The key to successful Organization

There's probably one thing that all parents can agree upon - there never
seems to be enough time in the day.

One way to save some time, and even get ahead of the game, is to be
organized from the get go.

One of the easiest ways to start being organized is to WRITE THINGS
DOWN. There are 5 essential areas where writing things down can keep
life running more smoothly by saving time and money.

1. Weekly calendar. Develop a weekly calendar, perhaps a large
chalkboard that hangs in a central location. This enables the family to
really see how the week looks. Seeing appointments, practices, errands,
dinner plans, etc. laid out allows the potential to reschedule or
reorganize things to make the week more balanced. You can even go so
far as to note the week's menu (see #3).

2. Month-at-a-glance calendar. Purchase a current year's calendar from
the local dollar store. Note big things for the month such as regular
appointments, birthdays, parties, practices, meetings. Again, this helps
see how the energy is distributed through the month ahead of time and
allows for possible balance.

3. Menu planning and shopping list. Consider planning out the family's
menu several days or a week or more at a time. This saves time during
the "witching hour" right before dinner. Making dinner becomes
automated - something you can do without much thinking because it's
already been pre-planned. It helps to have a theme for certain days of
the week. For example, Monday, chicken; Wednesday, pasta, etc.
Narrowing down a day to a theme helps zoom in on choices and makes
the task of menu planning quicker. Menu planning also allows balance in
nutrition and budget. You can plan out the number of times the family
will consume red meat in a week, appropriately distribute the green and
orange veggies throughout the week, and even plan to make an
ingredient do "double duty" by using leftover chicken for a dish the next
night. Having meals pre-planned helps save time and money. Making 1
trip a week with a list of the week's essentials cuts down the potential
for impulse buys on those end caps at the grocery store and gives you
more control over your spending. You can make your 1 time weekly trip
to the grocery store more organized by downloading the grocery list
chart. Having a master list for shopping is key for not only your budget,
but also your time. You can save time by writing in items that are
bought weekly (milk, bread, apples, etc.) and xeroxing multiple copies so
you don't have to re-write such items weekly. Simply add any items that
aren't a "regular" purchase or items you need for the week's menu that
you don't already have in your inventory (see #4).

4. Inventory. For those of us innovative parents who like to stock up on
an item when sales strike, make sure to keep a pantry or freezer list
handy so stocks of beans, pasta, frozen veggies or even toiletries don't
get lost and forgotten. This also will save time in menu planning
knowing what you already have on hand, as well as help your budget in
not repurchasing items already handy. Also consider keeping a ready
stock of items you know you'll use frequently, like cereal or pasta,
diapers or paper towels. Knowing how much you have "on reserve" will
allow you to know when to add it to your shopping list when you start
running low instead of making extra trips to the store during the week.

5. Another aspect of inventory, as well as budgeting, is keeping a:

For products you know you will need and purchase regularly, take the
extra 5 minutes on Sunday to clip the coupons from the paper inserts and
keep them organized in a file. For just a few dollars you can purchase a
little spiral-bound coupon organizer to assist you in this quest. This will
make them easier to attach to your weekly shopping list to save a few
extra bucks. Because of your menu planning, shopping and inventory
lists, you'll already know what you'll need to purchase, you can watch
out for sales, and your organizer will allow quick access to the coupon's
additional savings. When you combine the savings from the store sales
with your coupons, it's reasonable to save as much as $10 a week on
grocery shopping trips.