9 Strategies to Save on Groceries

With gas prices at an all time high, are you searching for ways to reduce your spending in other areas? In our household, we’ve renewed our interest in using coupons and for added savings we target double-coupon days. Here I’ve offered 7 ways to save money on household groceries.

1. Cut coupons – Each Sunday I look forward to receiving the newspaper, where we receive upwards of 100 coupons in our Sunday newspaper.

2. Download coupons off the internet – Check out www.coolsavings.com or www.couponcart.com for great on-line deals on your favorite items.

3. Join frequent buyer clubs at your local grocers – These no-cost programs offer club members on select products. In my last grocery trip I saved $15 as a member of my local grocer’s club and another $10 in clipped coupons.

4. Join a local warehouse club – Locally we have a Costco and Sam’s Club, as well as a Super Target and Super Walmart, where I have found significant savings over our name brand supermarkets. The wholesale clubs can save you 20

5. Purchase generic brands and/or store brands – I have often compared store brands to name brands and find that there is rarely a difference between the two. In fact, like many other products we purchase (i.e., electronics, appliances), the same manufacturer that makes the name brand often manufactures the generic product.

6. Purchase fresh products instead of processed/packaged products – It’s no surprise that fresh unprocessed foods are healthier for us, but these foods not only save in calories, but are also less expensive than packaged and processed foods.

7. Prepare a List – when you go to the store with a plan, you are less likely to succumb to impulse purchases. Check out the ‘All Out Of’ shopping list notepad that allows you to create your grocery list as you deplete household items. It has a magnet on the back so you can affix it to your frig.

8. Shop your supermarket’s weekly specials – Each week we receive our local supermarket’s brochure of advertised specials, which often include two for one sales. These circulars will also advertise double-coupon days. During double-coupon days and two for one specials, I’ve taken the opportunity to stock up on often used staples.

9. Choose products on the top and bottom shelves – It is no accident that higher priced products appear at eye-level on our grocery shelves. These are often the smaller sizes of a product, which typically have a higher per unit cost.

Originally posted 2008-08-24 09:24:48. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Capture the Magic ~ Give your kids photo proof that Santa is real

I’m taking a break from organizing to tell you about this amazing website ~ Capture The Magic ~ where you can actually photograph Santa in YOUR house to give your kids proof that Santa is real.  Seeing is Believing!

You know how it goes … your kids want to stay up on Christmas eve to catch Santa in the act of leaving their presents. As parents we do our best to set the stage like putting out cookies and milk and carrots for the reindeer. I actually eat part of the carrot and take bites from the cookies to keep the magic alive for my kids.  I love to watch the wonder on their faces as they imagine that Santa was actually in our living room.

Now with the help of Capture The Magic you can actually give your kids photo proof that Santa was actually in your home.  Seeing is believing! Here’s how it works:

1. You take a photo of your living room
2. Upload the photo to the Capture The Magic website
3. Select a Santa image from the website that fits your living room photo (100′s to choose from)
4. Merge and blend the Santa image with your photo
5. Purchase your photo for just $9.95 (the 2nd photo is free)
6. Download your photo

Imagine the look on your kid’s faces when they see a picture of Santa in their home? Sure to be a hit for Christmas 2009. You’ve got to see it for yourself. Visit Capture The Magic!

Originally posted 2009-12-02 23:43:50. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Are you prepared for an emergency?

March is Red Cross Month. As we approach the season of increased weather related emergencies, we are reminded of the unprecidented natural disasters of 2008. At no time in my lifetime can I remember so many natural emergencies occurring so close together. 

Regardless of how busy our daily lives are, we must take personal responsibility for our own care and safety by developing a preparedness plan in the event of a national emergency.  As the Red Cross says “Help Starts with You.”  Preparedness is all about planning ahead, having what you need on hand, storing things in an accessible way and making sure you know what to do before you need to put that knowledge into practice. Even though predicting every disaster scenario is impossible, preparing the basics is smart and simple. Take the time NOW to accomplish the below steps and your family will be basically prepared for any natural or unnatural disaster.

• Prepare a Family Communication/Reunion Plan. The Plan enables your family to communicate and to meet during a disaster. It records all important phone numbers, email addresses, and meet-up locations so that family members can reach one another by phone, email or in person. But keep in mind that you may not be able to rely on land or mobile phone communication, so be sure to have a back up plan.
• Stock three days and three nights of provisions to get you through 72-hours of living without electricity. The provisions are obtainable at any Walmart or Target and most large grocery stores. Just add these items to your regular shopping list.
  • One gallon of water per person per day (for three days). For a family of four, you’ll need 12 gallons of water.
  • Ready to eat, non-perishable food (dried fruit, cereal. protein bars, canned food, crackers, soups, pasta, rice, peanut butter and jelly, pudding cups, powdered milk are highly recommended)
  • Paper plates, cups, dinnerware, paper towels, plastic food bags, plastic gloves and a manual can opener
  • One flashlight per person plus extra batteries
  • Travel size toiletries, including sun screen
  • A First Aid Kit for the home, one for the car and one for the grab and go bag.
• In a central location put a change of clothes for each family member plus extra underwear and blankets and basic toiletries like soap, toothbrush, shampoo, toilet paper and razors. Use a shelf, an extra large plastic trash bin, or an extra large plastic container for these items.
• Have a supply of cash for a 72-hour period. ATMs may not be an option.
• Prepare a supply of family over-the counter and prescription medicines.  Remember the pets too.
• Purchase a NOAA weather radio. Radio Shack, Walmart, Home Depot and Ace Hardware carry them. Set it for your county. It will tell you the status of the disaster, evacuation information, and alerts. Get a transistor radio with batteries. It will tell you local conditions, school closings, travel hazards, and local shelters. While you’re there pick up a landline telephone (it costs under $12.00)
• Pack a grab and go bag (backpack or small rolling luggage) in case you have to evacuate your home to a hotel, shelter or relative’s home. Keep it light with just the basics: toiletries, change of clothes, medicine, 2 bottles of water, protein bars and cell phone.
• One person in the family needs to carry a first aid kit.
• Depending on your family, add special items like extra eyeglasses, favorite plush toys, or portable electronic games.
• A dust mask, duck tape, scissors, a whistle, can opener and other similar items.
• Copy the contents of your wallet (both sides of credit cards, insurance cards, and license). Stick it in a grab and go bag.
• Prepare for the care of your pets too – food, water and food bowl, leash, a toy, medications, vet records.
• For a complete, portable document system, get a PortaVault at http://www.securitaonline.com.

Schedule a natural preparedness day to review your plan with your family. Everyone needs to take personal responsibility for their own safety when a natural disaster does occur. Then practice your family disaster plan at least twice per  year.

For more information on developing your family’s disaster plan, visit:

American Red Cross - “Help Starts With You”

www.Ready.gov

Originally posted 2009-03-17 10:50:07. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

NAPO-NC Responds to Quality of Life Study with Four Success Strategies

In the spirit of GO MONTH (Get Organized) I had to share the results of this recent study on Quality of Life as it relates to organization.

Triangle – RALEIGH, NC. – In a recent survey conducted by the National Association of Professional Organizers, 96% of respondents stated that they could gain more time at home if they were better organized, and a surprising 91% claimed the same in their professional lives. In fact, 71% went so far as to state that the quality of their lives would improve if they were more organized.

Clearly these numbers indicate why so many people make “getting organized” a New Year’s resolution. For those planning to tackle their personal or professional organization in 2011, the North Carolina chapter of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO-NC) offers the following strategies:

1. Be specific. Lori Bruhns, President of NAPO-NC, suggests that “’Getting organized’ is too vague for someone to actually tackle. Instead, we encourage people to specify ways in which they would like to become more organized, such as ‘I’d like to streamline my morning routine’ or ‘I want to leave work with a cleared desktop.’”

2. Take baby steps. NAPO-NC Treasurer Tracey Gritz, notes that “Sometimes a job seems insurmountable. Taken all at once, it may be. But, if you stop and list out all of the small steps that it takes to get to the end, you suddenly have series of very do-able tasks that will lead to the successful completion of your goal.”

3. Reward yourself. “Take the time to play a board game with your family, go out for coffee with a friend, invite people over to celebrate, or take a long bath to reflect how far you have come in the space,” states Stefanie Watkins, NAPO-NC’s Vice President.

4. Enlist support. Karen Krasner, Director of Community Relations for NAPO-NC, recommends “telling a friend or family member what you hope to accomplish and when you plan to finish. Ask them to keep you accountable by checking in with you periodically to see how it’s going.”

If you are one of the 96% of people who believe they could save time at home by being more organized, implement the above strategies and contact me! I can help with a one-on-one organizational assessment of your home or office and provide hands-on help to clear the clutter and simplify your life.  Call or e-mail: 317-867-1540 or jnusbaum (at) simplifiedspaces (dot) net.

Originally posted 2011-01-13 08:30:45. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

New BusyBodyBooks Personal & Family Grid Calendar Organizers are Available!

I’m thrilled to announce that the new BUSYBODYBOOK Personal & Family Grid Calendar/Organizers are ready to ship at The Simplified Home!

I think one of the best features of the BUSYBODYBOOK design is the grid design with 5 spacious columns to schedule, organize, and coordinate up to 5 individual family members or projects, side by side.

With BusyBodyBook planners, managing your and your family’s time is a breeze! BusyBodyBook family calendars provide each family member with their own column to organize and track their schedules and activities while coordinating with each other side by side. There are so many great features of the BusyBodyBook planners, but the grid design is what makes this planner/calendar far superior to a traditional block style calendar that forces one to fit all daily family activities into a small square block.

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The BBB Personal & Family Organizer is 7″ x 10″ in size and is available in two formats:

• Academic year (13 month) – Aug 2010 – Aug 2011
• Calendar year (12 month) – Jan 2011 – Dec 2011

Here are more great features of the BusyBodyBook planners to keep you organized:

2 Monthly Planners:
One planner to record birthdays & anniversaries! Another to note next year’s appointments and future events.

Full Page Months-at-a-Glance too:
Now full page Months-at-a-Glance will give you the big picture to plan for holidays, vacations, or special events. This is a new feature with the new 2010 release.

Key contact pages:
2 Pages for your emergency contact information, doctors, coaches, babysitters…

Removable shopping lists:
Perforated pages for creating handy grocery or gift lists. My clients love this feature!

2 Inside Pockets:
Inside front & back covers provide a deep pocket to hold important papers, receipts, coupons…

Bookmark:
Easily flip to the current week with this unique bookmark that grabs the spiral.

Notes Sections Galore:
A full page each week for notes, to do’s, lists, or alerts. Plenty of notes pages in back of BBB too to record and keep important information.

Sturdy, Clear Plastic Covers – Provide BBB’s beautiful covers with even more protection.

The column grid style is so versatile too – you can use columns to record and track school subjects, personal goals or an exercise routine.

Visit THE SIMPLIFIED HOME to learn more and to order.

There are a couple more BBB designs to let you know about, in future posts. Or visit here to learn more about the BusyBodyBook Wall Calendar, great for putting on the frig. where all family members can see.

Originally posted 2010-07-11 17:09:35. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Garage Sales 101 – Preparing, pricing and advertising

Here’s the next installment in our Garage Sales 101 series. Today I’ll talking about how to attract potential buyers for your sale, preparing your stuff and pricing.

Step 3: How to Attract Buyers to a Garage Sale

Advertising is obviously a very critical planning task – without bringing in lots of potential buyers, you cannot have a financially rewarding sale. The time and effort invested in having a garage sale is significant, so it makes sense to invest time in promoting your sale to ensure you get the biggest bang for your time investment. Here are some thoughts and tips for promoting your garage sale:

Advertise, Advertise, Advertise

Look for free or very low-cost ways to get the word out about your sale. Neighborhood newsletter, local community papers and signs strategically placed on the street are also good options.

• Capitalize on the internet – I’ve had two garage sales in the past two years and I found Craig’s List to be the best free way to advertise a garage sale.  Several visitors to my sale shared with me that they go to Craig’s List on Friday or Saturday morning to print out the garage sales they want to attend. Then they map their route. I did not do any paid advertising for either of my garage sales after I learned about Craig’s List. Another online resource is http://www.garagesalestracker.com/.
• E-mail friends and family who can pass it along to others. I even shared my garage sale information with Facebook friends and had two people attend that had read it on Facebook. One visitor from Facebook was actually an old high school friend who I’d not seen in 30 years.
• Signs – Make sure these are visible from a distance. Avoid pastel colors, and use block lettering. If your location is not obvious from the address, you will need to post directional signs on the day of the sale. Arrows at each corner also are helpful. Remember to remove the signs once your sale is over.

Step 4: Preparing the Stuff

As you prepare your items for sale, be sure to:

• Search through pockets, purses, and books. You may find items reflecting personal information such as credit cards, Social Security numbers, cards or pictures with sentimental value, or even money. I recall several years ago when I was selling some of my grandmother’s items when she was downsizing, I found a c. 1875 bill in one of her purses.
• Put big items in view of people from the street. This entices buyers to stop. Since certain items like tools, lawn mowers, and exercise and sports equipment seem to catch the eye of make shoppers, be sure these are among your visible items.
• Have bags and boxes available for customers. Begin collecting plastic and paper bags a week or two before your sale. There is no cost to you, and it is a nice convenience that is greatly appreciated by your buyers.
• Minimize buyer objections by sprucing up your items – Use all purpose cleaner or just damp rags to clean off and spruce up your items. I had a buyer once ask me to lower the price on a trash can because she would have to take it home and clean it.

Step 5: Show Me the Money

Now the fun part …setting prices.

Mark the items with a price. This will save constant questioning from potential buyers. Set a price that is realistic and allow for some typical negotiating – but never up – when bargaining with a customer. To price an item in good usable condition, a general rule of thumb is 25 percent to 30 percent of its original value.  Of course, age, style of item will play a part in pricing. For example, an old printer, even in good working condition, won’t bring in the typical 25-30% because of the type of item it is.  It may be hard to sell clothing or accessories in gently used or even new condition if either the style or color reflects its age.

Try to take the work out of looking. If you have lots of similar items like books, CDs or kitchen utensils, save time by simply putting a sign on the table or box indicating your prices. For example, pricing may be 50-cents each or three for $1. Piling all the items on a table or having multiple layers in a box is not conducive for easy shopping. If you take the time to arrange the items in some order, buyers may be more encouraged to browse. Try to set prices at whole dollar or half dollar amounts to make it easy and quick to make change.

Have sufficient money on hand to make change. I typically start with $50-$60 dollars in mostly small bills. Keep all money on your person, either in your pockets, in a money apron or a fanny pack. Money sitting around in an envelope or box is just too tempting if you get distracted. It is advisable not to accept checks.

Post a sign that says all sales are final. You don’t want someone asking for a refund if a cheaper substitute is found down the road.

Originally posted 2010-08-27 13:41:27. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

GO Month’s “Great Organizing Give Away”

Getting organized consistently tops the list of New Years Resolutions. Many people use the start of a new year to make goals to improve their lives, and becoming more organized can help save time and money, increase productivity, enhance one’s quality of life, and reduce stress. In fact, in its most recent national survey, the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) found that 91 percent felt they could be more efficient at work if they were better organized. Overall, 71 percent indicated their quality of life would improve with more organization.

Although just about everyone seems to understand the benefits of being organized, it’s not always easy to figure out just where to start.  To offer people solutions to become more organized in their office, with their time and in their home, professional organizers from around the globe are joining together to participate in the first ever “Great Organizing Give Away” to celebrate January as Get Organized (GO) month.

On January 25, 2010 seekers of organization and productivity wisdom can go to www.AskTheOrganizingExperts.com and sign up for free resources such as ebooks, tip sheets, audio programs and more as well as opportunities to enter into drawings for amazing prizes. Organizing information will be categorized into three main categories:

• your office
• your time
• your home

Business professionals, parents, students and seniors will all find expert resources to help them make 2010 their best year yet.

The Organizing Genie is excited to have been invited to participate in the Great Organizing Giveaway.  More details soon.

Happy GO Month!

Originally posted 2010-01-23 23:44:30. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

10 Tips For Keeping Your Office Files Organized

Keeping an organized office is an ongoing process, especially as you complete projects, work on new projects and keep up with all the ins and outs of additional daily jobs. Filing is a huge part of most businesses, and the need for filing. If you set up an organized system, updated forms and keep up with archiving as needed, your work will flow more efficiently. Daily work means a never-ending cycle, so an organized office is a great place to start.

Filing is a big part of most any office, whether it be a medical, insurance, daily correspondence, ongoing projects, accounting, personal, fax copies, incoming mail, research items, reference lists and a multitude of other needed items-all dependent on the need of the office.

Here are some tips to keep your office organized:

1. Develop a consistent naming system for electronic copies so you or anyone in your absence can easily locate files, as needed.

2. Name your documents, spread sheets and presentations something easy to recall for immediate and future reference, and save them in folders with like documents.

3. Keep a folder for current projects in a convenient place, like in a desktop file box, somewhere you’re able to check it daily.

4. Keep a cabinet within reach and set aside time daily for filing anything you need in a hard copy form.

5. Label notebooks, shelves and cabinets so you can quickly and easily access important resources.

6. Maintain a master index, a key to all your computer documents that allows quick access in locating needed files.

7. Purge documents on a regular basis, so information is current and easy to find.

8. Dispose of duplicate information, keeping the final copies only, allowing for room to accommodate new work and projects to be filed.

9. Follow retention guidelines so you’ll know how long to keep each file.

10. Date papers so you can quickly determine if they are outdated-keeping the newest/most recent dated pages on top.

These tips can help you keep an organized filing system, both hard copies and electronic formats. With the multitude of paper created by everyone today, it’s best to switch over to an electronic system as much as possible. This will both eliminate the excessive need for physical space, as well as help the environment with eliminating over use of paper. When possible recycle purged files to help the environment. And the best part for everyone is less paper equals less hassle equals less stress, and the ability to be more efficient overall.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mandye_Mason

Originally posted 2011-03-05 17:41:09. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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