Babies are precious gifts and we’re all captivated by the many items created just for them. Unfortunately tiny clothes, stuffed animals, cribs and changing tables can crowd you out in a snap. In my new book One Year to an Organized Life with Baby I offer a comprehensive guide for pregnant women and their partners/spouses. And because the arrival of a baby takes so much preparation, my co-author and mother of five, Meagan Francis and I stay with you through the fifth month of baby’s life. From how to tell your family, friends and co-workers that you're pregnant to altering your will and packing the hospital bag, we’ve got you covered.
How to Create the Perfect Nursery
When it comes time to put together a nursery, there is something we should consider beyond the ‘cuteness factor:’ safety. The overall concern is with products that ‘off gas’ or emit toxic substances into the room. Here are some tips direct from the new book to help guide your choices.
Look for low or no VOC paints. Benjamin Moore is my personal favorite. Many other paint companies offer a selection including Sherwin Williams and The Real Milk Paint Company. Be sure you paint the room or area well in advance of baby’s arrival so that it’s free of fumes and be sure the area is well ventilated during the process.
Real wood furniture is a better/safer choice than particleboard and once again it’s the off gassing of chemicals that’s the issue.
As you might imagine wool carpets and rugs are safer than their synthetic brethren.
Recycling at its Best
Do you have a big dresser in another room you aren’t using at the moment? How about the one Aunt Martha gave you that never fit in with your décor? Hasn’t it languished in the guest room long enough? If it’s got deep drawers and a wide top, it’s worth its weight in gold. Why not paint it a festive color that blends with the one you’ve chosen for the walls? At The Land of Nod stores or in their catalogue you’ll find a pad you can use to convert the top of the dresser into a changing table thus eliminating at least one item from your shopping list.
In addition to your baby shower gifts, baby will no doubt be given a wealth of hand me downs from moms in your circle of friends. Mothers have a hard time parting with these items but they love to give them to a baby they know personally. Have baby’s closetdesigned by someone from The Closet Factory so that the entire space is well utilized. Make use of containers to store items you aren’t ready to use. By the time the containers have been emptied you may be ready to recycle them into toy boxes. I like the selection at The Container Store. If you are lucky enough to have double hang rods in your closet, you can put dressy outfits or those that are a size or two too big on the bottom and keep the every day choices at your eye level. As baby grows you will want to switch these so that he or she can start making his or her own choices. You may discover your bundle of joy is a would be ‘fashionista.’
A word to the wise: whether it’s clothing for baby or for your pregnancy, accept items that do not have to be returned. Do promise to pass them on to another deserving mom when the time comes. As sure as you live it’s the precious item that will be the one you spill cranberry juice on and not the top you picked up at Target for a song. If you do however feel moved to accept borrowed items try and color-code them with a dot of nail polish on the product tag. As you or baby outgrow an item you’ll be reminded it’s one you have to return. Mommy brain sets in early. Don’t burden yourself with having to remember which items are yours and which are borrowed.
A Blessing on your head!
In the book we include some Feng Shui tips from Ariel Joseph Towne, the Feng Shui Guy. I’m going to share a few here but remember to use any traditions from your family or spiritual home to add a blessing to this room. As you put it together for example play music that you love. If you like to read or meditate, sit in a chair in this room and fill the room with all of your hopes and dreams for this child. There is no one-way to create a sacred space. For those who are open to it, here are four of Ariel’s favorite Feng Shui tips for the nursery:
Avoid placing the crib so that baby’s head is either in line with the door or under a window.
Use full spectrum light bulbs to simulate natural lighting.
We are bombarded by electromagnetic frequencies wherever we go these days. To counteract those in baby’s room, add a Himalayan salt crystal lamp. Its soft glow is the perfect night-light and it will put negative ions into the room.
Having lived in a water environment, baby may enjoy the soft sounds from a decorative water fountain in his room. This is one of the most common Feng Shui tools used. It is traditionally used near the entry to the home itself or the entry to an individual room. It is meant to draw in money. With the rising cost of college these days, it may turn out to be the Feng Shui tool of the moment!
Your baby, your way
As you set up baby’s first space, it might be fun to take some time to remember your room growing up. Did you have to share it or did you have your very own space? Did you have a hand in decorating it or did your parents make all the decisions? Were you deprived of toys or were you the envy of the neighborhood? It’s great to stay in present time and be sure that the nursery reflects the needs of this child. Very often we have unfulfilled needs from our own childhoods and then the space we create isn’t for the baby in our midst but rather the child we carry within. Unfinished business from the past can be as toxic as paint or formaldehyde! A baby represents the ultimate journey of discovery with another human being. Make it gentle, safe and beautiful from the start.
Regina Leeds is a professional organizer and the author of nine books. Number five, One Year to an Organized Life, was a New York Times best seller. Her next book in the One Year to … series is One Year to an Organized Life with Baby. It’s a guide through the often-rough waters of pregnancy and the first five months of baby’s life.
The Organized Way to Think Ahead this Holiday Season
Posted By Regina Leeds
December 13, 2010 @ 12:46 PM
At this time of year most people are trying to keep their heads above water. The TV airwaves and newspapers are full of ways to celebrate. What if we did something a bit radical? What if we looked beyond the holiday and found a few ways to save time, space, energy and money before the clock strikes midnight and it’s 2011? Here are some ideas to get you started.
Chances are good that you store your holiday decorations in the attic, the basement or the garage. As you take them down this year, why not give them the once over before you automatically pack them away? Are any items ready for the trash? Do you have anything that could be donated? Would a family member like some of these items to jump-start their collection? By the way, do you know what’s in all those other boxes filling up the area? Now is a great time to do a little housekeeping.
Decorations should be packaged in hard plastic containers and well labeled. Do you have a unit with shelves so that your boxes don’t have to live on the floor? It’s also possible if you must stack your decorations to use containers on wheels. It’s much easier to pull out a stack of holiday decorations than to have to drag some mystery containers out and wonder what your various categories are in the stack. Cardboard is a feast for critters and breaks down over time. You’ll find a wonderful assortment of containers at The Container Store, Bed, Bath & Beyond and the Home Depot just to name a few.
Tax season is in the horizon. Why not spend the week between Christmas and New Year getting your receipts in order? If they are sorted and filed all you have to do is add them up before your tax appointment. Better yet, create a file system that helps you stay organized all year long. It takes some time, effort and a few dollars in supplies however it pays endless dividends all year long. You save time because instead of searching for papers, you know exactly where they are. And you know the old saying: ‘time is money.’
A solid FICO score has never been more important and one of the key ways to keep it healthy is to pay your bills on time. Create a bill paying systemnow. Whether you mark on your calendar when a bill needs to be paid, do on line bill paying or have automatic payments set up (or a combination of all), make this one of the habits you cultivate for 2011.
If you look at your mail as you walk in the front door and toss your bills wherever fate dictates, you will find it difficult to stay current. The bills will be there and fall due whether you pay them on time or bury them under the cushions on the couch. Best to pay them and file the receipts for tax time. Another reason to take time to create a working file system this month.
You go to the head of the class if you already have a file system created. Now set aside a few hours to be sure it's updated for the New Year. Too often files become cemeteries rather than active stores of current information. Ask yourself these questions as you peruse your system:
Are there items you can toss into the recycle pile?
What needs to be shredded?
Have you created an area for archival material?
Don't forget to create tax receipt files for the New Year. The files for this year's tax receipts will soon be put away with all of your other tax back up material.
Check with your tax preparer or tax attorney to see how long they feel you need to save returns and back up material. The laws change and these pros will always be up to date.
Take a few minutes before you ring in the New Year to be sure you haven't neglected any potential tax deductions. You'll be grateful you did this in March, as you get ready for Tax Day on April 15. What did I have in mind: union dues, charitable contributions, log the miles you drove for any volunteer work, pay all your medical expenses for the year and contribute to your child's college fund. Every year a parent can give $13,000 without paying a gift tax.
If you are newly pregnant, don't forget that one day this little one may want to go to college. Set up a 529 college plan and tell your family you'd rather receive a contribution to that cause than be saddled with overstuffed toys.
These tough economic times provide us with an opportunity to teach our children about money and to demonstrate responsible ways to manage it. Here are some thoughts to get your creative juices flowing:
Organize the house to eliminate clutter because clutter makes it more difficult to think clearly.
Be sure you decorate the home together. If you can't afford a tree, pick up some discarded branches so you have the aroma of pine.
Ask everyone to find one object they could sell on E-Bay or Craig's List. Use that 'found money' for gifts. Set a per gift limit and have a contest to see who makes the most creative choice.
Be honest with your children about what's happening and how you are handling it. A new i Pod or laptop is a great gift. An even greater one is having your parents treat you like an intelligent being who can handle the truth. Learning how to make lemonade from the current crop of lemons is a life long skill. They'll have it long after the iPod and laptop are obsolete.
Consciously Create the Future
It’s always exciting to think of a New Year. The very idea is full of hope and renewal. The reality however is that the same old/same old will continue its reign unless we consciously set new causes into place. Let’s agree that no matter what age we are, 2011 can indeed be the best year of our lives.
Regina Leeds is a professional organizer and the author of eight books. Number five, One Year to an Organized Life, was a New York Times best seller. Her next book in the One Year to … series is One Year to an Organized Life with Baby. It’s a guide through the often-rough waters of pregnancy and the first five months of baby’s life.
Baby debuts at on line retailers in January 2011 and will be in brick & mortar stores in February 2011. Regina can be reached at www.reginaleeds.com.
For too many of us throwing a party is just that … throwing a number of elements against the proverbial wall and hoping enough of them stick to make the party a success. Let’s not, as they say, go there. Take a few minutes to answer some questions in your Zen Organizing Journal.
Do you like to entertain? If the response is ‘yes,’ when was the last time you gave a party? Was it a success? What were the key elements that made it successful? If the answer is ‘no,’ where did you fall down? Are these correctable mistakes? We all learn through trial and error.
Do you do it regularly? Are you comfortable having friends over? If not, what don’t you like about these events?
Are you known for any particular kind of party: for example, cocktail, sit down dinner or brunch? Do you want to try something new or have another bash you know you’ve mastered?
Once you have the type party in mind, what are the elements you think will make the party a success? The most common ingredients are: food, drinks, and the right mix of people, decorations and entertainment.
1. Plan Ahead
If you are single and entertaining isn’t your strong suit, asks a friend to co-host with you. Whether it’s you and your spouse or partner or that good friend, have a planning meeting. All of the elements you felt were important are going to cost money. And there can’t be a party until you have a budget. I’m not talking about figuring out how much this is going to cost after you book the caterer and order fresh flowers! I’m talking about coming up with a party budget based on what you can afford. These are very often two different figures.
Set your guest list and plan your menu. Tailor both to your budget. You won’t enjoy your own gathering if you’re sitting there the entire time thinking: “How am I ever going to pay for this?” Guests and dishes can be eliminated to make your budget work.
Move on to decorations and entertainment. Think simple and elegant. The entire house doesn’t have to be festooned with flowers nor do you need a band or DJ. Ask a friend to make up some background or dance music for you on a CD and order some balloons!
In One Year to an Organized Life I devote the month of November to working out the details for Thanksgiving. If you can give the ‘mother of all dinner parties, you can do anything in the world of entertaining. You can check out that chapter for more in depth tips. These are the cliff notes version to get you headed in the right direction.
2. Chaos to Calm
When you have the details worked out, it’s time to make your home party ready. One of the best tips I can share is this: don’t open your entire home to your guests. They don’t have to take a tour, see any of the bedrooms or use more than the guest bathroom. How will you keep them out? Lock the doors in question or post a sign that says: ‘Please do not enter.’ If you have pets you can always use them as excuses. ‘Do not open: Cat/Dog inside!’
This will mean you have less areas to organize for the event. Walk though with what I call ‘Fresh Eyes.’ Pretend you have never been here before. If you were a guest, how would these rooms strike you? Is there clutter everywhere or do they need to be cleaned? If clutter is the culprit, start the process with a ‘speed elimination.’ Set your timer (if you don’t have one in the kitchen, use your cell phone) for 20 minutes. You’d be surprised how much progress you can make when you move like your hair is on fire! What are you looking for? Here are some of the more likely clutter culprits:
Newspapers older than 2 days and magazines older than 2 months. If you didn’t make time to read them, give yourself a break. The latest information is always available on the Internet. Take advantage. If there is an article you wish to keep, set that section or issue aside. When your 20 minutes is up, cut it out and file it.
Toss notices for sales, party invitations or any other event that is now in the past. Need to save an address? When you are clipping magazine articles, cut the return address off the envelope and save it in an envelope. Tuck the envelop in your address book. Don’t have one because you only use your computer? Put the envelope in your to do folder. Make a time to enter all new info in your computer or hard copy address book.
Take items to the rooms where they belong. Did your morning coffee mug stay in your bedroom this morning? Is your coat waiting to be taken off the living room chair and hung in the hall closet? Did you leave a snack plate in the family room or patio? Everything needs to be returned to the spot you designated for it.
Junk mail should be tossed immediately. Try not to bring it into your home. Toss or recycle it now. Shred credit card offers.
Set aside memorabilia and store those items later. Now is not the time to get lost in old love letters or cards from your kids.
When you walk past your linen closet see if you have any frayed, stained, past their prime towels or sheets. The local animal shelter or your vet would love to have them. Just thought I’d sneak that one in here!
3. ‘There is a place for everything …’
When the obvious debris is cleared away you can make an honest assessment of how much organizing you have to do before the party. You’ll find step-by-step guidelines in One Year to an Organized Life. It’s better in the long run if you assign specific places for everything you own rather than periodically do a quick tidy up before company arrives. The latter is a quick fix that will leave you wondering where items are and why the chaos returned in less than two weeks.
4. It’s never too late.
I had a client once who told me she had always wanted to entertain but she wasn’t good at it. I asked her about her ‘failures.’ I figured if we examined them perhaps we could correct whatever was giving her trouble in the world of party planning. It turns out her mother had told her she wouldn’t be any good at it and so she had never tried. She was well into her 60’s when we met. A lifetime of fun had passed her by without her making an effort to prove her mother wrong. If early misses wounded you or you took to heart the words of another, there’s no time like the present to make up for lost time. Fill your home with laughter, good food, great music and happy memories.
Regina Leeds is a professional organizer and the author of eight books. Number five, One Year to an Organized Life, was a New York Times best seller. Her next book in the One Year to … series is One Year to an Organized Life with Baby. It’s a guide through the often-rough waters of pregnancy and the first five months of baby’s life.
Baby debuts at on line retailers in January 2011 and will be in brick & mortar stores in February 2011. Regina can be reached at www.reginaleeds.com.
If you’re lucky enough to have a guest room, you’ll want to take some time to make your guests feel welcome. Now that seems like a no-brainer, doesn’t it? You’d be surprised! Here’s what I find in most guest rooms I’m asked to organize:
The room has become a dumping ground for items no one in the family uses but can’t seem to part with like outdated office equipment, toys and clothing.
Someone had the brilliant idea of a multi-purpose room and now gym equipment all bur crowds out the bed.
Family members have been interested in various sports over the years. The interest has long waned but the equipment lingers on. The room and more likely the guest closet now hold long abandoned skis, tennis rackets, camping gear or even a saddle!
What stops you?
If you find yourself in this predicament, take heart. You have a lot of company. The first step is to make some decisions. Very often when we see chaos in a room, we’re seeing a fear manifesting itself. Here are a series of questions to get your creative juices flowing. It’s easier to get moving and make changes when we know exactly what we want and why we haven’t yet created it.
How many times a year to do you entertain over night guests? Would you like that number to be higher or are you overwhelmed with relatives and friends throughout the year? Very often if that’s the case there can be an unconscious need to keep the room in an uproar so guests don’t stay too long!
Do you look at the abandoned items in this room and get overcome with guilt? That’s one of the main reasons we get frozen in place and simply can’t make a decision about the gym equipment or the clothes we’ll never use again.
Are you afraid to work on this room because you feel you were born without the ‘decorating gene’ or the ‘organizing gene?’ Take heart. I’ve got you covered.
I would be willing to bet you’ve got some magazines scattered around the house. OK maybe a lot of magazines? Here’s an opportunity to make good use of them before you toss them into the recycle bin. Let’s face it if you were really going to read them you would have made time to do so shortly after they arrived. Now they can serve you in a new way before they bid you adieu.
The Dream Board
I include this wonderful tool in all of my books. It’s inexpensive to gather the supplies and if you aren’t a visual person you’ll be amazed how it will give you direction. I’m actually a highly visual person and this exercise saved me years ago when I was stuck on the new direction I wanted my home to take. I was open to change but didn’t have a clue what I wanted. I started simply gathering pictures I related to from magazines. I did it without judgment or deep thought. It was all purely emotional. It didn’t take long to discover I was drawn to colors, furniture and a design sensibility that was completely foreign to my conscious mind. It made the process of redoing my home a time of transformation rather than drudgery.
Here’s what you need:
Poster Board (available at stores like Staples)
Glue (I like the sticks myself)
Pictures from magazines.
Words or phrases that inspire (you can cut words or phrases from your magazines)
Take a look at scrapbooking supplies and see if you are drawn to fun things like glitter, stickers or multi colored pens. Michaels is a fun source for such items.
There are no rules for the Dream Board. It’s your creation and for your eyes-only. Have fun with it. Simply glue the images that inspire you or show you the ideal guest room onto the board. You don’t need to find completed rooms. You can paste together different elements from various rooms you admire. Many of my clients do this over a weekend and then live with the board in a prominent place so they can be inspired before they go shopping.
Of course here’s a word to the wise: your Dream Board is inexpensive to create but don’t spend money you don’t have to create a room you can’t afford. Stick to a budget! Read on to see how you might raise the necessary cash for your project. You know what they say: where there’s a will, there’s a way.
New Homes for Old Friends
No, I’m not talking about your best friend moving into your guest room. I’m talking about finding homes for all those items you know you aren’t ever going to use again. With a little effort some of them may in fact fund the room’s transformation. There’s always Craig’s List and E-Bay when you need a little extra cash and space in your home.
But do try and think outside the box. Here are some suggestions:
Perhaps that furniture you inherited from Aunt Lizzie would better suit you if it were painted a bright and cheery color?
Would some of your items make someone else happy? Donate then to a charity like Goodwill or your local women’s shelter.
Is your guest bed too big for the room and the number of guests you habitually entertain?
If you have items to dispose of that may be toxic to the environment (are you the one who stored paint in the guest room closet?), call your local community rep and find out how your area handles such waste.
Or maybe all you need to do is rearrange the furniture in the room! If you want to divide the room into a gym or home office and guest room, try using area rugs to mark off the zones or use a screen to hide your work area from guests’ eyes.
I recently had an incredible challenge. I had a client who insisted we have his drum set and gym equipment set up as part of his home décor. This was a tiny two-bedroom apartment he shared with his teenage son. We had to move everything that day several times but ultimately he had a cozy set up that just happened to have a weight bench and drum set prominently placed!
The Bottom Line
Without saying a word to anyone who stays with you, your guest room speaks volumes about how you feel about them. Here are some items for a quick welcome checklist.
Is the bedding fresh, clean and inviting?
Do you have some space in the closet along with a few hangars?
If there’s a dresser in the room, is at least one drawer empty?
What about toiletries? Will your guest find the basics in case he or she forgot to pack shampoo, toothpaste or a razor?
Is there a fresh bar of soap on hand or have you dumped all the slivers from every other bathroom here in an effort to ‘recycle?”
Is there enough toilet paper?
Are there fresh towels in the bathroom?
Do you have an alarm clock by the night stand?
Have you put out any niceties like fresh flowers, candy or fruit?
I’ve slept on couches and felt as welcome as visiting royalty. I’ve also slept in palatial guest rooms and been terribly unhappy because I felt most unwelcome. Beyond the sheets, towels and toothpaste is the energy of the host. If you’re happy to see your guests, they will feel it. My suggestions here are simply ways to make that welcome concrete.
Regina Leeds The Zen Organizer Author of New York Times Best Seller “One Year to an Organized Life”
Column on ClosetFactory.com appears every Monday & Thursday If you'd like to ask 'The Zen Organizer' a question, email info@closetfactory.com
The ancient Chinese ‘art of placement,’ known as Feng Shui, teaches that if you wish to move to a better place, neighborhood or situation, show respect and give attention to your current residence. You are demonstrating the care you will provide the new residence you’re seeking. You are also showing respect for the person who will take over your current home. Perhaps this idea will inspire you, should you be feeling overwhelmed by the prospect of a move.
Not every move means you are taking all of your possessions with you. You might be lucky enough to have a second or weekend house or perhaps one you visit each summer. Nothing is more confusing then wondering where you left a treasured item.
Be sure your second home has towels and linens. Stock the kitchen with plates, glasses and some basic cooking utensils. Each weekend or summer when you arrive, you’ll know you can settle right in! To assist in remembering placement, make use of an Excel spreadsheet and keep a list of special items you have in this home. Next winter you’ll be grateful to discover that you didn’t lose that copy of “Wuthering heights,” you simply left it in the lake house.
In conclusion, moving is always a huge undertaking. All of the ofromentioned tips cover the obvious elements that come into play: turning off utilities at the current address and finding new providers' Culling through years of collected memorabilia, clothing, pots, pans and photos; Looking at furniture in a new light to see what will work and what won’t. It’s exhausting, which is why I devoted an entire month to the process.
As with any big undertaking, using a plan allows yourself to stay on schedule and achieve success easily. See this time as a positive transition to the next phase of your life. Fill the process with joy rather than sorrow and regret. You know what they say: it isn’t what happens to you in life, it’s how you deal with it.
Regina Leeds The Zen Organizer Author of New York Times Best Seller “One Year to an Organized Life”
Column on ClosetFactory.com appears every Monday & Thursday If you'd like to ask 'The Zen Organizer' a question, email info@closetfactory.com
In a previous article, I discussed a few key tips to keep in mind for a stress free move. In this section, it's important to know one of the most important features that will turn potential buyers around when they walk through your door...clutter.
‘Stuff’ has a ‘visual noise’ about it (to coin a phrase) that makes it difficult to think clearly. How can anyone decide if their stuff will look good in your space if that space is chock full of furniture and decorative items?
Cleaning your clutter is a wonderful opportunity for you to weed through your belongings. After all you want your next home to literally represent a fresh start.
If you're not sure where to begin, pick a simple room. Start at one end and work your way through to the other. Stay focused on small areas and allow your success to move out into the room. All those newspapers and magazines you’ve been meaning to read can go to the recycler. Whittle down your memorabilia so that you aren’t lugging too much of the past into your future.
If you already have the new space, draw diagrams and place your furniture to your liking. Remember, don't force furniture to fit into your new space. It’s time to be ruthless! You can donate, or sell, the pieces you can’t take with you. You might even fund your move if you sell enough pieces!
From the outside in…
If your home is clutter free and presents the ideal neutral image but the outside is a tangled mess of half dead plants, a broken fence and paint peeling off the sides, don’t expect the real estate caravan to make a pit stop. Your home will be the ultimate drive by!
Ask your real estate agent which exterior projects will help you get your asking price. Fixing everything may not be needed, and you can choose to focus on one or two repairs. Play your cards right and your profit will reimburse all your improvement expenses.
Regina Leeds The Zen Organizer Author of New York Times Best Seller One Year to an Organized Life Column on ClosetFactory.com appears every Monday If you'd like to ask 'The Zen Organizer' a question, email info@closetfactory.com
Do you love a sport or hobby so intensely that artifacts are scattered throughout your home? Consider keeping your interests private. You don’t want to lose a sale to a vegan who doesn’t appreciate the moose heads you have mounted all over your home. You get the idea. When people enter your home, you want them to see it as a blank canvas on which they can write the story of their family and imprint their unique style.
I had a client who was involved in Eastern Spiritual philosophy. While I appreciated her artwork, I assured her that potential buyers from outside this circle might not be able to see the house because the artifacts offended them.
Alas, she didn’t listen to the real estate agent, or me, and her home never sold. Which begs the question: are you sure you want to sell?
There’s a house in my neighborhood that’s frequently on the market. It has never sold. But for over 20 years the For Sale sign periodically pops up on the lawn. I assume the owner is lonely and this is the only way he can get folks to stop by.
Regina Leeds The Zen Organizer Author of New York Times Best Seller One Year to an Organized Life Column on ClosetFactory.com appears every Monday If you'd like to ask 'The Zen Organizer' a question, email info@closetfactory.com
Tell me the truth. What did you think the ‘B’ word was? I’m going to bet you came up with the word for a female dog, right? Well, for our purposes, the ‘B’ word is Budget! It may not offend people but it certainly does strike fear in the heart. It’s too bad really. A budget isn’t a document that guarantees you will never, ever again have a good time because you are now living like Scrooge himself. It does mean that you can have the best that life offers but in a timely, sensible fashion that will not cause your credit card bills to soar or your FICO score to plummet. Never looked at it that way, did you?
In ‘One Year to an Organized Financial Life’ I go into the mechanics of creating a budget in great detail. It’s the basis of your blossoming financial acumen. How are you going to buy a house, make investments or save for a rainy day if you only have a ‘good idea’ what’s happening in your financial world each month? Let’s take a look at the simple basics.
At the top of a page or preferably in Excel, write down the amount of money you take home each month. If you freelance, take a look at your income for the past two or three months and note the average.
Now make a list of all of your expenses. You’ll remember most of them but use your check register to jog your memory: rent/mortgage; utilities; phones; medical insurance; automobile expense (repairs, insurance and payment) and homeowners insurance pop into my mind immediately. What items are on your list?
What about those items that come along periodically? Dues to professional organizations, safe deposit box rental and school tuition come to mind. What expenses do you have that need to be addressed once or twice a year?
The big culprits in the Money Drunk syndrome are the unconscious cash expenses we make. We don’t usually bother with receipts for these items because we think Uncle Sam doesn’t care about my latte consumption or how many home or fashion magazines I read. But you need to care! Get receipts for everything you buy for a week and multiply by 4 to see where your cash is going in a typical month. Do you take the receipts for cash withdrawals from your bank or ATM and note them in your check register? If not, this is another way you are feeding your cash spending frenzy. Give yourself a weekly allowance. Yes, just like your kids get!
When you add up your expenses you may find you aren’t making enough money. Your next task is to go back over your expenses with a fine tooth comb and see where/how you can save. Here are three common areas:
Do you need all of the perks you pay for on your cable or phone bill? If you pay for premium channels and watch only basic cable, you can instantly (and painlessly) start to save each month.
Take a second look at your phone bill. Or should I say ‘bills?’ Most families have a phone/computer line; a cell phone for every member of the household and in many cases a dedicated landline. See if you can cut some of these out or negotiate for a better package. Do you use for example several different providers? What about pre-paid cell phones? Call your providers once a year and ask if they have any ‘special’s they can share with you as a long time customer.
Can you safely have a higher deductible on your automobile, home or medical insurance policy? Again you’ll have an instant saving in your premium. Can you be even more drastic and sell you car? If you live in a big city with mass transit would that be a viable solution for you?
If you are one of the lucky people who come up with a surplus each month, start saving for a 3 to 6 month fund that will cover you and your family in the event of an emergency. If you already have that in place, while you march to the head of the class, you can decide if you’d like to start an investment portfolio or save for a big-ticket item like a new home or car.
Your budget isn’t static. As your life, income and goals change, you need to tweak it. It’s got to be as alive and vibrant as you are. It’s a companion on your financial journey. Otherwise it’s just a boring homework assignment you did one afternoon. You don’t know where it is nor do you follow it. But then, who cares? You’re off for another latte and, like Scarlet O’Hara, you’ll think about that tomorrow. Or will you take the reins and think about it today!
For detailed instructions on how to organize your closet, pick up a copy of my New York Times best seller, One Year to an Organized Life. Looking for a specific type of tip for future newsletters? Send your ideas, comments or queries to me from my website: www.reginaleeds.com.
The first days of spring each year finds us filled with hope for positive change. A wonderful way to mark the passage is to bring order to your clothes closet. If you get dressed with ease all year, you will save time and energy. You will also save money. How? When you see those beautiful black pants in the boutique window, you won't be tempted to buy them. You will remember you already have 3 pairs at home.
Here are some tips and tricks professional organizers use to make closets not only organized but beautiful.
Group clothes by type. You can save time if all of your slacks, jeans, blouses and suits are together in one section.
Within the clothing categories you create, keep everything in the same color order. I use: white/off white; beige/brown; blue/purple; pink/red; green/yellow; and grey/black. What order will you use? Be creative and consistent.
Get your shoes off the floor! Use a shoe rack for every day pairs; hang sports/exercise shoes in an over the door canvas shoe holder and store dress shoes in an acrylic shoe drawer. These can be kept on a shelf or stacked on the floor, depending on the number of shoes and the available space.
Use one style hanger. I prefer wood myself but plastic, tubular and the hangers from the Home Shopping network all have their place.
Toss the plastic cover and the wire hanger your cleaner sends home with you. The former takes up room and seals in potentially carcinogenic cleaning agents. The latter quite simply destroys your garments.
Line your purses in color order on your closet shelf. A little tissue paper inside will help them keep their shape. Store your evening purses in an acrylic container. They will stay clean and you can admire them all year long.
Separate the items you keep on your shelf with a shelf divider. You don't want your sweaters falling onto your purses.
Sweaters can be stacked by color on a shelf, folded in a dresser drawer, tucked into sweater bags or stored in stackable acrylic shelves. It all depends on how may you have and how often you wear them. Don't forget a few cedar or lavender chips to protect them. Avoid moth balls at all cost.
Finally if you have a huge space between your existing shelf and the ceiling, pop in another shelf. It can provide a convenient area for off season storage.
For detailed instructions on how to organize your closet, pick up a copy of my New York Times best seller, One Year to an Organized Life. Looking for a specific type of tip for future newsletters? Send your ideas, comments or queries to me from my website: www.reginaleeds.com.
