past tips

June 2010 - lost socks

How to find the pair to the lost sock.

OK, we agree this isn't rocket science BUT - it happens to everyone more than once.

It's never been explained how 10 socks go into the wash, but only 9 come out, but if you put that single sock back in the drawer waiting for the pair to turn up - it never does.

SO, put them in a small basket in the laundry or in a bag on the back of the door knob - by keeping these lost socks separate, you WILL find the pair - eventually.

NOT all organising is time consuming - it's simply solutions to frustration!

May 2010 - staying focused

How to stay focused when you're trying to organise

When the organising bug hits you, don't get distracted or you'll lose interest.

When people are trying to organise a room, the biggest distraction happens when you come across items that don't belong. You then leave the room to return those items and very quickly you're distracted and you stop what you were doing.

IF THIS IS YOU - THE ANWER IS EASY. When organising a room, have an empty box or washing basket on hand. If you find items that don't belong in that room, toss them in there and deal with them later.

That way you stay focused on the job at hand.

[Some of you will know we say handle things once, but not when you're working on a whole room. Handling things once is for every day items.]

April 2010 - Winter is coming

Have you ever thought about washing or cleaning your doona or quilt?

Yes you can wash them in your bath, but really can you imagine the mess.

Your local dry cleaners will clean and deodorise them.

For something that sits on your bed every day of the year (not to mention covering you), it's worth thinking about!

March 2010 - 10 minutes organising

10 minute organising ideas

How many times have you said that you don't have time to get organised. Break it down and you'll eventually get there:

UTENSIL DRAWER: Empty it onto the bench. Remove what's broken or you don't use. Wipe it over and put items back.
BED-SIDE DRAWER: Empty onto bed, remove what you don't need or shouldn't be there and put back.
UNDERWEAR DRAWER: Empty onto bed, remove undies with no elastic, bras with 1 underwire - wipe out drawer and put back.
LAUNDRY CUPBOARD: Remove empty bottles and samples you'll never use. Group like things together.
UNDER KITCHEN SINK: Remove everything, wipe it clean. Remove rubbish and stuff you've shoved under here and group like things together.
VEGETABLE CRISPERS: Remove, wash in hot water, wipe over bottom of fridge and put back your 1 good carrot!
PEN & PENCIL DRAWER: Remove everything, wipe it over, put back only pens etc. that work. You don't need 100 pens!
COOK BOOKS: Be ruthless! Remove any cookbook you don't use.
LINEN PRESS: Make sure your towels that you use all the time are on the shelf at eye level.
COMPUTER DESK: Keep only what you use at the computer in the desk drawers. Group like things together.

Feb 2010 - organise your medications

Organise your medications & first-aid supplies

It's amazing how many different ways we've seen these two 'essential supplies' being stored.

Again it's DIVIDE & CONQUER. A great spot out of the reach of kids, is the little cupboard above the fridge or stove area. Buy 2 baskets that fit the space and put medications, panadol etc. in one and band-aids, creams and lotions etc. in the other one. (Obviously some medications should be in the fridge).

Unless you're on an isolated property hours from a chemist or supermarket, there's no need for these baskets to be the size of a washing basket. Keep your supplies small and you'll use them before they expire.

December 2009 - how to make a list

Making a list and checking it off!

Imagine the chaos on Christmas eve if Santa didn't have his list!

With New Year Resolutions around the corner, there'll be lists being written all over the world. The art of getting things done is not just writing the list, but teaching yourself to do the list. Make your list small! A list with 100 things on it will never be completed.

How to complete 5 small things each week:

In your organisers, write down the bottom of each page 1 thing you want to complete that day. Then test yourself to complete all 5 things.

These are not life altering events, just little tasks that you've been meaning to do but never get around to.

With 52 weeks in the year, that's 260 little tasks you can do in 2010.

Going on holidays? See 'How To' for our packing list.

November 2009 - has the warranty expired?

I wonder if it's still under warranty?

How often do we ask ourselves that question only to find out it expired 3 days prior!

With this clever tip, you'll know exactly if it's under warranty, without searching through receipts!

Using the Stick'n Go® Cable Labels ~ when you purchase an electrical appliance, label the end of the electrical cord and write on the warranty expiry date. Done!

This tip takes less than a minute, but will save you hours searching for receipts of expired items.

Most items have 12 months warranty, but there are some with 2-3 years, like better quality hair-straighteners, cameras etc.

In this electronic age, the more we use these Stick'n Go® Cable Labels, the more we believe every house-hold should have a packet in their stationery supplies.

Order on-line today

October 2009 - Spring freshen up

Here's some quick and cheap ideas to freshen up your home interiors:

* New cushion covers can change a look quickly and cheaply;

* Photo frames - buy some modern frames to replace your old ceramic or folk art frames; the difference is amazing.

* New placements for the table;

* Flowers or potted colour is cheap and chearful;

* Put the winter throw & blankets away;

* A few new accessories or runner on the table or just a new lamp shade in a fresh new colour changes the look;

* Buy a modern magazine holder;

* Also, simply replacing your back door mat, excites those of us who don't have a life.

September 2009 - movie film & slides

Thanks to technology making our lives easier - many of us, or our families, have slides and movies in our cupboards that we can no longer watch!

Thanks to technology! You can buy slide scanners that scan your slide into your computer, so you can keep them on a disc to watch, or have made into photographs. As for movies, every good photographic/camera place can convert your movies to DVD. If you have a new recordable hard drive, you can plug in your VCR or Video Camer and record tapes straight onto the hard drive and then onto a DVD. (you might have to read your manual for this one).

Aldi sometimes sells the slide scanner, but again, you get what you pay for in regards to the quality of the scan. But, this is a great present for the retired father who has a lifetime on slides.

Although it's time consuming to transfer from one technology to another, it's important to try and keep up to date. Afterall, what price can you put on memories!

August 2009 - pegs, cheap & useful

* seal opened packets of food (particularly cereal and chips etc.)

* seal packets of dry pet food

* great on the end of the rolled up toothpaste

* glue one to the pantry door to hold a pen

* attach one to your organiser front cover to hold a pen on the inside cover

* secure the doona to the doona cover to help get the cover on (an extra pair of hands)

* can be used for craft

* musicians use them to hold their sheet music to stands

* Here's a new one: you can use them to hang out your clothes!

July 2009 - set a limit

We buy magazines for many reasons - a casual read, decorating inspiration, meal ideas or an excuse for a cup of tea and tim tam...

Why do we have to keep them indefinitely?

If you're the type that HAS to keep them all, you have to set yourself a LIMIT.

There are many magazine holders on the market, most generally hold around 30 magazines. THAT'S HEAPS!

If your magazine holder is full, each time you buy a new magazine, you've got to get rid of one!

It's called the '1 in 1 out' rule.

Speed Limits are there to stop us crashing - setting limits for your 'stuff' will stop you 'hoarding'.

June 2009 - memories without clutter

We love to keep a wide variety of possessions and objects from either our kids, relatives or our own, but they can deteriorate over time and can fast turn into clutter. Here's a clever way to keep the memories, without having to keep the possessions.

As hard as it might be to throw away something grandmas given you, your favourite shoes you tramped around Europe in, or your child's artwork, these all over time age and add to your clutter.

Why not take a photo to have a permanent record and either put them in the relevant photo album, frame it, or make a memories folder.

Simply buy an A4 display folder (one with quality plastic sleeves) and if you print it onto glossy photo paper, it'll look even better.

You can also make a disc copy of your memories, as these will last forever.

(Now that you have a glossy, lasting memory of the object, throw it out.)

May 2009 - handle it once

One of the rules of organising: "handle it once".

I can hear my dad saying, "Don't put it down put it away". Little does he know, it's now one of the organsing tips we teach people. Not quite in the same tone.

No matter how you say it, it means the same thing. Reduce the time you handle and think about something.

Dealing with Mail, is a perfect example:

You would be suprised how much time, and thinking, is wasted when you bring in the mail, open it and then place it in a pile for later. Then later, you might sort it into more piles: throw out pile, file pile and keep pile. Then the next day when the piles have grown and have blended back together, you have to start again.

A good sort says :- pick it up, action it and finish with it.

* Open the first letter, electricity bill, write in my.organiser when it's due and file it in the due this week pocket of the respective week.

* Birthday invitation, write in my.organiser and one week before the party a reminder to buy the present and card, then file invitation in the due this week pocket.

* Council clean up notice, go through my.organiser and write in all the clean up dates, go back to the weekend before and make a note to get stuff ready. THROW OUT THE NOTICE!

You have now saved soooo much time by only handling this mail once. Now you have spare time for a walk or a coffee with a friend.

This rule is not only for mail, it is for everything you (and everyone else in the house-hold) pick-up.

When you pick up a pair of shoes at the back door put them straight on the shoe rack not just in the laundry. When you give your son his ironed clothes make sure he hangs them straight up, not put them on the bed only to be needing an iron the next day.

April 2009 - homework hub

Homework is a never ending pile of exercise books, text books, pencils, rulers, calculators etc.

It is a big part of your daily lives, especially up to 6th class and some homework stays at home for the week, not returning until Friday. Do you really want it on the table?

Just a little thought is needed and you'll wonder why you didn't do something about it before now.

Somewhere, where your kids do their homework, which is generally close to the kitchen, find a place to create a 'Homework Hub'.

There are many different products on the market that can help, it all depends on the space you have and how many kids you have.

Ideally, you want to allocate a drawer, filing tray, magazine holder etc. to each child. This is where their homework goes at the end of each day. Label the drawer.

If they have particular pencils, calculators etc. that they use, throw them in here as well, if space permits.

These trays or drawers may go at the end of a cupboard, or in a cupboard somewhere in the kitchen/family room. Have a good look around and see what you can juggle. Howards Storage have several trays on wheels, meant for personal items in bathrooms etc, but depending on the size, work just as well for a Homework hub.

March 2009 - organising photos

Let's make a start on organising those photos?

We all have boxes of photos in the cupboard and we're going to get them organised one day. Here's the best way to get started.

Go out now and buy a good quality photo album - any photo developing store has them. (Don't buy the ones that stick down under the clear plastic, they're not good for your photos). Look for one with slip in clear pockets, usually 3 to a page.

Label it 2009.

Now when you print your photos, because you've got somewhere to put them, you will. You don't need to write on the back if you're writing in the album next to the photo. The most important information is the date, who's in the photo and what was the occasion.

This will take care of all your photos from now into the future.

NOW, how to get the rest of the photos organised?

If you like the album you've bought for 2009, go and buy as many as you can of the same one. Get them for mothers day if you need an excuse.

Don't try to start and finish this project in one day, because it'll take months, sorry, but it's true. Just do 10 minutes here and there.

Try to sort the photos into piles in years i.e. 2008, 2007, 2006... Look at the hair cuts of your kids, it really helps you to work out what year it was.

Pick a year, 2008 is best, as it's fresh in your mind. Sort the photos into more piles by month order, then start slipping them into an album, that you've labelled 2008.

Remember, you don't have to keep 5 photos of the same sunset! 1 is enough!

February 2009 - information hub

Do you have an information hub?

An information hub is basically a personal assistant to your family.

It ensures your paperwork and schedules are all in order. It's worth investing time and money to ensure it is set-up correctly and works efficiently. It is best in a central location, usually in the kitchen near the phone. It's accessible by all members of the family.

It consists of an organiser/calendar of some type (naturally we recommend my.organiser), basic stationery items and somewhere to contain your mail until you're ready to open it and deal with it. Your phone books and phone directory should also be handy. You can also, throw your keys here and some loose change.

The examples above should be thrown out!

Yes, the pineapple whilst in Queensland might've been agood idea, it won't work.

Yes, the kids paddle pop craft is sentimental, but it won't work either.

~ and thank goodness folkart has long gone!!

Organiser requirements: First of all you have to only use one form of calendar.

In an organisr, a week to a view diary is best, with plenty of room to write appointments and additional information. There are many on the market, but my.organiser is the only one that tackles the issue of where to put your bills and paperwork until they're needed.

Basic stationery items: pens, pencils, note pads, scissors, sticky tape, stapler, hole punch, eraser, glue,paper clips, ruler, calculator, rubber bands, envelopes and stamps.

Contain your mail: not everyone opens their mail immediately, like Sally Ann, for those who don't, there needs to be a spot to throw it. For example, a small basket, a decorative box or a platter. This should be no bigger than a ream of paper in size and is not to be come a dumping ground never to be looked at.

December - present box

Do you have a present box?

How many times have you had to race to the shops to buy an unexpected birthday present or gift.

A simple way to be organised is to set up a 'present box' at home - you can use an unused picnic basket, a drawer, a box on a shelf...

Just by having a few items on hand can really save you.

Christmas sales are a great time to stock up on a few items, so if you see a few things on sale, grab them: DVD's, pencil cases, soaps etc.

P.S. What do you do with all those unwanted Christmas presents? Put them in your present box.

November - backing up computers

organising your hard-drive back-up

We all rely on our computers so much these days, not only for work, but school work, assignments and most importantly photos. How often do you back your hard-drive up? Probably never.

Here is a great gadget that is easy to use and cheap. It also makes your data/photos transportable.

USB Portable Hard Disk Drive. For around $100-$120 you can purchase these from any computer/stationery outlet. They're smaller than the average wallet and vary in storage capacity, so have a look.

Of course, once you've backed-up your computer, store this in a different location. i.e. not next to the computer.

October - organise the kids

It is possible to teach kids to organise themselves. Persistance is the key!

Remember, it takes 21 days to make something new a habit, so persist in the nagging

(sorry... helpful guidance)

Photos: Simply blue tac them onto a canvas and hang on the wall with a 3M removable hook.

Posters/kids drawings: Don't like them stuck everywhere? Blue tac them onto a canvas. They can change them as often as they like.

For both of the above, you can re-use old canvases the kids painted years ago. Just paint over in 1 bold colour, then stick on your photos and posters.

Dirty Clothes on the floor? Buy a simple container/basket (not one with a lid, they won't remove it and if they do, they won't replace it). Encourage them to throw their dirty clothes in it. Make it a game, see how far away they can stand and still get them in! Once they can manage this and as they get older add another step i.e. get them to bring them to the laundry.

Toys: (or the dreaded leggo) If there's something they use all the time, but have trouble putting back into the 'original' box. Buy a plastic container that they can access and return easily. Don't label it if they can't read. Stick a piece of the leggo/or a picture on the outside.

Teenagers: If they have a desk, make sure they have a supply of pens, a stapler, scissors, hole punch, plastic sleeves, note pads etc. If they have what they need at their finger tips, they might actually sit there and work. Officeworks have a great range of cork boards & whiteboards and combination boards in various sizes. Attach one to the back of their door and get them to use it as their 'organising' spot. Teach them to organise themselves.

The trick to teaching kids is to make it simple.

Once they've mastered the simple task, add another step to it.

Teaching kids the simple job of making their bed each morning (or at least attempting to) and putting their things away teaches them respect. Start while your kids are young. Don't wait until they're teenagers, because by then they don't listen to you - because they know everything!

(Gee, can you tell we both have teenagers!)

September - your mobile phone

Use your mobile phone to get organised!

As we're all aware, mobile phones are no longer just phones. Mobiles have many functions we don't use but there is one we think is great. Most phones have a 'reminder' or 'calendar' function which works in conjunction with an alarm. Instead of writing little notes to yourself, that you inevitably lose, or forget to take with you, take a moment to learn this function. If there's something you need to do tomorrow put it in the 'reminder' and set the alarm for first thing in the morning so you remember to do it. If you need to pick up the drycleaning on Wednesday put it in and set it to remind you on Wednseday. If you need to take cakes to a cake stall on Thursday set it to remind you on Wednesday so you have time to bake. You wont forget those little things any more.

August - vegetable crisper

Do you find the vegetable crisper in your fridge, too low and difficult to access NOT to mention a pain in the neck to clean?

Our solution: Use 1 or 2 large air tight plastic containers on the bottom shelf of your fridge for all your vegetables instead. When preparing dinner simply put the container onto your bench to easily see what veges you have. It's also easier to keep check of what's going off and needs throwing out. No need for plastic bags any more, empty everything straight into the container. If it's air tight the vegetables will last for ages. Use your vegetable crisper to store things like poppers, medications requiring refrigeration, unopened bottles of juice, fresh pasta etc. Try it, you'll never have to clean those crispers again.