The ABC’s of a Budget

Budgeting Tips

Tips on How to Create a Budget

by Lorraine Brock

I recently met a client to begin a typical organizing job that included helping her organize spaces in her home. My notes told me our focus would be over stuffed closets, mounds of paperwork, and a disastrous kids’ playroom. As I sat and talked with this stay-at-home mom of two small children, I realized that it was not the spaces that needed organizing, but the details of her life she was responsible for, but never adequately taught how to do.

This client had normal questions about how to organize papers, what to keep and what to shred, and what to do with the piles of her kids’ school papers. During our discussion, it became clear to me that her bigger need was for an organized, realistic household budget that she could manage for her family. Her husband gave her money to manage each month divided into basic categories such as groceries, clothing, kids’ entertainment, and miscellaneous (haircuts, etc.). She was also responsible for paying the bills for two of her own credit cards used for purchasing the kids’ clothes when she ran out of cash.

I Need Lunch Money Mom

Budgeting for Lunch Money - Back to School Lunches

Teaching Kids How to Stay Within their Lunch Money Budget

by Lorraine Brock

It’s that time of year that as parents we will hear the weekly, “Mom, I need lunch money”, from our kids. Normally my struggle is teaching my kids to stay within our allocated budget by purchasing the basic plate lunch and not buying individual items. It is well known that buying a la carte costs more: hamburger $3, side of fries $1.50, scoop of fruit salad $1.00, two chocolate milks $2.00. What seems like the perfect meal for your child, becomes a $7.50 budget buster for one day.

What I Wish Someone Had Told My Husband About Parenting

Dad and Son looking at each other

Parenting Lessons we Learn as we Raise Our Kids

by Lorraine Brock

As kids we learn much from our parents, but sometimes parents feel like they did not do their best and wish they had the chance to raise their children again with the knowledge that comes with age and maturity. It’s what grandparents often feel as they watch their children raise their own families.

My husband has been an exceptional father to our boys. He taught them to be strong men who would stand in the gap when others could not stand for themselves, to cherish the women in their lives and value them as treasures, and to base their decision-making on biblical truths.

Home Organization: Clutter Busters

Home Organization : Clutter Busters

Home Organization: Simple, Strange, and Slightly Odd Clutter Busters

by Lorraine Brock

Have you ever had a hard time parting with a small twist tie, empty used container, or a thing-a-ma-jig that you are sure you will use later? Organizers call this clutter. Too much of this and that causes a lot of that, which causes clutter. This blog is all about helping those slightly stubborn folks that can’t seem to part with their “I’ll need it someday” stuff.

How to Get Your Kids to do Chores

How to Get Your Kids to do Chores

Tricks to Get Your Kids to Help with a Quick-Clean of Your Home

by Lorraine Brock

Having an organized plan to get something done is the first step to making it happen. Without a plan, there is usually chaos and a series of sporadic tasks that rarely lead to completed projects. This scenario is true even for household chores.

Chores may not be fun, but they have to be done

Let’s talk today about how to teach kids the importance of being responsible and contributing members of their household and accepting chores that are appropriate. The truth is that for most kids, chores are not fun. Even adults do not necessarily enjoy chores, but at least we realize that if we do not wash the dishes, we will not be eating off of clean plates. Kids, on the other hand, would just use their fingers as utensils and the counter tops as plates!

Hooked on Organizing : Home Organization Products

Home Organization Products - Hooks

Home Organization Products : Hooks & Drywall Anchors

 

Often after reading an article or watching a TV show on ways to get organized, I get hooked and want to get started right away on my favorite projects. However, I usually find out that I don’t have all the right organizing products and tools to get the job done correctly.

On one of my project shopping trips, I went to a local hardware store to gather supplies for adding some organization to our newly remodeled bathroom. I did not make it very far down my list because I got caught up looking at all the Command™ brand hanging solutions and other hardware.

The variety of Command hooks keeps getting bigger and better, which means more options on where and how to use these simple but invaluable organizing products. As I stood in front of the display, grabbing package after package, my arms filled with products and my mind began to fill with ideas for this month’s article.

Last month we talked about organizing your jewelry and creative ways to use hooks. This month I want to talk about hooks and hardware in general and how the various items can work with many organizing projects.

Cord Organizer