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Original poster

Tips for getting organised

119 replies

Bucketsofdinosaurs · 25/08/2006 08:43

Thought we must all have one tip that we cling to, no matter how disorganised we are about other things and with some of us starting schoolruns (or playschoolruns) in a few weeks now is a good time to pool our collective wisdom. My motivation is the more organised we are, the more time we have to take it easy. Hate being rushed!

Mine is to get/make a family organiser calendar with a column for each member of the family. VERY handy if you use childcare and forces partners to become a bit more aware of the rest of the family. "If it aint on the calendar, it aint happening."

OP posts:
Cappuccino · 30/08/2006 11:38

yes trinity's right you should all stop swopping your tips right now and go to the flylady thread

she'll sort you out

catrin · 30/08/2006 11:42

Another vote for calendar/menus/washing.
Buy birthday cards for people couple of months in advance and write them, leaving envelope open in case I need to add a note etc before posting. Buy spares just in case.
Write lists - I love a good list.
Freeze shed loads of food for dd incl. passata in ice cube trays so always have quick meals.
Tidy house and make sure kitchen clean before going to bed.
Sort post immediately - file, recycle or do. Hated having towering pile of bank reminders as a student that did not dare open.

jellybellie · 30/08/2006 12:25

Keep a to do list at all times...

Original poster
Bucketsofdinosaurs · 30/08/2006 13:19

On the subject of cards, there's usually a Phoenix Cards seller at any school fete / NCT Sale etc. They're lovely cards and never more than £1 each so worth buying a bargain variety pack for your 'giftwrap/spare presents/cards box.' They're usually local mums too (my SIL used to be one) so that's much nicer to support than Clintons or Hallmark.

OP posts:
hana · 30/08/2006 13:21

i do a phoenix card order about twice a year, spend £20 or so in one go, but so good to have something in cupboard when occasions come up! need to do antoher one ( and their new catalogue is just out.....) an no, I'm not an agent!

Original poster
Bucketsofdinosaurs · 30/08/2006 15:50

LOL my SIL is still giving us all her old stock as Xmas and birthday presents!

OP posts:
sorkycake · 30/08/2006 17:13

I make my own cards. I cut up birthday and Christmas cards every year and cull them for good borders, phrases, pic's, embellishments etc. I have a little box where I keep them and it has a calendar section, behind every month is a list of who needs a card, for what celebration and the month before, I make the cards up.
I have a box for gifts too. Every birthday where the kids get two of the same gift, one goes into the box with a label on stating from whom it came (so it doesn't go back to the giver by accident). The same goes for Christmas too. I estimate that about half of the gifts we give each year are 'recycled' in this way.

sorkycake · 30/08/2006 17:19

Should add that in the Calendar section of my box I also note what gift it is and whether I already have it in the box. This stops any panic buying as I know the occasion is covered. If there is no gift written by the name then the month before when I make up the card I note it on my to-do list.

I'm going to stop posting idea's I think cos' I'm not sure I'm going to be viewed in a favourable light at all now this knowledge is in the public domain .

Can I add something before I go. When paying bills I always write on the actual statement, the date I paid the bill, by what method (cheque, phone, net) the amount paid and sign it. That way when Dh is rummaging, as they do, he can see straightaway that it's been dealt with. I am very proud to say I have converted him and he now does the same!!

sorkycake · 30/08/2006 20:03

How many jigsaws do your kids have? Loads I bet.
How long do the crappy boxes last that they come in? Broke and taped up at the sides within a month? Running out of places to store them 'cos they take up too much space on shelves?

Then here's your solution
Buy clear zip lock bags, cut out the picture of the completed puzzle from the side of the box, then store together in the bag.
Bags can then be stored in one box. I found that where five jigsaw boxes once lived I now had one storage box with 30 jigsaws in, no lying!
Course you can take it one step further as I did
I got the puzzles out and me n kids finished them one by one, then I turned them over and wrote the number of pieces in the jigsaw (24), the subject (noddy) and the bag number it came from. I then put stickers on the zip-lock bags to muber them accordingly.

I do have a life, honest, I mean I'm up the duff so it's not all I do

sorkycake · 30/08/2006 20:05

number them accordingly.
It's so when you find a piece down the sofa you can put it back where it should be.

MadamePlatypus · 30/08/2006 20:08

sorkycake, I love your tips, please keep going! Great idea about jigsaws.

I am finding this thread very motivational. (Well its Wednesday - I find that the post Anthea motivation only lasts about 3 days)

sorkycake · 30/08/2006 20:14

I made little cotton drawstring bags for my 2.8yo for his dressing up outfits with a picture patch on the bag. When we tidy up he knows all his cowboy things go in the bag with the cowboy on it etc.
I did this because every night I was sick of picking up every dressing up item and putting it one giant box. He pulls everything out looking for one item (don't they all?)
Now if he wants something he knows which outfit it belongs to and knows where to find it.
I bought little pegs to hang them on 6 in total, and used the wall space for storage, freeing up a good chunk of valuable floor space. It also adds to the decoration of the room imo.
Want any more?

JackieNo · 30/08/2006 20:27

Sorkycake - are you Anthea Turner's better organised alter ego? You're amazing!

kittywits · 30/08/2006 20:30

Wow I am so impressed by these, especially the ideas for the jigsaws. The only thing I have to contribute really is something that has helped reduce the clutter and help with the organisation of kids' school, club, medical stuff, party invites etc. Instead of clogging up the notice board with papers that I can't find and then all fall on the floor when I'm looking, each child has got one of those see though plastic A4 leaflet holders that you often see in public buildings. These are attached to the wall in the kitchen under the general notice board and all stuff goes in there. I can empty the book bags etc after school and store stuff in. This method has been really helpful for me.

sorkycake · 30/08/2006 20:38

LOL I taught her everything she knows - not!

sorkycake · 30/08/2006 20:48

My Ds, 2.8, can pull books off the shelves but not put them back.
I got a storage box, about 20cmx30cm and took away the lid. I put his books in the box standing up so he just flicks through them as you would in the children's section of the library. Then he gets the book he wants because he can see the front of the book not just the spine. The box sits on the bottom shelf of his toy unit so he can get it easily.

kittywits · 30/08/2006 21:08

I bought one of those big book display racks that you see in schools and libraries. They fix easily to a wall and can store loads of books and it's easy for the child to see which book they want and to put them back ( well in theory!)

Original poster
Bucketsofdinosaurs · 30/08/2006 21:09

Oh I thought I'd invented the ziploc jigsaw bag! I was inspired by a Noddy floor puzzle that came in a ridiculously oversized box. Don't think I'll go as far as numbering the pices or labelling them but I do cut the picture from the box and pop it inside so they know what it's supposed to look like. I'm just happy having somewhere sensible to put missing pieces that turn up and DD actually enjoys putting them away.
Partners stationers had a good 2for1 offer on ziplocs lately, sturdy ones with metal zips.

OP posts:
babydrivertoo · 30/08/2006 21:47

Thanks for all the ideas folks. Sorkycake, if you ever fancy an extra challenge you're welcome round mine anytime.

Definite support for jigsaws in ziplocs - has helped preserve my sanity. One tip to pass on - we have a concertina file on the kitchen worksurface with pockets marked Water, Gas, Phone etc so I can straightaway put in the letters that just confirm standing orders etc, and bills once they're paid. Then when it bulges obscenely I only have to transfer sections into the filing rather than having to sort the pile from scratch.

More ideas please!

sorkycake · 30/08/2006 22:07

BofD I think we could become confirmed freaky friends!
It's amazing what ziploc bags are good for. I store buttons in the little ones (coloured natch), with the thread to match all in the same type of boxes.
I use low biscuit tins (1 1/2 in) as drawer dividers, people just throw them away after Christmas, but they're good for separating loads of stuff.
S/s spice jars w/lids from Ikea are used for holding safety pins, drawing pin, paper clips. These are all stored in a tin tray together. Pens go back in the empty ferrero rocher box in said tin tray.
To keep the kids occupied whilst cooking I have an area of storage under the stairs and in one box is a selection of scissors, glue, paper, crayons etc.
I got sick of carting things up and downstairs, so now I think about where it gets used and store it there or thereabouts.
I use the backs of doors to main cupboards for storage too.
I'm a huge fan of vacuum storage bags btw.
I have seen the shelving you mentioned Kittiwits but can't afford it atm, not much room as well but it's very nice.

bababoo · 31/08/2006 10:19

Anyone else feeling motivated to tidy but then just keeps reading? Feel bad now i've reached the end of the thread and might have to actually do something!!

bababoo · 31/08/2006 11:06

ooh ooh ooh i thought of one! when you're tidying a room, once you pick something up you're not allowed to put it down except in it's proper place. Then the room gets tidied instead of the mess moving about as always happens to me.

fullmoonfiend · 31/08/2006 13:36

sorkycake - will you come and be my personal organiser???!!
You chaps are amazing. Kittiwits - where did you get those a4 leaflet holders? That's a fab idea too!

sorkycake · 31/08/2006 13:37

Of course FMF!
Do you have cake? I'll go anywhere if there's cake!

fullmoonfiend · 31/08/2006 13:46

Of course I have cake - it's practically my religion! Unfortunately, I use making cakes as a diversion-tactic for actually doing anything else domestic or householdy

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