Get Organized Mission #4: Forgo The Freebies

One of the fundamentals of the Get Organized Wizard philosophy is:

The less of anything you have, the easier it is to get organized and stay organized.

The problem with freebies is that although they may not cost you money, they always cost you in other ways, including time, added clutter and greater barriers to personal organization. Occasionally a freebie is worth the cost; most often it’s not.

Your mission this week is to adjust your mindset so that before you accept any freebie into your busy life, you ask yourself four questions:

Q1: How much money must I spend to get the freebie?

Q2: How much time must I spend to use the freebie?

Q3: How much mental clutter will the freebie create?

Q4: How much physical clutter will the freebie create?

*This is just an excerpt from #4 Mission*

Okay so now it is your turn!

It's Free 52 Missions

Get Organized Mission #3: Organize Your Bill Payment

Step 1: Gather copies of all your regular bills

Your regular bills might include:

• Mortgage/rent
• Utilities
• Internet
• Cell phone
• Landline
• Car loan payments
• Credit card payments
• School fees
• Subscriptions.

Step 2: Set up automatic bill payment where available

Many of your regular bills may be automatically payable each month from your back account or credit card. Check for details on the back of your bill or look up your account online.

You can generally set up automatic payment by phone, online, or by using an ancient type of admin called ‘a form’. (Don’t fight it – whatever effort you make now will be worth the saved time, money and hassle.)

It goes without saying that you need to be able to cover these bills from your credit card or bank account. But I’ve said it anyway.

Step 3: Set up internet banking or phone banking

Ideally, all your bills will be automatically payable. If so, your organizing mission is complete and you can spend any remaining time tidying your financial papers.

For any bills that aren’t automatically payable, set up internet banking or phone banking to pay these bills at your convenience. Phone, visit or get online to set up your accounts.

*This is just an excerpt from #3 Mission*

Okay so now it is your turn!

It's Free 52 Missions

Bright Star Kids

Get Organized Mission #2: Detox Your Briefcase/Tote/Bag

Step 1: Empty

Empty everything out of your bag (I’ll use this generic term for simplicity). Dust out any lingering detritus over a sink so your bag is lovely and clean.

Step 2: Wallet

If you have a separate pocketbook/wallet, start there.

• Remove old business cards, receipts, paper scraps, tissues, post-its, random hairclips, etc.
• Remove other items that don’t deserve the real estate – eg loyalty cards for stores you rarely visit, coffee cards you never remember to use, etc.
• Place the regularly used credit cards, store cards and ID in convenient locations in your wallet.
• Check any photos of loved ones are current and in good condition.

Step 3: Keys

Next, streamline your keys.

• Use a neat, functional keyring or case.
• Remove any keys you don’t need. If you don’t remember what they’re for, put them on a separate ‘Mystery’ keyring for later investigation.
• If you’re always fumbling with keys, consider putting them on the ring in the order you use them – eg, car, garage, mailbox, top lock, bottom lock.

Step 4: Make-Up Purse

Next, let’s tackle your make-up purse, make-up compartment in your bag, or for guys, any toiletries you carry with you.

• Remove items you don’t use regularly enough to justify their real estate.
• Discard anything old, in poor condition or funky smelling.
• Consider streamlining your daily essentials. Could you limit yourself to, say, a neutral lipstick or lipgloss, small tube of SPF hand cream, small blush with built-in mirror and brush, small mascara and small fragrance bottle?
• If you streamline the contents, consider downsizing your make-up purse too.

Step 5: Organize

Finally, return the streamlined items to your bag. Make use of compartments to help keep the contents organized.

*This is just an excerpt from #2 Mission*

Okay so now it is your turn!

It's Free 52 Missions

Bring Simplicity into your Life

By introducing simplicity you will be able to bring in some peace, remove the complications currently cluttering your life and allow you the room to breathe.

Life is getting so hectic and jam packed full of clutter, family responsibilities, work responsibilities, noise, expectations, interruptions, claims on your time, technology that promises to change your life, advertising that tells you to buy more, be thinner or look different. Wow that was one serious run-on sentence which definitely did not allow you room to breathe. But the point is to show you that a little simplicity will be just what you need this year.

It could be too much to simplify your whole life but let's look at areas where you could simplify in some way.

A few Simple Steps

To start the process of simplifying, you first need to understand the areas of your life that are most important and what is of real value to you. Once you have that understanding you will be able to decide where to simplify and get started.
To help you on your way start by simplifying your:

Clutter
For me this is an obvious place to start and a New Year is a great time to de clutter and have a good clear out. So many homes are bursting at the seams full of 'stuff' that is having a negative effect on lives. I would prefer 2010 to be positive for you, so clear out any possessions that are no longer important or have no value.

Wardrobe
This could be considered part of the clutter section but I feel it needs attention all of its own. It is so much simpler getting ready if everything in your wardrobe is something you like and fits. Sort through and clear out any items in your wardrobe that no longer goes with your new simplified life.

Paperwork
Paperwork continues to attack and fill homes. It is an area so many of my clients struggle with. Have you thought about receiving household bills online rather than in the post? Are there any magazine subscriptions you still receive but never have the time to read? One client regularly received a subscription based charity magazine and was orginally hesitant to cancel the subscription as they wanted to support the charity. Now the support continues through regular automated donations to the charity.

When it comes to the filing and any paperwork already in your home. If you are able to find the information online, there is no reason to keep it anymore.

Commitments
There can be this unhealthy drive to say yes to every activity, committee, party, request or invite you receive. This is an area where knowing what is important and of value in your life will help you to start saying no and simplify the commitments you take on. Make sure to simplify commitments for every adult and child in the family.

Mornings
Is there a regular system you can introduce to simplify your morning routine?

Weekends
Are you expecting to accomplish too much on the weekends and forgetting to spend time as a family? Again knowing what you value will help you decide how to spend you weekends.

As I mentioned earlier, you may not be able to simplify your whole life, but start the process by simplifying at least one area.

"Rachael Ross and Purely Peppermint can help you to achieve control over your clutter. Through the regular published Purely Peppermint newsletters you will learn hints, tips, tricks and better habits on how to deal with your clutter. If you want to get control now than access your own copy of our success secrets at www.purelypeppermint.com "

All done! I ended up with 11/2 bags. So I am pretty pleased with myself.

Week two, here I come!!

Get Organized Mission #1: Fill a Hu-u-uge Trash Bag

Step 1

Get a giant trash bag. (If you don’t have one find 20 small ones, or ask a neighbor, or go to the shops, or use boxes, or pile things up on a rug until you get to the shops tomorrow. There are no excuses!)

Step 2

Set a kitchen timer (or your clock radio or iPhone alarm, etc) for 30 minutes.

Step 3

Start filling the bag and continue doing so as you move through your house, until either the timer goes off or your bag is full.

Throw into the bag anything you don’t use, don’t like, that has negative associations, is broken or tatty, or is no longer your style. See below for room-by-room examples.

Step 4

Take it straight out to the trash or even the tip if you’re so motivated. Just be sure to remove the temptation to look in the bag or to rescue released items.

Dos & Don’ts

• Don’t try to organize rooms, cupboards or drawers at this stage.
  This mission is about getting rid of stuff so do keep an out-it-goes mindset.
• We’ll have another organizing mission for charity items, so don’t get bogged down with that now. I don’t suggest giving lame stuff to charity – decent, usable stuff: yes; crapola: no.
  So do feel fine about ditching all the dross.
• I want you to move fast – so don’t overthink it.
  If your gut feel is to release something from your life, then do toss it into the bag.

*This is just an excerpt from #1 Mission*

Okay so now it is your turn!

It's Free 52 Missions

The next mission is: Get Organized Mission #2:

De-tox Your Briefcase/Tote/Bag

Turn your Clutter into CASH!

I think this site is the next big thing to give Ebay a run for it's money. In the Forum of Simple Savings I have noticed that quite a few people have become disillusioned with the rising cost of selling items. I know that I am going to join up. I think it will appeal to the many of the SS members too!

For $1 per month or $10 per year, Flat Rate - you can sell anything you want, you can sell as much as you want, and you can sell for as long as you want! There are NO commissions and NO extra charges!

Whether your goal is to run an online store, turn your stuff into cash, shop for less, sell a car, find your staff, find a job, sell a house or rent a room, at $10 per year Flat Rate, sellers are the BIG winners!
At The SOC Exchange, they believe that you are not just selling an item, but that you actually own your piece of the net from which you can sell all your items.
At The SOC Exchange (pronounced sock) they believe if your hard work and good fortune yields you a profit, then yours it shall be!

At The SOC Exchange - your profit stays in your pocket!

If you join as a Buyer then the $10 per year, does not apply - Its FREE.

If you then choose to become a seller with all it's associated benefits, the $10 per year would apply.

Just Click on the logo and it will take you there.

Here is part of the email I received:

Congratulations, you are now a member of the SOC Exchange Australia.

You can now:

* Receive email alerts as to items, specials and promotions from your chosen sellers.
* Connect with your local sellers. Drill down your search of sellers to as close as 1 km from your location.
* State page search. Every day at 1pm your state homepage is refreshed with the first 15 sellers to list their website for the day. The daily race is on!
* Search for sellers by their website name, item, category or distance from your location.
* Interaction with sellers is easy via the icons on their websites.
* Write a review. Have your say about the sellers you purchase from. Express your opinion and share your experiences! Your opinion is ALWAYS IMPORTANT!

The Soc Exchange Australia is proud to support ...

MyInvites.com.au - Helping You Plan Your Party

Are you the type of person who prefers to be a guest at a party instead of the party planner. If you are, you definitely aren’t alone, planning a party is not an easy task. You must think of everything from the theme, to the guest list to the location.

MyInvites wants to help party planners by giving them a site where they can find tools to help them organize their party planning endeavors. The invitation making feature is the core part of the site. To make your invitations you can choose from a large selection of designs. After you have picked a design you can fill in the details of the party, time, location, dress code, etc…

Then you send your invitations to your guests and the rest is history. Some of the other very useful features are the toolbox and photo gallery.

The toolbox helps you outline a budget, choose a theme, and keep a to do list. Once the party is over you can save your photos in the gallery section.

MyInvites also helps you brainstorm venues, gift bags, party supplies and other parts of planning a party that can be easy to forget. Make planning your party easy and fun by going to MyInvites.

CLICK HERE: This really is a fun site to visit and it will be worth keeping an eye on.

The Butler Bag

OK, here is another idea to help you get organised when your out and about. Have you seen the Butler Bag? Why? because a girl needs a good bag to keep everything together when she's on the run, lets be honest it doesn't hurt to have one that looks this great and keeps us organised too!

A bag that is easy on the eye and available in many different styles, so no matter what your taste is there is a Butler Bag to suit you. Lets take a look inside, I think you would agree it is pretty special.

How Gorgeous is that? See all the sections to keep your stuff in place. So ladies now when you leave home, you will know exactly where your wallet, mobile and house or car keys are. No more emptying your bag out on to the nearest flat surface to find that one elusive item, yes i have been there and done that - too many times :-)

To check out the Styles and Colours available, CLICK HERE

More on - Goal For It

I would like to add a few personal thoughts in regards to this fantastic website. You have total control of all the charts you use. For parents who are struggling to get there young children through to teens to do chores, get them to sit with you at the computer and create their own chore chart. Children are much more likely to follow through if they have been involved in the process of making their chart. There is the added bonus of them being able to print off a copy for themselves and putting it up in there room. Should it go missing for any reason, well you have another interactive copy online. So no more excuses..........the dog can't eat that one :-)

Don't forget that there are also, to do lists, goal trackers, habits and goal charts and lists and goals that community members have chosen to share.

So remember go to:

http://www.goalforit.com/

I also thought it might be fitting for you to read about the creator of Goal For It, so in his own words let me introduce you to Michael.

"In the fall of 2007 I had a big health scare and my Doctor told me that I needed to make a lot of changes to my lifestyle: lose 30+ pounds, eat better, exercise, quit smoking and reduce the amount of stress I was putting on myself.

Needless to say, I found myself overwhelmed on how to get started on doing all of the lifestyle changes my Doctor advised me to do. After doing some research, I found lots of resources available regarding various ideas for developing good habits and effective goal setting.

But, they all fell short on providing a simple way for me to easily put my required lifestyle changes into action in my everyday life.

So, I created Goalforit to help address this need by providing easy-to-use practical solutions to help people master the art of getting the right things done, simply and effectively, and bring more focus and personal success into their everyday life.

If you have any suggestions on how I can make the experience better on Goalforit, you can contact me directly by clicking on the “Contact Us” tab above.

Wishing you great success in all that you do ... and I hope you find Goalforit helpful."

Michael