Hello to all my Frugal Friends!
Chaos. noun. complete disorder and confusion.
Ever feel like you're surrounded by chaos? Either at home, at work or in the world at large?
Can't speak for anyone else, but I don't like chaos. A feeling like events and my life is out of control. Not sure if that makes me a control freak or just a normal human being!
One way that I minimize the effects of chaos around me is to stay organized wherever I can. Whether it's my clothes closet, our pantry or my tool box, I'm better prepared for the unexpected when things are in order.
So I thought it might be a good idea to share some of the articles that we have on different aspects of keeping your home and finances organized.
For most of us, the easiest place to find savings is in the grocery budget. I know that everyone is busy. We tend to eat on the fly. Our chaotic lives cause us to make quick decisions on food. Sometimes to the detriment of our health and budget.
One way to protect our health/budget and get those savings is to have a meal plan. Know when you'll be getting fast food and when you'll be cooking. Mastering Meal Planning: Time and Money-Savings Tips for Beginners is a great place to start. After you've read it, take a look at Super Frugal Weekly Meal Plans (+ Tips for Cutting Food Costs).
Every kitchen should have a food pantry. You can't make a good meatloaf with some ingredients! If you don't want to continually run to the grocer, you'll need to have some items on hand. A common problem is not knowing what you already have on the shelf. Keeping Track of Pantry Inventory Can Reduce Food Costs will help you solve that problem.
What about the home? Sometimes I look around and wonder how so much stuff found a way into our house. Mind you we're not hoarders, but magazines, books and stuff just seems to accumulate! When Empty Nesters Reorganize and Declutter Their Home was written for a specific age group, but the advice is generally applicable to everyone.
Being primarily a financial newsletter, I couldn't address this topic without looking at organizing our money/finances. Much as we all hate the "B" word, it's important to know what's happening with our money. That's the primary purpose of a budget. To help you stay on top of your financial affairs.
A popular misconception is that budgets don't work if you use credit cards. That's not true. How to Stick to a Budget and Still Use Credit Cards will show you how.
Another area that's often chaotic in our lives is in our financial and legal papers. Helping Elderly Parents Organize Must-Have Financial Paperwork is an interview with a Certified Financial Planner that discusses that topic. Of course, no matter what your age, the same thinking applies.
We may not be able to avoid or fix the chaos in the whole world. But we can do things to keep our own homes and finances organized. So here's to a non-chaotic home!
Keep on Stretching those Dollars!
Gary
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