Basket Case Friday

Every Friday I highlight some favorite storage solutions just in case you’re getting ready to do some organizing over the weekend.

One great solution I’ve found for laundry day is the:

Wall Mount Expandable Clothes Drying Rack

I love this product for keeping things saner while laundry is drying.  Since it is wall mounted I do not have an awkward drying rack to walk around or knock down a million times during the day.  I love the idea of drying racks.  They keep my delicates - well delicate - and my shrinkables the same size.  Not to mention the energy saving factor! 

My biggest piece of advice is to mount the rack at a convenient level for the shortest person who will need to hang clothes.  One of ours is a little high and it is a bit tricky for me to get everything hanging neatly.

Here is a link to a site that is compiling the list of all the participants.

Every Friday I highlight some favorite storage solutions just in case you’re getting ready to do some organizing over the weekend.

This one is kind of a Christmas in July theme.  I know that the decorations and wrappings haunt us long after the holiday is over. 

I just completed a Closet  Caper that included organizing all the various items we need for wrapping Christmas presents.  There was tons of different stuff in this closet including birthday wrapping paper, along with some Easter items, but the majority of the wrapping stuff was Christmas.  

Solution #1 

I really liked the Rubbermaid Horizontal Wrapping Station. 

• Holds Five 30″ Rolls Of Wrapping Paper
  • Loading the rolls was easy
  • I consolidated paper rolls - rolling red paper together onto one, green paper onto another, and so on to try to get my roll number down to five
  • Accepts ‘fat’ rolls - bulkier rolls can affect stored size of organizer
  • Not sure how easy it will be to actually measure and cut paper right from the roll while it is in the Rubbermaid Station 
• Holds one Row Of Ribbon
  • I look at this as possible extra paper storage if there are few or no ribbon spools
• Additional Storage For Gift Wrap Accessories
  • Loved the extra pockets for gift tags, tape, scissors, pens 
  • The verdict is still out on whether the bows stored here will look good come Christmas!
• Rolls Into Compact Size For Easy Carrying
  • It does roll up nicely and has elastic bands that go around the edges for a neater look
  • An adjustable fastener in the center ‘locks’ the roll closed
• Can Be Used Over The Door
  • It was too wide for our closet door

Company quote:  “Rubbermaid Horizontal Wrapping Station - Holds five rolls of 30 wrapping paper and one row of ribbons, making them easy to dispense and cut. Can be used over the door to keep all gift wrapping supplies in one organized place. Four see-through pockets hold gift wrap accessories and 2 specialty pocket holds scissors and tape. The Gift Wrap Station can also be used on a flat surface and rolls into a compact size for carrying or storage. Folds down when not in use for easy storage.”

I agree with the company statement and can add that I felt a sense of calm as I tucked that light, neat roll of ‘holiday’ into its spot in the closet.  Ahhhhhhh…

Solution #2 

This next one comes from the JOKARI company.  Its a Gift Bag Organizer that hangs in the closet.

Company quote: “Organize your wide collection of colorful gift bags in this space saving solution! Vinyl organizer protects bags from being folded, dust, and getting lost. Transparent design makes bags easy to see and choose from. Great for the holidays, birthdays, weddings, and every other special occasion! Store bags, tissue paper, ribbon, cards, etc. Comes complete with a sturdy metal hanger and a pocket for scissors.”

I LOVED this product. 
It totally ROCKS for storing tissue paper and bags.  I put all Christmas themed stuff on one side and anything else on the other side.  There were some instances where I needed to strategically place bags so you could always view every item being stored, but that was really no big deal compared to the organization that took place! 
It was such a huge relief to have that huge tangle of bags become ordered and manageable.  I just know its gonna save my client money since she can now SEE what she has and STOP buying more bags and more tissue and more, more , more!

I loved this Jokari product SO much that I’m going to try their Gift Wrap Organizer the next chance I get!

Take Some Hassle Out of the Holiday 

Part of the reason I am so stressed during the holidays is because of my ‘Last Minute List’.  Its all the things that cling onto my brain, but I keep putting off since they involve a lot of running around AND buying gifts is the priority until the very end. 

So, getting the wrapping organized is really a HUGE step towards simplifying the holiday.  When I can see what I have I am better able to determine what I REALLY need  which leads to saving time and money. 

My client could not believe it when I handed her an inventory list so she can what she needs for the upcoming holiday.  I also included on that list a few items that she does NOT need - you know those things that we mindlessly add to the cart ‘Just in Case’.  She’s now ready for Christmas - even if it is only July!

Getting organized for vacation is a full time job!

I use the Flex ‘N Carry Basket to make packing all those bulky summertime things quick and easy. 

I love to put it out when I am getting things ready.  All that beachy type stuff that is so hard to pack gets thrown into this basket and when we get where we’re going that basket is all I need to get the kids to where they want to be: swimming. 

I  leave the things we need for the beach in there until the next trip.  Right now there are swim diapers, water shoes, beach hats, sunblock, and life preservers just waiting for the next trip (which can also be a day trip).  Sometimes I have more than I need, but this basket is so easy to grab that in this case overpacking is not a concern. 

The trouble starts when the basket sits in the middle of the laundry room waiting to be emptied an readied for the next adventure.  Sometimes ‘things’ get thrown in there that do not belong.  That’s when a ‘catch all’ becomes a not so great idea.  But, when I stay on top of it like I did today it is such the perfect vacation friend.  It makes me feel like its summertime and the living is easy!

Being financially organized yourself is a great thing, but if anything should happen to you, would the people you love know where to find your important records and assets? Keeping a list of important documents and where they are located, and providing copies for your spouse, attorney, executor of your estate and other close relatives of an asset inventory spreadsheet can really ease the burden on anyone involved in taking care of your affairs.

Keeping an asset inventory is easy. You can access an asset manager template here. Simply print out a copy (or copy and paste into your spreadsheet software), fill it in, make a few copies to send to the appropriate people and scan it in to your computer if you like. You may also want to keep a physical printout in a safety deposit box or fireproof lockbox in your home along with other critical non-negotiable documents. (Please note there are two worksheets: the Asset Manager and Personal Info tabs).

While sorting out the locations of your important papers, you may wish to start a special file for financial records if you have not already done so. A filing cabinet or a designated filing drawer is necessary, as binders get overfull quite quickly.

Separate your filing system into three parts: Current Records (that you will need to access throughout the year), Long Term Records and Tax Records.

Current records include:

• Car insurance
• Health insurance
• Credit card and bank statements
• Mortgage statements and other loans
• Tuition receipts and other education related records
• Retirement funds including pension plans, profit sharing and stock option plans
• Stockbroker records, stocks and mutual funds

Long term records include:

• Life insurance
• Wills and Living Wills
• Power of Attorney forms
• Birth certificates and social security cards
• Citizenship records
• Marriage, divorce, pre-nups or adoption records
• Title deeds
• Business and partnership agreements
• Burial arrangements, cemetery deeds
• Military discharge papers

Once you have your filing system in place, make sure to discipline yourself to file things in a timely manner, and keep your spreadsheet up to date.

About the Guest Blogger: Linda Bustos is the Marketing Director for Creditor Web, where you can find information on personal finances and credit cards. She is also an active member of the Destroy Debt debt forum.