The Time and Project Management Blog

Kitchens can often get cluttered, which makes it not only difficult to find things, but very dysfunctional. Here are some tips on organizing your kitchen cabinets, utensils and appliances, so that your kitchen becomes well organized, functional, and pleasant to your senses.

Organizing your kitchen can be easier with a larger kitchen, but is even more essential if you have a small kitchen, as in many apartments.

Begin by discarding anything you don’t use, along with any food, spices or medicines that are beyond their expiration dates. Be sure to check foods in your freezer that have been there a long time and have freezer burn.

Take everything out of your cupboards and drawers, and wash the insides with warm soapy water. Rinse and let dry completely before replacing items.

One way to organize your pantry is by dividing the space according to types of food: such as: canned vegetables, snacks, noodles, etc. Be sure to rotate your inventory and place the newest items at the back of the cabinet. Store food items used on a daily basis in readily accessible areas. Any food that may become infested with insects should be placed into sturdy plastic containers and sealed.

One of the basics of kitchen storage organization is organizing the kitchen storage cabinets. Larger and heavier items should be kept in lower cabinets.

Store pots, pans and cooking utensils near the stove, nesting the pots and pans together to conserve space. Store dishes and silverware near your eating area and/or dishwasher. Use racks and silverware holders to maximize use of space.

Remove large and seldom-used items from countertops and store them in a cupboard. For appliances that you use often, store them on the countertop in an orderly fashion. Toasters, blenders, juicers and other small appliances can be placed on the countertop without clutter. Store the kitchen appliances that you use only occasionally in those hard-to-reach places, thus reducing the clutter in your kitchen, plus making good use of those spaces.

Cooking utensils can be stored inside drawers or in a nice container on the countertop. A jar for these utensils right next to the stove is a good idea for the countertop.

We have already mentioned that the dishes you use daily are usually kept in kitchen storage cabinets, however, if you have “good china” and a nice glass cabinet this is a great place to store them and put them on display for all to enjoy.

If you do keep all your dishes in the kitchen cabinets, make sure that they are not crowded together. Store like items together, separating them by shelves if possible. For example, store glasses on one shelf, plates on another, and cups on another. Use a wide drawer which is readily accessible from the stove or counter, to store silverware and basic utensils.

A Brown

If you are some one who likes to read and has lot of books it is a good idea to have the books organized. This will help when you want to refer to a certain book or a particular subject. Sometimes we know we have a book but after looking through the living room, family room, and all the bookshelves we still can’t locate that specific one. There are just a couple of steps in the organizing of your books and bringing order to this mess.

First, depending on how many books you have that you want to keep, determine how many bookshelves you need and the size of those bookshelves. Purchase and place the bookshelves in an accessible location. Next begin to organize your books by author’s last name. Start on the top shelf, left side and place all books with author’s last name beginning with A. Follow the alphabetical procedure for your entire book collection.

If you are continually accumulating books and keeping them, you may find yourself getting a little casual with the organization. When you see that happening, address the situation and bring order back into that process.

ABrown

I recently took a trip to Lakeland, Florida with some friends for the Revival Meetings. In preparing for the trip I usually like to be very organized. It is best to be organized when travelling because it makes the trip much more pleasant, especially when driving for 17 hours.

A good place to start organizing for your trip is to have your route mapped out via http://maps.google.com or another appropriate map and directions source. This will tell you how long your trip will take, how many miles, etc. With this information you can schedule your time for leaving, taking into consideration the number of stops you will need to make for fuel, food, and rest.

Organize your car by placing all non-essential items in the trunk, while placing snacks, maps, CD’s or anything else you might need while driving, in an area readily accessible to the driver. If using a GPS be sure to keep an eye on the estimated arrival time if you have an appointment or time frame you must meet. Before you leave on your trip make sure the car is serviced and has a full tank of gas.

Next we will address the organization of clothing and toiletries needed for the trip. Start with a suitcase big enough to pack all your items. Make a list of the items you need while travelling. Lay all the items from your list out on a bed or floor. When you see all that needs to fit in your suitcase you can re-evaluate to determine if you can add items or need to eliminate some. As you begin to add the items to your suitcase check them off on your list. Pack the suitcase in an organized manner that works for you. Sometimes we can unpack the suitcase completely at our destination. Other times we must live out of the suitcase. Be prepared and organized in case the latter applies.

After a trip or two it is best to re-evaluate your list to determine if things need to be added. Perhaps not all items are needed on every trip or you can have seasonal lists.

One last tip, make sure you organize your finances before you begin the trip. Be sure all bills are paid that may come due while you are gone. Have a budget for your trip and keep track of your spending.

Have a good time wherever you are going and enjoy the journey!

ABrown

Today I want to identify some of the pitfalls in keeping your finances organized.
When your finances are organized you will have more peace of mind, but you will also be able to save some, spend some, and give some away to your favorite charity or someone in need. But rather than talk about the pitfalls of staying financially organized, I’d like to encourage you to see where you can change some financial strategies, become more organized and live a more peaceful and productive life.

1. Spend within your means. Throw away credit cards if they become a snare to you and you find yourself not paying off those charges each month.
2. Setting payments up on auto-pay can be good, but keep in mind that you must track these deductions and record them in your checkbook or software program.
3. Set up a system to pay your bills on time. (See the article on Balancing Your Checkbook and Budgeting).
4. Save each month for those bills that are due on a periodic basis, such as car or life insurance.
5. Plan your buying and don’t let anyone talk you into anything. Always take time to think about your purchases. No deal is so good that it will not be available another time or from another vendor.
6. Be sure to record ATM withdrawals or other debit payments in your checkbook.
7. Save some money each month, even if it is a small amount. Get in the habit of saving a portion of your income. Before long you will find you have a little nest egg for emergencies or something special.
8. Give! When you begin to give unselfishly you will find a rich reward.
By A. Brown

A basic key to organizing your finances is keeping track of where you spend your money. Having a budget in place and following that budget will be very beneficial in tracking your spending habits as well as planning your financial future. Check on line for free budgeting guides.

Another essential way to get organized in your finances is to make sure you balance your checkbook each month. Do not procrastinate or discard your bank statement. If you have trouble balancing your checkbook, contact your bank or a good friend for assistance.

Another valuable organizing tool in planning your spending as well as tracking you spending habits is to use your computer. Microsoft has a new version of Money out for 2008 called Money Plus, now with new Insights, makes it possible to stay on top of the information you need most — about bills due, account balances, and spending — right from your desktop without even opening Money. Money Plus also gives you free, seamless integration with MSN Money and other websites, and improved flexibility for managing your finances. Visit their home page http://www.microsoft.com/money for additional information and costs.

I’ve been using the Money program for about 9 years now. It’s a great way to track different areas of spending. It’s also very helpful at tax time when you want to know how much you contributed to charities or spent on taxes.

But even if you don’t have the finances to invest in a software program, begin with a budget and keep your checkbook balanced at all times. Being organized in your finances will not only give you peace of mind it will help you plan for a more stable financial future.

Posted by A. Brown

Organize Your Finances by A Brown

Organizing your finances can be a daunting and somewhat overwhelming task. But if you want to get organized you need to begin, so let’s begin with some basic steps that anyone can follow. A basic principle to keep in mind regarding your finances is that you need to have a system in place to make sure your bills are paid on time. This is the aspect of organizing finances we are going to discuss today.

Almost everyone receives most of their bills by mail. Every time you receive a bill, open it promptly, note the amount due on the envelope and record the due date as 10 days before the due date stated on the invoice. If you receive any bills by e-mail, print these invoices and circle or highlight the amount due and the due date as stated above. Place these bills in chronological order by due date (the earliest date on top or in front) and put in a folder or large envelope in an area where you pay your bills. It is important to have a regular, consistent place to sit down and pay your bills. This could be the kitchen table or counter, or you might have a nice little home office area. It is also a good idea to keep a calendar (this can be a day planner type or a wall calendar) where you record each bill name and the due date. This is a good and quick reminder to help you stay organized and let you know when you need to write checks.

Be sure to plan for those bills that come due periodically, such as quarterly insurance or sewer bills. Instead of living from paycheck to paycheck, plan ahead. This is where a budget is extremely helpful. Budgets are very helpful tools in becoming financially organized. They help establish a basis for spending, giving and saving based on your income.

More advanced tools are available for organizing your finances, but the key to getting organized is to begin with some basics!

For those of you who want to have a step by step organization plan there are helpful tools in the marketplace. Some things such as a simple planner, a few crates, some shelves, or a bookcase can go a long way in helping to organize your house and your life. Even though I am an organized person I find myself still searching for tools and methods to help others in the process of getting organized. Many people are not naturally organized. Some are simply not motivated to be organized. Then there are those who truly want to be organized but have no idea where to start. One of the tools I have come across recently is from a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers. I don’t know about you, but I didn’t even know such an organization existed. But I thought it seemed like he had some good ideas and some things you may want to take a look at if you are serious about getting organized. You can visit the Discover Organization website at Click Here!
I wish you well and good organizing. Come back often to my page for new and regular tips on getting your life organized.

by A Brown

by A Brown

Some of us are faced with a mountain of disorganization in our lives and others are faced with a few areas that need some organization techniques applied. Whether you are gifted in administration and organization or you are laid back and casual we all need a certain amount of organization and order in our lives to function efficiently.

In a recent article on general life organization I gave an overview on getting organized. When we face clutter and disorganization we often are robbed of valuable time that could be spent with family or friends or doing whatever is most important to each of us as individuals. Becoming organized does not require you to purchase a lot of “things” to help in that process. Although there may be some tools that would be helpful in organizing certain areas of your life, most can be purchased within a normal budget.

A simple day planner or appointment book is a good place to start. This calendar can be used to record appointments, events, bills due, or even your own “to do” list.

Now let’s look at some specific areas that may require organization.

Time Management

Financial Organization & Management

Kitchen Organization

Closet Organization

Garage Organization

The War on Clutter

Organize Your Home Office

Time Management

by A Brown

If you continually find disorganization robbing your time a good place to start would be with a plan for each day. Don’t just let the day come at you and happen but plan into the day. When you get up in the morning take some time to have breakfast and perhaps take a short walk or read the morning paper. Maybe some of you would like to spend some time reading a devotional and praying. Take a few minutes to think about what your day will look like and make a list (if you need to) of the things you would like to accomplish that day. On a broader time management scope, it would be wise to plan a more long term schedule, such as an entire week. Once your plans are in place think about how long each task will take and ascertain whether all the things on your list are feasible. A quick prioritization of “essential” verses “not really necessary” items, will help eliminate unnecessary items.

Carry a notebook or a day planner with you and jot down notes during the day. It is a good tool to keep your list in as well as record any insight and new ideas you may get during the day.