Organizing My Coupons

Welcome back!

I don’t know about you, but I just about can’t accomplish anything unless I am organized.  Currently, I have a stack of inserts on my desk piled high that I ordered from a couponing service.  I think its time for a coupon organizer, or at least an organizing session with the coupon organization system I currently have in place.  Either way, my coupons need some attention.

I really do have to stay organized if I am truly going to reap the benefits of coupons though.  You have to know when the sales are, when the coupon inserts are coming out, and be able to match those two things up.  I recently read a tip about using Microsoft Outlook to set up alerts for these things.  Definitely not a bad idea, Google Calendar could also be used.  Anything that will help you to get organized.

Are you with me?  Do you need to organize your coupons?

*This is a sponsored post.

My Command Center

Last spring I had ever intention of creating a command center. It was on my Spring Clean to do list and everything. I started it, but oddly never finished it. Today I tackled that project again. I was inspired by Org Junkie’s contest and there are still a few things I’d like to have for my command center, but…here’s what I have so far:

I still would like to have something to better organize papers and a calendar as well.  Hoping I will win the Org Junkie contest.  Do you have a control center?  How do you stay organized? (Click on picture to view larger).

Mommy Come Home: Stay at Home Mom Schedule

Amy over at The Finer Things in Life is doing a series on Mommy Come Home, about the choice to be a stay at home mom.  How it can be a leap of faith, how it requires certain sacrifices, some getting used to and some real life changes.  She was looking for someone to write a guest post on how to be a productive stay at home mom.  I’m not always as productive as I want to be, but I pride myself on being organized and scheduled.

Here’s my story:

I became a stay at home mom at the birth of my second child.  I had only worked part time before, but this was still a huge leap of faith for us and I was also “leaping” into full time ministry as a Christian writer & speaker.  Later I would become a freelance writer as well and begin several online business ventures.  Therefore being productive is a must.  Most everyone I know asks me “How do you do everything that you do?”

Scheduling, routines and being organized are three of my answers, the other two are prayer and faith.  These things play an equal role in my productivity.  My day must start with prayer or I feel it when I don’t.  I must also rely on my faith or nothing will go right.

Scheduling, routines and organization are the other end of the spectrum that balance it all out.  It took me quite some time to determine a schedule that “worked” for me and my family.  This schedule also changes during certain times of the year such as “summer” or “Christmas vacation”, and I must be flexible enough to realize that.  Two keys to a workable schedule are “trial and error” scheduling until you get one just right that works for you, and “being willing to be flexible”.

Second, routines, such as my morning routine of:

• getting up,
• doing my Quiet time with God,
• eating breakfast,
• cleaning kitchen
• everyone taking baths and showers,
• and working a committed 1.5 hrs on my businesses.

The routine helps me to “function” and get things done.  My afternoon routine involves housework, time with the kids and a bit more work time.

Finally, staying organized is another key to productivity, such as:

• having a system for bill paying,
• a system for menu planning,
• a set grocery day,

and other similar things is how I am able to manage a household, a ministry, and a few online businesses.

The decision to be a stay at home mom is one that I will never regret taking, no matter how hard I must work to make it all work.  Even though you’re a stay at home mom doesn’t mean you can’t have a schedule.  It can make you feel much more productive and in control.

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