We were able to get most of our school supply shopping done today. Thanks to Southern Savers, I think we got almost everything we needed, and it was less than $20 plus we’re getting rebates back! Woohoooo! I just love that site!
After we got home, we put the supplies in Savannah’s backpack so that they are ready to go for the first day of school….yeah, we’re still weeks off, but we’re ready! I also got Savannah’s school drawer ready to go. I have one drawer devoted just for school/homework needs. There’s one for her, and one for her sister. In it, we have paper, pencils, crayons, etc. You get the idea.
The most important thing in there is the folder. I put 4 clear plastic sheet protectors in there that I already had laying around (ok, not laying around….they were neatly organized, I promise! lol). I labeled them Homework, Reading, Action, and Notes. This should keep both Savannah and I organized with all the paperwork that comes in from school. The Reading section will hold her book lists, reading logs, or AR papers. The Action file is for things that require action from myself or my husband, such as a signature for a permission slip. Then the Notes section is for contact info, schedules, etc.
Check out We Are That Family’s blog for more great tips, and have fun getting ready for school! Stay neat!
I love the idea of going green, and I also love saving some green! That’s why I like to use cheap, simple organizing solutions.
My very favorite things to use as containers, are those inexpensive reusable plastic containers that you can get just about everywhere. You know the ones that have the fitted lids, can go from freezer to microwave. Yeah? Those. They’re easy on the budget, washable, reusable, and recyclable. Yay! I use them in almost every room in my house, especially for itty bitty toy parts, but they’re also great in the bathroom! Using these help keep the like items together, hair doodads in one, cosmetics in another, etc. You get the idea.
I also reused a box that something came packaged in. It was just the right size, and sturdy enough, to go into the bathroom drawers. You could even make your own dividers by cutting up cereal or cracker boxes!
Now off to the kitchen and into the “junk drawer”. I think everyone has one. My household calls it the “useful drawer” though because I felt it was getting a bad reputation. It holds things we use every day. How is that classified as junk?! I bought one of those cheapo cutlery dividers to use in it. I labeled it with a permanent marker, and voila!
Cheap and easy containers is what works for me! Head over to
We Are That Family to see other organizing tips!
Posted in Uncategorized by admin, September 2, 2009 1:54 am Comments (5)
Tags: bathroom, budget, container, cosmetics, divider, drawers, favorite, green, junk, organizing, silverware, simple, solution
One of my favorite blogs, The Inspired Room, is giving away a $200 to one of my very favorite store-Home Goods! To entry, I have to post pictures of one of my many spaces that need a makeover. I have several works in progress, but as I was walking around, I realized that my foyer is E M P T Y. It’s so pathetic! I have a cute house, a BFF who is a designer, and I love to shop, so WHY is this space empty?! It’s because I’m too cheap at the moment! Ha! Here’s my foyer now…
Notice the chewed up crayon on the too-small-for-this-space rug? Thanks a lot Maya. She was obviously rolling her eyes at me, as I was trying to take pictures of her today to celebrate her 2nd birthday. Maya and I have a love-hate relationship.
I really would like to get a console table, some frames, candles, a mirror, but my biggest need is an awesome rug and some baskets for shoes and such! I’m all about the organizing, you know!
I’ve been wanting to blog this week, but life has gotten busy! Our little Phoebe was sick with a virus last week. She was so pitiful! She just wanted her Mommy to hold her all week. It’s so amazing how exhausting it is to hold a sick toddler all day! This week, the tables have turned and Hubby and I have been sick! I have a cold, and he has a Man Cold. He is such a baby when he’s sick!
My girls are both getting baptized this weekend so I’ve been trying to get the house extra shiny for our guests. I managed to start on my Why Bother Monday routine on Monday. I’m hoping to finish it tomorrow 
I had a cold with a fever on Monday. Being a mom, I don’t really get a sick day so I kept myself going taking care of the 2 kids, 2 dogs, 6 loads of laundry, bought groceries, vacuumed, and mopped. To be fair to my husband, I often get severe migraines that are debilitating. He takes great care of me and kids during those times, so I do have sick days in a way. Back to my story though, Tuesday morning comes along and I wake up to a house with a shiny, empty sink, nearly empty laundry hampers, and a glistening flood. So what happens? Hubby spills a container of coffee grounds on the floor!! All I could do was laugh!
May is coming fast, and I’m so excited! I’m planning on becoming a member of NAPO (National Association of Professional Organizers). Yay! I’m hoping I can find it in the budget to also take a class too 
I learned, on OnlineOrganizing.com, that this week is “Pay Your Bills Week”. I’ve written about ways to save money in an earlier post, and one easy way to save is to make sure you pay your bills on time. Interest charges and late fees add up very quickly! The most important part of bill paying is to make it a routine, or to have a schedule that you follow.
It took some trial and error before I found what worked for me. Even though my husband gets paid biweekly, I like to sit down with the bills and the budget every week just to keep my family and myself on track. I typically use Tuesday as my bill-paying day. I picked that day because it comes before my grocery and my errand days. Getting in the habit of this has made it a less mundane task. Also, paying your bills online can save a lot of time!
Another tip is to keep everything you need in one place: bill statements, stamps, addresses labels, calculator, check register, etc. I use my nifty bill organizer that I purchased at Target, my home away from home, last year. Before I bought that, I simply used a zippered pouch that I kept in the same 3-ring binder that I kept my budget in. You could also use an over-the-door shoe organizer to house all of your supplies. Those shoe organizers are handy for SO many things! What works for you?
Hi everyone! Trixie here, the helpful hound. I just recently ran out of my favorite cookies. Mom said I couldn’t have them all the time because they’re kind of expensive. What can I say? I have good taste! I often rest on Mom’s shoulder when she’s reading her organization books, so I thought I’d share a few money-saving tips. I wouldn’t want your fur babies (or real babies) to go without their favorite treats too!
Lately I’ve noticed that Mom has bought yet another pair of sunglasses. This is all because she lost her good pair somewhere in the bottom of the dreaded coat closet. That thing is an abyss! I keep my toys as far from there as I can. She’s also had to buy duplicates of other things around the house, just because she misplaced the first one. Remember to have a place for everything and everything in its place!
Another way organization can help you is with your bills! Definitely keep those in one place with all you bill-paying supplies. You wouldn’t want to pay all those extra late charges just because you lost the credit card statement underneath all the catalogs! Mom uses one sort of like
this, and she really likes it. It’s also great to have a system for your coupons (like for my dog food!), rebates, etc.
Making your grocery lists and weekly menus will help you save time and gas money. There are so many great ways to stay organized while saving you money at the same time! Looks like it’s time to go shopping for treats again!
