Organisational tips and tricks to start in the new year

[WireBrushAndDettolMaam]

Do you have any?

I’m going to set up a standing order for £10 a week to save for Christmas next year.

I’m also going to save £5 a week into and ASDA card to help with the Christmas shopping next year.

I’m going to mark all the birthdays/anniversaries/whatever on the calendar and have a box with cards, stamps etc ready to go.

I’m also going to have a huge declutter and donate/sell as much as I can to get some much needed space and organise what’s left.

Any other ideas gratefully received!

[DreamingofSunshine]

Rotating meal plan, so week A and week B with a shopping list makes it very quick to do online shopping and no head scratching about what to cook.

[NagaisAce]

Have a set hour to plan the week ahead. I do this and it helps so much to make sure I am on top of things.
Or at least feel like it

[GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat]

Oh I love a thread like this.

I use TOMM loosely and am really going to try hard to stick to it in the new year.

I use Wunderlist app to keep me on track with TOMM and every other think I’m supposed to remember in life.

My tax return as usual needs doing and I’m going to try hard to get the next one done in April as soon as the yet ends so I can be financially organised too (though I say this every year!)

I’ve bought a magnetic organiser for the fridge which I hope to keep up to date for the family.

[EggysMom]

We did the £5/wk on the Asda card this year, it was brilliant, didn't notice it on a week by week basis but it's been great to have the savings to spend. I might up ours to £10/wk next year!

[WireBrushAndDettolMaam]

Nagaisace

That’s a good one! I try and sit down to Plan my work week ahead but it’s usually the same week to week but I could definitely do with doing it for home/school stuff. Like an admin hour.

I use TOMM loosely and am really going to try hard to stick to it in the new year.

Yes this too for me.

[NagaisAce]

You do get quicker and it gets easier to spot where issues might occur or where you need extra planning. Eg. Half terms coming you can start planning events or finding discount codes for events. Planning childcare swaps earlier etc.

[MentalHealth101]

TOMM for me too. Trying to minimise my house and deck utter so actually daily tasks take me as little as it takes her too!

[StapleTakerOuter]

I use Plum and Chip to save. They have been utterly brilliant!

[WireBrushAndDettolMaam]

Is that a bank account staple?

[Daisy169]

I have an actual calendar, which I write birthdays/anniversaries on. This year I added a post it note to each month with the cards I'd need to buy that month. At the beginning of the month I'd take the post it with me to the shop and sort the cards for that whole month. Worked really well! Similar to your basket of cards idea but allowed me to be a bit more personal and store less.

[31133004Taff]

Buying cards for the year is a lovely way to while away an hour this holiday. However, at the till, it’s eye watering the cost over the year 😬

[PaperFlowers4]

I've bought a physical planner for 2020 and bought a wall calendar today. I never stick to using digital to-do lists or calendars.

[Landlubber2019]

I have a diary planner from m&s, brilliant for remembering info , meal planning etc

We also set up a cash isa with £100 pm to clear the credit card bill in January .

i don't do supermarket prepaid cards as a) I have no loyalty b) I lost one once

[StapleTakerOuter]

@WireBrushAndDettolMaam No :)
Plum is on Facebook/App. I prefer to use it on Facebook. It gets to know how much you can afford to save and does it for for you, without affecting your usual spending. I started using it in Feb last year and was shocked at how much it saved for me. You can set different levels too.

Chip is a similar app but I like this one because you can make little pots to save for things. I don’t notice any of the money taken by Chip because the emails end up in my junk and it takes little amounts that mount up.

Basically these apps only take what it sees you can afford. It might be tiny amounts but they add up. You can stop them and withdraw the money at anytime (it basically puts the money you’ve saved back into your bank account)

[WireBrushAndDettolMaam]

Oh that actually sounds really good! Thanks staple im going to look into them.

[NotYourTypicalNerd]

I sort of bullet journal - just the diary bits haha! Plus take time each week to match it up to the family wall calendar.

I buy a box of assorted birthday cards from amazon - there are about 24?48? for just over a tenner, job done.

Once a month I make sure I have a few photos of the kids, then at the end of the year, I make it into a calendar for my/DH parents and grandparents. Christmas sorted!

Present box with wrapping paper and the above cards under the stairs for easy access. along with tape and scissors that are NOT TO BE REMOVED! so we can always whip up a present. If you do adult presents then also stick a bottle of wine in there each month or so along with wine bags. This helps with birthdays and Christmas alike!

[TheWorldturnedUpsideDown]

I love the rotating meal plan.

We just save cash for Xmas and then we can spend it where we like. We do about 40 per month too now.

We save into many different pots it's wonderful.

[Rainbowqueeen]

Buy plain wrapping paper that can be used for any event eg gold or silver
If you have primary aged kids start a jar of pound coins for those school events

Start a 15 minute tidy routine with all the family where you all spend 15 minutes together cleaning up. Amazing what you can get done in that time. Tailor it so if you are having guests you focus on the living areas. If just to keep on top of things tailor it so you do things that don’t get done often eg cleaning out the medicine drawer or bathroom cupboard. Kids of all ages can participate, just need age appropriate jobs. Put on music while you do it and make it fun!!

[DuchessDumbarton]

Place marking for the good ideas- I really like the rotating weekly meal planner, and will do a couple of index cards with a list of week's meals on there to use for next year.

My tip: I use an annual accordion file, which lives in one kitchen cupboard. They usually have about 14slots.
I do one slot per month.
In there, I put all my receipts, any bills/school paperwork, the pant tickets for December that I buy in September etc.
It helps to have a place for paperwork to live, and that I know where to look first if I can't put my hand on something.
I use recycled envelopes to store the months receipts- it's been helpful when a device breaks down, or I have to return clothing etc.
I have about 6years worth of accordion files stored in the attic.

[DuchessDumbarton]

Should have added- in the last slot at the back, I keep all medical related receipts which is helpful for tax time.

[WomenAreFemale]

Bulldog clips in the kitchen, one per person, with all their paperwork arranged in ‘date I need to know about it’ order.

Very brief details (time/event) go on proper calendar, then I can look at the original letter/invitation for whatever else I need to know.

[Joyfulincolour]

I’ve just bought a birthday calendar that I am going to organise over this holiday period. I’m going to buy nice birthday cards from Next as they often do 4for 3 or something similar.
I’m also thinking of using some dead space in our utility room as an organisation area. I’m thinking of having the calendar, school / medical letters all there.
I’ve been using Chip to save money and I now have £400 to spend on my daughter for her birthday and a trip to London for us all. I need to organise something similar to save up for our main holiday too.
Good thread OP, love things like this!

[Joyfulincolour]

I need to keep on top of appointments/life admin too. I'm planning to sit down on the 1st of the month to sort out any Dr or dental appointments. I also need to keep track of our money/outgoings which I could do on the 1st too.

[starfishmummy]

Save the food money in a proper account so you dont lose it if the supermarket goes bankrupt.

[milliefiori]

I love this thread.

My plan is to sort out one surface a day: a single shelf or drawer, until every single one is uncluttered, clean and in order. Then keep doing it so they never get as cluttered as they were.
I need to give a lot of stuff away or sell it.

I also want to sort out one small DIY/house improvement issue every week.Anything from re-sealing the bath to painting the kitchen. 52 house improvements will make a huge difference.