Use Your Time Wisely
  • In 5 Minutes I can...
  • Make a 'definitely need' grocery list
  • Make an appointment
  • Sort the mail (trash, in box or shred)
  • Vacuum one room
  • In 10 Minutes I can...
  • Straighten my desk
  • Check email and even...
  • Respond to a few emails
  • Exercise
  • Collect the trash
  • Wipe down kitchen appliances
  • Dust one room
  • In 30 Minutes I can...
  • Vacuum 3 -4 rooms
  • Do a craft with my child
  • Prepare a crock pot meal for dinner
  • Run to the bank or pick up dry cleaning
  • Read a book in the bathtub
  • Fold and put away laundry
  • Make a 2 week Meal Plan
                   
Mail Mounds
It has been my habit over the years to keep the incoming mail to a minimum. Whenever I
pick up the mail, I do the following:

  1. Immediately trash the items I know I do not need to waste any precious time on
    reading (credit card applications, catalogs...you know what I am talking about).
  2. Bills get placed into the office (in my file system).
  3. Magazines or letters to read later get places on the coffee table and/or magazine
    rack in bathroom.
The "To-Go" Tote Bag
In addition to my purse, I have created a tote bag that I prepare the night before for the next days adventures! In the evening I fill my bag with items I need to accomplish in my tasks for the next day.
Here is a sampling of what you may find in my "To-Go" Tote Bag:
  •        master to-do list
  •        grocery list & coupons (if it is grocery day)
  •        envelope with bank deposit
  •        list of phone numbers of people I need to call while out  running errands
  •        coupons I intend to use (car wash, drive-thru, etc.)
  •        roll of film to be developed
  •        small snack (just in case I am out longer than expected)
  •        directions to where I am going
  •        movie to be returned
Use a tote bag that works for you. Is does not need to be a huge diaper bag; just big enough to keep everything I need by my side while I am out.  At the end of the day, I bring it
in from the car and take out what I am done with and fill it with tomorrow's goodies!
Children & Housework

  • Try including your young children in housework.  It may feel like there is no progress, but it's a fantastic way to teach them to be part of the family team and the 'work force'.  Show, Teach & Train!
  • Be sure to encourage and compliment them on their hard work (even if it's not how you would have done it...) Do not redo a chore that a child has just completed!
  • Train children to pick up their 'stuff' by creating Clutter Jail. If something is left out, it goes into Clutter Jail until an agreed 'fine' has been paid (i.e. $, chore, etc.)
  • Make a list of all the chores your child is capable of doing.  Create a 'chore chart' together and assign days to each chore. Some of these should be 'fun' (for example;  getting the mail, writing the
    shopping list).
  • Make work creative. Children love wearing rubber gloves, having contest for dirtiest, dustiest rag, child-sized mops, aprons and small buckets.
  • Clearly define the time of day when a child's job is to be done - either before school, right after school or before dinner. Tasks should not be in the evening.  This should be a time for family to
    relax and enjoy one another.
  • Remember: The more we do for our children, the less they can do for themselves!
iMOM Helpful Hints & Ideas
"Don't Buy Stuff You Cannot Afford"

In 2006 SNL* aired a brilliant fake TV commercial for a debt management book called, "Don't Buy Stuff You
Cannot Afford". A simple rule, but difficult for so many to follow. Check out the video (click on the book to
watch a clip from Hulu.com)
*SNL is not a show we recommend to others....
 
Do you long for closets that don't stress you out every time you walk in? A place where you don't have to deadbolt for fear someone other than yourself or your accepting spouse
will tour?
Follow some simple tips to get your closets to a place where you are proud to show off!
  • Sort items nearest to where they will be used. (Instead of table linens in the towel closet, fold them into a dining room buffet)
  1. Have I used this in the past year? If no, discard it.
  2. Does this have either sentimental or monetary value to me?
  3. Will this come in handy someday (for something specific)?
  • Throw away, Give away, Put away! Most people cram so much stuff into their closets, that they don't know what they have until they move to a new home.  Stuff build up
    can cause safety problems, financial problems and comfort problems for the people who live there. Decide whether this 'stuff' is either trash, garage sale items or needs to
    bless another family.
  • Work on one small section of a closet at a time. Do not empty it all at once unless you have recruited help....Alone you will get discouraged and quit.
  • When in doubt, throw it out!
  • Always try to use clear boxes, so you can easily identify what is stored.
Just Accept It....The Laundry is Never "Finished"
Just when you kick back and gaze into an empty bucket for the first time in months....a pair of wet socks, stained jersey and stinky undergarments (multiplied by 6 in our household)
come flying into your beautiful laundry room and you are quickly reminded the laundry is never finished! Here are a few tips to keep your stress level low while making sure
everyone has what they need/want cleaned:

  1. Plan your wash days and start early in the day.
  2. Recruit helpers to fold and help put away (they can do this while catching up on a favorite show).
  3. Teach the family to use bath towels more than once; no need to clean a towel that has dried a clean body!
  4. Have a separate bucket for clothes that are needed frequently or needed for certain recurring events (i.e. ball games, gymnastics, dance, work uniforms, etc.)
  5. Keep the 'equipment' you need close by and stocked up....spot removal, scissors, tiny trash can for lint, usage guides for washing machine and dryer, pantyhose bags, etc.)
  6. Wash full loads rather than small ones. This saves energy and your appliances.
  7. Keep a stain removal booklet close by for the unusual, stubborn stains.
  8. Smile and keep a right perspective.....Remember an absence of laundry, means an absence of family members. Cherish these days when you have lots of people to do
    the laundry for....it will not last!
Let's Do Homework!
Here are some suggestions for making homework time less stressful and more productive:

  • Create a Homework Kit: Fill a basket with supplies needed to do their work (pencils, ruler, glue, scissors, paper, crayons, etc.)
  • Work Space: Have a designated space that is well-lit, quiet and comfortable.
  • Homework Schedule: Develop a routine for when homework is to be done.  For older kids give them  the freedom to choose from a larger time frame (after school, but before bedtime) so they
    can learn how to manage their time.
  • Do Homework "together": While your child is doing their work, mom/dad do work (sort mail, make dinner, pay bills, read, etc.)
  • Show Interest & Support: Ask questions & listen, help...but don't do it for them and reward completed work.
  • Be in Communication with the Teacher: Make sure you understand what they are learning and where they are struggling, so you can offer help when they need it.
Save on Groceries
Overseeing more than 1,000 meals a year can really add up quickly.  Using some smart strategies can help you save money at the store:
  • Stick to the list! Put a carry on basket in your cart and anytime you pick something up that is not on the list...put it in the basket.  At the end of your trip check the items in the small basket to make sure you really
    need/want them. (These little extras can easily add $10 to $20 to the bill).
  • Create a weekly meal plan and maximize on coupons that coordinate with what your buying for meals.  Don't use coupons to buy food you won't eat anyway.
  • Check top and bottom shelves.  More expensive brands are often put at eye level.
  • Make note of the food you throw out each week and buy less.
  • And the favorite....Don't shop when you are hungry!
simplify.and.live!
barbra ardila