So far in this Simplify Your Life series, we’ve found ways to:

• Simplify Your Closet (What Not To Wear) 
• Simplify Your To-Do List (What Not To Do).

Today, let’s consider how to simplify your stuff – at least new stuff that comes into your life – by streamlining the things you buy.

Simplify Your Stuff: What Not To Buy

Having a ‘What Not To Buy’ list is a great way to save:

1. Time – you avoid the time it takes to look, evaluate, buy, store, and eventually throw out these items
2. Money – you have more to save, give, or spend on something you use and love
3. Physical and mental clutter – stuff you don’t need or love just takes up precious space, makes it harder to organize and find things, and causes stress.

So let’s simplify life by creating a don’t-buy list.

My ‘What Not To Buy’ List

To get you thinking about your list, here are some of the things on mine:

• Books I can borrow from the library – unless I think I’ll want to keep, share, or highlight them
• DVDs I can borrow from the video store or library – it saves money and clutter
• Plants – they look so beautiful and tempting, but I’m a botanical serial killer and have learned better by now
• Notebooks – I love buying them and already have too many
• Pens – Various styles beguile me, but after much pen promiscuity I know my favorites and try to stay faithful
• Anything on sale that I wouldn’t buy at full price – it’s amazing how much clutter you can avoid with this on your don’t-buy list
• Anything that qualifies for a free gift if I wouldn’t buy it otherwise – often both the item and the gift end up as clutter
• Organizing paraphernalia  like boxes, canisters, etc – they often mask clutter
• Clothes that won’t work with what’s already in my closet – these purchases invariably still have the tags on them months later
• Greeting cards to go with gifts –  I save the time I’d spend browsing for the right card, and have more money to spend on the gift (I Sharpie a message on the gift wrap)
• Ornaments or tchotchkes – I like visual clarity.

Your ‘What Not To Buy’ List

Okay, so what about you? Consider:

• Items of which you already have doubles or triples – eg sunglasses, phones, oil burners
• Things you only need short-term and can borrow from friends or libraries – eg books, DVDs, high chairs
• Sale or special-offer purchases that you don’t really want or need
• Clothes that are on your What Not To Wear list
• Things you’ve bought in the past and regretted buying
• Things you think you should have, but don’t really want – eg fancy cooking appliances, a flat-screen TV, décor items.

With a don’t-buy list, you’ll be less tempted to purchase stuff that will end up as clutter. You’ll save time and money too, which is pretty cool.

Making blanket decisions in advance with a ‘What Not To Buy’ list can really feel liberating – and it will simplify your life. 

Simplify and Organize Your Life –
With Life & Goal Organizer

Life & Goal Organizer is a great way to spring-clean and organize your life.

It motivates you to organize your life across 12 areas – from home organization and time management to money & finance and health & fitness.

It’s fully interactive, so you can make notes, plan your projects, and check off complete tasks on the inventories.

By prompting you to take action on a wide range of organizing and simplifying tasks, Life & Goal Organizer provides a motivating way to organize your time, your goals and your life.

Learn about Life & Goal Organizer.

[Image by Thristian]

Related posts:

1. Simplify Your Life: What Not To Do
2. Simplify Your Life: New Series Starts Today
3. Simplify Your Life: What Not To Wear

For many people, reducing debt is the first step toward a sound financial future.

And one of the best ways to reduce debt is to get organized and create a debt-repayment plan – which is exactly what we’ll do in the next 30 minutes.

Remember: you only need 30 minutes for the basic mission. Extended Options are below.
If you’re new, you might like to start here -> 52 Organizing Missions.

Note: If you haven’t already, you may like to first complete Get Organized Mission #12: Organize Your Accounts & Credit Cards.

Disclaimer: This is not financial advice, it’s organizing advice. If you need financial advice, please get yourself off to a financial professional.

Get Organized Mission #50:
Create a Debt Repayment Plan

Step 1: Rank Your Debts By Interest Rate (5 mins)

First, for every loan, credit card, store card and other debt you have, gather together the latest statement or other communication that shows the interest rate you’re paying.

Order your debts by interest rate – for instance, credit cards tend to have higher interest rates than personal loans and mortgages.

Step 2: Calculate Your Minimum Repayment Amount
(5 mins)

Next, let’s work out how much you’re required to repay each month.

Find the minimum monthly repayment amount for each debt, and add all of these minimum payments together.

You now have the total minimum repayment you need to pay each month against your debts.

Step 3: Calculate Your Surplus Repayment Funds
(10 mins)

Next, let’s work out how much you can actually afford to repay each month.

If you have a lot of debt or want to pay off your debts faster, you may choose to make some sacrifices and cut out a few luxuries.

For instance, could you:

• Stop buying things you don’t need or love?
• Borrow books from the library rather than buying them?
• Buy regularly used items in bulk?
• Shop at cheaper stores?
• Walk instead of taking the car?
• Reduce the heating/cooling controls and rug up/dress down instead?
• Choose less expensive entertainment options?
• Cancel little-or-never-used memberships and subscriptions?

Add any savings you’ve decided to make to the amount you’re currently paying each month. This will give you the new amount you can afford to repay against your debts each month.

Now, deduct the total minimum repayment you calculated in Step 2.

That will leave you with the surplus repayment funds available for getting rid of your debts.

Step 4: Create a Debt-Reduction Plan
(10 mins)

Good – now that you know which debts are costing you the most (Step 1), and your surplus repayment funds (Step 3), over and above your minimum repayments (Steps 2), you can allocate your available funds accordingly.

For instance, you might like to allocate your entire surplus funds each month to your highest-interest debt until this is paid off, and then allocate your entire surplus funds to the next-highest-interest debt, and so on.

How you allocate your surplus funds will depend on your overall goals and circumstances.

The important thing is to be organized and strategic in knowing what you need to pay, what you can afford to pay, and how you can allocate your repayments in a smart way.

Get The Worksheet

If you’re a member of the Get Organized Wizard community forums (they’re filled with hundreds of posts and resources), you can download a free Debt Reduction Plan worksheet. Or become a member now (it’s free).

The Debt Reduction Plan and many other financial organizing worksheets are part of the Ultimate To-Do List Pack | Personal Edition, Premium Pack, Complete Suite and Ultimate Pack, and are available to Design Your Life members in your Library Of Resources.

Dos & Don’ts

• Don’t hesitate to seek financial advice if you need it. The worry and sleepless nights are far worse than the pain of making an appointment and creating a plan with a professional. Ask friends for recommendations for a good accountant or financial planner.
• Do be mindful of any penalties that may apply on certain loans for early or late repayments. Again, see a financial professional if in any doubt.

Extended Organizing Mission Options

Want to go beyond this 30-minute organizing mission?

• Investigate the possibility of consolidating your debts into a single, low-interest loan. Talk to your bank manager, accountant or financial professional.
• Complete this mission with older kids who are starting to use loans or credit cards. Show them how to make repayments wisely and avoid penalties, and you’ll set them up for a smart financial future.

Ready, Set, Go!

Remember – move quickly, act fast, don’t overthink.

Start The 30-Minute Timer

Before You Go: Check In!

Please add a comment to say you’ve completed this week’s Get Organized Mission and you’re keeping your commitment.

And see you back here next week!

Organize Money, Home, Life – in Just 30 Minutes a Week

With the 52 Organizing Missions Workbook Pack you’ll simplify, organize and declutter dozens of areas, including:

Every workbook includes fully interactive Planning Worksheets, To-Do-Lists, and Success Journals not available elsewhere. Plus there are live accountability and free-download links.
Learn more

[Image: by azrainman]

Related posts:

1. Get Organized Mission #12: Organize Your Accounts & Credit Cards
2. Get Organized Mission #3: Organize Your Bill Payment
3. How to be Organized in 2009: Day 9 – Money & Finance

I’m making 12 fresh starts in 12 life areas over 12 days.

I don’t expect to succeed at everything, but I want to give a bunch of things a try. Join me!

Day 1: Personal Development

My Day 1 Fresh Start was to raise my weights in Body Pump class for biceps and shoulders.

Report:

✔ Have stuck with the higher weights. Each class it gets easier.

Day 2: Health & Fitness

My Day 2 Fresh Start was to give up Smith’s Cheese & Onion Chips – at least for September.

Report:

✔ Eight days chip-sober and feeling ridiculously proud of myself. However, my friends’ heads are starting to look decidedly chip-like. And not in a good way.

Day 3: Career & Business

My Day 3 Fresh Start was to refresh my website’s home page.

Report:

✔ Trying out a new home page. (Feedback very welcome – please leave a comment!)

Day 4: Fun & Recreation

My Day 4 Fresh Start was to listen to more fun music, not only podcasts and audiobooks.

Report:

✔ Going to make every Friday an all-music/no-work iPod day.

Day 5: Technology & Social Media

My Day 5 Fresh Start was to promote my new Facebook Professional Service Page.

Report:

✔ Have been building up content and promoting the Page this week. (Please join if you like this stuff!)

Day 6: Home

My Day 6 Fresh Start was to remove one of two printers from my home office.

Report:

✔ Feels great to have that decision made and my home office cleared.

Day 7: Personal Presentation

My Day 7 Fresh Start was to focus on my posture – holding shoulders back, core muscles in, and chin up.

Report:

✔ Been more consistent since wearing an irritating ring – every time I adjust the ring, I’m reminded to straighten my posture.

Day 8: Happiness

My Day 8 Fresh Start was to give up watching movies that are ‘poignant’, ‘tragic’ or ‘heart-wrenching’.

Report:

Nothing to report – haven’t had a movie night yet.

Day 9: Money & Finance

Today my fresh start is from category 1 (see below): To do something new.

I’m going to claim for gym membership from my health fund. (This is a great idea – they reward preventative behaviors!)

I’ve already investigated what I have to do, and have put a note on my doctor’s contact file to get the necessary paperwork when I next have an appointment.

Tomorrow I make my tenth fresh start – in the Relationships life area. See you then!

What About You?

Think of your own Money & Finance goals and plans.

if you want some inspiration, you might find some here:

• Get Organized Mission #3: Organize Your Bill Payment
• Get Organized Mission #4: Forgo The Freebies
• Get Organized Mission #12: Organize Your Accounts & Credit Cards
• 7 Smart Strategies For Saving Money During The GFC

In what area could you:

• Start something new – or try something you haven’t done, read, or experienced before
• Give up something – maybe a habit that undermines you or an obligation that weighs you down
• Do more of something – be specific about ‘more’, but don’t be overly-ambitious
• Do less of something – be specific about ‘less’, but don’t be overly-ambitious

I hope you’ll choose something and join me!

Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/amagill/ / CC BY 2.0

Related posts:

1. Fresh Start: 12 Days of New Beginnings [Day 6: Home]
2. Fresh Start: 12 Days of New Beginnings [Day 5: Technology & Social Media]
3. Fresh Start: 12 Days of New Beginnings [Day 7: Personal Presentation]

If your accounts are in disorder, it makes it hard to feel on track with your financial goals. So this week we’re going to streamline your credit cards, bank accounts and investments accounts. It’s a great way to raise your financial self esteem.

Remember: you only need 30 minutes for the basic mission. Extended Options are below. If you’re new, you might like to start here: 52 Organizing Missions.

Get Organized Mission #12:
Organize Your Accounts & Credit Cards

Step 1: Collect Your Statements

Start by collecting the latest statement from every single account you have – whether it’s a credit card, bank account, savings vehicle or investment.

Step 2: Separate Statements By Account Type

Next, make a pile for each account type:

• Credit and store cards
• Bank accounts
• Retirement, 401K, or superannuation accounts
• Personal loan or debt accounts
• Investment accounts

Step 3: Decide What To Consolidate or Cancel

Now be honest: do you have more credit cards than is consistent with your financial goals? What about old accounts you don’t use but have never gotten around to closing?

These superfluous accounts create clutter in your life – mental clutter, paper clutter, sometimes email clutter. And they can undermine your sense of being in control of your finances.

Rid yourself of this clutter and boost your financial self-esteem by working out which accounts and cards you can cancel or consolidate.
Important note: Be smart and talk to a financial adviser if you need to.

Your Simplified Finances Worksheet

I’ve provided you with a Simplified Finances Worksheet for doing this step. It’s an interactive PDF, so you can Type-&-Save or Print-&-Write. This worksheet is from my Life & Goal Organizer Program. Download it by clicking the link below.

Be sure to include contact details for each account you’ll be closing – you’ll need that info in the next step.

Step 4: Take Action Now

The last step is to contact each institution that has an account or card you need to cancel.

• If you can call them – great. You’ve got the account details handy, so this should take only a few minutes.
• If you need to send something in writing, create a quick template you can adapt for each account or card. Perhaps something like:

Please cancel card/account number: [Account Number]

Please send me a cheque for the balance [if applicable].

Name: [Your name]

Address: [Your address]

Phone: [Phone]

Date: [Date]

Thank you,

[Your signature]

Now doesn’t that feel liberating! You’ve put yourself on the road to a more organized financial life.

Dos & Don’ts

• Don’t be afraid to let this be about your financial health as well as personal organization.
• Do be smart and talk to an accountant or financial adviser if you need to.

Extended Organizing Mission Options

Want to go beyond this 30-minute organizing mission?

• Include your spouse and consider other financial strategies you’ve been meaning to implement. Perhaps it’s time to start a savings plan?
• Take this opportunity to talk to your kids about money and saving. Do they have their own accounts for learning how to save?

Ready, Set, Go!

Remember – move quickly, act fast, don’t overthink.

Before You Go – Please Check In

Once you’ve completed this week’s Get Organized Mission please add a comment to let us know you’ve done your assignment and you’re keeping your commitment. To leave a comment: Scroll to the bottom of this post, where you’ll find a comment box waiting for you.

And see you back here next week!

UPDATE:

You can now get your weekly organizing mission delivered to your inbox.
Click here to sign up for 52 Organizing Missions.

Did you like this post? Please social bookmark it using the buttons below!

Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/andresrueda/ / CC BY 2.0

Related posts:

1. Get Organized Mission #3: Organize Your Bill Payment
2. Get Organized Mission #50: Get Rid Of Debt
3. Organize Your Paperwork [Mission #36]

Here are 7 ways you can save money by being a little more organized.

7 Smart Strategies For Saving Money During The GFC

1. Work your closet

Ideas to try:

• Look for fresh ways to combine items already in your closet.
• Instead of buying new clothes, look for a belt, bag, jacket or shoes to bring a new-season look to your existing ensembles.
• Check for forgotten items you can bring back into your outfit rotation.
• Share clothes with friends.

2. Abandon shopping as a pastime

Ideas to try:

• For solo activities consider reading, walking with your iPod, watching a DVD.
• If shopping was a hobby, try a new one – like aircraft modeling, knitting, bonsai or puzzles.
• If shopping was a form of self-expression, consider journaling, music, calligraphy, water-colors, or novel-writing.
• With friends, meet at someone’s house for coffee, go for a walk, play games, head to the beach, a museum or a gallery.

3. Take your social life down a notch

Ideas to try:

• Steer clear of expensive nightclubs and restaurants.
• Be creative and have fun nights in with friends.
• Opt for BBQs, games nights, DVD nights, simple dinner parties.
• Choose cafes for dates.

4. Cancel subscriptions to magazines and newspapers

Ideas to try:

• Keep only the subscriptions you really enjoy and value.
• Read papers online, in the lunchroom or at the gym.
• Catch up on magazines at the hairdressers.
• Share and circulate magazines with friends.

5. Shop to a list

Ideas to try:

• Have a list on the fridge or somewhere handy, and update it as you notice things you need to buy.
• When you go shopping, buy only what’s on the list.
• Do be open to good discounts on items you use regularly and can stock up on.
• Stick to the stores you need to visit for the stuff on your list (See 4: Abandon shopping as a pastime).

6. Join your local library

Ideas to try:

• Check out the non-fiction section and learn something new, or teach yourself a skill.
• Peruse fiction titles for very cost-effective entertainment.
• Look for DVDs to borrow – saves you having to buy or hire them.
• Don’t cancel out your savings by returning items late and accumulating overdue fees.

7. Look for better deals

Ideas to try:

• This could be a great time to downgrade your cell phone plan and use your cell more carefully.
• Look for cost-effective internet, cable and data deals.
• Keep an eye out for refinancing options on your mortgage or personal loans.
• Consider switching to cheaper brands on some household items – like pantry basics.

More Money-Saving Resources

There are some great sites around that cover money and saving. Here are recent picks from a few of my faves:

• The Simple Dollar covers 10 helpful tactics in The First Steps Away from Paycheck-to-Paycheck Living. Trent Hamm makes an excellent point about shopping as a pastime – even if you don’t buy anything:

Shopping for fun in a social environment is costly even if you don’t buy anything, because you’re surrounded by temptation and the mental imprintings of stuff that you want but don’t really need. It’s an excuse to talk to your friends about stuff you want and potentially talk yourself into purchases, either now or later. Just stay away.

• Dumb Little Man shares 10 Great Ways to Save Money At Work. Can I draw your attention to #7: Claim Valid Expenses. How many of us never get around to doing that?
• Get Rich Slowly offers statistics – and even a colorful pie chart – if you’re interested in comparing yourself with The Spending Habits of the Average American.
• The always-succinct-and-useful LifeHacker has a bunch of posts on saving money covering everything from Using Target Savings to Beat Back Lifestyle Inflation to Squeezing Every Ounce of Power from Your Disposable Batteries.

Got some tips of your own? Please share them in the comments.

Did you like this post? Please social bookmark it using the buttons below!

Notes for Customers:

Ultimate To-Do List Pack | Home & Family Edition Customers:

You have many helpful worksheets in the Shopping, Spending & Saving category, including:

• grocery and shopping lists by store, category and with cost columns
• saving money, bill payment and reducing debt worksheets
• monthly, weekly and shopping budgets
• a savings fund log.

Ultimate To-Do List Pack | Personal Edition Customers:

You have many helpful worksheets in the Money & Finance category, including:

• saving money, reducing expenses and reducing debt worksheets
• weekly, monthly and yearly budgets
• expense trackers
• credit card and bill payment planners
• financial goals lists.

Ultimate To-Do List Pack Members:

You have access to all the worksheets described above.

Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rosscrawford1/ / CC BY 2.0

Related posts:

1. How to be Organized in 2009: Day 9 – Money & Finance
2. Fresh Start: 12 Days of New Beginnings [Day 9: Money & Finance]
3. 5 Home Organization Strategies for Busy People

Welcome to the fourth of our 52 Get Organized Missions.

You can find the previous organizing missions here.

This week’s task involves a mindset shift.

Our aim is to raise the barrier for accepting into your life a source of mental and physical clutter for many people – the ‘freebie’.

Your challenge this week is to spend your 30 minutes:

1. Learning how to distinguish the freebies that add to your life in net terms
2. Deciding to say NO to all the others.

Remember – you only have to spend 30 minutes to complete the basic mission. If you want to go further check out the Extended Organizing Mission Options below.

Ready?

Get Organized Mission #4: Forgo The Freebies

One of the fundamentals of the Get Organized Wizard philosophy is:

The less of anything you have, the easier it is to get organized and stay organized.

The problem with freebies is that although they may not cost you money, they always cost you in other ways, including time, added clutter and greater barriers to personal organization. Occasionally a freebie is worth the cost; most often it’s not.

Your mission this week is to adjust your mindset so that before you accept any freebie into your busy life, you ask yourself four questions:

Q1: How much money must I spend to get the freebie?

• Do I have to buy particular items or spend a certain amount to ‘qualify’ for the freebie?
• Is the qualifying purchase something I need?
• Is the qualifying purchase worth the price independently of the freebie?

Case Study:

• Don’t spend $100 on beauty products you don’t need to get a free $60 lipstick, if all you really want is the $60 free lipstick.
• Do simply buy and enjoy the $60 lipstick!

Q2: How much time must I spend to use the freebie?

• Do I have to read it, assemble it, learn how to use it, invest time to get value from it?
• How much benefit can I expect from investing that time?
• Is the benefit worth the time?

Case Study:

• Don’t pick up the magazine at the gym or department store just because it’s free if the information quality is poor or the articles are disguised advertorials. It will waste your precious time.
• Do borrow or buy a good book or magazine if you want quality information.

Q3: How much mental clutter will the freebie create?

• Will I feel pressured to use the freebie once I have it, even if it’s not something I’m immediately focused on?
• Will it add an item I don’t genuinely care about to my mental to-do list?
• Is the benefit of having the freebie worth the mental clutter?

Case Study:

• Don’t sign up for newsletters in exchange for free e-books, reports or PDFs on topics that aren’t already top-of-mind for you. Keep your focus on what’s important now to save yourself distraction and concentrate your precious mental energy.
• Do search – and pay, if necessary – for highly relevant, good quality information when you’re ready to use it. It will be worth it in terms of saved mental energy.

Q4: How much physical clutter will the freebie create?

• Will I need to store the freebie?
• Will it create visual clutter in my home, office or life?
• Is the benefit of having the freebie worth the physical and visual clutter?

Case Study:

• Don’t accept your friend’s discarded 237-piece Lladro collection just because ‘it would be a shame to let it go’. Unless you will use/love/enjoy it, it’s cluttro.
• Do let someone else with a yen for Lladro enjoy it, and fill your life with only things that you love.

Dos & Don’ts

• Don’t fret over losing out on stuff. Take a look around – you probably already have more stuff than you can use, read, slather on your face, or enjoy. More will come.
• Do enjoy the feeling of freedom and clarity you get from saying no to things that don’t earn their place in your life.

Extended Organizing Mission Options

Want to go beyond this 30-minute organizing mission?

• You can apply these principles to things on sale, too. Compare the sale price with the total cost:
  TOTAL COST = MONEY COST + TIME COST + MENTAL CLUTTER COST + PHYSICAL CLUTTER COST.
• If you have kids, this is an excellent mission to discuss with them. In this age of excess, teaching children to assess the value of things means equipping them with a useful skill.
• If you have a cache of free stuff languishing in drawers, the garage or your hard drive, why not take this opportunity to let it go. Create some extra time, space and clarity for yourself.

Ready, Set, Go!

Remember – move quickly, act fast, don’t overthink.

Before You Go – Please Check In

You’re now accountable to your organizing mission-mates! Once you’ve completed this week’s Get Organized Mission please add a comment to let us know you’ve done your assignment and you’re keeping your commitment.
(Click ‘Comment’ at the very top of this post or scroll down to the bottom. Depending on how you’re viewing this post, one of those options will be available for you.)

And see you back here next week!

UPDATE:

You can now get your weekly organizing mission delivered to your inbox. Click here to sign up for 52 Organizing Missions.

Image by koka_sexton

Did you like this post? Please social bookmark it!

Related posts:

1. Get Organized Mission #12: Organize Your Accounts & Credit Cards
2. Get Organized Mission #3: Organize Your Bill Payment
3. Get Organized Mission #1: Fill a Hu-u-uge Trash Bag

Welcome to the third of our 52 Organizing Missions.

If you’ve completed the previous two missions (Get Organized Mission #1: Fill a Hu-u-uge Trash Bag and Get Organized Mission #2: Detox Your Briefcase/Tote/Bag), congratulations!

Keep up the momentum with this week’s task, which helps you get your finances sorted.

This is one of those high-payoff projects. It takes only a little time to set up yet saves time, bother and possibly penalty charges later on.

Disclaimer: This post is designed to provide organizing help, not financial advice. Please be proactive and decide whether you should talk to a financial professional.

Remember – you only have to spend 30 minutes to complete the basic mission. If you want to go further check out the Extended Organizing Mission Options below.

Ready?

Get Organized Mission #3: Organize Your Bill Payment

Step 1: Gather copies of all your regular bills

Your regular bills might include:

• Mortgage/rent
• Utilities
• Internet
• Cell phone
• Landline
• Car loan payments
• Credit card payments
• School fees
• Subscriptions.

Step 2: Set up automatic bill payment where available

Many of your regular bills may be automatically payable each month from your back account or credit card. Check for details on the back of your bill or look up your account online.

You can generally set up automatic payment by phone, online, or by using an ancient type of admin called ‘a form’. (Don’t fight it – whatever effort you make now will be worth the saved time, money and hassle.)

It goes without saying that you need to be able to cover these bills from your credit card or bank account. But I’ve said it anyway.

Step 3: Set up internet banking or phone banking

Ideally, all your bills will be automatically payable. If so, your organizing mission is complete and you can spend any remaining time tidying your financial papers.

For any bills that aren’t automatically payable, set up internet banking or phone banking to pay these bills at your convenience. Phone, visit or get online to set up your accounts.

Ongoing

When a bill arrives, check whether it will be autopaid. The bill will say something like: ‘Payment of $287 will be made by autopayment from your credit card on 28 November 2009. Please ensure funds are available on this date.’

If it’s a pesky one that can’t be autopaid, diarize the due date. If you use something like Outlook you can set a reminder, too. And on the due date, pay it.

Alternatively, if you have several bills that aren’t able to be autopaid, you might prefer to save time and batch the tasks by paying them all at once, online or by phone – but before the earliest due date.

Dos & Don’ts

• Don’t procrastinate on organizing your bill payment. These 30 minutes of personal organization will save you time – and possibly money – every single month.
• Do keep any passwords for phone or internet banking safe and secure. Be organized and smart!

Extended Organizing Mission Options

Want to go beyond this 30-minute organizing mission?

• Since credit card payments are at the higher end of interest charges, pay them off in full in each month if you can.
• If you have high-school-age kids, this is an excellent mission to complete with them. Teach them valuable financial and organizing skills all in one go.
• If you have ancient bills and receipts you no longer need for tax or accounting reasons, consider shredding them now.

Ready, Set, Go!

Remember – move quickly, act fast, don’t overthink.

Before You Go – Please Check In

You’re now accountable to your organizing mission-mates! Once you’ve completed this week’s Get Organized Mission please add a comment to let us know you’ve done your assignment and you’re keeping your commitment.
(Click ‘Comment’ at the very top of this post or scroll down to the bottom. Depending on how you’re viewing this post, one of those options will be available for you.)

And see you back here next week!

UPDATE:

You can now get your weekly organizing mission delivered to your inbox. Click here to sign up for 52 Organizing Missions.

Image by *_Abhi_*

Did you like this post? Please social bookmark it!

Related posts:

1. Organizing Your Finances: Get Organized to Pay Bills on Time
2. Get Organized Mission #12: Organize Your Accounts & Credit Cards
3. Organize Your Paperwork [Mission #36]

The 12 Days of New Year’s Resolutions

This is Day 9 of The 12 Days of New Year’s Resolutions for Better Personal Organization

I’m spending 12 days posting ideas for new year’s resolutions you might like to choose for yourself. Each day focuses on a different life area.

Remember: go for progress, not perfection.

Following is an edited extract from the introduction to Module 9: Money & Finance in Get Organized Wizard for Smart Women. 

Day 9: Organize your Money & Finance

Most of us know what we should do to take charge of our financial lives. Depending on the individual situation it could be some or all of these: reduce debt, save more, invest wisely, review investment strategy, keep good records, create and stick to a budget, get the insurance you need, firm up money knowledge, or find decent financial advisors.

The stumbling block for many of us isn’t knowing what to do, but getting organized – preparing and taking the steps to manage our finances.

That’s exactly what these suggestions are designed to do. They’re not meant to give you advice, but to help you organize the steps you believe are right for you in managing your financial goals and future.

Debt

• Outstanding debts
  For many people reducing debt is the first phase of a financial plan. Consider cancelling credit cards, ordering debt by interest charge, and debt consolidation.
• Paying bills on time
  Do you need to organize strategies for reducing excessive interest – like diarizing due dates, using online banking/auto-pay, paying full credit card balances, and increasing loan repayments?
• Reducing expenses
  Start by listing expenses. Then you can choose which amounts you want to reduce, and tick them off as you cut down.

Day-to-day financial management

• Financial records
  It’s difficult to feel on top of your finances if your financial paperwork is a mess. Resolve to set up a personal system for your financial records and to file your documents.
• Budget
  Set up a simple monthly budget. Include categories like : Home, Motor, Children, Insurance, Transport, Food, Personal, Health, & Leisure. Fill in ‘Planned’ now, and ‘Actual’ at month-end.
• Financial system
  Perhaps you want to streamline your financial life. Consider cancelling credit cards and consolidating accounts – including bank, retirement, debt and investment accounts.

Protecting your family, your assets and yourself (insurance)

• Life, health, income
  Time to take stock of your insurance? Do you have adequate life insurance? Health/medical? Disability? Income protection? What other insurance do you need?
• Assets
  Are your assets adequately protected against loss/damage? Consider insurance for your home, possessions, car, boat, business, and other assets you want to insure.
• Security
  Think about general measures for increasing the security of your home, business, assets, and health, as well as protecting yourself against theft and fraud.
• Contingencies
  There are contingencies we avoid thinking about – but it’s wise to be prepared. Consider wills, living wills, powers of attorney & other matters to discuss with your solicitor.

Advisers & knowledge

• Financial advisers
  Is it time to review your accountant, tax agent, bank manager, insurer and stock broker?
• Financial knowledge
  What areas of financial knowledge do you want to improve – general, tax, investment, debt-reduction, accounting, or financial planning? Get organized and get smart!

Question: What area of Money & Finance will you work on in 2009?

Note for users of Money & Finance Wizard and Get Organized Wizard for Smart Women

Your Wizard contains guided worksheets for each one of these items, plus others, as well as additional prompts, ideas and suggestions to help you organize each one.

Tomorrow - Day 10: Relationships

Picture adapted from image by Aldon.

Did you like this post? Please social bookmark it!

Related posts:

1. Fresh Start: 12 Days of New Beginnings [Day 9: Money & Finance]
2. How to be Organized in 2009: The 12 Days of New Year’s Resolutions
3. How to be Organized in 2009: Day 12 – Family

Let’s be honest, though. For most of us computer-addicted, latte-sipping, iPhone-using Chicken-Littles, the impact of the falling firmament is not as dramatic as the lamenting and sighing and woe-is-me-ing would suggest.

But how do we keep perspective when everyone around us is crying cataclysm?

Get Organized for Recession-Proof Happiness: Using Humor to Change your Perspective

When I’m in danger of thinking I’ve got big problems, I find humor the quickest, most direct way to show up my skewed perspective.

Here are three of my favorite humorific reminders*:

1. Teenage affluenza is spreading fast

Although this video isn’t new, it’s certainly timely in prodding us to see the dire economic situation from a different perspective. It’s worth the five minutes, I promise!

2. The Indignities of Coach Class

Humor is also how David Rakoff’s essay collection makes a point about our culture of excess. The title is all you need to get that jerk of realization:

Now, Don’t Get Too Comfortable:
The Indignities of Coach Class, the Torments of Low Thread Count, the Never-ending Quest for Artisanal Olive Oil, and Other First World Problems.

First world problems? Urban Dictionary defines them as:

Problems from living in a wealthy, industrialized nation that third worlders would probably roll their eyes at.

What was that? Oh – just the sensation of boot hitting butt.

3. Once more with feeling

Lastly, a little technique I use when thinking I have it tough, is to say aloud, in the whiniest voice I can muster, one of these:

• Why is life so cruel!
• Why must such terrible things always happen to me!
• How can I be expected to go on!

It never fails to yank me back to reality.

So consider vaccinating yourself against recession-gloom with a little injection of perspective-shifting humor.

Disclaimer

Now I’m not saying our economic problems aren’t real – plenty of evidence suggests they are.

I’m simply suggesting that for most of us, the sky will still be there.
And compared to much of the world, it will remain very blue.

Question: How do you keep your perspective when everyone else is getting their gloom on?

* If my long-term readers are feeling a bit deja vu-y, it’s because I previously referenced the first two items in my Happiness Strategies post: Happiness Life Strategy: Recognize that most of your problems are first-world problems

Image by ishrona

Did you like this post? Please social bookmark it!

Related posts:

1. Get Organized for Better Quality Rest/Recreation: Have a TV Viewing Policy
2. How to be Organized in 2009: Day 8 – Strategies for Happiness
3. 6 Exercises For Improving Your Relationship

• How does my salary compare with others in my profession?
• Should I pay ahead on my mortgage or invest the money instead?
• How can I pay off my debt faster?
• How much do I have to save to reach my first million dollars?

There are 110 of these online calculators – helpfully sorted into categories that include:

Autos Budgets, Income and Spending Business College Comparisons Credit Cards and Debt Management Estate Planning Goals

Housing (rent and mortgage) Insurance Investing Loans Net worth Retirement Savings

Check it out for yourself: 110 Financial Calculators: Fast Answers to Your Money Questions

Image by guspim

Related posts:

1. Organizing Your Finances: Get Organized to Pay Bills on Time
2. Get Organized Mission #3: Organize Your Bill Payment
3. How to be Organized in 2009: Day 9 – Money & Finance

But it’s just plain dumb to waste your money on penalty charges or excess interest because you were late paying a bill. All it takes is a little organization and a shred of planning, and you can save your dollars to squander in ways that really matter to you. That’s what I do!

Here are 6 simple steps to get it done.

Get Organized to Pay Your Bills on Time

1. List all your regular bills. These might include mortgage/rent, utilities, internet, cell phone, landline, car loan payments, credit card payments, subscriptions, etc.
2. Identify the ones that can be auto-paid from your back account or credit card, and set these up. (This info will be on the back of your bill or may be available online.) Some you’ll be able to arrange online, others by phone, and some will need an ancient type of admin called ‘a form’. Don’t fight it – whatever effort you make now will be worth the saved time, money and hassle. (Um, it goes without saying that you need to be able to cover these bills from your credit card or bank account. But I’ve said it anyway.)
3. If you’re lucky, all your bills will be automatically payable. For any that aren’t, set up internet banking or phone banking to pay these bills at your convenience.
4. When a bill arrives, check whether it will be autopaid. (The bill will say something like: ‘Payment of $287 will be made by autopayment from your credit card on 28 November 2008. Please ensure funds are available on this date.’). If it’s a pesky one that can’t be autopaid, diarize the due date. If you use something like Outlook you can set a reminder, too. And on the due date, pay it.
5. Alternatively, if you have several bills that aren’t able to be autopaid, you might prefer to save time and batch the tasks by paying them all at once, online or by phone (but before the earliest due date).
6. Bonus step: Since credit card payments are often at the higher end of interest charges, pay them off in full in each month if you can.

Feels great to have your bills well organized, doesn’t it! I suggest you reward yourself with something nice.

Image by brendan.wood

Related posts:

1. Get Organized Mission #3: Organize Your Bill Payment
2. Organize Your Finances: An Overflow of Online Financial Calculators
3. How to be Organized in 2009: Day 9 – Money & Finance