10 Easy Ways to Get Organized

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!  It’s the beginning of a new year so what better way than to start getting organized in 10 Easy Steps!! Here from Jill Cooper of Living On A Dime are 10 Easy Ways to Get Organized.

10 Easy Ways to Get Organized
by Jill Cooper
Living On A Dime

. Hang up your keys. (Preferably by the door.)

. Find a place for your purse, coat, gloves and other frequently used items and always keep them there.

. Make your bed each day as soon as you crawl out of it.

. Get dressed. Even if you are a stay at home mom or your job is at home, get dressed. Clothes really do make the man or woman. You’ll be just as productive as you are dressed which means if you are dressed for sleep (pajamas, sweats or a robe) then you will get about as much work done as you would when you are sleeping. That may be stretching it, but you get my point.

. Wash the dishes and wipe the counters after each meal. No matter how large or small the meal or how tired and in a hurry you are, do the dishes. Even if you are hurried or late in the morning you wouldn’t dream of leaving the house half dressed. Make leaving your kitchen clean as important a priority as getting dressed for work. This may seem impossible at first but once you are on top of things it should only take five or ten minutes to clean your kitchen.

. Get rid of trash. About 50% of what unorganized people have in their homes is trash or stuff they will never use again. Stop wasting time taking care of it, moving it or stepping over it. As you walk through the house, pick up garbage and toss it.

. Control your laundry. Don’t let it control you. Follow these simple steps to help keep your laundry from taking over your home and you.

        Place a hamper or basket for dirty clothes in each bedroom and/or bath. Make sure that everyone’s dirty clothes are put in the hamper before bed and in the morning.

       The laundry isn’t done until it is put away. Get out of the mind set that if it is washed and dried it is done. Folding and putting it away is equally as important.

       Some of us think that if we get the laundry washed and dried that’s all we need to do and it’s okay for the family to just pull stuff out of a pile. That makes as much sense as cooking a meal and expecting everyone to stand at the stove and take turns scooping the food out of the pan and eating it one spoonful at a time. You wouldn’t dream of doing that. Yes the food is cooked, but the meal is not complete until the table is set and the food is put on plates. Do the same for your laundry. Put it away.

. Pick up continually. This may seem like a pain to do at first but if you stick with it, it will become a habit. I didn’t realize how much of a habit it had become for me until I was visiting my daughter’s the other day. As I was walking into the kitchen, I picked up empty glasses and odds and ends on my way. Then when I walked from the kitchen to the bedroom I picked up toys as I went in there. It wasn’t even my house but I had seen something out of place and out of habit picked it up. Every sock or glass that you walk past is a spore waiting to flourish into a vortex of debris. Catch it while it is small! _

. Read and dispose of newspapers and magazines. There are usually two reasons people have stacks of newspapers and magazines piled around:

       They want to save an article in it. If that is the case then cut the article out as you are reading the magazine and file it. Trust me, you not only won’t cut that article out at a later time, but you probably won’t remember what or where it is.

     They don’t have time to read them. If you aren’t going to read them the why are you subscribing to them? Stop your subscriptions. This doesn’t have to be an all or nothing thing. If you can’t keep up with the daily newspaper then just get the Sunday paper. Most people usually have more leisure time Sunday to read it. Pick out one or two of your favorite magazines and stop subscribing to the rest.

With any item, if it is broken or you don’t use it anymore get rid of it. That includes clothes, toys, furniture, decorations, dishes and exercise equipment. If it’s not important enough to fix right now, you don’t need it!
Jill Cooper and Tawra Kellam are frugal living experts and the editors of Living On A Dime. As a single mother of two, Jill Cooper started her own business without any capital and paid off $35,000 debt in 5 years on $1,000 a month income. Tawra and her husband paid off $20,000 debt in 5 years on $22,000 a year income.

HANDY DANDY TIPS

I got this in an email and thought it was worth sharing. It has some really good tips in it, especially for this winter.

 

For icy door steps in freezing temperatures: Get warm water and put Dawn dish washing liquid in it. Pour it all over the steps. They won’t refreeze.  [This would probably work on your windshield too if your auto is out in the open. I haven’t tried it yet.]   
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To remove old wax from a glass candle holder – Put it in the freezer for a few hours. Then take the candle holder out and turn it upside down. The wax will fall out.
============ ========= =======         Crayon marks on walls? This works wonderfully! Use a damp rag, dipped in baking soda. Comes off with little    
effort (elbow grease, that is!).
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Permanent marker on appliances/counter tops (like store receipt BLUE!) – Put rubbing alcohol on paper towel.
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Whenever you purchase a box of S.O.S pads, immediately take a pair of scissors and cut each pad into half.  
It is more economical. A box of S.O.S pads will last indefinitely! In fact, the scissors get “sharpened” that way!
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Blood stains on clothes? Not to worry! Just pour a little hydrogen peroxide on a cloth and proceed to wipe off  every drop of blood. Works every time! 
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Use vertical strokes when washing windows outside and horizontal for inside windows. Then you can tell which side has the streaks. Straight vinegar will get outside windows really clean. Don’t wash windows on a sunny day.. They will dry too quickly and will probably streak.
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Spray a bit of perfume on the light bulb in any room to create a lovely light scent in each room when the light is turned on. 
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Place fabric softener sheets in dresser drawers and your clothes will smell freshly washed for weeks to come. You can also do this with towels and linen.
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Candles will last a lot longer if placed in the freezer for at least 3 hours prior to burning.
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To clean artificial flowers, pour some salt into a paper bag and add the flowers. Shake vigorously as the salt will absorb all the dust and dirt and leave your artificial flowers looking like new! Works like a charm!
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To easily remove burnt on food from your skillet, simply add a drop or two of dish soap and enough water to cover bottom of pan. Bring to a boil on stove top.
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Spray your TUPPERWARE with nonstick cooking spray before pouring in tomato based sauces.. No stains.
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Wrap celery in aluminum foil when putting in the refrigerator and it will keep for weeks.
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When boiling corn on the cob, add a pinch of sugar to help bring out the corn’s natural sweetness.
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Cure for headaches: Take a lime, cut it in half, and rub it on your forehead. The throbbing will go away.
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To get rid of itch from mosquito bites, try applying soap on the area and you will experience instant relief.
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Ants, ants, ants everywhere . Well, they are said to never cross a chalk line. So, get your chalk out and draw a line on the floor or wherever ants tend to march.. See for yourself.
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Use air-freshener to clean mirrors. It does a good job and better still, leaves a lovely smell to the shine. 
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When you get a splinter, reach for the scotch tape before resorting to tweezers or a needle. Simply put the scotch tape over the splinter, and then pull it off. Scotch tape removes most splinters painlessly and easily.
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Now look what you can do with Alka Seltzer….. … Clean a toilet. Drop in two Alka Seltzer tablets, wait twenty minutes, brush and flush. The citric acid and effervescent action clean vitreous china.
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Clean a vase.
To remove a stain from the bottom of a glass vase or cruet, fill with water and drop in two Alka Seltzer tablets.
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Polish jewelry.
Drop two Alka Seltzer tablets into a glass of water and immerse the jewelry for two minutes.
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Clean a thermos bottle.
Fill the bottle with water, drop in four Alka Seltzer tablets, and let soak for an hour (or longer, if necessary).
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Unclog a drain.
Clear the sink drain by dropping three Alka Seltzer tablets down the drain followed by a cup of Heinz White Vinegar. Wait a few minutes and then run the hot water.

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Burn your fingers?  
Pour soy sauce over it and the burning sensation will immediately stop (and you have a good chance  of not blistering, too.) I don’t know why, but it just works.  
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Do your friends a favor. Pass this timely information on to a friend!  I just did.

Relaxation!!

Thomas Kincaid Painting

I recieved this photo in an email and wanted to share it with you all because it was so beautiful and peaceful.  It also goes along with the relaxation remedies in this blog.

Is the Price of Relaxation Stressing You Out?

    By Tawra Kellam
Living On A Dime
    
    Do you usually find yourself stressed during the holiday season? Is trying to find inexpensive but nice gifts making you ache all over? Save your hard earned money and don’t spend it trying to pamper yourself for the holidays. Instead, use these ideas from my frugal bath and beauty guide Pretty for Pennies to ease your holiday stress.

    Before your bath:

• Make a batch of Hot Oil Treatment and take it to the bathroom with you.
• Lock yourself in the bathroom
• Put on some soothing music
• Light a candle
• Put the Hot Oil on your hair and wrap

    For a milk bath mix:

• 3 cups dry milk
• 5-6 drops essential or fragrance oil
• Mix ingredients and add ½ cup to your bath water.
• If you don’t have dry milk try adding 2-3 tablespoons baby oil for a relaxing bath!

    Eyes looking a little rough around the edges? Try:

• Cucumber slices or tea bags on the eyes to help reduce puffiness
• Try it for half an hour while soaking in the tub

    To save money on manicures:

• Don’t get them so often
• Instead, use a nail buffer to shine nails between manicures

    An easy way to remove cuticles:

• Rub them with oil
• Then gently push back the cuticles

    For aching feet:

• Make yourself an Herbal Foot Bath (or)
• Rub a peppermint lotion (or)
• Salve on your feet
• Wrap a warm towel around your feet and enjoy

    Go to the local beauty school to have manicures, pedicures and facials. You can feel pampered without spending a fortune. Five bucks is a great deal for a facial!

    After Christmas sales can offer many great deals on bath and beauty products. Purchase nail care kits after Christmas at half price. You can get several polishes and tools for $2-$4. If you family loves to receive perfume, cologne or aftershave, stock up after Christmas when gift sets are on clearance. Give for Mother’s Day, Father’s day, Birthday’s, etc.
    

    Hot Oil Treatment

•     2 Tbsp. olive oil
• 2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
• Heat ingredients just until warm
• Spread on wet hair, especially the ends
• (Place only on the ends if you have oily hair)
• Wrap a warm, wet towel around hair for 30 minutes to one hour
• Shampoo and rinse

Alternatively:

• Put this on before a shower
• Then put on a shower cap
• Let the hot water from the shower run on your head to warm the oil
• You may also use a blow dryer instead of the shower
• Be careful not to make it too hot.

     Herbal Foot Bath

Use any of the following dried herbs*:

• lavender
• rosemary
• sage

    Mix herbs

• Place in a small cheesecloth**
• Fill a bucket full with warm water for your feet
• Add herbs
• Soak away all the pains of the day!

Make several at a time and keep on hand after a long day.
    *A few drops of scented oil may be used instead.

**My add on, not in Tawra’s beauty guide “Pretty for Pennies“: You can use a coffee filter and a rubber band in place of cheese cloth.