reflecting on 3 years

Today is my husband and my 3-year wedding anniversary...my how time flies! We've had so many good times...a few not-so-good times...and we've learned a lot!

I was thinking about how many adjustments we both had to make (and still make) to compensate for a difference of opinion, differences in taste, differences in traditions and even differences in organization and cleanliness...ah hem!

Since, I'm in the business of organization, I want you all to know that it took some trial and error to figure out how to arrange, and rearrange, our stuff so that it was functional and practical for my husband and still organized enough for my taste! My husband didn't understand that even though something was behind a cabinet door or inside of a drawer, it still had to be organized...men!

Ok, on a more serious note, organization is a continual process and we are still rearranging things in ways we feel are a better fit for our life styles. We change, as I'm sure you and your families do, which means your organizational habits should change too.

Also, remember that to really have an organized home, you have to involve the others who live with you. I definitely had to give in on some of my husbands requests, and although he is actually very clean, I have to let him have a space where he can just put stuff without worrying about how organized it is (this is a small closet in our office). If I never stop to get his opinion, he will be less likely to comply with my requests to be organized. However, since I include him in my organizing decisions and know when to give in, he respects my desire for a clean and organized home...and we are both happy (most of the time!)

So just remember, it's a continual process but if you involve your family in the process, it won't seem as overwhelming.

For more organizing ideas, visit my website: www.andreadekker.com

take a picture

I was helping a client move into a new home and sorting through all their things was a difficult task for them. They had held onto so many old things from the past...old knick-knacks, special occasion clothing and costumes, children's school projects--items thought of fondly but not really fitting today's lifestyle.

They didn't really want to get rid of any of it...but they were down sizing and they had no choice but to get rid of it.

My solution: take a picture of the stuff. We grouped like items together and took several pictures. Now there is a record of them. They can still be seen and enjoyed but take up a lot less space!

For more organizing ideas, visit my website: www.andreadekker.com

tip of the week (6/28/2009)

June 28 – July 4, 2009 this week’s "tip of the week" was sent from Bethany, from Wyoming, MI

Bethany writes: "Everyone who sees my tiny coat closet always admires it! I took a see-thru shoe organizer and fastened it to the inside of my closet door. Each member of my family has 4 pockets that hold their winter scarves (rolled up), gloves, mittens and hats.

My husband has the top row, I'm next, and then my two children have the bottom pockets so they can reach them. Keeps things neat and organized and doesn't take up valuable shelf space!”

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Do you have an organizing or time management tip that you would like to share? Click here and your tip could be the next one featured in our newsletter, our blog or on our website! For more organizing tips, check out www.andreadekker.com. It is full of great organizing tips for every area of your life.

get your bills in order

Earlier this week we talked about a couple of ways that getting organized can help you SAVE money. Well, another way you can save even more money is to organize your bill paying. If you are organized with the way you pay your bills, you will never have to pay late fees nor will you have overdraft charges to your bank accounts…which can be really expensive.

Here’s what to do:

1. Put all bills to be paid in a specific folder

When you bring in the mail, throw away the junk mail and envelopes immediately and only keep the actual bill in a dedicated plastic see-through envelope in a specific place. Arrange the bills in order of when they have to be paid so that the one facing you is also the most urgent bill.

This way you and the rest of your family always know exactly where to find all the bills.

2. Automate as many bill payments as possible

We live very busy lives so if you don't have to think about paying it, all the better for you. That said, schedule a day of the month to check your online payments against your actual budget.

Dedicate a specific day or days of the month to pay your bills

Mark off a date on your calendar when you pay bills. If your bills are due on different days of the month, you may need more than one date.

3. File

Once your bills are paid, file them in the way that's easiest for you to manage.

4. Maintain

Restrict your filing space so that it forces you to clear out old bills every 6 - 12 months.

This easy-to-use system will take you only a minute or two a day, and about 30 minutes when you sit down and pay your bills…and it can save you lots of money in the long run!

So don’t wait, take the time today to organize the way you pay your bills!

For more organizing ideas, visit my website: www.andreadekker.com

organizing on a budget

Containers represent one of the biggest investments in getting organized. But containers don’t have to be expensive. Use these strategies to save money on containers, while adding a bit of creative flair to your projects.

Use storage containers you already have:

If you are in the declutter mode, you will inevitably free up storage containers that can be repurposed for your new organizing projects. When working with clients, I commonly find that they don’t need to purchase any containers at all. They have plenty already in their homes, just waiting to be reused!

If you can’t come up with any storage containers but still don’t want to spend the money, you can easily improvise with items commonly found in most homes. Here are some ideas.

Bowls
Plastic cups or coffee mugs
Tin cans

Baby food jars
Ceramic flower pots
Glass canning jars, or jars from your recycle bin

Mini galvanized buckets
Your child’s pottery projects
Shoe boxes from your closet and copy paper boxes from the office.
Extra food storage containers

Use your imagination to find lots of different uses for the above items…and let us know what you’ve done!

Use what you have…and then buy on sale. Using containers you already have on hand can be a permanent solution or a temporary one—it gives you a chance to live with your new organizing system and work out the bugs before shelling out cash for new containers. The process of trying before you buy will help you purchase containers with confidence and stretch your organizing dollar, too!

All in all, getting organized does not have to be an expensive proposition; instead, it can actually save you money. When you know what you have and can easily find it, you avoid overspending on items you already have or don’t really need. Plus, when you get creative with container solutions, it won’t require the upfront investment you may be imagining.

Fore more organizing ideas, visit my website: www.andreadekker.com

save money by getting organized

So many people I talk to have made the comment that they can’t afford to be organized. They view organization as an expensive luxury that only TV programs and the wealthy can afford.

The way that I look at it is quite different…I look at organization as a way to SAVE money. Here’s why…

The organizing process involves decluttering—letting go of items you no longer use, need, or love. One side effect of the “letting go” process is that you become aware of what’s leaving your home and what remains with you. This awareness inevitably turns you into a more intentional shopper. You become aware of and intentional about what you bring into your home. For example; when you know you just donated fifteen shirts which had never been worn, the next time you see t-shirts on sale, you’ll let them sit on the store shelves. Intentional shopping saves money.

In addition to filtering out impulse purchases, when you have organizing systems in place, you no longer buy extra items because you can’t find the one you know you already have somewhere. Additionally, when your home is organized, you’re more likely to use shopping lists, both because you have the time to create them, and because you have systems in place that make it simple to do so. Shopping lists help save money. When you stick to your list you buy only that which you need. Plus, lists preclude the need for last-minute trips to the store. The less often you shop, the fewer chances you have to make impulse purchases. With shopping lists, and freed-up storage space in your home, you can also stock up on household necessities when they go on sale.

So if you are looking for a way to save a little extra money (and who isn't) make the time to get a little more organized. You may have to spend a little money up front but the savings that come from it will far outweigh the costs!

For more organizing tips, visit my website: www.andreadekker.com

i don't know where to start!

“I just don’t know where to start!” I hear this cry echo from so many of my clients who are overwhelmed with the clutter in their homes, offices and lives.

So how can you get back the overwhelming feelings and start getting organized? Here are some tips:

1. TACKLE ONE THING AT A TIME

If your paper is driving you crazy, then spend an hour or two focused on nothing else but sorting the paper. If it's your refrigerator, then set your timer and dig in!

One thing I do when I feel overwhelmed with physical clutter is take every piece of clutter and put it in one spot.

So, for example, if your kitchen area feels cluttered, take everything off the counter top and table and dump it on the living room floor. Now, you only need to focus on clearing the pile on the floor, which feels less overwhelming than clearing everything on the counter and table. Plus, you get to see the visual results of a cleaner kitchen immediately!

2. MAINTAIN THE AREA
Now the key is to spend 5 minutes a day maintaining that organized space. So once the counter is clean, then ever day at some point, take 5 minutes to quickly put everything away and clear the counter again.

3. USE 10-MINUTE POCKETS OF TIME
Make a list of 10-minute tasks and keep it in a visible place. Next time you have 10 minutes of free time, you can tackle one item on this list.

Some tasks that I like to keep for those 10 minutes are:

- wiping down the counters in the kitchen or bathroom

- making a phone call or two

- emptying trash cans

- clear the clutter from one room and put it in a clothes basket

- fold some laundry

- clear your desk top

- catch up on a few e-mails

- upload and save your digital photos to your computer

Do you want ideas for 5-minute blocks of time? Click here!

Also, click here for some 2-minutes organizing ideas!

If you stick to these 3 steps, you should be able to finally get started with your organizing projects!

For more organizing ideas, visit my website: www.andreadekker.com

chill out this summer

Summer can be a wonderfully lazy time of the year, but that doesn't mean we can't be productive at the same time. Here are a few examples to help you organize so you can chill out this summer.

1. Plan your dinner first thing in the morning. Make it a crock pot or grill meal to save even more time.

2. Have your dessert planned--something cool and fresh like fruit, pudding, Jell-o, or a simple scoop of ice cream.

3. Going to the beach? Have everything packed up and in the car the night before--including non- perishable foods. If possible have all the perishable foods prepped and ready to grab from the refrigerator and placed in your cooler before you leave.

4. Plan some short distance (especially with the cost of gasoline) local places to visit. Visit a local museum, or park. Pretend you are visiting a new city and look at it with 'new eyes,' even if you have been there before.

5. Have a picnic dinner one evening each week. Sit outside and have sandwiches--perhaps the kids can prepare them. If the weather doesn't cooperate, have a picnic in the family room or living room! It

6. Put away some of your decorations for the summer. Your house will look more 'empty' and free for the summer. Less to dust and clean, and more time to play!

7. Plan on doing yard work either early in the morning or late afternoon to avoid working in the heat of the day.

8. Enjoy not having plans a few of days a week. Sleep later and just enjoy the day, read, or work on crafts. When you make your schedule for the week, leave a day or two open to just enjoy.

9. Have a movie marathon! Make a simple meal that includes finger foods, sit in the family room and watch movies together.

10. Each week, exchange a meal. Cook a double-size meal for your family and give half of that meal to a neighbor. Then your neighbor does the same for you.

Enjoy the summer months and make the time to relax with these simple ideas!

For more organizing ideas, visit my website: www.andreadekker.com

turn your clutter into cash

If you watch the NEWS, read a paper or check your e-mail, you've probably been hearing a lot of talk about the "horrible" economic conditions we are currentl facing. Things are getting tight...but who says you can't do anything about it?

We all have stuff (clutter) that we never use or don't need lying around our homes, taking up valuable space and robbing us of an organized home. So, how can you turn this clutter into cash?

No, don't worry, I'm not going to tell you to have a garage sale!

Sell it on Craig's List.

For those of you who don't know what Craig's List is, it is a website that you can go to and either buy or sell nearly everything imaginable. It is very cool because you to sell your unused items to people that live in your town so you don't need to worry about shipping...but the best part is that Craig's List is FREE!! Yes, there is no cost for you to sell things on this website!

I've done a fair amount of selling myself and am encouraging clients to do the same. Some have actually made several thousand dollars in a matter of months!!

So how can you be sucessful on Craig's List?

1. Take digital pictures of all the items you want to sell and load them onto your computer
2. Accurately measure any large items and make sure to list them with your post
3. Sell only one item per post...this makes it easier to track and you should get more view this way
4. Put a reasonable price tag on your items and let people know that you are willing to negotiate...after all, you do want to get rid of the stuff.
5. Don't include personal information like your address or phone number in the post. You can give that out latter once you have an interested buyer.
6. Don't sell to anyone from out of the state or the country...only deal locally with people who can pick it up in person.
7. It is wise to only accept cash for your items. This is safer than checks.
8. Make sure you check your e-mail regularly after you post items for sale. You will be surprised how quickly people might contact you!

It is not difficult to turn a bunch of clutter into cash....you just need to be proactive!! Visit www.CraigsList.com today!

For more organizing tips visit my website: www.andreadekker.com

portrait of a dad

God took the strength of a mountain, the majesty of a tree;

The warmth of the summer sunshine, and the calm of a quiet sea.

The generous soul of nature, the comforting arms of night;

The wisdom of the ages, and the power of an eagle’s flight.

The joy of a summer morning, the faith of a mustard seed;

The patience of eternity, and the depth of a family’s need.

God combined these qualities, and with nothing more to add;

He knew His masterpiece was complete – and so He called it Dad.

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY!!

get into the zone

As you know, I’m all about finding SIMPLE ways to get and stay organized; and what better time to simplify your organizing routine than in the summer? One of the SIMPLE techniques I use to stay organized is to create a mini zone—a small container or designated spot that houses everything you need to do a particular activity. These are a few of my favorite summer zones.

• Outdoor eating mini zone: in a plastic bin, corral together items for eating outside, like a small salt and pepper shaker, non-breakable plates and cups, along with napkins and utensils in a utensil caddy. Place your bin on a melamine serving tray and you’ll be ready to eat outside at any time the weather is just right!

• Outdoor gear mini zone: corral together items like sunscreen, sun protective lip balm, insect repellent, sunglasses, and hand sanitizer into small galvanized buckets. Put this mini zone by the door you use most when you’re heading out to picnics, barbeques and ball games. Just grab what you need from the buckets on your way out—and you’re good to go!

• Pool gear mini zone: store everything you need for a trip to the pool in the same spot—beach towels, goggles, pool toys, your current at-the-pool reading materials, and a lock for the pool locker. (Store this near your outdoor gear mini zone or add sunscreen and sunglasses to your pool gear mini zone!)

• Gardening mini zone: keep your gardening gloves, a small trowel, spade and other tools needed to weed in a 5-gallon bucket and keep it by the back door or in the shed. Not only will you have all your gardening supplies in one spot, but when you dead head flowers or pull weeds you can put them in the 5-gallon bucket for added convenience!

Mini zones make it simple to get ready for an event and put things away afterward! Why not take action today and set up your own summer mini zone?

smart organizing ideas for your kitchen

Check out these 24 "smart" organizing ideas from Real Simple Magazine.

The article is packed with cool organizing tips to declutter your counter, pantry, drawers, cabinets and everything else in your kitchen!

For more organizing ideas, visit my website: www.andreadekker.com

pair down your picture albums

Are you looking for a way to cut down on the number of photo albums you have lying around the house? Consider ordering 8x10 or 5x7 collages of your favorite prints and putting those in albums. It will cut down on the number of individual pictures you have to put in albums and you will save tons of time and space with fewer albums. Plus, it gives you a reason to select only your favorite pictures and resist the urge to print every single picture!!

For more organizing tips, visit my website: www.andreadekker.com

control your computer time

The personal computer can be an incredible time saving device. You can use it to bank online, order refills for your prescriptions, shop for clothes, gifts or food. You can send an e-card, email or even read a newspaper. The downside to this incredibly helpful technology is that people can easily take their work home with them, and it is so easy to get swept up into the cyber world and lose track of the real world that is right in front of you.

Several of my clients have complained about the realization that they are taking a lot of work home…which ultimately cuts down on their time for family and leisure activities. They realize that the economy has put a strain on the job market and they would rather work at home than not have a job but they want to find some balance.

So the real trick is to figure out how to best utilize the time spent on work at home and on the computer to accomplish the majority of tasks in the shortest period of time…leaving your more time to spend with people you enjoy.

Make a plan before you get on the computer. Say for example that you have one hour to spend. Jot down a list of the things you know you need to accomplish in that time frame. If you find yourself frequently losing track of time and spending more time than you planned, start setting a timer. Once the timer goes off, be true to your decision and put down the mouse. Avoid the trap of saying just 10 more minutes!

Start today and get control of your “computer time”…it will be so worth it when you find yourself with additional time to spend with your family and on activities that are a little more enjoyable!

For more organizing ideas, visit my website: www.andreadekker.com

more maintenance

It's my birthday today...

So, I'm taking the day off of organizing...kind of!

I'm not going to tackle any huge organizing projects; however, I am not completely off the hook. Maintenance is still the key to achieving an organized home, office, family and life.

We can't expect to work really hard organizing our closet and then neglect to put our clothes away! It would spiral out of control very quickly. Same thing goes with any other part of your home and/or life. If you spend the time to get it organized, take a few minutes hear and there (even on your birthday!) to keep things organized.

This means putting things away when you are finished with them: filing papers that need to be filed, hanging clothes that have been washed, putting clean dishes back in the cupboard, packing the toys away for the night, etc.

All of these things take a little time, but no where near that amount of time and effort it would take once things get out of control!

So, do yourself a favor and pick 5 areas to maintain today!

get your car in order

Do you feel you practically live in your car? Maybe that’s because you use it to run errands, drive to work, cart your children to school, chauffeur sport activities, music practice, and don’t forget family vacations! If you use your car like a second home, it most likely will get disorganized…which might also be like your house!!

So how do you keep it organized, yet still fully stocked with all the supplies you need? Here are a few ideas!

What to keep in the front seat:

- Sun glasses

- Cell phone and charger

- Maps and/or directions

- Cds, mp3 players and other music

- Kleenex and/or napkins

- Chapstick, lotion, gum, etc.

Purchase a universal center console organizer to hold all of these random items so they don’t go flying all over the front of your car. You can find some very nice organizers at www.caselogic.com or www.ebags.com. Also, make sure you maximize the use of your glove compartment and any other storage cubbies you may have in your vehicle.

It is really important to keep the front of your car organized so you won’t need to look for items while you are driving!

What to keep in the back seat:

- Umbrella

- Atlas

- Snacks and drinks (especially if you have children)

- Games and toys to keep children occupied

- Trash bin or bag

Over-the-seat organizers are great for corralling all of this “stuff” that you need to have but can get totally out of control if it’s not organized. Also, make sure that your children can reach the trash can; otherwise things will not get thrown away!

What to keep in the trunk:

- Reusable shopping bags

- Extra blankets, pillows

- Jumper cables

- First Aid kit

- Lawn chairs

You can get fancy trunk organizers from your car dealership or from most auto supply stores but you can also just use cardboard boxes or laundry baskets to corral all the clutter in your trunk. Keep like items together and you will always have the things you need at hand!

With all the clutter control you have done you now have a "second home" you can be proud of.

tip of the week (06/14/2009)

June 14 – June 20, 2009 this weeks "tip of the week" was sent from Kathryn, from Allendale, MI

Kathryn writes: "Using a regular empty tissue box (not the cube boxes), I cut off the top part entirely and use it to hold my pending bills in front and last month's paid to the rear.

When the front (new) bills are paid they replace the bills in the rear of the box. The bills that were previously in the rear are either filed/saved, if necessary, to my actual file cabinet, or shredded.

The box is a perfect size to hold business-size envelopes and the tissue box itself is small enough to keep in a desk drawer, or desk top. I've used the same tissue box for quite some time and sometimes change it out because tissue boxes can be so beautiful with theme prints or lots of beautiful flowers.”

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Do you have an organizing or time management tip that you would like to share? Click here and your tip could be the next one featured in our newsletter, our blog or on our website! For more organizing tips, check out www.andreadekker.com. It is full of great organizing tips for every area of your life.

how paperless are you?

Are you feeling like you're buried under an avalanche of paper sometimes? Most of us are right there with you. We've all gotten overwhelmed with of the paper that is around us. It seems like the more we talk about going paperless, the more paper it generates!

So how to you start on your journey to a paperless life?

First, you will need a few tools:

- A good shredder (preferably a diamond cut shredder that makes confetti out of your paper)

- A safety deposit box or fireproof box

- A portable hard drive to back up your computer files

Next, declutter the unnecessary paper around you:

- Set up a filing system on your computer…and remember to back it up regularly!
- Use electronic features to pay your bills and request to view all bills/statements online only.
- Eliminate your junk mail by registering with the Direct Marketing Association (DMA)

- Sort your mail at the shredder
- Handle each piece of paper only once

- Cancel any unneeded or unwanted subscriptions

Finally, keep it under control:

All of the systems in the world won't do a bit of good if you don't keep on top of it. By reducing the amount of paper you have to deal with on a daily basis, it is easier to keep up with it. Don't let your `to be filed' basket be filled to overflowing. Instead, file each piece as it comes into the house. Then it is no longer a mountain threatening an avalanche when you walk by.

You can start with just 15 minutes TODAY and you will be on your way to a paperless life!

For more organizing tips, visit my website: www.andreadekker.com

tips to better manage your e-mail

What do you see when you open your e-mail? How many messages do you have? Do you have to scroll down to view all of them? Are many of them unread? Does just the thought of them all overwhelm you?

Some people have even confessed to me that they feel paralyzed at the thought of checking their e-mail!

Your inbox is not a place to hold all your mail, just like the mailbox outside your house doesn't keep all the letters and junk mail you've ever received. When I check my mailbox every day, I don't bring all the mail in, read through it all and take it right back outside to put back inside the mail box. Do you?

Then why do we do that with our computer inbox?

It's because we don't have a system.

E-clutter happens when you open an email, can't decide what to do about it and so you close it again. And there it sits waiting for you...

I have a solution that is quick and easy for you.

Make a new folder, call it @today's date (where today's date is the actual date, e.g...), drag everything into that folder and start afresh.

Now create these 5 new habits:

1. Set a goal
Decide to have an inbox with no more than 20 (or whatever your comfort number is) items at any one time. Play a game with yourself and make a point of deleting a certain number of items daily. These can be from your inbox, sent items, folders, etc.

2. Set times during the day to read and process emails
For the most part, emails are a distraction so check emails only after you do your most important task of the day. Decide on one or two other times to process emails, maybe around lunch time and then just before you leave the office.

3. Delete junk mail immediately
Junk mail is anything you have not signed up for and includes chain letters, petitions, solicitations, scams, etc.

4. Make folders
Most people don't use folders correctly. You don't make individual folders just to drag all the contents of your inbox into these folders. Put some though into the types of e-mails you receive and label your folders accordingly.

5. Maintenance

At the end of the week, month, quarter, and/or year, set aside some time to go through your inbox, set mail, junk mail, deleted mail, and ALL of your folders and get rid of anything that is no longer needed. It doesn’t take as long as you think and you will feel so much less cluttered after you are finished!

For more organizing ideas: visit my website: www.andreadekker.com

enjoy a vacation from paper

School is officially out…which means you finally have a break from all the paper your kids bring home from school! Before you settle into a well-deserved vacation from paper, take time now to handle any lingering action items left over from the past school year.

• Take time this week to fill out the registration forms for the upcoming school year. It will feel much better to know this task is complete, rather than have it hanging over your head all summer long.

• Record important dates for the upcoming school year on the calendar now, too. Include dates like the first day of school, school holidays, and so on. If you didn’t get these dates from your school yet, they’re probably posted on your district’s website.

• Cull through any remaining school papers and artwork from the past year. Pull out the keepers and store them in a file folder or binder. Recycle the rest!

By taking a few simple action steps now, you can clear away last year’s school paper clutter and really enjoy your vacation from school paper!

For more organizing ideas: visit my website: www.andreadekker.com

organize according to your habits

One of the biggest organizing mistakes is committing to a system that isn’t second nature to you. You want to store things where you use them. Designing a system around your natural habits makes it easier to maintain. That's not to say you should continue with your messy, throwing clothes on the floor ways; rather, find ways to make your tendencies less messy. Stick with simple solutions you know you can commit to: throwing clothes in a readily available hamper, for example. Think through what you want to accomplish, and then keep it simple and doable according to your habits.

organize with space-saving hooks

Are you looking to get organized but don't have a lot of space? Join the club!! Space is at a premium now days and we have more stuff than ever so thankfully, Real Simple Magazine has some great solutions...use hooks!

Wether it is your entry way, kitchen, bathroom or bedroom, hooks offer a lot of storage without taking up much space. Also, with such a variety of sizes and styles of hooks available to you can put hooks nearly anywhere in your home or office.

Check out this article for more ideas!

tips to leave the office on time

Below is a question from one of our readers...and some of my ideas!

How do I leave the office on time...or even a little early? I am working so late every evening and I don't have a life outside of my work.

This is a question I often hear from my clients…does it sound familiar to you too? If you are putting in extra longs hours at work, here are a few suggestions to help you shorten up your work day.

1. Make a list at the end of every day
This will help you to hit the ground running every day when you get to work.

2. Focus on your priorities first
Do nothing else until your main priorities are accomplished every day.

3. Set some time boundaries
If you are currently working until 6 or 7 every night (or even later), then set a small goal that says you won't work until later than 6 every night next week (or earlier if you can). Then stick to it.

The next week set your goal a bit earlier - 5.45 and then 5.30 until you're working shorter less and less at night. You can work late now and again but don't make it a habit.

4. Set reminders in Outlook
Set a recurring appointment for the next month. The appointment should be made for 30 minutes before you want to leave your office and should say tidy desk and write tomorrow's to-do list. If you really find it hard to leave, make an appointment outside the office so that you absolutely have to leave at a certain time.

If you put these four tips into practice consistently, I guarantee that you will soon be leaving your office earlier to enjoy the rest of your life. Of course, these same principles apply whether you work from home or outside your home.

Your challenge this week

Honestly evaluate if you're spending too much time working. Yes or no?

Does your life feel like your ideal life, the life you've always dreamed of?

Try to leave a office a little earlier this week!

tip of the week (6/7/2009)

June 7 – June 13, 2009 this weeks "tip of the week" was sent from Chuck, from Grand Haven, MI

Chuck writes: " After my dress shirts are washed and hung to air dry, I place them in one area of the closet. (My closet is two- tiered, and I leave the un-ironed shirts on the lower tier.)

Each Saturday when I iron shirts for the week, I sort through the shirts to be ironed, and determine the wardrobe for the week. When the shirt is ironed, it is placed on the upper tier.

It helps to have them ready, but also rotates the shirts so eventually all are worn, and few are worn out!”

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Do you have an organizing or time management tip that you would like to share? Click here and your tip could be the next one featured in our newsletter, our blog or on our website! For more organizing tips, check out www.andreadekker.com. It is full of great organizing tips for every area of your life.

organizer your cables and cords

Do you constantly have cables and cords lying all around your house? I've seen some scary sights behind TV entertainment centers and computer desks! There are just so many cords for every piece of electronic equipment, it seems that we trip over one every where we go. Does this sound like you??

Well, the Container Store has a great new product called the cable organizer that allows you to wrap multiple cords around the inner spindle while the flexible rubber shell keeps even thick cables discreetly under wraps.

So, for all of you who are struggling to keep your cords under control, you can organize them with the cable organizer for only $15 from The Container Store!

For more organizing ideas, visit my website: www.andreadekker.com

clutter...a 2-way street

Is clutter a one-way street in your home? Does more stuff come in than makes its way out? If so, keep this in mind: avoiding clutter is a two-way street. As you’re decluttering your home and removing unneeded items from it, make a conscious effort to slow the inflow of new items into your home, too!

To get started, begin to recognize your clutter traps—times when you’re tempted to bring things into your home that you don’t really want or need. Sales are very common clutter traps that are easy to avoid with a shift in thinking. Whenever you’re tempted to spontaneously purchase a sale item, stop and ask yourself if you’d purchase this very same item for the original ticketed price. If your answer is yes, you’re probably good to buy—if it’s something you need and absolutely love! If your answer is no, let it go! You don’t really need or want it if you couldn’t ever imagine paying full price for it!

Then, feel good knowing you’ve started the process of turning your clutter into a two-way street!

figure out your finances

Did you know that the average American family carries over $9,000 in credit card debt? Ten years ago it was only about $4,000.

Did you know that only half of all Americans have a retirement account?

A recent survey showed that over 70% of American consumers said that debt makes their home life unhappy! It also showed that many Americans are only one paycheck away from financial disaster.

Does this describe you?

If it does, don't despair. You're not alone. Some people get behind financially due to circumstances beyond their control, like a divorce, illness or job loss.

Not to mention the fact bankers and credit card companies make credit easier to get by focusing on minimum payments and delayed payments, but playing around with interest rates and fees. Also, the cost of carrying debt has tripled in recent years--that means it costs you a lot more to borrow money now, than it did decades ago.

The fact is, you can’t change what has already happen but you CAN take control of your debt today, own your paycheck once again, and start yourself down the road to debt freedom.

I’ve said this before…but I will say it again; organizing your finances is one of the most important things you can do for your sanity and for your family’s future.

Make it a goal this week or this month to get your finances more organized. This could be as simple as balancing your checkbook or looking for a way to increase your retirement fund, or something a little more complex like setting up a will, creating a debt reduction plan, or even seeking professional help to get back on track.

Just like getting your home organized, it is a series of small steps that will get you to your destination! Oh, and you won’t get anywhere until you take the first step! Take it this week!