Helpful Tips
I don't know about you but I'm a very practical person. I like things that make my life easier. I like to learn about things that will help me have more productive days. I like to work with people that are honest, hard working and diligent. That's the reason this link was created. Hopefully what you find here will help make your life a bit easier as well.
Help Around The House
1. Laundry Sorting -- the principle here is take some of the work out of your laundry days. Purchase 3 laundry baskets ($2 at Walmart) or you can get fancy and buy the large wicker baskets. Designate a basket for 1) white clothes 2) colors 3) towels/linens. You will be amazed at the amount of time this saves...and don't just do this in your closet. Teach your children early on to do this too (a great color teaching tool).
2. Menu Planning -- Do you find yourself exhausted at the end of the day trying to decide what to make for dinner only to find out the one thing you have time to make, you don't have the ingredients the recipe demands. Menu planning will take a few extra minutes of time on the front end but will save endless headaches on the back end.
How? You can get as simple or as elaborate as you want. I started out making a weekly calendar in Excel (see below). This is just a basic daily calendar and you insert your meal into the appropriate day. Think through your activities. I find it helpful to sit down with my grocery list, pen, recipe books, and calendar when I'm planning menus. If you know you have violin lessons late on Monday, you would want to plan a quick meal for that night. If you normally eat out on Friday, mark that on your menu plan.
Steps:
1. Collect your favorite recipe books (I use 1 or 2)
2. Get your calendar, pen, grocery list, and menu (or blank paper)
3. Fill in your menu blocks with the easiest days first, if you have a date planned for Friday the 6th, then mark date on that block and move on the next.
4. Go through your recipe books (or not) and decide what meals you'll be making. Be sure to write down your ingredients that you need to buy on your grocery list. Make sure you write down the name (or abbreviation) of the recipe book and it's page number.
5. Fill in all of the days you will be shopping for on your next grocery trip. I shop every two weeks so I make out my menu two weeks at a time.
Sample 1:
Sample 2: (this is the method I use currently -- not as fancy but it works all the same) - I just use a blank piece of copy paper.
January
Monday - 1 - chicken casserole BBC100, green beans, salad, rolls
Tuesday - 2 -- gymnastics - crockpot roast, potatoes, carrots
Wednesday - 3 - eat at church
etc. etc.
3. Grocery List
I prefer to shop at Walmart for groceries. I have price shopped at most of the competitors and find I get the best deals there on the groceries my family consume. I needed a quick grocery list organized by isle so that I'm not wasting time in the grocery store. With 3 kids along for the ride most of the time, I need to get in and out as quickly as possible. Feel free to use this and adapt it to your own grocery store.
(I will upload this soon, in the meantime if you would like a copy via email please let me know
For coupons we recommend: (grocery and restaurant coupons)
Lower your Grocery Bill Now">
Local Companies
First, let me say, we do not endorse any of these companies. This listing is simply a list of businesses that we have had a good experience with. In times that we have been in need of one of these services we had to research and find someone that could help. Maybe this will cut out some of that leg work for you. That being said, it's always a smart move to get a few estimates before making your decision.
Painting and Ceiling Repair -- Orlando Taylor - 901-605-3854
Hair Stylist -- Ashley at Gould's Day Spa (Cordova) - 757-4600
Lawn Service -- Just Lawn Mowing - 405-1199
Electrician -- Marty McKinnley -- 388-2771
Wallpapering and removal -- Richard Stoddard - 299-7517
Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning -- Mr. Klean - 683-7991
Financial Help
Again, these attachments are only meant as a guide. Please consult an attorney or a financial advisor should your situation require. We are not accounting or legal representatives and cannot be held liable for information held within. Use at your discretion.
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