Um, it's off topic but I need some advice. We are living in chaos because we are generally not organized, and we have two toddlers (age 3 and 1). So, how do you guys stay on top of things like drawers, closets, documents, and all the little things you need to find?
I would like to put some organizational systems in place for the new house, in the hopes that we can actually be organized.
Organization question-- off topic
March 31st, 2011 at 02:10 am
March 31st, 2011 at 02:52 am 1301539941
March 31st, 2011 at 04:47 am 1301546870
The if you-bring-one-in-one-must-leave-rule works well.
The one big trick about throwing out/organizing is that you must be fresh. My ruthlessness/honesty fades away after about 30 minutes, 1 hour tops. Even if you take it one drawer/one corner/one square foot at a time and get it really down, its better than trying to take a day, do everything meh because you've faded.
March 31st, 2011 at 05:56 am 1301550999
Shelving units is all I can say. We have lots, still need more, but they are a life saver in terms of organisation/neatness/taking up the least amount of space.
Other than that: under-bed sized tubs, and getting rid of things you don't really need. Don't keep stuff because you think it might be useful one day in the very distant future - either you'll use it DEFINATELY, or most likely not.
We have multiple laundry baskets to save sorting. They don't have to be huge, and you can even get ones that stack which are great, or the type that are all in one sorters are good. We have one for work clothes, normal clothes, socks, delicates. It saves time having to sort through a mountain of washing every time you need to do a load.
As for organisation & staying on top of it: make it easy for yourself, at the start, and keep doing it that way. Sometimes DH and I slack off and don't fold washing as it comes in, all of a sudden our entire wardrobe seems to be sitting on the couch, waiting to be folded, and when it's a mammoth task, neither of us can be bothered. Try and do something every day to keep on top of the organisation, and do it before it gets to be a huge task - it seems so much easier then.
March 31st, 2011 at 12:28 pm 1301574514
Also, when they get older, they get voices of their own and start letting you know what they need. lol.
But, for me for the toys we did have when my children were little, I choose large containers with lids. For example, one longer see-thru under the bed type container with lid for the GI Joes and all their accessories. My son could just pull it out, play with the items and toss them back into the bin when he was done. There will always be those GI Joes that sit on top of something holding a gun because they are protecting/watching the door so no enemies can enter. lol. But then as they get older, you can store those items in the attic or basement (whichever you have) for when they have kids. Some toys are investments and should be taken care of.
Or one set of sheets for each bed, take them off, wash them and put them right back on. Buy new when they wear out. Or for socks, all the same color, either white or black, so that all match. You are going to have specialty socks, especially for girls, for dresses and the like, but keep it minimal.
And use resale shops. Take your children's outgrown clothes and shoes to resale shops (I had two that I dealt with) and then use the money you make from their clothes to help replenish for the next season. I used two different laundry bins, one in each child's bedroom in the closet. When they outgrew something that was still in good shape, I would wash it and put it in their specific laundry bin to take to the resale shops.
For their artwork, schoolwork, baby items you want to keep and other keepsake momentos, I put in see through bins with lids (the thinner bins, not deep bins), nicely packed and put up on their shelf in their closet. As time goes on and their are other momentoes you want to keep, you add it to the bin. I have had some of my kids artwork framed and hung in their bedrooms. They especially love this. You could also use an interchangeable frame and change out their artwork as they grow older.
For paperwork - definately a small filing cabinet or filing type container (which is what I use). with file folders specific to your family. I have files listed for:
*paid bills
*one for each family member to hold their birth certificate, passport, immunization record, doctor records, school reports, etc.
*bank statements
*stuff that will be used for taxes for the next year
Or anything specific that pertains to your family.
We have a couple areas in our home for recycling. Our local home depot takes items like batteries and lightbulbs. I keep small containers for those items, along with a plastic basket type container with handles for recycled paper to drop in the abitibi at our local school or church; and another larger bin for small plastic containers, old glass jars, etc. that our local whole foods will take for recycling. My kids love this process and love being involved. Your kids are never to young to get them into recycling.
So, just a few of my thoughts. Sorry so long.
March 31st, 2011 at 02:46 pm 1301582802
My hope is that in the process of moving, that I can ruthlessly declutter, so that we are starting at the new place only with things we need and value.
We have already sent 4 giant boxes of books to the resale shop, and have a card loaded with donations, but I fear that it will take soooo much more than that to get off to the right start.
March 31st, 2011 at 03:48 pm 1301586513
For the kids clothes and toys we purge every 6 months or so (seasons for clothes - bday and christmas for toys - just works out to be summer/winter). I throw all the in-between clothes into bins in their closets (until they fit the younger one). With age, the in-between has become next to nothing - since they are getting so similar in size.
I always say I am a "cut a lot of corners" person. I literally have a bin for each child (momentos) and a box for all of our taxes and a box for all of our escrow stuff. That is about it.
For paperwork that comes in the mail, etc., I pile it up (maybe for 6 months) in a pile downstairs, and I file everything 1-4 times a year. It's not overly anal, but everything important is either in the pile or filed away. It's really that simple.
Filing system is key. (similar to CampFrugal). We have file cabinets for bank statements, paper bills, etc. As things become more electronic I organize everything on my computer the same way. For our cars, they both have a folder in the file cabinet where I keep track of oil changes, maintenance, stuff like that. For taxes - I just have a folder labeled "2011 taxes" sitting out that I throw any relevant receipts into. When taxes are done I throw all that stuff in the big tax box.
March 31st, 2011 at 03:50 pm 1301586640
I personally could never understand losing things like keys and glasses. Everything has a place. It goes in the same place every time. I don't have an issue with losing things. BUT I think minimalism really makes that key. I just don't have that much STUFF to lose my "stuff" in. But the kids get so much crap (grandparents, birthday party favors, etc., etc.) that we have to fight pretty hard to keep on top of that stuff. I can't imagine if we let that get out of hand because it already seems like a hard beast to tame - and we regularly go through their stuff and toss/donate.
April 1st, 2011 at 01:43 am 1301622213
Bins!! All toys go in bins, some up high shelves that only come out when an adult agrees. Make sure your boys learn about picking up their things daily. Have a place for everything to go. Under the bed with bins works great, as does a stack in the corner of the closet.