Archive for Saving Money

Using Email Folders to Tack your on-line shipping.

January 25, 2012 at 12:47 am · Filed under Electronic Organizing, Holiday Tips, Saving Money

If you, like most people, are doing more on-line shopping this year, you need a vehicle to keep track of and trace orders.

In the spirit of “keep it simple” make an email folder for your on-line shopping.
Drag all confirmation emails, shipping emails, delay emails, etc. into this folder so you have only one place to search when you want to know the status of Aunt Tillie’s scarf.
Keep this in mind for other projects or events throughout the year such as trip confirmations, shopping and electronically made appointments.
You can track orders through spreadsheets, but that gets cumbersome and complicated.  Just file all the correspondence related to the event and you will have the information you need at the ready.

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Consumable Gifts

January 25, 2012 at 12:43 am · Filed under Holiday Tips, Saving Money, decluttering

(This post was originally sent 11/22/11, but it can apply all year)
Hey this week you get to eat lots of turkey and then go shopping for wild bargains the next day.  Top that off with some cyber shopping and yikes….there goes any relaxation time for this holiday week.

I am reading the Steve Jobs book and it has inspired me to challenge you to “think different” this holiday gift giving season.  How about less “stuff” gifts, and more “event” gifts.  Think about giving your gift recipients gifts that let them do things or get services they would love. It seems like we all have too much stuff and don’t need any more.  Here are some ideas.

  • movie tickets.
  • theater, ballet, or music tickets.
  • restaurant gift certificates.
  • a token for a homemade dinner delivered (with wine and dessert).
  • not a good cook?  Gift Certificate for a dinner delivered by a caterer.
  • A paid appointment with a Professional Photographer.
  • A session with a Wardrobe Consultant.
  • Babysitter service (that means you do the babysitting…every parents of youngsters dream).
  • Gift Certificates to a spa, nail salon, hair salon.
  • Gift Certificates for a message.
  • Gym Membership.
  • Car Detailing.
  • Handyman services.
  • Tickets to local kids parks like the Steam Trains in Berkeley or Fairyland in Oakland.
  • Zoo passes.

I bet you can think of a bunch more…. and if you do it yourself (like babysitting or cooking) you can save some money and still not appear cheap.   After all its the heartfelt effort that will really matter.

It is wonderful to support your local merchants, service providers, and local arts community.  AND you are giving an event instead of more stuff.

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Gift Shopping Ideas

January 25, 2012 at 12:41 am · Filed under Holiday Tips, Saving Money, decluttering

How about some tips to save time and money while gift shopping?  The best advice I can offer is to prepare your thoughts and make a comprehensive list.
  • List everyone you want to recognize with a gift including family, friends, teachers, service providers, neighbors and more.  It might take more than one pass to remember everyone.
  • Jot notes with potential ideas, sizes (if needed), favorite hobbies or activities to jar some gifting ideas.
  • On-line saves time.
  • Take advantage of Free Shipping on-line this season…I hear there are going to be allot of these offers.
  • Choose stores or websites that match the recipient.
  • Plan your physical shopping geographically to maximize your time out in the stores.
The worst time-waster is to arrive at a store with no written notes and your brain goes completely blank.  Prepare ahead of shopping and have it in writing.

Some people use the same list year after year (you might consider putting it on a spreadsheet).  This way you can see what you gave each person in years past, have their vitals like sizes and interests at the ready, and more.

Your list can be as simple or sophisticated as you like.  The important thing is that it works for you.

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3 tips to help save money at the Grocery store

January 25, 2012 at 12:37 am · Filed under Holiday Tips, Saving Money, decluttering

I am catching up on my blog posts….so here come a bunch…..

1.  Shop your pantry, refrigerator and freezer before you go to the store.
If you really want to save some money, the best place to start is to use what you already purchased.  Clean out the freezer and cook those foods.  Look in the refrigerator for items that are close to expiration and use them.  All of our pantries are loaded with great staples and even some odd jars (gift basket items usually).  Pull them out and try something new.

Don’t know what to prepare with the items you have?  Jump on the web to any cooking site and type in your ingredients.  You will get lots of great ideas.

BONUS:  You are making room in all three places for the new foods you will be purchasing for entertaining.

2. Make a meal plan for the week.

Simply writing out a breakfast, lunch and dinner plan by day for the week will get you organized and focused on what you really need from the store.

3. Shop with a list
After you have reviewed your pantry, refrigerator and freezer, and made a meal plan for the week using those found foods as your inspiration, make a list of the few additional items you need.  A list keeps you focused and you are less apt to wander the aisles picking up items here and there and then YIKES look at the total on the bill.  A list will keep that total in check.

And don’t forget to pick up some more water for your emergency supplies…we had a nice tremor last night!

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The Freezer Rule

September 1, 2011 at 12:00 am · Filed under Saving Money, Spring Cleaning, decluttering

A client recently asked about the continual problem of pantry overflow…out of the cabinet, on to the counters, everywhere you looked in the kitchen there were snacks, boxes, bags and more.  This is clearly visual clutter and it is not that uncommon.  Here’s the solution we came up with.

The Freezer Rule.
When you are grocery shopping locally or more importantly at the large warehouse store, you definitely think about your purchases that have to go in the freezer.  The items have to be stored in this specific environment or they will melt and end up in the trash.  The size of the freezer defines how much you buy.

Take that same mentality to the pantry, or for that matter the closet, the garage, your storage area.

  • The physical space defines the amount.
  • If the pantry is full, you can’t buy anything else.
  • If you aren’t using the items in the pantry and they are just taking space, out they go.
  • If items in the pantry are past expiration they are simply eating up valuable space.
  • If the sale at the store is for a large number of units, but you don’t have the space to house it at home in your pantry, then the sale isn’t really a savings for you.  You are better off buying a smaller amount.

You get the idea.  Let the space define the boarders.

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With a Mere 5 minutes….

February 2, 2011 at 1:43 am · Filed under Garages, Mail, Saving Money, books, closet, decluttering, kids and toys, paper management

I like this idea…that you can make an impact on your space quickly. Try some of these ideas this week.

Recycle some third class mail that is lying on your dining room table.
Pick up 5 items and put them away.
Remove all the empty hangers from a clothes closet.
Unpack the non-perishable groceries and put them away (because all the perishable are already in the refrigerator).
Put a “to donate” bag in your closet.
Recycle all the magazines and catalogs from last fall.
Toss out 3 items from your refrigerator.

You get the idea. Little actions that take a little time will add up in the course of a week and give you results. Give it a try this week.

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My Favorite Tools for Organizing

April 30, 2010 at 5:36 pm · Filed under Mail, Saving Money, Spring Cleaning, decluttering, paper management

For the fun of it…here are my favorite organizing tools.

My 4 favorite tools for organizing.

Letter Opener: Opening mail happens every day and is not the height of excitement.  Why not make the job easier?  I have a letter opener from Target which cost less than $3.00.  Who says you have to spend allot?
Label Maker:  I am an organizer…need I say more.  No seriously, these are easy to use and super fun.  My handwriting is inconsistent, so why not make long term labels that are easily readable.
Super Sticky Post-it notes: Have you found these yet?  You can stick and re-stick these.  It makes decisions last, but movable and I like that.  They are available at all the office supply stores.
Removable Labels: I discovered these from a client (thank you).  These are great when you are setting up a new system and need a short term label.  Once you have learned which drawers have the undies (all puns intended) you can remove the label and there is no residue on your furniture.   I use them in all rooms of the house.  These are also available at office supply stores.

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IKEA store event

January 27, 2010 at 7:40 pm · Filed under Saving Money, Spring Cleaning

We had a great time this weekend discussing organizing solutions and tips. IKEA is a great place to find stylish and affordable containers. Our panel fielded questions from shoppers. I look forward to doing this again. Stay tuned….17270_1360551215903_1295239289_3031994_1589157_n

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managing store coupons and gift cards

November 12, 2009 at 1:23 am · Filed under Saving Money

It is so easy to misplace coupons and Gift Cards, or they expire before you remember that you even have them. The key to managing these items is to know where they are and to have them with you when you are at the store.

Keep Gift Cards and Store Coupons in one place,
IN YOUR CAR

Put all your gift cards and store coupons in an envelop in the door pocket of your car. That way you always have them with you when you are at the store.

Here’s a great example because we all have this one. You receive a large blue and white coupon from Bed, Bath and Beyond every month. (I see them in all your houses). How many times have you found yourself at the store, but the coupon is at home? By keeping the coupon in your car you will always know where they are and they will be with you when you are at the store.

As we come in to the holiday buying season chances are you are going to give and receive gift cards. A word of advice is to use them quickly, don’t sit on them. They may expire. The store may go out of business. Who knows? Keep them with you in your wallet or car so they are available at all times.

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Saving Money at the Grocery Store

November 9, 2009 at 6:58 pm · Filed under Saving Money

We spend a lot of time in our lives eating, cooking or preparing our meals, but also shopping for food. With some simple planning you can cut back on that very large household expense item…groceries.

The most important thing you can bring to the grocery store is a list.

“Oh come on”, you say. that is way to simple. “Simple but true”, I say.

More time and money is wasted in the grocery store when you don’t have a list because you end up “impulse shopping”. The grocery store is laid out to entice you to stay longer and to pick up more than you really need.

Make a plan: Here is an good situation…but at minimum, make a list.

* On Sunday make a list of the week’s days and a dinner name next to each. (If you don’t want to do this every week plan the same thing every week like Monday-chicken, Tuesday-pasta, etc. You can change the actual preparation style to add some variety.)
* Note any evenings you will not be home…no dinner prep that night.
* Think through other meals you eat at home including brown bag lunches for kids and adults, breakfast, snacks.
* Think through perishables like fruits, veggies, eggs and bread. Check your pantry for staples like oil, vinegar, etc. Some basics you purchase every week.
* Develop your list from this quick weekly menu.

If you develop this preparation habit each week you are going to cut back on impulse purchases and also stop over-buying.

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