The Monthly Organizer

January 2009

A new year is upon us and I want to help you make 2009 the best, most organized year it can be. As always, I have some great things planned for Tips to Organize Life so keep watching for new content and fresh new ideas to help keep you organized and on track.

Please also take this opportunity to contact me and tell me how The Monthly Organizer can help you in 2009. I would love to hear from you! Tell me what you love. Tell me what you don't love. Tell me what you would like to see more of. All requests will be considered.

Let's make 2009 a happy, healthy and organized year!

Monthly Motivation

To keep your motivation going strong throughout the year you need to create smaller goals that you can easily achieve and feel proud of. Instead of making one big resolution for the entire year, this year make a series of small resolutions...one

for each month of the new year. Then, break down each of your monthly resolutions into smaller baby steps...one or two small changes each week that will lead you to your ultimate goal for the month.

The pride that you feel from accomplishing each of your small weekly goals will carry you through to accomplish your bigger monthly goal. And the pride that you feel from accomplishing each monthly goal will build more motivation to keep you going all throughout the year.

If you need some ideas for small goals with big results that will help you get organized in 2009, check out these 52 small organizing projects to help get you started.

Monthly Organization Tip

The start of a new year is the perfect time to organize your home filing system. If you live in the United States you will probably be spending the next couple of months sifting through those piles of papers looking for your tax-related documents anyway. Why not turn it into an opportunity to get organized and free yourself from all that paper clutter. Here is a simple and effective way to organize your household documents.

1. Separate your monthly recurring bills from your other important papers like insurance policies, mortgage documentation and investment statements.

2. Create a file folder for each category of important papers that you have to keep but that do not require regular action. Things like insurance policies, bank accounts, paycheck stubs, etc. Place these file folders in a file box or drawer where they are easily accessible but out of the way. Whenever you receive a statement from one of these categories in the mail place it in the appropriate folder.

3. Create a file folder for tax-related items. Be sure to keep this file folder easily accessible so that all throughout the year, whenever you receive a receipt or pay a bill that will be related to your tax return you can simply place it in your tax folder. That way, next year all of your tax documentation will already be gathered and waiting for you.

4. For your recurring monthly bills, including all of your utility bills, create a file folder for each month of the year. After paying the bill, place it into the folder for that month. Next year, at the start of each month you will purge the documents that already exist in the folder to make room for the new year's bills. With this system, you will never accumulate more than one year of recurring monthly bills and you will never have to purge more than one month's worth of bills at a time. No more sitting on the floor, surrounded by piles of paper and spending days at the shredder.

Remember, the key to a good home filing system is to keep it simple. The system has to be one that you can easily maintain or you will not do it. You will wind up tossing the papers into piles where they will sit and accumulate until you have the time to deal with them, but will that time ever come? Make the time now to come up with a system that will work for your lifestyle. The benefits of being organized will shine through over and over all throughout the year.

Monthly Money Saving Tip

The holidays are over. It's the start of a fresh, new year. Now is the time to get back on budget. This month, take some time to think about what you want from your money in 2009. If you don't already have a budget, make one. Make sure you write your financial goals for 2009 on the bottom of your budget and hang it where you will look at it every day.

Knowing what you want from your money is the first step toward achieving your goal. Is there a particular bill that you would like to pay off? Do you want to save for a special vacation? Would you like to see your savings account reach a certain amount? Choose your goals and then prioritize them. Write them in order of priority on the bottom of your budget.

Look at your budget every single day to remind yourself of what you are trying to achieve. Consider your budget in every decision that you make. Do you really want to buy that $5.00 gourmet coffee or would you rather put that $5.00 toward your financial goal and drink the free coffee in the office? Do you need that $60 sweater or would it make you feel better to put $60 toward your financial goals?

Remember, every penny counts and every dollar counts even more. Every good decision that you make, no matter how small, will help you to achieve your goals. The more you continue to make good financial decisions the faster you will see the results.

Recipe of the Month

Monthly Entertaining Tip

In this difficult economy you might be looking for ways to have some fun without the expense of a typical night out. Well you can save a bundle and have a ton of fun right in your own home. This month institute family night. Whether you watch a favorite movie or play board games, find ways to stay in, spend time with your family and have some fun.

You don't even have to spend the money to order a pizza if you make dinner part of the fun. Get a few pizza crusts, some cheese and your family's favorite toppings. Invite everyone into the kitchen to make their favorite pizza to share. You'll spend way less than if you called for delivery and dinner will actually be fun to make!