ReAnn Rothwell’s Money Saving Ideas, Tax & Organizing Tips

Are you the type of person that always feels like you have to do everything?

You have a busy life, maybe you home school/tutor/ help your kids with homework plus teach Sunday school. You help care for your grandson/nephew/neighbor/parent and you volunteer elsewhere as well. You have a large home and you try to keep it neat and tidy.

Are you finding that you just can’t keep things the way you wanted?  Are you exhausted trying?

One suggestion I have is to make a schedule for yourself which is kept it on the refrigerator. It goes from Monday through Saturday. Sundays are for church, family and rest. (Maybe puttering in the garden if you want to.)

Only do what it says on that particular day. For instance, Mondays and Saturdays are for laundry, Wednesdays and Fridays check and answer your email, Thursdays are for grocery shopping, Tuesday is phone day and so on.

If you have a large project, such as cleaning closets or painting, schedule them in on your calendar.

I believe this system will help you slow down. When you have extra time, read or just hang out with your family instead of rushing to work, doing a task, or something else. If you see something that needs to be done, schedule it into your calendar. Then save it for the designated day. See if this system does not make your life much easier.

The other suggestion I have is to delegate. Go thru what-it-is-that-you-do and see where other people in your life can help. Then set them up on a schedule also. Hold them accountable for their part.

For both of these suggestions I highly recommend Google calendar and Chorebuster.net. Both are free and both work wonderfully whether you are a family of one or a family of 10.

Chorebuster is for those folks who these things apply to:

• I often need to remind people to do their fair share
• My children/spouse/roommate and I argue about doing chores
• Sometimes I forget what needs doing until it is too late
• I feel flustered and don’t have enough time to organize

(If you need help with either of these suggestions, give me a call or drop me a note!)