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!

Will read through the rest of the thread but I buy one of these calendars every year - not particularly exciting to look at but has a column for every member of the family and one for birthdays (which I get one of the DC to copy over from the previous year), and a really big pocket each month to stash school letters, appointments, tickets etc.
busyb.co.uk/products/calendars/large-family-calendar-2020-9462.html

I used whistle fish too. Thanks so much for the idea!

Planning to take all the Christmas decorations down tomorrow, I want a really clear fresh start to the new year.

What’s everyone else’s plans?

BigFatBloomers that's the calendar I use and it keeps me right

Loving this thread!
Have just done a WhistleFish order and got 49 cards for just over £30 which means a huge saving compared to my normal dash around on the day trying to find a card when I have forgotten and spending £2-3 per card!
Have also got a 'family' calendar to help us be more organised with planning what we are doing.

Loving the enthusiasm for getting organised, including for money matters and hate to be a bit of a kill joy - but have a care with these new apps:

Neither Plum nor Chip are covered by the FSCS (Financial Services Compensation Scheme) although they are appointed representatives for a FCA registered company. So would suggest you keep the amounts in them low.

Moneybox, also mentioned, is FCA registered and protected by the FSCS - but I think it charges a monthly £1 fee.

Just be aware. People thought hamper schemes and store gift cards were a good thing once. Being new and on-line is not in itself a guarantee of security.

Great idea re the cards. I have a habit of buying one, but forgetting I already have one suitable and therefore have tons of odd ones. I’m going to go through my box tomorrow and plan who to give them too.

I brought a new diary and spent today adding in all key appointments (MOT, dentist etc). Next plan is to look into this meal planning. We have far too many takeaways as I have too many evening activities

Some brilliant ideas here, thank you!

I sign up to any 'mum bloggers' I can find in the local area as they send round newsletters with lists of local events by month/ event (for example, there are more over Easter and Christmas, they send separate newsletters for those). Saves me time in hunting out things to do to keep the DC entertained.

If I find somewhere we'd like to visit, I make a note of it on Google maps, so if we're ever in a new area I can see what there is nearby. Also helps with planning holidays and journeys.

I add appointments to a wall calendar and put them in my phone with a reminder to tell me x days/ hours before so I cannot forget (hopefully!)

And I take photos of important letters and email them to myself to create a paper trail in case they go AWOL!

Ursaminor thanks- that's an important caveat.

So, lots of ideas around putting money away/budgeting, wall planners, laying out clothes ahead of time.

I got out an old card index today, to start on doing a fortnight's rota of meals.
I've got 4

Anyone more organised than I fancy sharing their meal plan rota?
Please?
I know meals are very individual to families, and what suits you may not suit me, but I'll take inspiration from wherever.

My 4 so far are:
1.meatballs and spaghetti, and

1. mince with whatever pasta on night no.2.
2. Chorizo or mushroom risotto.
3. Chicken pasta bake.

Following this thread.

Hoping to save some.of wages for Christmas. And also any earnings from online activities for Christmas too.

Brilliant thread. I’ve taken loads of ideas.

Things that helped me last year were setting up a seasonal capsule wardrobe (along the lines of 333 though I did have a good bit more than 33 items). But by not having clothes I won’t/don’t wear in my wardrobe it was much easier to pull outfits together, plus I could see what pieces were missing and buy those instead of adding random pieces and still never having very many outfits. I’m much more put together since I started doing this and the mental load is less.

Putting on the dishwasher every single night. This one is a game changer for me. If it’s half empty I send the dc to look for random cups in their rooms. I’ve also been getting rid of things that can’t go in the dishwasher and buying with that in mind (eg plain steel water bottles are fine, painted is not). Starting the day with an empty dishwasher and not ending up with it full in the afternoon and piles mounting up has all reduced the kitchen clutter.

Getting a milk delivery, even though it’s technically more expensive, has saved me a fortune in time and money by keeping me out of the shops.

I got a small table top folding ironing board from ikea and I keep my iron beside the drier and as I empty the drier I quickly iron. Most things only need a quick press on a hem or a collar but if they’re left to cool are full of wrinkles. Takes me about 2 minutes longer to empty a drier but saves me at least 20 minutes of ironing.

I’m off to order a years worth of cards now. Genius!

I bought a set of see through make up bags from boots, one set for each of my handbags. In one bag I have actual makeup, in another painkillers, sanpro etc, in another electricals - headphones, chargers etc. In on my ‘weekend’ handbag’ I’ve used the biggest one to put a spare set of clothes for my 4 year old and non perishable snacks and drinks, and another ones holds a small selection of cars and colouring pens. Nothing is allowed to be loose in my bags, everything has to go in one of the pouches - then whenever I need something I just pull out the relevant ouch and there it is - no more rummaging in the depths!

JontyDoggle that is such a good idea. I waste ages rummaging for things in my bag. I totally doing that one.

@DuchessDumbarton, these are some that we have on our meal plan...

Stir fry with noodles/rice/prawn crackers/mini spring rolls
Sausage and mash
Toad in the hole
Quiche and salad
Lasagne
Puff pastry tart topped with pesto, cherry toms, ham and grated cheese
Turkey, ham and leek pie
Chicken wraps
Pizza
Chicken and chorizo ragu (BBC Good Food recipe)
Spaghetti carbonara
Tuna and spinach cannelloni
Chicken korma
Pesto chicken bake
Pork chops in orange mustard sauce

We also have nights where we eat simple things eg soup and sandwiches, scrambled egg, chicken kiev, etc

Great thread. Top tips from me include having a day for washing duvets and another for towels, and storing the bedding set inside the relevant pillowcase.

Need to get on this.

I’m currently decluttering and trying to get organised before I go back to work after nat leave at the end of jan. Two littlies (2 and 5m) and dh. And catface. So need to work out who does what and when.

Good point about towel and duvet days Keira, I did this for a while and it really helped but I've fallen out of the habit. That's one to restart

Those looking for money envelopes you can buy them on amazon in paper, plastic or felt versions

Thanks whoknows several on there that I had forgotten. Big fans of carbonara chez nous.
I need to find a quick and easy korma as we like that also; lovely with toasted garlic naan.
Think I'll have to do a summer and winter version

For those saving for Christmas check out your local credit union. (Most people will have one they can use). You save money each month and in my credit union there's a specific Christmas saver which locks your savings away until the 1st November. You get other perks, are protected by banking and credit union guarantees and might get a savings bonus.

Better than Park and similar IMHO.

Random one but how does everyone organise their digital content? I have about 1000 photos & screenshots on my phone but can never find the screenshots when I need. I also always have about 100 internet tabs open covering everything from fashion inspiration& holiday reviews

I still maintain that decluttering is the fastest way of staying on top of the daily grind.

Coming late to this and I've not read the full thread, but we use one of those money tins that's a sealed can with a slot at the top to save for Xmas. Once a month I put in 40 then at the end of each week we both clear our wallets of pound coins and put them in.
In fact we run two, one for Xmas one for spends on our main holiday. Always been very successful for us. I know you don't get interest but it's an easy pot of cash to generate

SciFiScream - excellent suggestion about looking into Credit Unions!

The Association of British Credit Unions Ltd (ABCUL) has a find your credit union website:
www.findyourcreditunion.co.uk/

And - all deposits in a credit union are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme up to £85,000 per person - just like banks.

I sort all my work clothes for the week ahead. I use the weather app so I know what to wear then put the whole outfit (including tights and accessories-necklace, scarf) on a hanger. Saves loads of time in the morning.

jonny I do this too. Although not see through pouches. I just use old make up bags etc. All different so I know what’s in what.

eugine I should do the clothes thing. But always forget. I generally have a rough idea of what I’m wearing the night before though.