21 Quick Tips to Deal with the Stuff in Your Home

Do you sometimes feel like the stuff in your home is running YOU rather than the other way around?

There’s  no doubt that dealing with items in your home is a continual process. As much as we wish it could be done once and never thought about again, that’s just not reality. Life makes sure that the “stuff cycle” continues as we, and our family members, are constantly bringing items into our lives and homes.

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Since that’s the case, we might as well deal with it. Here are some specific tips and ideas to help you stay on top of the stuff in our lives.

Tips to keep home running smoothly

• Keep a canvas bag close to the door and train family members to deposit library books there for return. Instead of letting kids take every book they’ve checked out to their rooms, have a designated drawer, shelf, or basket where library books are kept until they’re actually being read. Once the book is read, it goes back in the bag for return. This will keep you from having to search kid’s rooms for library books or pay fines when something doesn’t get returned on time.

• When you order something online, jot down the confirmation number, expected date of delivery, and any other reference information in your planner or digital calendar. If you get an email confirmation, move the email to a special folder that’s clearly marked “shopping orders” or “pending”. When the item comes in and you’re certain it won’t be returned you can delete the information. However, if this is a regular purchase you may want to keep the email so you can easily retrieve item and order information.

• Use Cozi.com or other online service to send reminders to family members about birthdays, special occasions, etc. A text message reminding your kids that it’s their grandmother’s birthday beats them feeling nagged by mom. Use this to remind yourself about events that are approaching so you don’t get caught by surprise at the last minute.

Create a “command center” in the kitchen or someplace where family members will see it. Train everyone that this is the place to leave each other notes, to add items to the grocery list, check the calendar, etc. At our house we have a saying, “If it’s not on the list, it doesn’t exist.”

• Life is easier when things are scheduled. Before you leave the dentist, doctor, or hair salon, go ahead and schedule your next appointment. Don’t leave the office until you’ve recorded the next appointment in your planner or phone. When you get home, put the information on the calendar in your command center.

• Your house runs also more smoothly  when things are scheduled. i.e. “My laundry Monday”, “Towel Tuesday”, “Sheets on Saturday”. This helps avoid the last minute, “Honey, we have no clean bath towels!” as hubby is crawling out of the shower.

• Menu planning is easier if you plan to have the same type of meat on a specific date each week. At our house it’s “chicken Monday”, “Hamburger Tuesday,” etc. This helps me remember when to pull meat out to thaw and to avoid the dreaded, “What do I cook for dinner?” question.

• Learn when the online grocery ads for your favorite stores come out. Make an appointment to check these ads on the first day of the sales week so you can schedule trips to stock up on bargains.

• Use bins your freezer to organize meats by type, veggies, etc. This makes it easier to put things up when you come in from the grocery store and also easier to see what you’re getting low on.

• Designate a special place in your home for lost items to be deposited. This way everyone knows where to go look when something goes missing.

• For things that you use frequently – always have a spare in reserve. If my hair dryer goes out, I need another one RIGHT AWAY! I keep one in reserve and when I start using the “reserve” one, I add a new one to the shopping list. This way I’m never caught in a mess because we all know that things will go on the fritz at exactly the wrong time.

• Keep a photo box for maps. A cute way to decorate it (and make it easily visible) would be to cover it with an old map that you’re discarding. Even folks who don’t normally use maps when they’re on trips probably end up with some maps they’ve printed from their computer. Those of us who do use maps (personally, I hate map software on the phone!) need to be able to find them when we need them.

• Keep a photo box for spare eye glasses. When you get a new prescription, put the old pair in the box. If something happens to your current pair at least you have the most recent prescription to fall back on until you get yours fixed or get new ones.  When it’s time to retire a prescription that’s too old, find a donation station that recycles glasses (our local Wells Fargo used to have a collection box in the lobby). This is also a place you can keep the next packets of your contact lenses.

• Keep a running list of gift ideas all through the year. Whenever you hear anyone make a comment about liking or wanting something – write it down! Keep a running list for yourself too. When someone asks what you want for the next occasion, tell them! They wouldn’t ask if they really didn’t want some ideas.

• Gift tip for older people – give things they can use and use up. Otherwise the gifts you give will end up becoming cutter that you have to dispose of after they’re gone. Ask me how I know about this one!

• Remove CDs and DVDs from the bulky plastic packaging they come in and organize them in notebooks with sleeves. You can take out any liner notes or movie descriptions and keep in the notebook as well.

• Grease and flour that baking pan unless it specifically says not to. It does make a difference in how easily your baked goods will come out of the pan

• Put chores on your calendar every week. Otherwise you’ll look up and go, “It’s been HOW long since I vacuumed the rug?” I find that a chart sheet posted in the command center helps with this too.

• Never run out of batteries! Keep an assortment of the different sizes on hand. Have a designated box, container or drawer where they “live”. (You might want to keep this a secret if you have kids who go through a ton of batteries and you want to control their access!)

• When you buy hamburger in bulk, bring it home and freeze it in meal-size portions. Flatten out the package or make it a long roll to make thawing faster. It also helps save space in your freezer.

When you open the last of something – PUT IT ON THE LIST!

As you can tell, I really believe that having systems and routines in place help keep home running more smoothly. That doesn’t mean that there won’t be glitches, but it makes the glitches more manageable.

I’m a paper girl from way back and I love planners, calendars, and physical bulletin boards. I like things where I (and the rest of the family) can see it. But there is a place in my life for digital organization too. If you’re one who prefers digital over paper, or if your kids are older and you want them to be able to check family events on their phones, then it’s worth looking at how to set up a shared digital calendar.

What’s your favorite quick tip for staying on top of things? I’d love for you to share it in the comments below.

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