Back to School Bootcamp: Get Organized and Save $$
It's here...or almost here. The first day of school. The beginning of that routine, that every day schedule which involves you corralling members of the family to get to the bustop or into the car by a certain time in the morning, nooging homework to be done, chauffeuring various kids to various activities with various gear. And let's not forget about that whole eating thing.
It is enough to make a mom scream - yet one way to be on top of the controlled chaos that is your life is to be organized. Not just with the schedule, but in the closets and the car and your office area. When there is clutter and an every other day "Mom, where's my ballet shoes?" inquiry, you will end up costing yourself time and probably money and definitely stress. Just as you are getting all of the back-to-school basics ready for them, get yourself and your house ready too.
-- Organize those closets and dressers in every room. Be sure things in there fit, have a place, aren't totally a mess. This can save you and your kids a huge amount of time while getting ready in the morning. Have a place for dirty clothes in their rooms - it can help stave off the start of the floordrobe (a pile of discarded clothes on the floor of a person's room).
-- Fix up the "by the door" area. You know what I'm talking about, that area where shoes, backpacks, shin guards, mittens are ditched when coming home. Use cubbies, hooks, whatever you think will get everyone to put items in the proper place (check out some ideas and more hints next week and over at the Smarter Living hub).
-- List out what kids need to in the morning. Are they in charge of dressing themselves? Brushing teeth? Post a morning checklist in a central location to refer to, so you aren't always on top of them and so they can use to remember what they need to do with those sleepy eyes.
-- Get a file folder for each kiddo. Label it and have it ready by where you pay your bills. You can keep anything from the school or sports leagues or a list of friends' home numbers in that one central location - believe me, this will save you oodles of time and stress.
-- Hang a family calendar. Maybe a week at a glance or a month at a glance. Handy reminder so everyone can see when the soccer games are, who has a doctor appointment and when kids have the day off from school.
-- Stock up your car. Get the essentials in a little bag or small tote box. Think wipes, bottled water, snacks, tissues, band-aids, pen and paper, extra bit of cash - which help you in a pinch or when something is forgotten.
Do you have a family calendar? How about that backpack area? Share your organization techniques!
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I have a wire mesh 3 slot hanging file next to my desk, and we keep her homework, in that, also an envelope for boxtops, and anything school related. The school sens us a calendar page each month with all events on it, and I add other things as needed. It is kept on the frig.
Quoting Wish2Be:
Quoting cjsmom1:
I just bought a few hooks that stick to the wall for ds's book bag and coat
I found some neat wall hooks for by the door, but I have never done anything like that before so I dont know if they will hold. Have you ever had a problem?
Quoting goddess99:
My family calendar is going to be alot lighter this year. I am taking the year off so YAY for me. I also only have 1 child so she hangs her things on the coat rack.
What does it mean when you say your taking a year off? Are you going to be a house mommy for a year?
Are Pre-K to 2nd grade bookbags too heavy?
Quoting cjsmom1:
My walls are hollow so when I tried using the bigger hook racks my wall couldn't support it. These work great, but I'm not putting anything super heavy on them.
Quoting Wish2Be:
Quoting cjsmom1:
I just bought a few hooks that stick to the wall for ds's book bag and coat
I found some neat wall hooks for by the door, but I have never done anything like that before so I dont know if they will hold. Have you ever had a problem?
great tips I could really incorporate these into my back to school life lol
Monthly expenses
- HeatherNYC
on Aug. 8, 2012 at 12:00 AM