Monday, November 30, 2009

Creating a home at the office

Today, I relocated from a large office space (6 file drawers and 5" of space on either side of me) into a new cubicle with 3 small drawers and no extra arm room. One thing that helped me to brighten up my space was to hang my calendar and place a few pictures on my desk. I arranged the other office materials so that I could have easy access to all of my stuff. While this isn't an ideal situation, I have managed to create a "home" in my new office space. Send me your creative ideas...

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Get a handle on the holidays...

If you're like me, you've probably been receiving all kinds of holiday coupons, offers and communications on sales via snail mail and email. One tip that has helped me is to organize my coupons, is to place them into an envelope that I carry with me throughout the holiday season. When you're out and about, you can think through which stores you want to go to and then pull out the coupon as needed. This will cut down on trying to remember where you put the coupon and save you time & energy so that you can enjoy all the joys the holiday season brings! Happy Shopping!

Friday, November 27, 2009

Experiencing the tupperware tumble? Here's a solution...

I hope you had a wonderful thanksgiving and have recovered from all the turkey and fixings! Now that the festivites are behind us, it's time to tackle the "tupperware tumble" taking up usabe space in your cabinet. Here's a solution to cut down on the clutter in your cabinets. Take out all the tupperware bottoms & tops and match them up. Whatever is left without a "home", toss out. You will cut down on time and energy by storing them back in your cabinets as one unit. If you have trouble tossing out the tops, you can use them to put under house plants and/or a art project for kids. Grab some non-acrilic pants and let you child paint on the top. Once it dries, they will have a handmade frisbee to play with.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Remember to give thanks...

Tis the season to give thanks! As we get ready for the holiday hussle & bussle, remember to give thanks to those family and friends in your life who have been good to you. As you sort through piles of mail and file away billing statements, take a minute to write a thank you card to someone special. You will find that expressing your gratitude to another person will lift your spirits! Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family...may it be a blessed one!

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Oops, I forgot something...

This morning, I forgot a very important item, my wallet! As soon as I discovered this, I thought of a quick checklist to post near my door to prevent this from happening in the future. The list includes: do I have my keys, wallet, metrocard, important documents, etc...

If you live in a Metropolitan Area and drive a car, you may want to add, do I need to move my car today for opposite street parking?

Please feel free to add on your own "reminders" to this list as well...

Monday, November 23, 2009

Bill almost due, here's a solution...

Does this scenario sound familiar? You know you have a bill that needs to be paid, but you can't find it amongst the stack of papers on your desk.

One simple solution is to create a "bills" folder. In the folder, include the following:

-- All bill statements for the month: you may choose to include a sheet that says - vendor - amount - due date

-- 2 envelopes: (1) Debit receipts (2) Credit Card receipts

If you have multiple credit/store cards, you may choose to create an envelope for each vendor.

Once you have this system in place, you will put your bills into the folder as they come in, so that when you're ready to pay them, you can go to 1 place and have everything all together.

Two other tips are to keep your postage and address labels in the folder. If you can discipline yourself to set-up and implement this system, you will find that paying bills is alot less stressful and you can get on to better things!


Sunday, November 22, 2009

Save space, marry...

Do you have multiple shampoo, conditioner and/or lotion bottles stored in your cabinets creating clutter and taking up good "real estate"? If so, you might want to consider "marrying" these bottles. Just tip the tops of both bottles (the bottle with less content on top) and marry them! You will save on space, make room for other items in your cabinets & closets and be clutter free!

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Save a buck...

It's that time of year again....time for holiday shopping and dining out! If you're like me, saving a little money during time busy time is key. Some suggestions are to search for promotion codes online. A lot of companies are offering promo codes to drum up more holiday business. If you shop around, you can find up to 30% off discounts. Also, many stores are sending out their holiday catalogs offering free shipping and handling, as well as buy one, get the second one free! Some sites that have been particularly good are:

Promotional Codes: http://www.promotionalcodes.com/

Restaurant deals: http://www.groupon.com/new-york/subscribe?utm_source=Adwords&utm_medium=NYC&utm_campaign=Search&gclid=CJ-AptyJnZ4CFY915QodbDWbpA

Please feel free to respond back with other great sites to save a buck or two...

Happy Holidays...

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Misplaced your keys, here's a quick solution...

I've often heard complaints from people that they misplaced their keys. Whether you're at home or in your workplace, you can discipline (don't be afraid of this word, it's not a bad word!) yourself to always be able to locate your keys. One tip for the home is, find a common area (e.g. hook near the door, bowl, countertop) where you can create a "home" for your keys. You will place your keys there each and every time you are not using them and you'll be amazed to see that they will "live" there until you need them again. It will encourage you and cut down on unnecessary stress. If you tend to misplace your work keys, go out and buy one of those large key-rings, like the ones you see at restaurants and gas stations. The key-ring will serve as a visual reminder to you. Also, in case you do leave it behind, you can put your name and office address on the back so it can be returned to you. So...be encouraged as you begin to develop this discipline into your daily routine. Got keys?

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Mail piling up, here's a quick tip...

Often times I hear from people that they can't seem to get their mail under control. One tip that works well for me is to tackle the mail on a daily basis. When you come into your home and/or office, go through the mail and place it into 3 piles: (1) Keep - take action (2) Throw away or recycle and (3) File away. You may find it helpful to stand over your recycling bag/shredder so you can take care of it on the spot! Practicing this daily habit will cut down on aggravation and help to keep your mail clutter down to a minimum.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Got Clutter? I can help!

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be clutter free? To walk into your workplace and see your desk neat & organized? If you're tired of moving papers from one side to the other and want the freedom without all the hassle, let me create a system that is customized and tailored to you. I will work with you to understand your needs so that your new system will raise your level of productivity and give you a new found confidence to face the day! If you're interested in learning more, please email me at cluttergal@hotmail.com.