How organized is your kitchen pantry? Here are some money saving tips you can try around your home.

Come clean — do you know what’s hiding in your pantry? Up until a couple of months ago I certainly didn’t know the full scoop. But then I took on the dreaded task of clearing my pantry out, cleaning the shelves and re-organizing everything. It was enormously rewarding, as these kinds of jobs usually are. It took about three hours to do it all properly, but by the time I had finished, I had actually discovered plenty of food I didn’t even know I had.

Image from balancedweightmanagement.com

Kitchen Pantry Organization: Why You Should Organize Your Pantry

And this is the whole point of getting in there and having a clear out in the first place. During those three hours, I discovered several things about the process that I’d like to share with you here. I have managed to save money as a result of having that clear out, and here are some more good reasons why you’ll benefit from performing this exercise and organizing this part of your home.

1. I re-discovered things I didn’t know I had. If you have ever done this you’ll know how amazing it can be to unearth some long-forgotten items in your cupboards. Well, it can be amazing or it can be startling (if you’ve got perishables in there). In my case, I came across a good discovery. I forgot that I had flavored noodles in the pantry so the next day, I did a stir fry with them. It gave me ideas for different recipes.

2. I reacquainted myself with all those essential pantry ingredients I had forgotten about. I am referring to things like herbs, sauces and so on. Once I found a few bottles, I started using these ingredients and ended up with some different meals as a result.

3. I found things that were about to expire. It’s a good idea to do a regular cleaning or check of your pantry so that you can spot things that have an expiration date and that need to be used soon to avoid getting wasted. Re-organize your pantry to ensure that those items that have an expiration date are positioned front and center; this way you’ll tend to consume these things more quickly.

4. I was able to cross things off my shopping list because I found out I already had them. I was amazed by the number of things I was about to go and buy that I already had. I just had to tidy things up a bit to find them all.

5. I was able to reorganize my ingredients so that similar things were grouped together. This made it easier for me to keep track of what I already had and what I needed to buy. For example, dried pasta, rice and spaghetti all sit in the same place. Whenever I want to make lasagna or some other pasta or rice dish, I know exactly where to look for what I need. By being more organized, I can pace my shopping in a way that is most efficient and that saves me money.

You can see how beneficial it can be to keep one’s stock room and pantry in order. I did have to get rid of a few things that had been forgotten and were long since out of date. The wasted money on those things did annoy me, but it has taught me a lesson as well.

Moral of the story? Don’t forget those things you’ve put in storage. Here’s one place where you can avoid wasting money simply by being aware of the stuff you buy and bring in from the grocery store. I cook a lot more now than I’ve ever done before, so I’ve got a better idea of what I need to have in my pantry all the time. I am now less likely to waste or forget about anything, and I enjoy a lot more versatile meals as well. With a plentiful supply of staples like pasta, rice, spaghetti, herbs and sauces, you can’t go wrong!

This is a post from The Smarter Wallet.

Kitchen Pantry Organization: Why You Should Organize Your Pantry

You can get your own organic food by growing your own vegetables.

Last year was the year of my first foray into growing my own vegetables at home. It brought forth beautiful and very tasty food, not to mention plenty of lessons that are now being put into practice for this year’s crop.

Growing Carrots In My Garden

And I have added something new to the mix this year as well –- namely carrots. Yes, those gorgeous orange beauties with the lovely green shoots are now growing in our own back garden. I only planted them a few days ago so I have no doubt the seeds are still little more than seeds at this point.

But is it really worth growing them at all? I mean, I must admit I thought twice about it initially. Carrots aren’t the most expensive vegetable to grow, so why worry about growing something that you can buy cheaply enough anyway?

It’s a fair point. But I have to say that I am glad I’ve taken a stab at it. I don’t yet know what the results will be, but I have a single trough filled with earth that has two rows of carrot seeds planted in it, sitting in a warm sunny spot in the garden. And I think that if I get good results from it then it will definitely have been worth growing the carrots.

When it comes to the financial side of things, I have found that it is possible to buy a small value pack of carrot seeds. This only cost me a few cents — around sixty cents I think. The trough was something I already had anyway, and I bought four “grow bags” in total for around seven dollars. I didn’t need too much earth and I had a lot of carrot seeds left (after planting some of them), so I can definitely plant more out if I want to, in a few weeks time.

You need to decide whether you’d like to upgrade to the taste of homegrown carrots (or not) and determine if it’s worth it to set up your own garden. I’ve applied my carrots to a few easy meal ideas I’ve had and I’ve eaten homegrown ones before and there is no doubting that their flavor is far superior than anything you could hope to buy. Maybe the satisfaction factor has something to do with it as well?

I reckon that with the quantity of seeds I have, my homegrown carrots will work out slightly cheaper than anything I could go out and buy. But they should be better quality and be packed with more flavor as well. And of course, I will gain more knowledge after I’ve tried my hand at growing them for the first time, so I can look forward to doing even better next year.

As it stands, I am only now starting to see the real benefits of growing my own vegetables at home. The rewarding aspect of this is that I feel more self-sufficient, having gone through this experience. I feel like I get more out of this project every single year I do it, which is why you will find me out in the garden every spring and summer, tending to my homegrown plantings.

Isn’t it time you tried your hand at growing your own carrots?

This is a post from The Smarter Wallet.

Growing Carrots In My Garden

I’d like to bring your attention to an interesting personal finance program that will be held from November 9 (through December 20). Top personal finance blogger, Ramit Sethi, who wrote the New York Times best selling book “I Will Teach You To Be Rich”, has put together a financial boot camp aimed at those who would like to get their finances in order, whether it be in the areas of banking, saving, budgeting, debt and credit management, investing or earning more. If you’re curious about Ramit, he runs the site I Will Teach You To Be Rich.com and is a popular blogger, speaker and accomplished writer in the field of personal finance.

For those who are interested in really taking control of their finances and would like to see results by giving their financial life some priority, this program could prove quite helpful. The idea here is that if you can spare 5 to 10 hours a week for 6 weeks (November 9 through December 20) on this program, you’ll learn and apply lessons that can turn your finances around. The goal is to find out whether your financial plan is on track, or if you don’t have a plan to start with, then the course aims to get you started. This boot camp goes beyond giving out information on how to do things, it actually aims to have you take ACTION that will lead to positive results.

For more on the boot camp, you can visit this page or read on.

I Will Teach You To Be Rich Boot Camp Details

Here are some details on this Personal Finance Boot Camp, which is an interactive online course that will help educate, inspire and guide you to improve your finances.

Who: Ramit Sethi will lead the boot camp and will encourage you to take action on your finances. There will be several Q & A opportunities throughout the event.
What: 6-week online boot camp to help people take ACTION and manage their money. Course work will cover credit cards, debt, automating money, picking the right accounts, investments, and day-to-day money questions.
Cost: $199
No Risk: Satisfaction guaranteed: there’s a 30 day money back guarantee associated with this program, no questions asked.
How To Register: You can only register until Friday, November 6 at 12 AM PST and space is limited. Secure your spot here.
Guest speakers: There will be several guest speakers who excel in their respective fields (online marketing, entrepreneurship, financial services, job coaching). They’ll be speaking about entrepreneurship, earning more, finding a mentor, landing your dream job, etc.

Personal Finance Boot Camp Course Schedule

Here’s a peek at the course schedule. It’s going to be packed with a lot of financial topics. You’ll find out what actions you’ll need to take in each area of your financial life and then actually DO the things needed to help you make strides in these areas.

To give you an example of how this online course will be conducted, here is a course outline for Week 1, where the focus will be on making the best use of your credit cards and how to monitor your credit on your own:

• Homework Assignment: Make a list of credit cards, balances, interest rates. (This will be collected and checked off by IWT assistants.)
• Group and Forum Discussion Topics with Support Materials: Six Commandments of Credit Cards, Common Mistakes to Avoid, Credit Card Tips, Card Negotiation Scripts
• Ramit’s Tuesday Live Cast: Ramit talks about big wins with your credit cards, how to find the best deals and takes member’s questions.
• Live Guest Speaker Thursday: Andy Jolls from VideoCreditScore.com talks about easy ways to improve your credit score and answers member’s questions.
• Check Lists: Find out your credit score and check your credit report, set up your credit cards, make sure you’re handling your card effectively, develop a debt plan.

How To Sign Up

Again, this course will be running for 6 weeks, from November 9 through December 20. But you can only sign up for this event between now and Friday, November 6 at 12 AM PST (or possibly sooner, depending on attendance and space limitations).

If you are interested in participating in this boot camp, you can sign up here.

This is a post from The Smarter Wallet.

I Will Teach You To Be Rich Personal Finance Boot Camp Is Here!

Outsourcing is not just for big business. Why not maximize your personal productivity by hiring some extra help?

You don’t have to be a large corporation or wealthy mogul to have people working for you. From hiring a landscaper for your yard to enlisting the assistance of a professional web designer to revamp your website, outsourcing can ultimately save you money in the long run and get the job done.

Hire Extra Help To Get Things Done

What exactly is outsourcing? Instead of hiring employees, you contract work out on a project basis. From website design to washing windows, there are people waiting to help you finish all those projects you never get around to do.

As an alternative to outsourcing, people have also tried to do bartering. Offer your services in exchange for the services of someone else. Do you dislike housecleaning after a long day at work? Is your friend a stay-at-home mom who desperately needs a break from the kids? Watch her children one weekend day in exchange for housecleaning services during the week. Without spending a penny, your friend will get a day off and you will have a cleaner house.

Why Should You Consider Outsourcing?

So you want to save money by doing things yourself? Well, here are some interesting reasons why you should get the hired help anyway:

• Detrimental Do-It-Yourself Projects. We’ve all attempted to DIY and some of us may have had less than satisfactory results. When you don’t really know what you’re doing, it takes extra time to learn. The time spent researching and trying to accomplish the job often costs more than hiring someone. If your DIY project fails, you wind up spending money all over again to get someone to correct it. I would only tackle DIY projects which are fairly simple to do or if they are within my areas of expertise. For example, plumbers should be able to fix their own leaky sinks and mechanics can repair their cars on their own. Otherwise, we can save time and money by hiring a pro.
• Get Your World Together. There are things on our task lists that we defer to a later date or that just slip through the cracks. But with a small outlay, we can add order to our lives and organize our homes by outsourcing some of our chores. Overgrown grass annoys your neighbors, attracts bugs and may even cause you to receive a local citation. A messy, disorganized house makes it difficult to find what you want when you need it. You can outsource your household and yard cleaning in order to achieve organization in your surroundings, which will make it easier to get all the other elements of your life together so that you are a more productive person.
• The Cost Of Putting Off Things Until Tomorrow. How much does it cost you to put off jobs until tomorrow? Will the sink fix itself or will you develop a dangerous leak behind the wall that will ultimately cost more to repair? How do you stop procrastinating about things? I remember the tale of the Brownies when I was in Girl Scouts: the brownies would come during the night to get all the chores done. Unfortunately, this is a fictional story; in many situations, we may have to resort to outsourcing some of our tasks so that we can cross them off our to-do list. When we ignore problems, they can escalate over time because they aren’t addressed right away and may cost us additional time and money.
• Time Is Money. This leads us to our final point. Ultimately, our time is worth something. And if you would like to become more productive and efficient, you may want to assess just how much you value your time. With time being a limited resource, it’s a good idea to determine what the opportunity cost is for you to spend time doing certain activities vs other things. Through outsourcing, you can leverage your time better, allowing you to prioritize on the things you care about doing the most.

So have you thought of hiring a virtual assistant lately? Or have you thought of securing the services of someone who can help you run errands or tidy up your home?

This is a post from The Smarter Wallet.

Outsourcing and Hiring Extra Help To Get Things Done

We all want to maximize personal productivity, especially if we’re small business owners. Well here’s a follow up to our post on free online calendars and personal planners care of Paul O’Brien of Outright.com.

With unemployment at record highs in parts of the U.S., one of the most crucial decisions individuals are making right now is whether to remain on a sinking corporate ship or to strike out on their own. For some people, of course, this decision has been made for them. They were laid off and unable to find new employment, so they’ve decided to try their hand at consulting, freelance work, or perhaps turning a hobby into an income stream. We call these people “unintentional entrepreneurs.”

The mere idea of business ownership is daunting, especially if you’ve spent your whole life defining yourself as an “employee of Company X”. And, if striking out on your own weren’t scary enough in an existential sense, then all the day to day minutia of running a business suddenly tackles you, too. There’s no more sales team to go out and find your clients, and as tempted as you might be to forward your expense report for that client lunch to accounting, guess what? The accounting department is you.

Luckily for unintentional entrepreneurs, a lot of companies out there know what you are going through. And while many entrepreneurs may feel like they aren’t getting the support they need as they contemplate a life of self-employment under the new Obama Administration, the good news is that the private sector is listening to some of those fears. And because we live in a digital age where access to services, that would have otherwise only been attainable by hiring staff or expert consultants, is just a mouse click away, I thought I’d share some of the best tools that I’ve come across that simplify life for the unintentional entrepreneur.

Free Web Tools For The Unintentional Entrepreneur

Outright.com, for example, understands that we aren’t all talented number crunchers and offers a free bookkeeping service for self-employed individuals and small business owners. Freshbooks makes it easy to generate and keep track of invoices. And, the busy entrepreneur in need of a receipt and contact management system should check out Shoeboxed. For further convenience, all of these applications are integrated, so that financial tasks become the least of your worries as a business owner.

Your next greatest worry? Let’s find some business. Today’s buzzwords are Twitter and Facebook but there is only one service which clearly and effectively connects your professional life with peers, customers, and partners. LinkedIn and its suite of event calendars, question and answer forums, and groups, is so attuned to your professional profile and your business that you might find you don’t know how you lived without it. Upon setting up your profile, you’ll find industry specific events and meet-ups to attend; you’ll note others in your industry asking questions or presenting solutions, and notice smaller groups around your location, specialization, or interests. Join in the discussion and make friends that matter!

Having fostered those customer relationships, you should work to maintain them. This is really where Twitter pays off; to make it work for you, think of Glen Allsopp’s 7 Uncommon Uses for Twitter as the 7 Common Uses. Twitter works when you share tools, foster the community, and interact. Simply sell yourself and you’ll quickly alienate your followers; work your community and it works with you.

While Twitter is the hot topic of late, innovations in traditional marketing tools mean the tried and true methods work even better than once was the case. MailChimp makes it easy to send email newsletters to customers, manage subscriber lists, and track campaign performance. They use the same tools that sophisticated marketers use (like segmentation, A/B testing, and ROI tracking) while making them accessible to everyone.

The number of people working for themselves is up to 20 million Americans. If you look at just freelance workers and consultants — people who tell the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics that they obtain work on their own but don’t own a business — their number grew by 27% from 1995-2005, and while the most recent numbers aren’t yet available, I’d be willing to bet that number is growing dramatically as of late. The good news for the unintentional entrepreneur is that technology fueled by a fierce passion for helping people strike out on their own is now available at either very low costs, or in many cases for free. This should be very encouraging for those who are ready to hang out their own shingle.

Starting right here in San Francisco at the innovative gallery Langdon Labs, on July 15, Network Solutions has partnered with Outright.com to host events around the country to support the needs of local business owners and entrepreneurs. The free networking and information session will be followed by workshops in New York, Washington D.C., Atlanta and Los Angeles, throughout July and August. The local meet-ups will feature successful, local entrepreneurs who will share actionable tips and advice for those starting out or struggling with their existing business. For more information, check out UnintentionalEntrepreneur.com.

This is a post from The Smarter Wallet.

Online Tools For The Unintentional Entrepreneur

Facing a job layoff? Maximize your personal productivity and you might just avoid the axe!

With retrenchment going on all around us these days, it’s time to think about how best to be productive at our jobs. After all, for those of us left behind after a layoff, we’re doing the work of more than one person. While we need to keep up with the pace of work that we’re left to deal with after layoffs, we should also think of those things that can help us emphasize our worth as valuable employees at our companies. Plus, to be brutally explicit, I should say that when we’re productive, there’s less chance of us getting the axe.

Do you ever wonder where the day has gone as you ponder over the unfinished tasks still ahead of you? Do you have days when it seems like you just can’t get anything done? One of the most common reasons we end up wasting so much time on unnecessary activities is because we’re not as organized as we should be. To see what we can do about this, let’s check out a few of these productivity tips. These particular ideas have actually worked out well for me!

6 Great Tips To Maximize Personal Productivity

1. Buy Post It Notes, Fridge Magnets or a Daily Schedule Planner.
Fridge magnets may seem cheesy, but they can be some of the most useful tools in your arsenal to help you raise your productivity level. Use these tools (along with post it notes and a planner) to plan ahead. You can also get into the habit of entering important reminders into your daily schedule. Anything that comes across as important to you, write it down and post it somewhere visible so that it doesn’t slip your mind. Here are a few free online calendars and personal planners you may want to try out for this purpose.

2. Get enough sleep.
By sleeping early and by getting enough sleep, you’ll be able to keep yourself awake, alert and productive during the day. Avoid spending too much time watching television or playing video games late into the night as these activities can easily infringe upon your valuable sleeping hours. We all need balance in our lives in order to function at our peak level. Some other tips to stay alert? If you’re always in front of the computer at work, try to avoid slouching; and take power naps during your lunch break in order to refresh your mind. Or how about drinking some tea? It’ll refresh your senses.

3. Stay Fit and Healthy.
Try not to overeat — especially at work. Not only will it make you fat but it’ll also make you sleepy at work, potentially interfering with your productivity. As much as possible, also fit in exercise into your schedule. This will keep your mind sharp while also helping you keep your desired body weight. Fight a sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy habits with regular exercise and a good diet; remember that good fitness habits will keep you physically and mentally strong. So how about trying these ways to exercise for cheap?

4. Stay Positive.
Try to stay positive. If you have a habit of channeling negativity towards work (and life), you’re bound to set yourself up for tough days ahead; you’re dooming yourself to failure this way. By reminding yourself to stay positive before each day begins, you’ll be able to dictate the way your day progresses and what your mood and outlook will be for the rest of the day. Your positivity will also be an inspiration and influence to others at work and at home. So keep your chin up!

5. Plan Ahead and Stay Organized.
By planning ahead and staying organized, you’ll be able to take control of your life. For instance, if you budget your money and do some personal financial planning, you’re more likely to keep your mind clear of any worry and concern over your finances. A day without worry leaves you more time for activities and accomplishments you can fit into your schedule. And by being organized, you’ll become much more efficient at completing the tasks you face every day. For some ideas on staying organized, check out our article on how to organize your home.

6. Think Before You Act.
Haste makes waste. Do you agree? When you act hastily, you become prone to making errors. If you’re always in a hurry or in a rush, you’re not doing yourself a favor because you open yourself up to careless mistakes or even possible reckless, unpleasant consequences. And we all know just how a silly mistake can end up wasting our time and eating away at our productivity. Such mistakes can take time to remedy. So before you act on something, process it through your mind first, then do it right the first time! Sometimes, just a few seconds of thought can end up changing your life.

The basic tips we’ve described above can be achieved with the proper mindset and the right attitude. Try them out and see just how much more productive you’ll get when the mental cobwebs are out of the way. Realize that even certain small and simple actions can help alter the course of your entire day for the better and make a positive difference in the way you function. It doesn’t have to take much to maximize your personal productivity!

This is a post from The Smarter Wallet.

Tips To Maximize Personal Productivity

It’s not unusual for the young to roll their eyes at Grandma and Grandpa’s free advice on life. The truth is, some of the old fashioned advice dished out by your parents and their parents, still makes sense today.

Free Financial Advice You May Have Heard From Family

Here are 5 old fashioned financial tips everyone should reconsider.

1. If it sounds too good to be true…it probably is.

When it comes to parting with your money, it is essential that you take the time to evaluate all the details before you jump into something. Impulsiveness is not something you want to mix with your money. There are so many scams and con artists looking to take advantage of honest, hard working consumers and unfortunately, such scammers are getting more innovative and crafty with their schemes. But there are ways to avoid scams. Gut instinct often comes into play during those times you need to make decisions. If you feel like something is just not right, then stay away from it. Make sure you learn from the situation, always do your research and learn how to spot rip-offs.

2. Waste not….want not.

Money is tight all over the country. Families are finding it more difficult to make ends meet; buying just the basics can often be a struggle. When shopping for groceries and other household items, plan carefully. Don’t buy more than you need at any time, particularly when you’re dealing with perishable items. Don’t buy in bulk something you have not tried before. Keep rotating your freezer and pantry goods so products do not expire. Also try charitable giving: if you find things on your shelves you just know your family will never eat, donate them to the food bank, church, or local shelter for others to enjoy.

3. It is better to save a penny than earn a penny.

A penny saved can actually earn you money whereas a penny earned incurs taxes and most likely will be spent. Gather your spare change from the couch cushions and the jug in the corner, and count it up. Put it into an interest bearing account and leave it alone.

4. Get out of debt and live within your means!

Setting a budget and a goal to get out of debt takes a lot of work and dedication but it reaps great rewards. If you feel too overwhelmed with your current debt, seek the advice of a professional advisor or a credit counselor and work hard to get your money situation straightened out. You can control your household budget by applying discipline and following saving strategies and budgeting ideas. Once you are debt-free, budget your money and set new goals so you can live your life below your means. Getting yourself out of debt is a lot of work but keeping yourself out of debt can be as easy as you make it. Remember how it felt to live with the burden of debt and vow to never do it again.

5. It’s alright to have an occasional treat.

Living on a budget is tough, especially if you are just starting out. Changing your habits and daily life can take a toll on your spirit and it can get a little depressing. Too much of a good thing may not always be good (or sustainable) so it’s okay to treat yourself every now and then. Acknowledge your own achievements and reward yourself for reaching your goals. Just keep the rewards reasonable and within your budget.

This is a post from The Smarter Wallet.

Free Financial Advice From Family: Do You Listen?

“Do you live to buy, or do you buy to live?”

I was watching a Suze Orman show the other night quite by accident, as I normally prefer to rest my brain after a whole day dealing with restless and hormone-crazy teenagers at the local high school. In the show, a caller asked how she could get out of serious debt, and as she divulged her personal financial details, I almost fell out of my comfy chair.

Personal Financial Planning Begins At Home

A single mother with 3 children, pregnant with her fourth, was paying the astounding sum (for me) of $1,300 for her monthly mortgage; she had maxed out her credit cards, she was netting $3,000 of take home pay a month, and she had just bought a brand new Dodge Charger for $25,000. This was not an uneducated lady; she had a decent job that required a college degree. Yet she was heavily in debt.

Suze recommends the following: “By having six to eight months of living expenses tucked away, you can deal with life’s curveballs a lot easier.” How many amongst us can state without getting red in the face that we have a little nest egg tucked away that equals 8 months of survival? Too many people use their credit cards as emergency banks. I believe that this is financial irresponsibility for obvious reasons.

How Are You Facing Financial Responsibility?

Reminding folks about a few basic rules in financial responsibility is never too much nor too late. Here are a few problematic thoughts we may have that could set us back financially:

1. “I have a good feeling about that stock.” Should we really go with our intuition when it comes to our money? How well do you trust your gut? Some claim that this has worked very well for them, but it’s something I don’t personally subscribe to. I’m not sure I’d be investing in stocks based on pure emotion: doing so can be a recipe for disaster. If I learned anything regarding my debacle in the market 20 years ago, it is not to trust my hunches. This can get you in trouble very quickly.

2. “I got very good advice.” Do you listen to investment advice from a financial guru? When you are approached by someone offering advice, don’t take everything at face value. Could this person be trying to sell you something? Or could he end up making a nice commission on your buys? Never trust experts completely, not even the real ones, for one simple reason: Nobody knows what will happen in the future. During this financial crisis, experts were caught flat-footed by the market crash just like the rest of us. So do your homework very carefully and learn how to make your own personal financial decisions since you’re the only person who has your own best interests at heart.

3. “I can afford the 50″ plasma TV.” Famous last words! Many people are enticed by the sign that says “no down payment, no interest for 1 year.” Unfortunately, a lot of us think: “hey, I’ll find a way to pay for it after one year.” But this is wishful thinking. We don’t even know if we’ll all still have jobs next year. Now given the “no interest for 1 year” terms, if you haven’t paid off the plasma TV before the year is over, then guess what: you’ll suddenly find yourself facing a whole lot of interest that comes due at very high rates.

4. “President Obama will get us out of this crisis.” Do you trust our government to help us out of this recession? Do you expect the President to save you from your financial troubles? Some of us may be harboring these expectations, but there is only one person who can really, honestly, sincerely, take care of your financial problems, and that person is you. But finding success will require a lot of effort, a lot of responsibility, and a lot of positive thinking.

5. “This crisis won’t last.” I believe that it’s wishful thinking to suppose that the crisis will be resolved quickly. It won’t. There’s a big difference between positive thinking and wishful thinking; the first is based on reality and the second, on fantasy. You must always be prepared for the worst scenario so that if the worst doesn’t happen, you’ll be in even better shape to take advantage of your particular situation.

This is a post from The Smarter Wallet.

Facing Financial Responsibility: Personal Financial Planning Begins At Home

We’ve got some affordable space saving ideas to help you organize your home!

When I first moved into my current home, it seemed like a palace compared to the rental unit I left behind. A few years later, I now realize that this same space is shrinking around me! But with the aid of some space-saving products and techniques, I expect to be able to reclaim some territory.

Never Underestimate The Power of Decluttering

A while back, I learned from organizing guru FlyLady that I should declutter on a regular basis. Her book Sink Reflections proved invaluable during my move, and I still refer to it for decluttering ideas. Last week, I went through various desk drawers and found lots of paper to recycle, old packaging for stuff I bought months ago, and enough miscellaneous junk to fill three shopping bags. Tomorrow, I can investigate what’s rattling around in the kitchen drawers. Another helpful resource for decluttering ideas is Peter Walsh’s book It’s All Too Much.

Image by the awesome Hiroshi Sumiyama.

Space Saving Ideas To Help You Organize Your Home

Would you join me as I go around my house to see what it is I can do about optimizing the space we have?

Living & Breathing Room

As I mentioned earlier, first things first: declutter. Once the clutter’s pared back, I can then focus on specific rooms. Everyone in my family keeps books, DVDs, and CDs in the living room. To keep them under control, I’ve decided that I need a shelf kit like the one offered by Wallscapes — functional, yet easy on the eyes. Each family member could fill his or her own set of shelves; having the shelves mounted on the wall would be easier than trying to fit in more furniture. But be especially careful if you live in earthquake territory!

Instead of a coffee table, we use a rugged footlocker. Our guests never know that we’re hiding our comic books inside it. Nearby, we have a hope chest like Ethan Allen’s blanket chest that stores linens and blankets, but in days past, it has also worked as a coffee table.

With a grand total of two closets in the place, I’m always looking for alternate storage ideas. For instance, I installed a hanging shoe bag (like the ones available from most home and garden stores) over one closet door to hold everything from hairbrushes to spare bars of soap. By placing one by the back door, I could conceivably use it to stash additional items like my sunglasses, scarves, and other on-the-go accessories.

Office Spacious

Since I don’t have a lot of office space, I like to scan certain papers into my computer and store them there, rather than keep my documents in a filing cabinet. I’ve got an all-in-one printer/scanner/copier under my desk, but if I wanted a scanner for travel, the Ambir TravelScan Pro 600 is powered via USB. That’s one less AC power supply to lug along.

Speaking of desks, I swapped a huge desk for a model with a much smaller footprint just like the Empire Mobile Workstation. It keeps my PC off the floor and it was easy to put together; plus, it still has room for my Skype phone, Nintendo DS, and all the antacids I need in a day’s work!

Image by the awesome Hiroshi Sumiyama.

Kitchen Aides

Before I moved into my home, a previous owner remodeled the kitchen with a lazy susan in one cabinet and a lid rack. These two helpers gave me the ability to store a lot of canned and dry goods as well as enough bakeware to last a century.

Right now, I have a major case of envy for my neighbor’s kitchen cart. She can store things inside it, use its top as extra counter space, and it has wheels if she wants to roll it to another area. A cart definitely helps in a kitchen with limited storage areas.

Bedrooms: Law & Order

If an attractive TV detective had to search for evidence in our bedrooms, I wouldn’t want him or her to get overwhelmed by our belongings. I have baskets to hold the remote controls and a storage headboard similar to the Prepac Black Full/Queen Storage Headboard with a ton of space for my craft books.

A child’s bedroom seems to take more energy to manage, given the influx of toys and other goodies throughout the year. To make a zoo’s worth of stuffed animals accessible, I like a net such as a Stuffed Animal & Toy Organizer. With this net, the toys stay off the floor and don’t wander into the kitchen. Now for sets of toys like LEGOs or fashion dolls, I like plastic drawers. The Iris 5-Drawer Organizer looks like it could hold several armies of little green guys, but wouldn’t take up a large amount of space.

Even though my palace now seems like a country cottage, I know I can find more ways to save space (at least it’s not as tiny as the International Space Station!). So what are your favorite space savers? I’d love to hear your ideas!

This is a post from The Smarter Wallet.

Organize Your Home With These Space Saving Ideas

Doing more things ourselves can help us save money! If you develop skills for managing your life better, it can lead to some savings.

On occasion, a magazine like Popular Mechanics runs an article on 100 Skills Every Man Should Know, which is nice for male readers who enjoy the magazine, but I’m starting to think about skills people of both genders can use to save money. Instead of outsourcing my money (or services that I have to pay for), sometimes it’s worth it to brush up on different skills, such as the following:

Image by Do It Yourself

Want To Save Money? Develop Skills For Managing Your Life!

Cooking

Rather than spend $25 a week on eating out, my family can save up and invest in a new slow cooker and a few cookbooks for inspiration. I also used to buy high-priced snacks each time I wandered near a convenience store, but thanks to my trusty bread machine and oven, I can keep a stash of treats on hand. Try a recipe for yummy cake brownies and you’ll know what I mean.

Car Maintenance

A car is one of the most expensive things you’ll buy, but keeping one running doesn’t require a ton of money. You won’t need to figure out how to do the car repairs yourself, but learn how to check the oil and other fluids, change your windshield wipers, and check the air pressure of your tires and you’ll head off a lot of problems in the future. Don’t forget to clean out your car’s interior, too. You can load up on supplies at a store like Autogeek or the automotive department of a big box store for less than it would take to pay a mechanic or car detailer to do the work.

Household Maintenance

Whether you rent or own your home, you can find ways to pay less for your castle’s upkeep. Even if you have your plumber or maintenance man on speed dial, you can save a little aggravation by tackling small-scale problems yourself. For instance, by learning how to unclog drains yourself, you won’t have to pay the plumber an extra fee for an emergency visit.

You can also cut down on electricity and heating bills, and lower utility bills in general, by insulating your home, managing your thermostat, and learning other conservation skills.

Financial Skills

I don’t have the mentality to keep up with a paper check register, so years ago, I switched to Quicken. Personal finance software like this one and Mint.com can help me by downloading the information straight from my bank (or I can type in entries myself). By monitoring my family’s bank accounts and credit cards in one place, I’m able to forego overdraft charges and I avoid paying late fees on our bills. I also keep an eye on my mortgage balance, too. Staring at the balance should give me the incentive to limit my shopping expeditions.

Computer Skills

My computer is getting up there in dog years, but I won’t be buying a computer just yet. With the help of a maintenance program like CCleaner, I was able to dejunk my hard drive of almost a gigabyte of clutter. I also used it to fix registry problems that made my computer slow to load Windows and to get rid of cookies I didn’t need.

I’ve helped out another computer by taking a can of compressed air to it to clean out the dust that was making it run hot. At $4.99, it beats paying a tech support person the extra dollars. If your computer is acting up, search around online for a solution before you assume you need to upgrade your equipment. Also, it’s worth the trouble to learn how to back up your data with a portable hard drive or an online service. You won’t lose your pictures, music, and other files if you take measures now.

Taking Care of Your Clothes & Accessories

Buying the right clothes is one type of investment, while taking the effort to clean and care for your clothes the proper way will keep your wardrobe looking good. Lost a button? Don’t pay extra at the dry cleaning place for repairs because most buttons require little time to reattach. Likewise, I’ve learned how to hem pants and sew up minor rips. I still need to figure out the sewing machine lurking in the dining room, but it will be handy for future projects.

What else can you learn to do? Well, if you own jewelry, you can try to keep the sparkle on it with regular cleaning, and try to figure how best to store it so it doesn’t tangle or get lost. Same goes for taking care of your shoes and most things leather.

Organization

When my family and I finally went through the office supplies in my filing cabinet, we found that we had three dozen pens, envelopes in every size, and enough pencils for a platoon of fourth-graders. By organizing our belongings, we plan to avoid having to buy extra supplies month after month.

Now I’ll bet if I organize the kitchen cabinets, I’ll probably find out that I don’t need to buy pasta for a few weeks plus I’ll force myself to use that extra can of pineapple for a dessert. A quick review of the kitchen and pantry this way should help us save on our week’s grocery bill!

There are many more money-saving skills for managing our lives, just within our reach. What are some of your favorite ways to save money the DIY way?

This is a post from The Smarter Wallet.

Develop Skills For Managing Your Life So You Can Save Money