Thursday's Tips

I am starting Thursday’s Tips.  They can be on anything… children’s activities, new things that I’ve found works with anything, cleaning, shopping, time and scheduling (saving some time) or really anything.  Just a tip that works for me and could possibly work for you.

 

For my first tip of something that works for me and something I couldn’t live without… my planner!  Yes, I’m a little OCD and have everything written out even down to last minute out to dinner with family.  This way if something ever happens and the police are forced to ask me where I was on any particular day or time I can pull out my planner and tell them!  LOL  OK… so that may not be my first and foremost reason to have a planner, but I’ve been using the same one for about three years now and I love it!

 

My planner has a calendar with the month at a glance, weekly schedule, notes, car maintenance logs, movies you want to see, contact information (for you if lost), financial information, address book, notes, and just everything I could want down to a list for restaurants we want to try!  I bought one where I can just buy the new year’s calendar, take out the old one and replace it!  That way I don’t have to update everything else each year… just keep going.

 

A few notes on your planner…

·         Do NOT keep any personal information that if someone got a hold of it that they could assume your life.  This includes (but is not limited to) passwords, banking information, credit card information, PIN numbers, access codes (not even the ones for the automatic garage door opener that’s on your house because your home address is probably listed somewhere in that planner, possibly on a letter)… nothing that is too personal!  I do keep reminders for passwords like this… “Mortgage – A23”.  This way I will have a reminder for the password for our mortgage company (company name not listed) without giving it away.  This works for me and nobody else could decipher what the password is unless of course my hubs is looking at it.  They may not even be able to tell it is a password.  They could think it was the end of our account number, but they don’t have the mortgage company name even if they have everything else!

·         Make sure to keep your contact number up to date.  You may not want to include your address but you do want to include a phone number and emergency contact information in case something ever happens.  Include a list of allergies and medications.

·         Keep up with recurring events because sometimes a slip of the mind might cause a conflict. 

·         If you have a four person family like we do, there is always something going on.  I take the time each week to update the family calendar at the house so hubs always has it for reference and always there for a quick glance.  There is less conflict that way.

·         I write down everything...

o   Doctor appointments

o   Dance class

o   School for me and hubs (I also write when my assignments are due)

o   When a store has an upcoming sale I want to hit (triple coupons or Old Navy’s $1 flip flop sale this Saturday)

o   Meetings for work

o   Babysitting for friends

o   Grocery shopping (yes, even this has to be scheduled so I can go without children)

o   Hubs training for work or special stuff

o   Birthday and anniversary reminders (also put a * on the week before so I can send a card)

o   Parties

o   When any of our parents will be out of town (in case we need babysitting services J)

o   ANYTHING you don’t want to forget

·         I also am a “list” person so I have multiple lists going on at any given time.  Here’s a list of my lists I have going at the moment

o   Wifey to do (for me)

o   Hubs to do

o   Home Improvement (projects we want to do around the house)

o   Pack for the beach

o   Restaurants we want to eat at

o   Grocery list

o   To do for wedding (my sister’s)

o   Peezy’s Birthday party (multiple lists.. to do, menu, guest list)

 

Yes, I’m one of those people that has to “consult” my calendar before saying yes to anything but I would much rather say that than to say yes and then have to call back and cancel.  I don’t like backing out on anything so this saves the hassle.  I love my calendar and I use it constantly.  I love my lists and nothing gives me more satisfaction than crossing something off once it’s completed.  I am organized and efficient and this way I don’t make plans for visiting someone on the opposite side of town from where we live when I have to go out there the next day anyways.

 

That would be my #1 Tip – Use a planner and organize you!