Category: Motivation

Create Money, Space and Peace of Mind in The Pantry This Week!

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(Original publication, 2010!!)

I gave my kitchen some attention this past week.   I cleaned out and assessed one cabinet a night every night, after dinner.  I spent less than 20 minutes on each cabinet, and now I am done.

Cabinet by cabinet, I made sure that what I have in each place is what I need there.  For example, all baking supplies are together, as are the serving dishes for parties. I put my soup pot in a more user-friendly spot for winter.  I purged anything un-used and un-necessary.

One of my favorite kitchen organizing strategies this time of year is Pantry Shopping. Here’s the definition: “figure out what you have and use it”. Pretty low tech, I know, but it is oh-so-useful this time of year!  Pantry shopping benefits you and your kitchen in a number of ways:

  • Take this opportunity to assess what you have on hand, and put it in a useful spot.
  • Open up some space and clear some clutter before holiday cooking and baking takes over.
  • Save money at the grocery by using up what you have instead of buying more.
  • Share with people less fortunate that you, if you can, and be a responsible steward of what you have.
  • Use items before their expiration date.


So, take some time this week to go through your cabinets, refrigerator, freezer and pantry.  Determine what you have on hand and if there is an excess in any area.  For example, I know my freezer space is always at a premium once I start my holiday baking, so I will use up the big bulky and boxed items this month, making room for other things.  I also keep a stock pile of canned and non-perishable goods during the winter months, but I can still see that 12 cans of green beans is excessive (though I do love Costco!), so we’ll add green beans to a couple of meals this week.

We will enjoy the cheaper grocery bills that come with pantry shopping, knowing that the expensive holiday cooking is just around the corner. We will limit the shopping to produce, dairy and bread as long as we can.  There may be some odd food combinations as we use things up, but that is literally a small price to pay!

We will also take this opportunity for a teachable moment and have the kids help me bag up extra food we have on hand and drop them off at our local Food Pantry.  We also talk about what is necessary to make a healthy meal (protein, veggie, complex carb), so a double teaching bonus!

I usually attribute this concept to Mary Hunt, in either Cheapskate in the Kitchen or Debt-Proof Your Holidays, but checking those books yesterday, awesome reads by the way, did not yield proof.  It could be from her newsletters over the year.  Mostly, I just want to give the idea person his or her props, so I hope I did.

Spend a little time this week in your kitchen, and reap the benefits for months to come!

I Climbed A Wall

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I Climbed A Wall.   This may not seem noteworthy, but for me, it is.  I am not a very athletic person.  I walked my first 5K last week, and got timed for 3.2 miles, all of which was a great experience.  But if I am looking for motivation in life, my mind goes to when I Climbed a Wall.

     My oldest son opted for an indoor rock-climbing place for his birthday party this past Spring.  I am The Mom, in charge of all things Birthday Party, and did not plan on climbing, but one of our climbers opted out, and we had the space.

     Here is what I learned, and what you can learn from facing your own challenges: 

  • We are stronger than we think.  
  • Sometimes we need cheerleaders, even if they are a group of pre-teens (my son and his friends) or total strangers.
  • Traveling light is easier.  My slender but strong pre-teen scaled the wall in no time flat.  Proof that traveling light but strong is easier than traveling weighed down by stuff.
  • Sometimes Help Is Necessary.  For safety and inspiration and perspective. 
  • Good tools can amplify your strength.  My Belayer (definition:  He or she who holds the rope for the climber) was a tiny, slender 20-something, and I was convinced that if I fell, I would crush us both.  She assured me that the pulley, hooks, ropes, etc., that were hooked to the wall above me, would provide more than enough assistance.  And she was right.
  • Sometimes what is most important is at your fingertips, sometimes it’s over your head, and sometimes it is at your feet.
  • Sometimes others see things more clearly than I do.  A change in perspective can make all the difference.  I could not see my next toe or hand hold, but someone standing back and looking at my situation could see things better than me.
  • Sometimes we have to Just DO IT.  I had not planned to climb that day, but we had paid for one more climber than we had, so I decided to give it a try.  And I am glad that I did.   

     My Belayer would not let me quit.  Even though I really wanted to, because climbing is really hard work.  From her vantage point, she could see I only had a few more feet to climb to reach the top.  She told me to LOOK UP and SEE, and that made all the difference.

     For the first few days, I felt the muscle ache, but took it as a sign of accomplishment.  Five months later, the ache is long gone, and I get a swell of pride and confidence and inspiration when I think back to that day.  So if I face a challenge, I’ll say Bring It.  You can’t scare me.  I Climbed a Wall.  And You Can, Too.

The Last Ten Minutes

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I’m not talking about the past ten minutes, any 10 minutes, or your last 10 minutes on earth.  Nothing as deep as that.  How you spend the last 10 minutes of a work activity can greatly impact your entire day tomorrow or week this week.

We are taught from a young age to put our toys away when we are done with them.  We do this because the teacher or mom told us to, and so that the play room looks nice, and our toys won’t be stepped on and we’ll be able to find the toys again the next time we want to play with them. 

Now, let’s translate this into big-people terms, in the home or office.  The next time you spend an hour at your desk or the table paying bills, spend the last 10 minutes actually filing the paid bill stubs in the right month or category, so the space looks tidy, the papers are protected and you can find them if you need them again.  If you pay your bills on-line, spend those last 10 minutes printing your receipts to paper or PDF, and filing those and / or your email notices of payment in the appropriate sub folder on your computer (you can do categories or months on there, too!).     

If I am working with a client, the last 10 minutes of our session is spent:

  1. hauling trash and recycling out the door;
  2. loading up donations of clothes or electronics to leave the house or office, and delivering the “Going elsewhere in my home” pile;
  3. reviewing what we learned during this session;
  4. determining and discussing client homework; and
  5. scheduling our next appointment and what we want to do at that session.

We wrap up today, clean up our mess and look at our new organized space, then set up the plan for next time.  I am looking at my desk right now, and if I were my own client, my last 10 minutes would be spent:

  1. shredding the small shred pile accumulated today;
  2. filing stuff that needs to be filed for future retrieval (that is the only reason to keep anything, by the way); and
  3. Tossing the recyclable stuff in the bin in the kitchen.
  4. Then there is the “Going Somewhere” pile.  Today it all goes in my purse, and it includes both personal and professional items:
    • the note to go to the principal tomorrow about the Recycling Drive;
    • the campus map I need to find an office at a nearby university;
    • a check received against an invoice, which will be deposited;
    • a handwritten Get Well card to a friend; and
    • mail to be mailed.
    • Other example of “Going Somewhere” could be items I need to keep, but put elsewhere in my home, like bills to pay, calendar items, receipts, etc. 
  5. Now for my plan for tomorrow.  Tomorrow’s pile is actually in a Day of the Week folder, Tuesday to be specific.  It includes things I did not get finished today that I am moving ahead to tomorrow, and it also has things in it for Tuesday that I have added since last week.  Clients to call, work to do, classes to schedule, bills to pay, etc.   I can leave myself a note on urgent items, or even email it to myself as a reminder.  If I scout out these things today, it helps me to plan my day tomorrow and foresee any challenges to resolve.

So I shut the door on an office that is cleaned up and ready for tomorrow.  Imagine how much more productive my day will be tomorrow, spending those Last 10 Minutes in a useful way today!

Quick – Where are your Keys? Your Cell Phone?

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I attended a National Preparedness Month tele-seminar a few weeks ago.  We talked about big, life-changing events like 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina, and insurance, preparation and recovery.  The class reminded me that even little events have the capacity for rocking our world if we are unprepared.

     We need to be prepared for big events and big-to-us events. 

     I remember late night ER visits for croup with my babies.  Not big events for other people, but big and critical and terrifying to us at 2 am.  The same strategies work for all emergencies, big or small. 

     Let’s bring National Preparedness month down to a convenient pocket size.  Know, at all times, where a few vital items are.  They may be:

  1. Cell Phone (with contacts and calendar up to date);
  2. Car and house keys (clipped to my purse at the door at all times);
  3. Wallet and Insurance card (we each carry one in our wallets);
  4. Emergency medications (Diabetics can carry insulin and a snack, asthmatics carry inhalers, people with allergies carry epi-pens);
  5. Bag or purse:  When my boys were babies, we re-stocked the diaper bag the moment we got home.  You never know when you have to run out the door, for your own emergency or someone else’s.  And
  6. Family members and pets?  This sounds odd, but you need to know where all of your family members are sleeping each night.  We insist the kids sleep in their own beds every night for lots of reasons, but also because we need to be able to find them in the dark if there was a fire or an emergency.

     So, What are your vital items?  

     Make it a point to choose a home for these items and commit to putting them in their home every day, and know that you are ready to conquer your own emergencies.

Taking Care Of Business Tuesdays

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Last week, I mentioned my Monday Charger Morning.  It is Monday morning, I just got back from my 45 minutes of aerobic exercise, and put my house back together after a busy and fun weekend.  My stuff is charging and I am mostly caught up.  So I consider my Charger morning a success.  So on to Taking Care of Business!

I had a wonderful client (actually, all my clients are wonderful) who kept a “Take Care of Me Tuesday”.  Our 2 hour paper management session was part of that day, as was a thorough housecleaning and an appointment for something relaxing like a pedicure or massage. 

I use that idea still, in my business, as Taking Care of Business Tuesday. 

I love being a professional organizer.  It’s a great way to spend my days, helping people make their worlds work better.  I am also blessed because the same skills – excellent time, paper and clutter management – are necessary to run a business.  The drawback?  I feel compelled to be the organized person in every relationship.  It is up to me to follow-up, check in, and generally be on the ball all the time.  That is not really a problem, I am just always aware of it. 

 So, I carved out a morning to Take Care of Business.  On a typical Tuesday I could some or all of the following:

  • I look back at the past week and
    • Account for time spent with clients
    • Write up my banking deposit
    • Pay bills and create invoices for services rendered
    • Balance my check book and put info into Quicken
    • Check client appointment notes and follow-up on any Tasks I have (e.g., “forward article on closet organizing to K.”, “find place to recycle used TVs”)
  • Then I look at this week and
    • Post my blog and send my newsletter
    • Make sure my class bag is ready to go to class with handouts and visuals
    • Check in with my coaching clients
    • Confirm client appointments for this week
    • Follow up on any lingering emails from the weekend
  • Then I look ahead and
    • Back up my computer
    • Generate and post advertising flyers
    • Post upcoming classes on my Face Book page
    • Send out letters and emails to generate new classes at new sites

I like doing these things on Tuesday.  I read an article that said that Tuesday is the most productive day of the week, and from experience, I concur  (Accountemps, February, 2008).  Monday is for catching up, Tuesday is for action.  It also provides flexibility, if someone needs me on a Tuesday, I can move my TCB activities later in the week and still get it all done.  The day is not the point, though.

 The Point is that We need to set aside time for regular maintenance and progress in the pursuit of success.

Menu Planning Saves My Bacon

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I spent an hour this afternoon working on our menu plan for the next week, and I thought I would share the process with you.  Menu Planning is so easy, and reaps great rewards!  Saves us time and money, encourages good nutrition and cooking skills in my sons, keeps us eating family meals together at home. 

We started Menu Planning when we were young, married professionals.  Whoever got home from work first started dinner.  The Plan got even more important as our family grew, so I never had that sinking feeling at 5 pm that we have nothing to eat for dinner.

My sons help me with the Menu Planning.  For them, it ensures they get at least one of their favorite meals every week, and for me, I know that even my little guy knows how to build a meal, and what is important to daily nutrition.  We need protein, a carb and a fruit or veggie with most meals.  My oldest son mentioned that he and his Boy Scout Patrol were in charge of the menu for their next camping trip, and it was very gratifying to hear his menu, it was actually relatively balanced.    

To start, I sit at my computer, which holds both my calendar and my Menu Planning spreadsheet (just a calendar I made with blanks for dinner).  I look at our schedule for the next two weeks, and note on the Menu Plan any special events I need to cook for (dish to pass for a luncheon), any days we are going out or that I do not need to cook, and special occasions like a birthday or holiday that needs extra attention.   

In the same spreadsheet as my Menu Plan calendar, I have a list of 20 or 30 meals we all will eat, and I rotate them out on a seasonal basis (lots of grilling in the summer, love soups and chilis in the winter, etc.).  I usually just plan the entree for dinner (“lasagna, Crock Pot Pot Roast, Pork Chops”) and keep extra frozen veggies, etc., on hand, but I know some folks who plan the sides and salads (“Pork Chops, mashed potatoes and green beans”) ahead of time, and even breakfasts and lunches.   I also use my planning time as a chance to flip through new recipes I have found, to add to our calendar and perhaps to our repertoire.

We have assigned nights to the calendar:  Mondays – Soups, sandwiches, Tuesday – Italian, Wednesday – Mexican (we could have tacos every day and my family would be happy), Thursday – Grilling, Friday – Pizza.  This means I don’t have to wrack my brain every week to come up with new stuff.  On weekends we try new recipes (like the Chicken and Potato bake that is cooking right now and smells really good!), or I do more elaborate meals and we have folks over for dinner.

While I print up my Menu Plan, I also make out my grocery list.  I try to use up what I have on hand before buying more, so my menu items are often based on what is already in the freezer.  So, before you go shopping, shop your own cabinets first.  This saves me lots of money!  

And with planning,  I can organize my prep work for the menu items, like chopping carrots and pepper in one afternoon to use in two or three meals throughout the week, or cooking extra chicken to use for dinner this week and a soup next week.

My Menu Plan serves as a planning tool, of course.  Planning is great, but life still happens.  So, in addition to a Menu Plan, it also serves of an inventory of what is in the cabinets.  Because, let me tell you a secret, some nights you may need to improvise.  I am confident that if a meal is on My Plan, I have the ingredients on hand.   So, most days, because of my Menu Plan, I know what is in the kitchen and I know what’s for dinner, if we need something more company friendly, absolutely portable, vegetarian friendly, whatever.

 So, to review – why do we Menu Plan?

  • Saves time and money.  Helps us use our resources better.
  • Helps us feed our family nutritious meals that they like.
  • And if you still need a reason, studies who that children in families who eat together at home are less likely to get into trouble and are more likely to be at a healthy weight.

Bon App’etit!

My house lost 100s of pounds this week!

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May 27, 2010

Quite the pile of stuff has left my house this week.  I’m rather proud of us. 

  1. First, three bags of donations that had accumulated in our laundry room, plus two large toys my 5 year old decided he did not need anymore.  (He is really good at that!)
  2. In addition, I finally repaired the sleeping bag waiting in a basket in my laundry room.  I needed to determine if I could repair it, or if it required professional assistance.  And then I would have had to determine if it was worth the $20 repair bill, or if I should just let it go.  But I fixed it, at least for now, and reclaimed even more space in my laundry room.
  3. A borrowed tent went back to it’s rightful owner, along with a child’s wagon on loan. 
  4. Next, the pile of electronics I’ve collected from my own house and a few clients’ homes went to the electronics recycling place in a near suburb.  Whew!  My garage looks much better!
  5. Three boxes shipped off to Cartridges for Kids.  CFK sends money back to schools who submit specific items for recycling.  Our school had a recycling drive, so I am sending all items collected plus the stuff I collect from clients.  The FedEx will be picking up those large boxes today.
  6. A large box of flattened cardboard boxes went to the Green Recycling bin (another money maker for the kids) at school.  I had collected the boxes to use for the Recycling Drive, but I can let them go now that it is over.  I will not be storing these until Fall!  I’ll just get more if I need them.  Either our local printer or hardware store will help me out again, I am sure!
  7. 4 bags of paper recycling, and 2 bags of plastic recycling out at the curb with the trash. 
  8. A freezer bag of household batteries went to my friend Pat behind the camera counter at my local Walgreen’s for recycling. 
  9. Oh, and we released the 5 Painted Lady butterflies we raised from larva back to nature today. 

 You may now be saying, good for you Coll, what is your point?  So here it is:

  1. Just as we have a routine for things to enter our home (we call this shopping), we have to have a routine for things to leave our homes, too.   A basket in the laundry room for cast-offs, or taking advantage of trash day as an external motivator to have us clear out our papers and trash.
  2. Return borrowed items, and keep your own stuff moving out once you realize you no longer need it.
  3. Recycling helps everyone.  It’s not always the easiest option, but it the right thing to do, and it reaps rewards. 
  4. We can let things go without fear.  If we really need something again, someone else will probably have what we need and we can borrow it from them.  IT’s not as deep and philosophical as the circle of life, It’s just the circle of stuff.