Our Declutter Challenges for May are...

next month, we're going to declutter and organise our clothes

1 - T-shirts, both long and short-sleeved

8 - underwear and socks, including pajamas

15 - shoes

22 - pants & jeans

29 - sweatshirts and jerseys

Get ready for tomorrow; it's T-shirt time!

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The Organise your Home e-course will help you get your entire home organised in just 12 weeks. Tons of people have been through this system; are you next?

5 easy steps to get organised and save money (5)

April is Financial Literacy Month

Read previous posts here:

5. Maintain

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

I actually only keep my own bills for 3 months because I have all my household categories in one file binder.


The entire 5-step, 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.


How long have you been keeping your bills?

If you need help getting your finances organised, check out 10 steps to your financial freedom now.
P.S. Today is our 14-year wedding anniversary :)

Do you keep your old diaries/ daily planners?

This is all part of Project Baby Organising.

I know this intellectually but every time I see it in practice in my own life I'm reminded anew of how easy it is to declutter once you get started.

What I'm doing is decluttering each of those shelves and clearing up space for some guest linen as this room will be doubling as a guest room on the one or two occasions we have people to stay every year.

Please notice I cropped out the right side of the wardrobe because my husband and I have that agreement.

Anyway, back to the topic.

I came across my old diaries/ daily planners from about 2002. I don't know why exactly I was hanging onto them...but I was.

Now they're all thrown out. Except for last year's one because I may want to access some information in there.


So, do you keep your old diaries/ daily planners? How long?

And by the way, what do you call them in your side of the world? In South Africa we call them diaries and we diarise our appointments :)

Friday Declutter Challenge - your bill-paying centre

Don't forget - for two days only, get the financial e-course for just $21,60 (20% off) when you use coupon code money - offer expires Sat 25th 12pm EST

Do you have a bill-paying centre?

It could be a desk in your home, a shelf or even just a plastic envelope or Office-in-a-bag.

The point it that you have some place to keep all the things you'll need like:

• The actual invoices
• Calculator
• Red pen (or is it just me who loves a nice, thick gel pen for writing PAID)
• Etc.
  

Everybody in your home should know where this is so that you don't have to hunt all over the place to find the bills when it's time to pay.

My suggestion is this:

• when the mail arrives, sort into different types of piles
  
• take the bills and circle the DUE date (see why I like the red gel pen?)
  
• based on your method of payment, either use Outlook or your paper calendar to diarise/ schedule to pay them
• I use internet banking or direct debit order so I never leave more than two days prior to the due date to attend to them.
• now put them in your bill-paying centre so they're ready for you. Do this in chronological order so whenever you look at the pile, the most urgent one is always on top.

excuse the blurry pic

Your challenge

1. Declutter anything that doesn't belong
2. Dedicate a place for your bill-paying centre
3. Organise it with everything you need
4. Relax and have a nice cup of tea or coffee for being responsible :)
   

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For two days only, get the financial e-course for just $21,60 (20% off) when you use coupon code money - offer expires Sat 25th 12pm EST

Have you taken the financial check-up quiz yet? You'll find it about halfway down on this information page: 10 steps to YOUR financial freedom

Join me tomorrow as we declutter and organise...

For two days only, get the financial e-course for just $21,60 (20% off) when you use coupon code money - offer expires Sat 25th 12pm EST

our bill-paying centres (or centers :))

Get ready to post your before and after pics ... if you want to, no pressure!

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For two days only, get the financial e-course for just $21,60 (20% off) when you use coupon code money - offer expires Sat 25th 12pm EST

Have you taken the financial check-up quiz yet? You'll find it about halfway down on this information page: 10 steps to YOUR financial freedom

5 easy steps to get organised and save money (4)

April is Financial Literacy Month

Read previous steps here

4. Filing your bills

Once your bills are paid, file them in the way that’s easiest for you to manage. If you’re not a file puncher, don’t fool yourself that you will start punching and filing. The road to hell is paved with good intentions ;)

Rather use a filing system where you simply drop the paper in and it’s done. Like this picture.


What kind of filing system do you prefer? Punch and file in a binder, or drop in a hanging file?


If you need help getting your finances organised, check out 10 steps to your financial freedom now.

Had a fabulous call with Beth Dargis on living a simpler, saner life

Do you want the free recording?

I interviewed Beth Dargis in January on 5 Steps to a Saner, Simpler Life.

We really had a GREAT call and I've been quoting Beth non-stop ever since. I'll share just one thing with you to tempt you to listen to the call...

Just because choices are HARD doesn't mean you don't HAVE a choice.

I love that quote!

You'll find useful ideas you can use to simplify your life right now and get beyond the tips to the mindset of living a simpler life.

http://www.mysimplerlife.com/simplerlifecall.htm

Ask the organiser - how do you get your spouse organised?

I so often get this question:

Marcia, I'm on a mission to get my house organised but how do I get my husband to join in/ organise his stuff, etc.

Great question but I'm afraid .... the answer is not that easy.

You don't have control over other people, only over your own actions. In other words, you can't force your spouse to get organised.

I once had a man phone me to ask me to "please come and get my wife organised". These sorts of things are HUGE alarm bells for me; I do NOT want to get in the middle of a fight so I refused (politely) and said that I preferred it if the person who had the organising challenges phoned me when they were ready.

That story has a good ending because she phoned me about a year later and I then went over and did her home office.

The golden rule is focus on sorting your own stuff out first. Hopefully your spouse will be inspired and will start organising his stuff after he sees the example you're setting.


Remember these words of wisdom:

1. Your way of organising is not the only way. Don't discourage him if it's not done the way you would have done it.
   
2. If he doesn't show the slightest bit of interest in organising, respect his right to have his stuff look just how he wants it. You don't have to like it; just respect it. It's his house too.

My husband is very organised at work and I joke and say, "what happens when you get home?"

He says it's because he knows I have the house totally organised that he completely relaxes when at home.

Honestly, he is actually quite organised at home too; just not to my standards, but I do respect his space and leave his things be.

With Project Baby Organising, I started doing the room and what-not and without saying a word, I've seen him do some decluttering and throwing out of his own things. Not just once, but on at least 3 different occasions.

Well well well!

Just goes to show what happens through just setting an example.

I'd love to know what works with your own spouse. Please share in the comments.

Today we're decluttering our wallets

Usually when I do organising workshops, I make everybody organise their wallets since both men and women carry one.

It's so fun to see all the rubbish that comes out of some people's wallets; I think because they just add and add to it, and never take out the whole lot to see what's actually there.

So today, when you declutter your wallet (and you will, won't you?), please do me a favour and follow these steps:

• remove everything
• decide what you NEED and what you don't
  
• throw away the stuff you don't need
• think about the best way to store things for you (remember the organising process needs to be suited to your unique lifestyle)
• then please, please go through it weekly from now onwards. You'll make me very, very happy if you do so :)
  

To help you out, read about how I organise my own wallet here. I bought this on 2 Nov 2006 and have not stopped loving it - isn't it gorgeous?!

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Have you taken the financial check-up quiz yet? You'll find it about halfway down on this information page: 10 steps to YOUR financial freedom

Tomorrow we're decluttering...

our wallets

Get ready to post your before and after pics ... and a comment on how your wallet declutter goes tomorrow.

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Have you taken the financial check-up quiz yet? You'll find it about halfway down on this information page: 10 steps to YOUR financial freedom

5 easy steps to get organised and save money (3)

April is Financial Literacy Month

Read step 1 and step 2 here


3. 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.

Because life happens, schedule the date a couple of days before the payment is actually due so you don’t incur any late fees.


When do you pay your bills? On a specific day of the month, or on separate days?

And how often do you pay interest on an overdue account?


If you need help getting your finances organised, check out 10 steps to your financial freedom now.

Organising is NOT a once-off activity

Remember all the books I decluttered during the August Declutter Challenge?

You might think that that would be enough decluttering for a few years.

Sorry, that's not true. Especially if you love reading.

You see, I'm a reader and as such, I gather books all the time from a number of different sources:

• library
• bookstores
• friends (as gifts)

If I didn't do anything with those books (well, except for returning those belonging to the library), I'd soon be inundated.

So I have to go through my bookshelves regularly and decide which books I'm going to "release" into the world again :)

Do you remember my rating system for decluttering my bookshelf?

This was in January....

and this was a few days ago, a mere three months later. 15 out - yay!


If you're not a big reader or gatherer of books, you might only need to do a serious declutter once a year.

For me, it looks like every 3 months is about right.

Consider your lifestyle and then decide on your own decluttering plan of action.

Do this for every area of your life - clothes, kitchen stuff, paper (!), receipts, etc.

If you go to the shops daily, you probably need to clear out your wallet daily. If you're like me and only go to the shops once a week, then weekly is fine.

When was the last time you decluttered your bookshelves?

Giveaway to help you and your business grow

Giveaway for one of my blog readers.

You can win one month's free membership in the Gold VIP Inner Circle by doing one or more of the following things:

1. Leave a comment telling me what your biggest business organising or time challenge is at present.
2. If you want an extra entry, Tweet about this contest and link to this post
   
3. If you want an extra TWO entries, then blog about this contest and link back to this post.
   

The competition closes on Friday 4pm EST/ 10pm South African time/ 8pm UK time

Let the games begin!

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Attention: Female small business owners and solo-preneurs with service businesses

If you want to grow your business in these tough economic times or step up to the next level of success, you're going to have to:

• set big, juicy goals


• have very clear deadlines


• make yourself accountable


• focus your efforts


• get support


• have good systems in place and


• get your business and life organised

Don't worry if that list looks daunting. I'm here to help you every step of the way!

When you join the Gold VIP Inner Circle, you're going to get specific, how-to information, tons of resources, accountability and much, much more.

“I used to spend my days always working on email and never getting anything done. Thanks to Marcia's suggestions, I now can’t believe everything I get done in one day!

It’s allowed me to have a very successful business while working only 15-20 hours per week. I love that her techniques have given me the freedom to spend time with my son and husband.

Thanks to her business organizing strategies I have doubled my productivity which has in turn doubled my business income.

Thanks Marcia for all that you do!” Jennifer Haubein

www.BestBizWebsiteSolutions.com

Why the Gold VIP Inner Circle?

I’m glad you asked.

You see, my own business grew by nearly 200% in 2007 and again in 2008 because of 3 key components, and I’d like to help you do the same.

Download the MP3 audio of the preview call here (7.17MB)

So what are these 3 components?

1. I hired a coach for accountability

I’d been working with an accountability partner for some time so I knew the power in having someone to support you.

However, when I started paying for additional coaching, I saw even greater results. You see, we always value more what we pay for, and knowing that I was forking over my hard-earned cash every month made me do all my work.

Also, hiring a coach for me helped me get specific how-to information and cut out a lot of time wasting because she’d been there and done that, so I didn’t have to.

When I said “I want to do x”, I didn’t have to start researching from scratch; instead, she said, “this is what you do, in this order”.

Priceless!

"In just 3 weeks of working with you, I increased my rates by 25%.

Alyssa Avant

Writer

This could be you.

2. I set juicy goals with deadlines

We’ve all heard it said that unless your goals have deadlines, they’re just wishes. That’s true.

I’ve been a goal setter (and, more importantly, a goal getter) since 1998 so I know the power of goal-setting from personal experience.

When I started setting really juicy goals with firm deadlines, I started getting really juicy results. It actually makes sense; doesn’t it?

So who better to teach you how to do the same?

"After my sessions with you, the overwhelm is gone and I am motivated and focussed."

Angelique Roos

Image Consultant

Imagine what you could accomplish if you could get more focussed?

3. I surrounded myself with like-minded individuals

I’m a very social person so I like chatting to people. But what happened when those people are exactly like you – who also want to succeed and achieve?

Well, a powerful thing happens – you start spurring one another on to even greater things.

When I joined some inner circle memberships, I started creating strategic relationships with colleagues. So suddenly when I said I want to grow my mailing list by x number of subscribers, I wasn’t surrounded by naysayers. I got emails and messages saying this could help you, let’s do this together, etc.

And so the Gold VIP Inner Circle membership club was born.

You see, I have people email me who say they'd love to coach with me but they don't have the budget for my typical one-on-one coaching fees. This way, you can get resources AND coaching at a price that's affordable for any pocket!

"You helped me see myself as the person I want to be. My dreams are now possibilities."

Danel Bester

Photographer

So what do you get when you become a member?

1. A helpful, step-by-step product teaching you a specific organising, time management or business topic every month so you can learn how to organise various areas of your office and business. (worth between $37 and $47)

2. A weekly victory journal to record all your successes from week to week (worth $37)

3. All the forms and templates you could possibly need to use in your home and business on a private, password-controlled site (worth $47)

4. A special members-only discussion forum to post questions and network with other members. I am personally active on this forum too (worth $47)

5. A special 20% members-only discount on ANY of my products (worth up to $200)

6. My million dollar rolodex full of all the resources I use so that you can save hours and hours of time, not having to do all the investigation and research yourself (worth at least $197)

7. Special free gifts from time to time, over the course of 12 months (worth $197)

8. My unwavering love, support and care (priceless)


And if you choose the Supreme Version, you also get 15 minutes of laser coaching every month.You'll be amazed at just how much we get through when you come to our calls prepared with all your questions.

So what will all of this cost?

Only $37 per month for the basic option, which is just a drop in the bucket when you consider the total value per month of everything you get (over $397)

And only * $74 per month for the Supreme Version, which is the standard Gold VIP plus a 20-minute laser coaching session every month. If you'd prefer to coach with me one-on-one in a more traditional format, then have a read here and if you like what you see, let's discuss the best option for you and get you started!

Sign up now if you want your business to be transformed

Standard Version

Supreme Version - with laser coaching session

Save

Buy upfront for the whole year and get 2 months for free ($370)

OR

Buy 6 months and get 1 month for free ($185)

Monthly products for the Gold VIP Inner Circle

1. Big, Juicy goals


2. Conquer your email


3. Organise your business


4. Find your ideal client


5. Help! I need more time


6. Dream Life Success Kit


7. 7 easy steps to organise your business


8. Confidence in business - why you need it and how to get it


9. Break out of overwhelm


10. Everything you ever wanted to know about organising your computer


11. Blogging for business


12. Women's health and wellness manual, incl. Discover your passion


13. Delegating is not a four-letter word


14. Work once and use it again and again (how to leverage your time)


15. 7 ways to grow your service business


16. Write your first ebook


17. Develop and market your signature talk to attract more clients


18. How to set up and hole a successful and profitable teleseminar


19. Dealing with difficult client situations (non-payers, demanding clients, etc.)

If you already own a specific product, you can either use that month's membership for laser coaching OR we fast forward you to the next month's product :)

Friday Declutter Challenge...on a Saturday

This weekend we're organising our taxes.

This week, your challenge is to ...

• get all your documents together
  
• file your return online/ fill it in yourself or make an appointment with your tax consultant
• if you've been organising your receipts, you shouldn't have any problems but if you haven't been organised, then set things up now for the next financial year.
  

Share in the comments how you did!

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If you could use some help with your finances, check out

10 steps to YOUR financial freedom

(Don't forget to take the financial check-up quiz about half way down the page)

It's Good Friday tomorrow

so this week's Friday Declutter Challenge moves to Saturday.

Of course if you don't celebrate Good Friday, go right ahead and get started on organising your taxes.

See you on Saturday!

5 easy steps to get organised and save money (2)

April is Financial Literacy Month

Read step 1 here

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.

How many of you have automated bill paying set up? How is it working for you?

If you need help getting your finances organised, check out 10 steps to your financial freedom now.

Project baby organising (2) - making space

So project baby organising continues.

I had 3 shelves of files that I had to declutter to make way for the guest linen.

The way I see it is that if I haven't even looked at these files once in the last 18 - 24 months, I probably don't need it.

That was mostly true because some things were certificates from courses I'd attended, income tax records, etc.

When I got started, I must tell you I thought I wouldn't be up for it, because I'd forgotten that things always look worse just before they get better.

This is in the midst of the sort.

This was all the paper I decluttered from the files

and these are the lovely empty files and folders afterwards.

End result

• 2 1/2 empty shelves - yayy!
  
• 1/2 shelf of computer software and back-up discs all together in one space, not spread out in 3 different areas of the study
  
• Empty files that will go to a needy school in Johannesburg

No pics of final shelves because my husband's stuff is there and we have a rule - no blogging about his mess :)

Friday Declutter Challenge - receipts

Today we're decluttering and organising receipts.

Which receipts?

• In your car
• In your handbag
• In your wallet
• Stashed on your entrance hall table
• On your desk

Here's an article I wrote called 5 steps to organised receipts

This week, your challenge is to

• Gather the receipts all together in one place
• Make piles - those you need to keep (please check with your accountant for some retention guidelines as these differ from country to country and from state to state) and those you can toss
• For the ones you're keeping, organise them either by month (which is what I do) or by category first and then by month (household - Jan, business - Jan)
  

Share in the comments how you did!

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If you could use some help with your finances, check out

10 steps to YOUR financial freedom

(Don't forget to take the financial check-up quiz about half way down the page)

Tomorrow we're decluttering...

receipts

It's tax time in the US...and will be happening soon in South Africa too, so we may as well get our finances in order.

Right?

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If you could use some help with your finances, check out

10 steps to YOUR financial freedom

(About half way down the page, there's a financial check-up quiz so be sure to take that)

5 easy steps to get organised and save money (1)

April is Financial Literacy Month.

Every Wednesday this month I'm going to share a quick tip to help you organise your finances.

Did you know that being organised saves you money?

• You waste money buying duplicates of items you didn’t know you had
• You waste money on late charges because you can’t find the bills you need to pay, or you forget to pay them on time
• You also waste money not deciding in the store where you should store the item you’re thinking of buying, and then not using it

So now that you know why you should get organised, let’s discuss some practical tips to show you how you can get your finances organised.

It’s a big myth that organising is difficult and time-consuming.

Yes, you do have to take some time initially to set up your system but unless you want to make things really complicated, it’ll only take you about 15 to 30 minutes.

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.



Where do you store your incoming bills?

If you need help getting your finances organised, check out 10 steps to your financial freedom now.