Organizing Your Purse
Juggling work, family and personal life on the go can get hectic and cluttered. Your purse can be your saving grace at times. So why shouldn’t it be better organised?
Being organised means you are ready for the next thing, the next event, the next emergency, the next appointment. I have found that if my purse is a mess, I am a mess. And since there is never a big enough purse for all that I THINK I need to carry with me at all times, the size of the purse constrains what you can pack…which can be a good thing.
If you are tired of digging around in your purse, briefcase, or backpack for your glasses, wallet, or MP3 player, then check out the Purseket. This organising tool can transform your purse from a “black hole” to an organiser’s dream. Their website is www.purseket.com.
With this insert, everything has a home in your purse and it makes changing purses a snap!
One of the biggest clutterers of our purses is paper and receipts. So carry an envelope or dedicate a pocket to keep only receipts, coupons and lists from getting damaged in your purse. It will help you find things much faster.
Purses with several outside pockets are also very helpful in keeping organised daily. I keep one left outside pocket dedicated to my phone and one side outside pocket for my mints. I use these two almost hourly when I’m out and about meeting appointments and clients, so finding them in the same place helps me not get sidetracked searching.
Another tip to de-clutter your purse is weekly maintenance, maybe while you are watching TV. Stuff creeps in all the time so every week: bags often because stuff creeps in.
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Remove garbage
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Toss useless stuff
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Put things away
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Replace what is used up
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Pick out the loose change at the bottom
If you would like your purse and purses streamlined, and would like the assistance of a professional organiser, call Little Miss Efficiency Organising Services and Consulting for a consultation at 702.673.0624 or info@littlemissefficiency.com. Connect socially http://facebook.com/littlemissefficiency or http://Twitter.com/lmefficiency.
Written by Wendy A. Miller, CEO and Founder of Little Miss Efficiency Organising Services and Consulting, http://www.littlemissefficiency.com, 702.673.0624. COPYRIGHT: This article may not be reprinted or quoted anywhere without written permission. This email is protected by copyright. Copying of this article – or of any works presented or recommended by Wendy A. Miller – is strictly prohibited. These works may not be reprinted in any form on any website, blog, book, e-book, or any other form without the express written permission of Wendy A. Miller. All Rights Reserved.
Do You Hate Grocery Shopping?
Do you hate Grocery Shopping? Well, I do.
A few years ago, I decided I couldn’t stand going to the Grocery Store every week, sometimes more often – or even going every two weeks! And I needed a solution – so I made a promise to myself to go only ONCE a month – and in between for the quick pick up of milk or other perishables (things that cannot be kept in the freezer, for a month).
But, my big problem is how do I know what I need to buy for an entire month??????
So, this is my journey of self discovery and how much I make my life simpler and more economical by going once a month – to the dreaded grocery store.
By shopping once a month, I save:
*TIME (driving back and forth to the store – shopping up and down the aisles – standing in line to pay, etc)
*MONEY (I can buy in bulk)
*LESS HASSLE (I know what I am going to cook or prepare for an entire month)
STEP 1:
Decide on a menu for each day
I keep it very simple
I choose an Entree and two sides
For example:
*MONDAY:
Chicken
Rice
Beans
*TUESDAY:
Italian Night
Side
Bread
etc
etc
I use the same menu for every week. So, every Friday night – the family knows it’s Pizza Night.
PARENTS: I always allow one night a week that a child picks what dinner will be. So, Tuesday night can be “Karen’s-Pick Night”. This eliminates the “what’s for dinner tonight?” and I don’t have to wonder each day what I am going to cook/prepare that night.
I write down how many “chickens”, “beans” etc, for the month. This will be your STANDARD SHOPPING LIST – keep a copy on your computer for each month. Change accordingly for Holidays or other special events.
STEP 2
If you have ever worked in a resturant – you know they have an Order Prep List. This is the list of what food items they need to order to get them through the day/week. Before they order – they check the list against what they have on hand.
STEP 3:
Create a List for home, of what you have on hand. This meant I had to go through ALL my cupboards, refrig, freezer, etc to see what I had on hand. Then compare it to the STANDARD SHOPPING LIST list in STEP 1. Buy what you are missing from your STANDARD SHOPPING LIST.
STEP 4:
Go shopping – give yourself at least 2 hours. 2 HOURS!!!!!!! (you say, huh?) Well, think about it – you probably spend more time going back and forth all the time. This way – it’s DONE and you don’t have to worry about it again. STICK TO THE LIST! Buy generic and store brands as much as possible. If I go shopping during the middle of the day and mid-week, I can usually do it within an hour. However, if you can only do it at night or weekends – plan two hours.
I start my list by going to the Dollar Store or 99 cent store, FIRST. What I can buy there (and I know what is cheaper there) I buy at the discount stores, first. For example: I was able to buy 10 pounds of carrots, 4 pounds of apples, 4 pounds of oranges, 1 pound of lemons, lettuce and green onions for $10. All fresh. Great for salads and the home juicer.
We have 2 refrigerators/freezers in the garage and one in the the house – so there is room for freezing. Buy a Freezer! Go on Craigslist and buy a good one for $50.
BE PREPARED for people to stare at you, because you are using two carts to stand in line. I even have been asked by clerks who do I “do so much shopping at one time?” (you can imagine my answer).
How much do I spend for a family of two adults, two elementary school aged boys and 2 dogs? $250-$300/month. Yes, a MONTH! And that is without coupons or rebates. About a week ago – I was able to buy so much in bulk, I bought 2 months worth of food for about $379. Yes, 2 months!
Planning ahead and keeping meals simple, easy to prepare and good – is the way to go for us.
We don’t shop this way because we LACK anything – we shop this way to cut down on our Grocery shopping time and I love not having to think about meals everyday. I have already decided them – ahead of time.
This is the Number 1 way I make my life Simpler for me and my family!
ADDED BONUS: when I don’t have time to shop – but my husband does. I just print off my Standard Shopping List and off he goes!
EXTRA HINT: Stock your cupboards the same way you see them at the store. Labels facing forwards, soups together, sauces together, etc. It makes seeing what you need much easier – and you can just grab and go when it is time for meals.
PEACE OF MIND: we always have what we need in our cupboards and refrig/freezer.
Hope you find this helpful – it works for us.
~Charlene L. Ragsdale
http://www.MaxBizMom.com
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