Christmas Tree Storage

Previously in my life, the tree has been rapidly taken down and re-boxed without much thought other than can I get it back where it was in the loft.

This year I shall be bagging and boxing it's ornaments (they're all unbreakable) and labelling boxes before throwing it into the roof space.

I'm also going to clean the ornaments that are wipeable and fix those that have been broken by little hands as some are really looking worse for wear.

Then late on tonight I will be doing a sweep of the house to find the trinkets that usually evade me and end up having to stay in place for a year for ridiculous superstition reasons!!

Finally, I'll be making a note on December the 1st in my diary of where I've put everything.

In December I hope to whip up the tree and have it fully decorated within 3 hours, not the 3 day ordeal it was in 2013!

Organise Now, Enjoy Later

I've noticed the majority of people have taken down their Christmas decorations in a rather Grinchy fashion, but not us!

This weekend, I'll be preparing for next Christmas by packing away in am orderly fashion and wrapping those bargain gifts I have procured for Christmas 2014!!

I'm big into embellishing Christmas wrapping but usually really bad at tagging as I know who they are for.  I realised how awful this was when we had present mix ups and duplicate paper used from friends and relatives this year.

So the Christmas cards will come down today and be given a new lease of life with ribbons, bells and baubles!!

Once done, they will live for the next 11 months in my Christmas gift wrap box.  I shall also make a note on November the 1st in my diary to remind me where they are!!

Super organised!

How To Meal Plan

Most home organisation and frugality blogs will recommend meal planning. 

It saves time, it saves money, it saves stress.  It's just one way of making life a whole lot easier.

How I Meal Plan

I have a spreadsheet with each week of the year as a new tab.

It has a tab at the front that is my freezer inventory (saves time routing through)

I have a formula for filling each week, which is

I have 3 children, one doesn't have much choice in what they eat yet but the other two both choose a meal each for Monday and Tuesday.

Wednesday is always a roast

Thursday is always a meal made from Roast Leftovers (there always are some as I cook too much on the Wednesday to ensure an easy meal for Thursday)

Friday is always freezer food

Saturday is always a takeaway

Sunday is always a slow cooker meal, prepped in the morning and left to do It's own Thing while I do mine.

Filling The Freezer

I batch cook as much as I can as I'm all for less time cooking.

When I do batch cook, I add the meal into the next available freezer Friday slot.  if I do this, it doesn't go on the Freezer Inventory as it will be accounted for twice

So What is the Freezer Inventory for?

For when things don't go to plan or for lunches.

The Shopping List

I also do my shopping list when I meal plan, then I can print one column off and check it against what is in the storecupboards, freezer and fridge.

I cross off anything I already have in then go to mysupermarket.com and see where I can shop the cheapest and where I can grab coupons to reduce my weekly spend.

And there you have it.

It works for me, I swear by it and there are loads more meal plans available on line.  Two of my favourites are At Home With Mrs M and I'm an Organizing Junkie  both have massive link ups where you can get inspiration.

Life Organisation - Goals for January 2014

Every month I am setting myself new organisation goals which I WILL stick to and it WILL make my life easier.

Here's my goals for January 2014

To make a meal plan for the month and stick to it

To do one shop and a top up shop each week

To be school ready before I go to bed each night

To tidy everything away before I go to bed each night

To iron the same day the clothes are washed

Do you set yourself goals? How do you make sure you stick to them?

 

I'm figuring if these goals can be done for a month, they can be done forever.  I can change and I will change and in return, life will become easier and a lot less stressful!

New Life's Resolution

The 1st of January 2014 is the day I become organised.

 

I fully expect that this blog will not be read.

 

It is my instruction manual and a hub of what works for me.

 

If it works for others, I shall be delighted and if people follow and engage in my quest, I'll be delighted.

 

I've set up a pintrest board of meal plans, downloads and free printables.

 

Every month, I'll be setting goals to instill habits that make life easier.

 

So here goes....!