Pick through a junk drawer. Whatever you can't identify or is clearly junk (meaning you'll never use it) gets tossed.
6. Toss anything expired: Go through your fridge and medicine cabinet, gathering anything perishable that has expired. A good day to do this is on garbage day, so you can hand off what you've collected to the trash collector.
7. Dump junk mail: Quickly go through your pile of mail and dump anything that is clearly junk mail.
8. Put things away: While carrying a large shopping bag with handles, go through your home putting at least 8 things that are not in their correct place in the bag. Then, deliver those items to their proper homes
Friday, June 5, 2009
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Getting into the saving habit: Ten easy ideas
Log your spending habits for one month:
It doesn't take a miracle to save money. It's as simple (and as difficult) as figuring out how to spend less than you earn. But before you can cut your spending, you need to know exactly where your money is going.
So, for the next month, keep a log of all your daily, weekly, and monthly expenditures. Use a little pocket journal to jot down notes as you go, just as if you were keeping track of expenses on a business trip.
Prepare yourself for some sticker shock. That harmless morning latte you buy on the way to work can add up to a tidy $60 a month, or $720 a year, or $7,200 in ten years — a nice chunk of savings. If your drink of choice is bottled water, fill your eight daily glasses at the tap instead and you could pocket up to $1,400 a year. And those impulse baby clothes purchases you put on your credit card? Tack another 20 percent onto what the price tag says — that's how much interest charges could cost you unless you pay the bill in full each month.
You don't have to go without caffeine, and you can still dress your baby in adorable outfits — just be smart about it. If you can't afford the cafe on the corner, keep a stash of ground espresso at work and make your own pseudo-lattes (microwave ovens do a respectable job of steaming milk). Never leave home without a full, reusable water bottle. Wait for those baby clothes to go on sale, and give yourself a cash limit when you shop.
Pay yourself first:
It may seem counterintuitive, but the secret to getting into the savings habit is to put yourself first. That doesn't mean buying every CD or kitchen gadget that catches your eye — it means including yourself among the regular creditors you pay every month.
Set some realistic long-term goals and then "pay" yourself by putting money aside in a savings or investment account on a regular basis. If you wait until the end of the month to see what's left over after paying for essentials and shelling out a few more dollars here and there for extras, you (like most people) will probably find that there isn't much left.
Don't give yourself a choice. Set up your retirement, emergency savings account, and college fund with automatic monthly transfers — no matter how small— from your paycheck or checking account. Like nightly tooth flossing, regular saving is a healthy habit that accrues over time and becomes a routine you can't live without. And at the end of each month, you'll have the immediate gratification of knowing you socked something away for the future.
Stagger your savings due dates:
Most IRAs, college accounts, and other savings options allow you to pick your own date for automatic withdrawals from your checking account or paycheck. Stagger these dates to make sure all the money isn't transferred out of your account on the same day.
If you're paid every two weeks, tie one withdrawal to each payday. If you're self-employed and money comes in throughout the month, pick a couple of dates in the middle of the month at a time when you're not paying other bills.
Pay down debt:
You've heard it before, but it still may seem hard to believe: Paying off your debt is one of the best ways to save money. That's because the interest you pay on most loans (particularly credit cards) is much higher than the interest you earn with most savings options. So get rid of as much credit card, student loan, auto loan, and other personal debt as you can (a home mortgage loan should be your one big debt), and then start saving.
Be your own loan officer:
When you finish paying off a loan, keep making the monthly payments — to yourself. Put them into a savings account or, better yet, set up an automatic withdrawal for the same amount into a higher-yield investment account.
Motivate yourself with a big-ticket goal:
Pinpoint what you really want (a new sofa, a DVD player, a vacation) and what it will cost, then set a realistic goal, such as giving yourself six months to save for it. Cut out pictures that illustrate your goal and put them on your bulletin board at work, on your refrigerator at home, and in your wallet. Every time you think about buying new shoes or towels, ask yourself whether you want or need them as much as what you're saving for.
Open a savings account you can't touch:
Save for even bigger purchases, such as the down payment on a house or car, by putting chunks of savings into certificates of deposit (CDs). These accounts offer virtually no risk, they earn higher dividends than plain old savings accounts, and the money must stay in the account for a predetermined period of time — so you can't get at it whenever temptation strikes.
Start a loose change jar:
Put a jar — preferably a large one with a narrow mouth, so you can't get your hand into it — in a prominent place, and empty your pocket or wallet change into it at the end of the day. If you can't stand the thought of rolling coins, use the change-counting machines available at some supermarkets when the jar is full. At the end of the year, this found cash can add up to enough money to pay for a weekend getaway, a holiday gift, or a health club membership.
Sock away surprises:
Anytime you get an unexpected windfall — a tax rebate, holiday bonus, or cash gift — put it into your savings account. You weren't counting on this money as part of your regular income, so don't spend it as such. Think of this as your Europe or new car account. Or, if you haven't gotten out of debt yet, use it to pay down credit cards and loans or make an extra mortgage payment toward the principal (which reduces the interest you pay over the life of the loan).
Step off the gas:
When gas prices hover around $3 a gallon, it's pretty obvious that the less you put in your tank, the more you can put in your change jar or savings account. If buying a more fuel-efficient car isn't feasible, figure out how to cut back on your regular driving.
Carpool to work or preschool if you don't already. Plan ahead and cluster errands instead of constantly jumping in the car. Walk to your destination or from store to store whenever possible. And for your next vacation, don't overlook the gems in your own backyard — consider exploring your own state instead of driving across a couple of time zones.
(Crown Financial Minstries - written by Melanie H.)
It doesn't take a miracle to save money. It's as simple (and as difficult) as figuring out how to spend less than you earn. But before you can cut your spending, you need to know exactly where your money is going.
So, for the next month, keep a log of all your daily, weekly, and monthly expenditures. Use a little pocket journal to jot down notes as you go, just as if you were keeping track of expenses on a business trip.
Prepare yourself for some sticker shock. That harmless morning latte you buy on the way to work can add up to a tidy $60 a month, or $720 a year, or $7,200 in ten years — a nice chunk of savings. If your drink of choice is bottled water, fill your eight daily glasses at the tap instead and you could pocket up to $1,400 a year. And those impulse baby clothes purchases you put on your credit card? Tack another 20 percent onto what the price tag says — that's how much interest charges could cost you unless you pay the bill in full each month.
You don't have to go without caffeine, and you can still dress your baby in adorable outfits — just be smart about it. If you can't afford the cafe on the corner, keep a stash of ground espresso at work and make your own pseudo-lattes (microwave ovens do a respectable job of steaming milk). Never leave home without a full, reusable water bottle. Wait for those baby clothes to go on sale, and give yourself a cash limit when you shop.
Pay yourself first:
It may seem counterintuitive, but the secret to getting into the savings habit is to put yourself first. That doesn't mean buying every CD or kitchen gadget that catches your eye — it means including yourself among the regular creditors you pay every month.
Set some realistic long-term goals and then "pay" yourself by putting money aside in a savings or investment account on a regular basis. If you wait until the end of the month to see what's left over after paying for essentials and shelling out a few more dollars here and there for extras, you (like most people) will probably find that there isn't much left.
Don't give yourself a choice. Set up your retirement, emergency savings account, and college fund with automatic monthly transfers — no matter how small— from your paycheck or checking account. Like nightly tooth flossing, regular saving is a healthy habit that accrues over time and becomes a routine you can't live without. And at the end of each month, you'll have the immediate gratification of knowing you socked something away for the future.
Stagger your savings due dates:
Most IRAs, college accounts, and other savings options allow you to pick your own date for automatic withdrawals from your checking account or paycheck. Stagger these dates to make sure all the money isn't transferred out of your account on the same day.
If you're paid every two weeks, tie one withdrawal to each payday. If you're self-employed and money comes in throughout the month, pick a couple of dates in the middle of the month at a time when you're not paying other bills.
Pay down debt:
You've heard it before, but it still may seem hard to believe: Paying off your debt is one of the best ways to save money. That's because the interest you pay on most loans (particularly credit cards) is much higher than the interest you earn with most savings options. So get rid of as much credit card, student loan, auto loan, and other personal debt as you can (a home mortgage loan should be your one big debt), and then start saving.
Be your own loan officer:
When you finish paying off a loan, keep making the monthly payments — to yourself. Put them into a savings account or, better yet, set up an automatic withdrawal for the same amount into a higher-yield investment account.
Motivate yourself with a big-ticket goal:
Pinpoint what you really want (a new sofa, a DVD player, a vacation) and what it will cost, then set a realistic goal, such as giving yourself six months to save for it. Cut out pictures that illustrate your goal and put them on your bulletin board at work, on your refrigerator at home, and in your wallet. Every time you think about buying new shoes or towels, ask yourself whether you want or need them as much as what you're saving for.
Open a savings account you can't touch:
Save for even bigger purchases, such as the down payment on a house or car, by putting chunks of savings into certificates of deposit (CDs). These accounts offer virtually no risk, they earn higher dividends than plain old savings accounts, and the money must stay in the account for a predetermined period of time — so you can't get at it whenever temptation strikes.
Start a loose change jar:
Put a jar — preferably a large one with a narrow mouth, so you can't get your hand into it — in a prominent place, and empty your pocket or wallet change into it at the end of the day. If you can't stand the thought of rolling coins, use the change-counting machines available at some supermarkets when the jar is full. At the end of the year, this found cash can add up to enough money to pay for a weekend getaway, a holiday gift, or a health club membership.
Sock away surprises:
Anytime you get an unexpected windfall — a tax rebate, holiday bonus, or cash gift — put it into your savings account. You weren't counting on this money as part of your regular income, so don't spend it as such. Think of this as your Europe or new car account. Or, if you haven't gotten out of debt yet, use it to pay down credit cards and loans or make an extra mortgage payment toward the principal (which reduces the interest you pay over the life of the loan).
Step off the gas:
When gas prices hover around $3 a gallon, it's pretty obvious that the less you put in your tank, the more you can put in your change jar or savings account. If buying a more fuel-efficient car isn't feasible, figure out how to cut back on your regular driving.
Carpool to work or preschool if you don't already. Plan ahead and cluster errands instead of constantly jumping in the car. Walk to your destination or from store to store whenever possible. And for your next vacation, don't overlook the gems in your own backyard — consider exploring your own state instead of driving across a couple of time zones.
(Crown Financial Minstries - written by Melanie H.)
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Four Steps to Making Wise Financial Decisions:
1. Protect your curent income.
--Do your best at work so they want to keep you.
2. Create Financial Margin.
--Income: steady or going up.
--Debt: spending going down.
3. Get and stay in a good solid church.
4. Avoid fear-based decisions.
--Get some help if needed and stay calm.
--Do your best at work so they want to keep you.
2. Create Financial Margin.
--Income: steady or going up.
--Debt: spending going down.
3. Get and stay in a good solid church.
4. Avoid fear-based decisions.
--Get some help if needed and stay calm.
Friday, April 10, 2009
COFFEE FILTERS:
1. Cover bowls or dishes when cooking in the microwave. Coffee filters make excellent covers.
2. Clean windows and mirrors. Coffee filters are lint-free so they'll leave windows sparkling.
3. Protect China.. Separate your good dishes by putting a coffee filter between each dish.
4. Filter broken cork from wine. If you break the cork when opening a wine bottle, filter the wine through a coffee filter.
5. Protect a cast-iron skillet. Place a coffee filter in the skillet to absorb moisture and prevent rust.
6. Apply shoe polish. Ball up a lint-free coffee filter.
7. Recycle frying oil. After frying, strain oil through a sieve lined with a coffee filter.
8. Weigh chopped foods. Place chopped ingredients in a coffee filter on a kitchen scale.
9. Hold tacos. Coffee filters make convenient wrappers for messy foods.
10. Stop the soil from leaking out of a plant pot. Line a plant pot with a coffee filter to prevent the soil from going through the drainage holes.
11. Prevent a Popsicle from dripping. Poke one or two holes as needed in a coffee filter.
12. Do you think we used expensive strips to wax eyebrows? Use strips of coffee filters.
13. Put a few in a plate and put your fried bacon, French fries, chicken fingers, etc on them. Soaks out all the grease.
14. Keep in the bathroom. They make great "razor nick fixers."
1. Cover bowls or dishes when cooking in the microwave. Coffee filters make excellent covers.
2. Clean windows and mirrors. Coffee filters are lint-free so they'll leave windows sparkling.
3. Protect China.. Separate your good dishes by putting a coffee filter between each dish.
4. Filter broken cork from wine. If you break the cork when opening a wine bottle, filter the wine through a coffee filter.
5. Protect a cast-iron skillet. Place a coffee filter in the skillet to absorb moisture and prevent rust.
6. Apply shoe polish. Ball up a lint-free coffee filter.
7. Recycle frying oil. After frying, strain oil through a sieve lined with a coffee filter.
8. Weigh chopped foods. Place chopped ingredients in a coffee filter on a kitchen scale.
9. Hold tacos. Coffee filters make convenient wrappers for messy foods.
10. Stop the soil from leaking out of a plant pot. Line a plant pot with a coffee filter to prevent the soil from going through the drainage holes.
11. Prevent a Popsicle from dripping. Poke one or two holes as needed in a coffee filter.
12. Do you think we used expensive strips to wax eyebrows? Use strips of coffee filters.
13. Put a few in a plate and put your fried bacon, French fries, chicken fingers, etc on them. Soaks out all the grease.
14. Keep in the bathroom. They make great "razor nick fixers."
Monday, December 15, 2008
Saving Tips for Saving Money:
1. Move to a lower cost housing/ Buy a house you can afford.
2. Don't buy a pet.
3. Limit small spending.
4. Don't buy lunches at work.
5. Don't have cable T.V.
6. Buy used whenever possible esp. cars.
7. Quit bad habits such as smoking and drinking.
8. Be healthy
---Tips from John Nardini (Crown Financial Ministries)
2. Don't buy a pet.
3. Limit small spending.
4. Don't buy lunches at work.
5. Don't have cable T.V.
6. Buy used whenever possible esp. cars.
7. Quit bad habits such as smoking and drinking.
8. Be healthy
---Tips from John Nardini (Crown Financial Ministries)
Monday, December 8, 2008
Financial Money Map
Crown Financial Ministries is an excellent website to get good financial help. www.crown.org.
I have found that the Crown Money Map is very helpful and I wish Matt and I knew about this website before we were married. I would like to take a few moments to share some things that I found very helpful. There are seven destinations that Crown takes people through, but I am going to only mention 5 of them.
Destination 1: Emergency Savings: -Save $1,000 for emergencies.
Destination 2: Credit Card Paid off: -Pay off credit cards and Increase savings to one month's living expenses.
Destination 3: Consumer Debt Paid off: -Pay of all consumer debt and Increase savings to three month's living expenses.
Destination 4: Save for Major Purchases: -Begin saving for major purchases (home, auto, etc.), -Save for children's education, retirement, or other big expense.
Destination 5: Buy Home and Begin Investing: -Buy affordable home, Begin prepaying home mortgage, Begin investing wisely
I have found that the Crown Money Map is very helpful and I wish Matt and I knew about this website before we were married. I would like to take a few moments to share some things that I found very helpful. There are seven destinations that Crown takes people through, but I am going to only mention 5 of them.
Destination 1: Emergency Savings: -Save $1,000 for emergencies.
Destination 2: Credit Card Paid off: -Pay off credit cards and Increase savings to one month's living expenses.
Destination 3: Consumer Debt Paid off: -Pay of all consumer debt and Increase savings to three month's living expenses.
Destination 4: Save for Major Purchases: -Begin saving for major purchases (home, auto, etc.), -Save for children's education, retirement, or other big expense.
Destination 5: Buy Home and Begin Investing: -Buy affordable home, Begin prepaying home mortgage, Begin investing wisely
Friday, November 7, 2008
Need help with household Chores
*Use multicolored 3x5 cards.
DAILY: (green card)
-Use one card to put the chores you need done each day.
1. Dishes put away
2. Clothes picked up
3. Bathroom wiped down (before bed)
4. Beds made in the morning
WEEKLY: (yellow card)
Need six cards. Here is an example. You would change them to fit your need. You may have other jobs that need to be done, but if do a little bit each day, you won't feel overwhelmed.
MONDAY: Dust and vaccuum bedroom(s).
TUESDAY: Sweep kitchen, bathroom, and front door.
WEDNESDAY: Dust and vaccuum living room.
THURSDAY: Plan menus for the next week, prepare shopping list.
FRIDAY: Dust and vaccuum family room.
SATURDAY: Laundry and clean the bathroom(s).
MONTHLY: (pink card)
You'll need four. Some weeks may have five and that can be either a catchup week or a relax week. Each week if you'll put your energy on one thing, you won't have to hustle around before company arrives.
WEEK 1 (of each month): Clean, organize, and santize the kitchen. Kitchen drawers, cabinets, pantry. Sweep and mop. Clean off counters with soap and water. Clean stove, microwave, and refrigerator.
WEEK 2 (of each month): Clean and organize the bedroom(s). Vaccuum real good. Clean off dressers, organize closet. Make things neat and tidy.
WEEK 3 (of each month: Clean and organize living room/family room. Dust real good and vaccuum. Organize desks, computer area, video area, coffee table. Put things away where they are supposed to be.
WEEK 4 (of each month): Clean and santize the bathroom. Clean real good behind the toilet. Clean the tub and shower real good. Organize and clean the linen closet, under the sink, and drawers.
EACH MONTH: (orange card)
Need 12 for each month. Basically put something down for each month that you need to do. For example:
JANURARY: Clean and organize the Christmas stuff. Put away in a neat fashion.
MAY: Spring clean blinds, windows, curtains.
JUNE: Clean and vaccuum all the cars and trucks.
JULY: Spring clean the garage and/or shed.
AUGUST: Organize, check, and go through the summer clothes and winter clothes.
--If you choose one thing major to do each month, your house (or outside) all year it will make cleaning easier.
DAILY: (green card)
-Use one card to put the chores you need done each day.
1. Dishes put away
2. Clothes picked up
3. Bathroom wiped down (before bed)
4. Beds made in the morning
WEEKLY: (yellow card)
Need six cards. Here is an example. You would change them to fit your need. You may have other jobs that need to be done, but if do a little bit each day, you won't feel overwhelmed.
MONDAY: Dust and vaccuum bedroom(s).
TUESDAY: Sweep kitchen, bathroom, and front door.
WEDNESDAY: Dust and vaccuum living room.
THURSDAY: Plan menus for the next week, prepare shopping list.
FRIDAY: Dust and vaccuum family room.
SATURDAY: Laundry and clean the bathroom(s).
MONTHLY: (pink card)
You'll need four. Some weeks may have five and that can be either a catchup week or a relax week. Each week if you'll put your energy on one thing, you won't have to hustle around before company arrives.
WEEK 1 (of each month): Clean, organize, and santize the kitchen. Kitchen drawers, cabinets, pantry. Sweep and mop. Clean off counters with soap and water. Clean stove, microwave, and refrigerator.
WEEK 2 (of each month): Clean and organize the bedroom(s). Vaccuum real good. Clean off dressers, organize closet. Make things neat and tidy.
WEEK 3 (of each month: Clean and organize living room/family room. Dust real good and vaccuum. Organize desks, computer area, video area, coffee table. Put things away where they are supposed to be.
WEEK 4 (of each month): Clean and santize the bathroom. Clean real good behind the toilet. Clean the tub and shower real good. Organize and clean the linen closet, under the sink, and drawers.
EACH MONTH: (orange card)
Need 12 for each month. Basically put something down for each month that you need to do. For example:
JANURARY: Clean and organize the Christmas stuff. Put away in a neat fashion.
MAY: Spring clean blinds, windows, curtains.
JUNE: Clean and vaccuum all the cars and trucks.
JULY: Spring clean the garage and/or shed.
AUGUST: Organize, check, and go through the summer clothes and winter clothes.
--If you choose one thing major to do each month, your house (or outside) all year it will make cleaning easier.
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