With the recent changes to the world economy, more and more professionals are earning their money through contract work rather than full-time employment. Unfortunately, with self-employment, you have to do your own accounting. Whether your home-based business is your main source of income or just for a little extra on the side, keeping track of …
Organizing Tax Documents
March 23, 2012During tax season most of us will spend some time digging through our filing cabinets. Most likely, there will be all sorts of documents from past tax years – medical bills, W2s, interest statements, and, frankly, some things that we’re not sure why we’re keeping. This tax season, go through your old documents and throw …
Tax Time Preparation
March 5, 2012Tax season is upon us – do you know where your documents are? Tax documents from your employers start arriving in January (by law, employers must send W2 forms before Jan. 31). If you want to get ahead of the game, or if you misplaced a document, check to see if your employer provides online …
Keeping Canned Goods
February 27, 2012Organize your canned goods by type. Keep a space for fruit, a space for vegetables, a space for soups and so on. The trick is keeping your cans visible. Store your cans in rows so you always know that what’s in the can in front is the same thing that’s in the can behind. Another …
Controlling Your Keys
February 20, 2012Keys have a way of wandering off and getting themselves lost in a hurry. Luckily, there are several great solutions. Key hangers and hooks are available in a variety of styles. A decorative bowl or small basket is a great place to keep keys. If you have several sets of keys, such as backup sets …
Listen Well
February 10, 2012How often do you find yourself pseudo-listening, pretending you’re all ears while someone’s talking? That’ll get you in trouble. Developing your listening skills is very important. You gain a lot of insights through listening, especially if you pay attention to nonverbal cues. When you’re zoning out it’s easy to brush these cues off and you …
Entryway Shoe Storage
February 8, 2012Keep shoes on a mat or on a movable supporting rack so that the floor underneath can be cleaned regularly. Place mats inside the entry closet under the coats. If you have no closet, use attractive wooden or metal shoe racks or a decorative wicker basket to hold shoes and boots. Make sure your shoe …
GO Tip: Organize Your Touchscreen
January 8, 2012In our new world of touchscreen mobile devices there are all sorts of challenges to overcome. Not only do you have to keep your screen intact, but you have to keep it clean enough to actually see what’s on your smartphone or tablet. Two simple ideas: first, keep your phone and your keys in separate …
Organize Your Family Schedule
January 7, 2012If you’ve ever seen a busy railway yard, you have some idea of what family scheduling is like. There’s activity everywhere, and everyone’s competing to get where they need to go. If you find yourself double-booking activities or stretched thin as the family chauffeur, try laying out the schedules side-by-side in a central location, where …
GO Tip: Organize Your Outing Essentials
January 6, 2012If you’ve ever had your keys bounce in your pocket as you’re jogging, you understand how irritating it can be to cart your belongings around as you exercise. As you plan your forays into the outdoors, whether hiking, biking, or taking a nature walk, plan on places for your essentials. You can leave the bulky …
Tax Time Preparation
January 5, 2012Tax season is upon us – do you know where your documents are? Tax documents from your employers start arriving in January (by law, employers must send W2 forms before Jan. 31). If you want to get ahead of the game, or if you misplaced a document, check to see if your employer provides online …
GO Tip: Organize Your Coffee Table
January 5, 2012When it comes to coffee tables, less is more. Select no more than three items to have on the table, possibly two if you choose a large art book. And if you’re looking to protect your table without nagging your guests, these fun chalkboard coasters encourage them to make their own coaster art, and they …
GO Tip: Organize Your Calendar
January 4, 2012It’s funny how the simplest tasks get left behind when you’re in a rush. Dedicate five minutes at the beginning and end of each day to review the tasks you need to accomplish and record appointment details in your planner and on your wall calendar. Using calendar stickers makes it easy to mark and notice your …
GO Tip: Organize Your Closet
January 3, 2012Do you wish your closet could be like a department store, with clothing sorted by size and owner? These smart clothing dividers give you a tasteful way to organize your closet. Consider separating your clothes by categories, such as dressy vs. casual, warm vs. cold weather, etc. You can also add two-tiered organizers for shoes, …
GO Tip: Organize Your Resolutions
January 3, 2012Ah, the great tradition of making resolutions. If someone else told you to change everything about yourself in a week, you would laugh. But when you make your own list, you end up disappointed when you can’t change everything at once. To keep your spirits up, lay out each goal in depth and spend three …
