Organize Your House: Twenty Organizing Tips

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

By Karin E. Fried

There are numerous things that we can do every day to keep ourselves organized. Here are a few tips that can help you become more organized.

Closet:

Stick to the " one-for-one " rule. After you buy a new piece of clothing, get rid of one piece. This will save space in your closet and make you think about your purchase before hand if you know that you have to get rid of something.
Keep like items together. Sweaters, skirts, dresses, pants... Keep like colors together.
At least twice a year (maybe the spring and fall) go through your closet and get rid of clothes that you haven't worn in a while, don't fit or you are just plain tired of. Remember to donate them to an organization or church group.

Kitchen:

Keep a pre-printed grocery list in your kitchen and as you run out of things just check them off on the list and you will never again forget something while you're in the store.
Plan your meals a week ahead of time and make your grocery list at the same time. That way you will have all of the ingredients needed for each meal.
Use baskets in your kitchen cabinets for snacks (it takes up less room than keeping them in the original container). For kids put the baskets on a lower level shelf.
Use organizing dividers in your drawers to keep your utensils in place.

Office:

Only keep essentials on your desk. When you are done working immediately put it back in a drawer.
Keep all of your office supplies in one place. Keep like items together.
Use some type of divider or baskets to keep your pens, paperclips, staples... organized.

Paper:

When going through your mail automatically throw the "junk" mail into the trash can.
File any bills that come in the mail in a "bills to pay" folder for paying at a later date.
Set aside a specific day or time every week (or two) to pay bills.
Set aside a specific day or time every week to do all of your filing.
Have one file for "taxes" and put anything related to taxes (W4's, financial statements, loan information...) in this file.

Car:

Keep a notebook and pen in your glove compartment. Great for notes or if you need to record mileage for business expenses.
Keep a few "cloth" bags in your car at all times. Great for grocery shopping (now that everyone is moving away from plastic). Also great to keep the clutter from spreading throughout the entire car.
Keep a basic emergency first aid kit in your car. You'll never know when you need that Band-Aid.

Special Occasions:

Buy all of your birthday cards for the year at once. Address them and write the persons birthdate in pencil in the upper right hand corner where the stamp would go. Then put them into a pendaflex folder labeled by month. Near the end of the month look at the next month and pull out the cards that need to be mailed. You will never miss a birthday again.
Have a "present" closet or shelf. Keep a supply of basic items such as candles, stationary, games...so that you will always have something on hand if case you need a last minute gift. Stock up on items when there is a sale.

Happy Organizing!

Organize Your House