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Declutter Your Finances

Wednesday, February 1st, 2012

Thanks to my mom, I have a subscription to More magazine. There’s a wonderfully insightful article this month (Feb 2012). Titled “Declutter Your Finances and Save,” the author writes:”Financial clutter can reach far beyond  not knowing where you’ve stashed important documents. Rather than a messy pile of papers, it’s a mental state that stems from the panic we all feel when the complexity of the modern financial world intersects with the unknown, i.e., with risk.”

So – it’s really not about the papers, is it?

It’s about what you are thinking and feeling when you don’t attack the papers which relate to your financial life.

It’s about the attitudes you grew up with, the messages you heard – spenders, savers, dreamers, risk takers or conservatives, budgeters, or not.

It’s about how you’re feeling with today’s finances… which relates  to how you feel about your future, how you and the one you live manage your short term and long term finances.

It also can be about your confidence level or knowledge of your finances.

I’ve worked with – women mostly – who have shied away from organizing their financial documents and let the papers/online statements pile up. They’ll admit it’s because they really do not understand what the documents are telling them. This is another point the MORE magazine article author makes, that there is HAVING the papers, even organized ! – and there is the separate issue of UNDERSTANDING them.

Please make a point – no matter your age or stage of  life – to organize AND understand your financials and the associated paper and online trails they have.

“Fear always springs from ignorance.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Posted in Financial, Harmony at Home, Papers | No Comments »

Smead Product Review – Viewables

Friday, January 27th, 2012

Smead’s Viewables – I have wanted to  try these file tabs for a long time; they solve a file drawer problem I have. A nice surprise showed up recently – Viewables, from Smead - because Smead occasionally asks professional organizers to review their products. I like them and will stick with them. Here’s the problem I had with my files and how Viewables solves it.

The first picture shows how I see the files from where I sit, with Viewables now making it so much easier to see what I have.

I wanted a solution for this drawer, which holds current, non-client files: my workshops and presentations, two organizing associations, QuickBooks file of receipts, my book, CEU tracking, and in the back, my current personal files. I’m in this drawer a lot when I’m not on the phone with a client or at their home or  office.

The tabs are viewable from any angle, and in a font size larger than average, helpful because I’m not right in front of the files. I have a top-down view plus a front view.

Color code if you want; the software lets you choose font size and color. Very simple software. I didn’t color code for  organizational purposes, but I love having color around me, so each tab has a color.

Very sturdy tabs. The tabs stick up higher than a typical hanging  file tab, but they clear the desk drawer above.  I can’t imagine these wearing out. Plus, you receive a plastic sheet you cover each tab with, for more protection from wear and tear. And plenty of extra tabs and labels.

They’re not as easy to implement as a simple label maker, but that’s okay, for this small, often used set of files – and worth of it because of the angle I sit at, vis a vis the drawer. Otherwise, I’d  have them on a desk stand (visual clutter and distracting) or have  to kneel in front of the drawer each time to see and find my file. Protecting my knees is a good thing, as I get older.

 

View from the front.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Side and top both say the file’s name.

LOVE the top view!

 

 

 

 

 

I’d definitely use these again; they solve the issue of the angle, are very sturdy and are more fun to  implement, too.

If you want to get some files into better shape, this might be a fun excuse to do so!

If you’re not sure how you want organize your files, and would like to collaborate on best ways for you to find what you need, when you need it, please reach out.

It feels good to know that your important  documents at home or your business  files are useful, and that your “paper life” (because we all have some) is in order.

And then, let’s talk about email and pc files…”Organized enough.”

 

Direct link for Smead Viewables: Click here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Posted in Financial, Home Office, Inside My World, Papers | 2 Comments »

Products: Uses for Smead’s 10 Slot Organizer

Tuesday, November 22nd, 2011

Even in our virtual world, many of us use paper for certain kinds of activities, at home or at the office. Clients usually will tell me “I’m a paper person” or “I’m really more interested in getting more onto my computer.”

So like the right brain/left brain discussions, most of us have a dominant preference for paper vs. PC, but we still use the other for certain tasks.

So for our papers: Smead sent me this Project Organizer and asked me to write about it here. I’m happy to do that because I can see myriad uses for the product which I’ll share with you here. Smead is a Corporate Partner with the National Association of Professional Organizers.  I see them at our product expo;  for a long time I’ve been impressed with their product innovations and their interest in understanding our clients’ needs.

 

A short description first: My photo is of the organizer standing  upright on my office floor.

  • Inside front cover: a summary sheet. What needs to get done, by whom and when.
  • 10 slash pocket folders. I love slash pockets because you have a preview of the folder’s contents. 
  • Expandable bottom binder, so as you fill this with papers, the whole thing expands. I love that it’s vertical because access is easier.
  • Each slash pocket has space for papers, and the pocket itself has space right on top for “Notes.” A little bit of guidance is useful.

 

Uses at Home

Homework: One binder per child keeps track of ten subjects, ten days or ten weeks of homework you want to review together. Add a laminated pocket to the  front of the binder and slide in a photo of your child, to identify which child’s binder is which. 

Home schooling: The teacher’s binder: ten  subjects or ten weeks of your lesson plans.

Taxes: Each section for different sorts of receipts and documents, with the folder staying near where you open the mail, and throughout the year.

Committees/volunteer activities: One spot, for all committees; one notebook to grab as you leave the house.  Or use the divided slots one per week, or per project.

Downsizing for a move: Use two binders, one for the buying side and one for the selling side. Or use one binder for the entire process with sections: Realtor-related, moving-related, expenses, new home research, etc.  Use the product as a “countdown” binder to your move date, with each section as a week’s worth of things to do. An inspirational quote on the front about next chapters helps with motivation for decluttering when needed.

Holiday countdown: As a holiday binder, I could see this as a weekly countdown, covering Thanksgiving and December holidays. Or, each section as a different aspect of planning: meals, traditions, budget, cards, decor, gifts.

 

Uses at Work or In Your Own Business

Clients for the week: One binder for the week, with materials you need on the go, for your appointments. Swap out the contents each week. Keeps your focus just on this week, and it means you need to do that weekly review.

Key projects or committee meetings: Same idea, but for the project side of your work. Use this for focusing on this week’s work. So for me, I might have  the next few workshops I’m designing or for the organizers’ chapter I head up here in New Hampshire.

On the road – conferences:  Use the  binder to take work with you. We all have some work that  is easier to work on, when it’s printed out. The binder is one place for your regular work, while you’re out at conferences or traveling.

Same as the home uses for taxes or committees. But use another binder for your business to keep home and business papers separated.

 

Answer these questions for yourself before buying any organizational product:

  • How exactly will you use the product (e.g., so here, how  would you use ten folders?). You wouldn’t buy a piece of clothing without knowing what size, so are organizing products any different? 
  • How do you typically organize your papers; what’s worked before will work again. The product supports how you work, think and organize your thoughts.
  • Where  will you keep the organizer, so you remember to use it. How will you start this new habit?
  • Do you like the style enough to enjoy using this product?  (Visual folks will relate to this subconscious aspect of choosing just the right product.)
  • Do you need something more specific to the purpose, e.g., a taxes binder like this the one pictured below, also from Smead. Take a look around their site; click on the taxes binder to get there.

What works for you?

 

 

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Posted in Back to School, Downsizing Dilemmas- Solved, Financial, Holidays, Papers | 2 Comments »

Your Family Recipes – There’s an App for That

Thursday, November 10th, 2011

What do you think? In this New York Times article, “Are Cookbooks Obsolete?” we read that the new tablets have cooking applications on them – which may result in the demise of paper recipes and paper cookbooks.

I find myself more and more relying on my technology gadgets, even though I didn’t grow up with technology (I’m 52). What intrigues me about this?

Next chapters – A early inventor, Bob Huntley, designed his cooking application as he faced retirement!

Memories – Until 100% of us are using tablets (or their then-current incarnation), how do we pass on Meme’s handwritten recipe cards and the many, many family recipes and favorites. Always there’s that gap, but we figure it out. Nook and book. Movie and on-demand. And so forth.

The best part of this idea is that the recipe is presented in ways that make it easier for non-linear thinkers to use and follow the recipe.The example Mr. Huntley used about his own use of recipes is just what happens to me!

I quote the article:

“Mr. Huntley also developed CulinView, a nonverbal way for a more confident cook to follow a recipe. After ingredients are measured and the oven heated, the rest of the process is shown in a flow chart, illustrated with bright images of mixers, whisks, ovens and ingredients. With arrows and color-coding, it sketches out the process for the more confident cook who already knows how to cream butter and sugar, say, but needs to be reminded what to do with the chopped apple and grated fresh ginger. SpinView puts the whole recipe on one page, with the option of scrolling through the steps. Finally, for the traditionalists, there is the Cookbook view, formatted in the old-fashioned way. ”

So what do you think? Will our paper cookbooks and family recipes survive and if so, how? Comment here, or head on over to our Life in Context Facebook page – where we’ve been working on our Food Memories workbook!

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Posted in Interviews and Guest Posts, Papers | 2 Comments »

Why Our Things Are Important to Us: Guest Post, Melissa Mannon, ArchivesInfo

Thursday, November 10th, 2011

A guest post from my colleague, Melissa Mannon, author of The Unofficial Family Archivist.

Some of what you keep has more significance to you than other items. You know the materials I mean — the lock of hair from baby’s first haircut, the photos of your first Christmas together, the love letters you sent your husband before you were married. People spread these keepsakes through the house in closets and bureaus or we try to store them together in a shoe box under the bed. The objects symbolize some of the things that are important to us and we keep them because we have a sentimental attachment to them. As an archivist, I help people explore the idea that it is worthwhile to give more thought to what we are keeping for the long term. I help people determine why they are keeping these items and how to keep them safe.

We intuitively know that our personal “archives” are different from our other possessions. The materials we create in the course of our day-to-day activities help mold our own personal story and highlight our place in the world. The information that we record about ourselves helps us wind our way through life and can be part of our personal legacy. Some of these materials are used over and over. For example, a favorite hand written recipe passed down from one generation to the next might be pulled out to help celebrate during the holidays. Other recorded information might serve to remind us of something that occurred in our lives that made us happy. The material might not be actively used, but is tucked away until you want to recall or share an event.

When viewed as lone items, these materials do not necessarily highlight what makes us unique. Many people have a passport, but when examined with vacation photos, and a travel diary, the passport gains a new dimension. Together, the objects tell about our own personal experiences and perhaps our own world view. Archives that relate to each other can be gathered into a collection that highlights your story, making them more meaningful to you and to those with whom you wish to share your memories. When we think about these possessions in terms of the stories that they tell, we can more easily organize them and our thoughts about them. Possessions are imbued with additional meaning when we step back and consider their role as symbols of activities.

You might keep materials related to events that were meaningful to you. Or, you might keep information that highlights specific times in your life. You might keep your school report cards with your student art work alongside your varsity letters. Understanding what you are keeping and what part of your life it highlights can help you give order to your belongings and to your life.

The materials that you identify as worth keeping should be kept as safe as possible. All organic items, such as those made from paper, will decompose over time, but one cannot easily predict the rate of deterioration of materials. Their deterioration relies on a combination of factors working together: heat, humidity, light, pollution, pests, natural chemical reactions and chemical reactions resulting from improper storage are prime culprits of damage. Different types of items may require different storage supplies for their safekeeping, but there are some general rules to follow. Store materials in a place where temperature and humidity remain as constant as possible and keep items away from the elements. Purchase boxes for storage from a reputable archives supplier such as Gaylord Brothers, Light Impressions, Metal Edge, and University Products. These companies conform to standards and test products to ensure that they are safe for your materials. People often purchase items in stores that claim they are “Preservation Safe” or “Archival,” but these terms are not necessarily to be trusted.

Giving a little thought to your significant papers, photos, and other family information sources will help keep your treasured family memories safe. Focus on what is most meaningful and get rid of the clutter. Carve out your legacy by making sure your family stories are documented and preserved.

 

For more on how to organize and preserve your family papers, take a look at Melissa’s new book, The Unofficial Family Archivist

Follow her on Twitter, or subscribe to her wonderful and fascinating blog. You won’t be sorry.


 

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Posted in Interviews and Guest Posts, Memories, Papers | No Comments »

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