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Kids: Laundry
 Tired of your kids complaining that they don't have clean clothes? Make it easier for them to help with the laundry.
Here's how:
1. Lights and Darks - From the age of two, children can separate light and dark clothing. Consider having two hampers (the pop-up kind come in both white and navy/black) to provide a visual cue.
2. Directions - Print and post step by step instructions by the washer and dryer. This makes it easier for the kids (and adults) to do it the way you would like it done.
3. Divide and Conquer - Consider assigning different tasks to different family members (wash, fold, put away, etc.) This eases the burden on everyone.
4. To Each His Own - Some families believe each child should do his/her own wash. This may not be as economical as grouping the wash together but it teaches responsibility and prepares kids for college.
While most people enjoy freshly laundered clothes, most don't love doing laundry. See if you can ease the burden by spreading the responsibility among family members.
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Time: Just 20 Minutes
 Most people feel that they can concentrate (even on unpleasant tasks) for 20 minutes.
What can you do in 20 minutes?
Here are some ideas:
1. Drawer - Empty the drawer and throw out what is trash. Sort like items together and return items that may have drifted from other areas in the house. Place items neatly back in drawer (consider buying drawer dividers so it stays neat).
2. Shelf - Pick a shelf in your closet and clear it off. Get rid of items no longer worn and neatly return the items you use. Group items by color.
3. Medical - Many people delay submitting claims for medical insurance. Once you sit down with the information, filling out the forms usually takes less than 20 minutes. And you can get money back!
4. Car - Twenty minutes is about the time it takes to clean out your car. If it's really bad, do the trunk one day and the rest another.
Setting aside twenty minutes to accomplish small tasks can have big results! |
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Home & Office: Collections
 Do you or your kids have collections? Are they taking over your house or eating up valuable storage space?
Collections become very sentimental over time. The longer you've had a collection the harder it is to get rid of!
Here are some things to consider:
1. Do you still love the collection? Interests change over time. The snow globes we loved as kids may not be as appealing to us as adults. If you no longer love it, let it go.
2. Does the collection have value? Collections are often perceived to have great value. Not sure? Pick the most valuable item in your collection and see if it has sold on e-bay. This is a good indication of it's value. With worldwide internet auctions, items are not as hard to find as they used to be and prices are often lower than expected. If you don't love the collection and it does not have value, get rid of it.
3. Display it. For collections that you want to keep, rather than storing them in closets, display the items. An enclosed cabinet will prevent items from getting dusty. Have limited space? Consider rotating items in the collection so you are always looking at something different.
Try to resist holding onto collections for future generations. If you don't love it and display it, neither will they! |
