by Lorraine Brock
The New Year has begun, it is National Get Organized Month, and we are ready to share the Get Organized! with our ten favorite organizing tools for 2014. These products are not necessarily new to the market, but many have become staples in our solutions for residential and business clients. The others we have discovered to be so cool we just had to tell you about it.
by Gregg Murset, CFP
Love them or hate them, New Years Resolutions do make you think about the future. According to a 2012 survey by University of Scranton, an estimated 190 million Americans create a yearly list of things to do or improve upon. If by chance one of your items is to create a financial plan, live on a budget or get debt under control, then January is the perfect month for you to since it’s National Financial Wellness month in the U.S. MyJobChart.com CEO Gregg Murset recommends making resolutions that are achievable for you but can also serve as teachable moments for your children.
To help move your children in the right direction in 2014, Murset suggests:
No More Hand Outs
Decide you are not going to just shell out money to your kids anymore. When they come to looking for money, let them know that they will have to work for it. Tying work and reward together in meaningful ways will help them understand responsibility and accountability.
by Lorraine Brock
This is the time of year that our cars often become cluttered from Christmas shopping, or we have to clean the car out to get ready for a holiday road trip. If this sounds like your car, you may be ready for some great car clutter organizing tips.
With so many options, which developmental toys are the best for helping kids learn and develop while having fun? Pediatric occupational therapists say developmental toys that focus on motor skill development, cognitive learning provide best value when it comes to kids.
How would you feel walking into a pantry where the labels are facing forward, cans are stacked so you can see each one, and all the beans are with beans and soups with soups? A dream space where after school snacks are separated from designated food for lunches and every square inch of the pantry is efficiently organized?
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.
by Dr. Jennifer A. Powell-Lunder
While for most folks, the summer symbolizes rest and relaxation, back to school time can serve as a jolt back the reality of routine life. As the first school weeks pass, it is not uncommon to feel as if the outside world is gaining momentum, spinning fast and with more force. School season represents commitment and activity, often-increased stress because there never seems to be enough time.
How can you tell if you and/or your kids are experiencing the blues? Here is a list of some common signs:
