Best Family Apps for Home, Work, School and Life

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best family apps

 

Our smart phones  and tablets can help us stay organized and be productive.  Some of the best family apps help us do things from deposit a check to find out when a flight arrives.  Many are free or cost a dollar or two.  Taking advantage of an app to expedite a task, get a task done more easily or even make a task more fun is a reason to find your family’s best family apps.

We all have our favorites for different reasons.  Here are a few of mine by category.

Family life

  • Your bank app – easy access to your accounts
  • Kindle or Nook app – reading while you wait
  • Evernote – task lists, client lists, family lists
  • Local TV station app –  weather, traffic and local news

 

Work life

  • Dropbox – access documents to review
  • Evernote – to read or review clipped articles
  • GeniusScan – scans a document and creates pdf files
  • Your bank app – make deposits and verify account amounts

 

 

Kids

  • Please add your favorites below!

For kids, I am a big believer in low level technology use. However, there are lots of awesome apps for learning too!

 

Seniors

 

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Financial Organizing: Bill Paying

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financial organizing bill paying

 

 

Good financial organizing requires being organized about paying bills.  Bill paying is a necessary evil for us.  It’s not fun! (It’s not fun ever!) Sometimes it’s scary because we may not have enough money to pay bills.  Sometimes it’s complicated because income comes in at a different time than bills come in.  Sometimes it’s just so much going on it’s hard to keep up with every thing.

 

We try to find the easiest way to pay our bills on time. (Paying your bills on time increases your credit score, which is linked to credit extended by banks, mortgage companies and other loans.)  There are lots of different ways to pay bills.  Choose what’s best for you.

 

Bill paying starts with a great system and routine. Think of bill paying as a process with steps.  Follow these three steps and add in your own personal touches to make bill paying easier and less stressful.

 

Step 1: Keep all your bills together

  • Gather the bills in your command center.  I recommend getting the paper bills as a reminder you need to pay them.  Bills can get “lost” in your email.  Place them where you will see them, just so you remember to pay them.

 

  • Keep a list of your bills so that you know what you pay and when you pay. If you pay everything online, this list is especially helpful to see.

 

Step 2: Establish a system that works for you

  • At times these systems can overlap, but generally find one that works best for you.  Also have one as a back up, in case there’s an oops.
  • Pay by check.  Order 2 sets of checks at a time so you always have checks.  Place the checks together with stamps, envelopes and pens.
  • Pay online through your bank. Print out the consolidated receipt.
  • Pay automatically with a bank account or credit card.  Review your accounts monthly to be sure everything is paid correctly.
  • Pay by phone. Create a list of account numbers and phone numbers for each account.

 

Step 3: Establish a routine that works for you

  • Our lives are busy! However, a routine is what keeps your bill paying from becoming chaotic and late.  Choose just one routine and practice, practice, practice.
  •  Pay bills each day as arriving.  Open the envelope and write the paid date on the bill.
  • Pay bills weekly on a certain day each week.  Consolidating bill paying saves time.
  • Pay ahead double the amount.  This can get tricky, so be sure you keep a list of how much you paid when.
  • Set a weekly time to work on money.  No matter which routine you choose, have a regular time to check your bank balance and credit card statements helps you adhere to your budget.

 

After you have completed bill paying, you can file all the bills in one box labelled with the year.  It’s the easiest, fastest way to keep up with these papers. The box can be in your office, easy to access. It’s just that simple!

 

Have some tricks or tips to your bill paying?

 

Join me on my Financial Organizing  pinterest board.

 

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Financial Organizing: Creating a budget

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financial organizing creating a budget

 

We all want to make the best use of our resources. Saving money is at the top of this list.  Financial organizing creates a focus on your goals, your systems and your routines around money.  Creating a budget as the first step to organizing your money.

 

Start your budget by knowing what weekly and monthly expenses you have. 

  • Start with a list of all the utilities, rent and bills you pay every month.  These expenses are often set already.
  • Use mint.com to see what categories you are spending money on each month on your credit and debit cards.  These expenses can be modified to see where to save money.
  • Use cash for 2 weeks.  Go to the ATM, withdraw the amounts for each category, and pay with cash. Leave your credit cards at  home.
  • Once you know where your money is going, you can take the next step with clarity.

 

 

Money saving strategies

 

  • Pay yourself first with automated savings. You can set up an automatic deduction from your checking account to a savings account.  Decide on a percentage of saving or a dollar amount to have transferred each month.
  • Think about your personal goals.  Is it to retire comfortably?  Take more vacations? Invest in more education for yourself?  Link your goals to empower your savings. When you know what you are saving for and a timeline to accumulate an amount, it is powerful.
  • Designate 2 or 3 ways you will save money.  There are small ways to start saving money.  Eat at home for dinner.  Pack lunch for work and school.  Grocery shop with a list on the same day each week.  Starting small helps you accomplish your goal to save money.
  • Get educated on the best ways to invest your savings. Learn from blogs, attended local seminars and find trusted investment counselors.

 

Know your weaknesses.

 

  • If it’s all to easy to go online or use a credit card for purchases, use a strategy to defer purchases. When online shopping, use the wish list instead of the card.  Return to the site a day later and decide if you want to make a purchase.  Carry only your debit card with you to make purchases, rather than a credit card.
  • Just like a diet, if you feel deprived you will not keep up with your budget.  Keep sight of your goals with a picture of what you want to accomplish.  Reward yourself with small purchases to keep on track if needed. A small splurge can be a good thing!

 

Budgets help you accomplish your short and long term saving goals.  Having basic tools to prioritize how you use your money makes it easier to accomplish these goals.

 

Lots of ideas on money management and financial organizing are on my pinterest board.

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Financial Organizing: Best Financial Apps

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organizing your finances best apps

Organizing your finances is important.  But let’s make it as easy and as seamless as we can.

 

In the early 2000’s, we started experiencing the ease of online banking.  Many people were reluctant at first, and some continue to doubt the safety factor.

 

However, what’s not to love about our smartphones, tablets and computers when they can make something less painful?  The best financial apps can make financial organizing easier.

 

Your bank App

Not only can you make deposits without going to the bank, you can transfer money rather than send a check.  Having your bank app on your phone means you can check deposits and account balances.

 

Reminders

The trick to keeping current on bill paying is to set a reminder to pay the bills!  Reminders are great for paper or online bill pay.  Set the reminder as a recurring event each month to act on your finances.

 

CreditKarma

Once a year it’s great to check your credit score.  Your credit score impacts how interest on loans, how much you pay for insurance and mortgage rate.  Keep up annually with this free app.

 

Red Laser

I love to shop when I know I am getting the best price for an item.  Using Red Laser, I can price an item by scanning the bar code and see where to purchase it most cheaply.

 

Grocery IQ

There’s always groceries to buy! Why not share the responsibility by sharing the list?  Grocery IQ builds a list that can be used by multiple smart phones.  Whoever is on the way home can stop and get the milk now.

 

Expensify

Expense accounts can be time consuming!  Simplify the process with this app that includes scanning your receipt and adding it to your expense form.

 

I’d love to learn your favorite financial apps too!

 

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Home Organizing: Organizing A to Z

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home organizing a to z

“In every job there must be done, there is an element of fun.

You find the fun and  ~ snap ~ the job’s a game!”

~ Mary Poppins

 

 

Have a little organizing fun this summer with your family.  Our A- Z organizing days are little projects everyone can work on together to have a more organized home.  Set aside 30 minutes at a time to declutter and organize these spaces.  Just a little time spent makes a big difference!

 

A – automobile
B – books
C – cleaning supplies
D – desk area
E – extra school supplies
F – freezer
G – garage
H – home office
I – inventory of the medicine cabinet
J – junk drawer in the kitchen
K – kitchen essentials (trash bags, ziploc bags, foil)
L – linen closet
M – magazines and catalogs
N – napkins and paper goods
O – office supplies
P – pet supplies
Q – quick catch up on a day you missed!
R – refrigerator, recipes
S – sports equipment
T –  tools
U – utility room
V – videos, movies, games
W – wrapping paper & gift bags
X – exercise clothes
Y – yard
Z – zip into your purse too!

 

More ideas on organizing your home on my pinterest board Home Sweet Organized Home

How do you make a job more fun?

 

Organizing Basics: Organizing 1, 2, 3

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home organizing basics

 

Organizing can be as simple as 1, 2, 3.  Really? Yes!  It comes down to great rules and routines that follow up your organizing.  Get everyone on board in your family and it’s a piece of cake.  Here are my top 3 organizing rules.

 

1.  If it takes just a minute, put it away right away.

Most times we procrastinate about picking up because “we just don’t have time” since we are on the go. We have a lot of activities, we need to get to work on time, or we think it will take a lot of time to put stuff away.   Create a rule for yourself that if it just takes a minute (or 2 or 3 minutes) just put it away asap.

 

organizing 1, 2, 3
2.  Partner up! Any task is easier when it’s two people working together.

It doesn’t matter if its creating a powerpoint presentation or unloading the dishwasher, when you work as a team everything is better.   Partnerships can take many different forms.  It can be family, friends or colleagues creating connections and working together.  It can be a virtual partnership, like when  you are on the phone or skype.  Find a partner who helps do the job well and makes it fun too.

 

 

organizing 1, 2, 3

3.  A place for everything and everything in its place.

There’s no clutter when everything in your home or office has a place.  Match up items with their point of use, what room you will use them in and with other items you use them with. Store items by location to make it easy to access them when needed. It’s when stuff has no home, its on the counter or the floor for days.  Be sure you always have a spot for an item before you purchase it too. When every single thing, that means everything, has a place there’s no clutter!

 

What are your basic 1, 2, 3’s of organizing?

 

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Summer Organizing: On the go with or without kids (Part 2)

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family organizing

Summer is around the corner! The fun of summer is our let it go attitude and our free spirit spontaneity. A little organization goes a long way to help summer fun.

1. Each child needs a specific bag for each activity they are involved in. The bag needs to be the right size to hold what is needed for that activity, but not so big they start putting a lot of extra stuff in it. There needs to be a specific place in the house where these are kept. (destination station)
2. Often-used items need duplicates. (like keep a small pair of scissors in the van)
3. Prepare a ziplock bag for each child with an emergency outfit in it. (Even older children get muddy socks or spill juice or something.) Keep in the vehicle.
4. Stock your vehicle with ziplock bag kits such as: stuff for fixing hair; sunscreen and lip balms; first aid; snacks; teeth-brushing stuff.
5. Prepare a little tub for the trunk with picnic-type supplies such as paper towels, napkins, spoons, small paper plates. So many times, we could then hit a grocery store for some healthier snacks, and saved by not doing fast food.
6. Sunglasses: For our family, it only worked to get inexpensive ones and keep duplicates. The best thing I did for myself (since I wear glasses) was to get the transition lenses so I don’t need sunglasses.

Linda B, mom of 4

As a schoolteacher, I enjoy having summers off! Even with increased flexibility in my schedule, it helps to plan for these summer months. Here’s how I do it:

I sit down with family members and compare summer calendars. Everyone has with flight/travel information, birthday plans and more!

I try to keep summer items in the back of the car so I’m ready for any swimming pool or beach days (sunscreen, towels, bathing suit, extra flip flops)!

I use summer as a time to reorganize at home. I always tackle my desk and shred old papers. I also go through all the clothes and shoes in my closet and donate to Goodwill.

I don’t over plan the summer. I like to leave some open days to fill in as the summer goes on!

Laura S.

 

Technology helps me keep it together “on the go”. We always hear that we are tethered to our devices, but actually devices help me NOT be tethered to my desk! Apps like “evernote” and “drop box” help me keep what I need at my fingertips. I use the calendar, alerts and alarms to let me tune into work as needed rather than 9-5. It even helps me get moving by tracking my steps and fitness. Adapting my phone to support a lifestyle that is always on the go has helped RELAX and UNTETHER from work more. I can go have fun knowing I can check in if needed remotely.

Leslie M.

Summer Organizing: Summer on the go with kids (Part 1)

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summer organizing

One of the most powerful parts of social networking is connecting to bloggers through Blog Elevated. Here are some amazing ideas about summer on the go!

 

One of the most powerful parts of social media are the connections we make!  I asked my social media peeps what helps them get started on their spring organizing and cleaning. – See more at: https://professional-organizer.com/WordPress/2014/03/#sthash.e0BVspGw.dpuf

When you’re on the go with kids, don’t forget about all the opportunities they’re taking to learn. They’ll learn with or without you, so see what you can do to guide that learning.  Pick a shape in the world – ask your children, “How many sides does it have? How many angles?” If you have older kids, ask, “How big are each of the angles? Can you approximate in degrees? If you drew lines connecting one corner to all the others, how many triangles would you make?” And then see what kinds of questions they come up with!

Bon Crowder, M.S.

Math Mom & Education Advocate 

Twitter @mathfour

Pinterest Mathfour

Facebook.com/MathFour

 

 

If there is one thing I’ve learned with three kids, it’s to be flexible and ready for best-laid-plans to change. More than once we have taken a special trip only to have the boys say their favorite part was the cheap hotel or the breakfast at McDonalds. I’m not saying don’t make plans, but hold them loosely. Realize that all your planning efforts might be trumped by a cool playground or something you would not have expected. And if you are really planning with kids in mind, then let your kids play with the hose outside for an hour even if it was only meant to rinse their hands after a special outdoor activity you set up. I am continually surprised by the things that amuse and impress my kids and long ago abandoned that personal attachment of feeling disappointed when my ideas or plans don’t hold the same allure as something else. Be ready to sit back and watch what brings your children joy, even if it’s NOT your carefully made plans. 

Kirsten Oliphant

I have a blog and I’m not afraid to use it.

www.kirstenoliphant.com

 

Have FOOD TO GO! Summers are a great time in the Woo household, but also extremely busy. We pack in as many outdoor activities in the short 3 months as possible. My “go to” is a bag of healthy snacks (re-stocked as needed) that I keep in the car. I fill it with Granola bars, dried and fresh fruit, water, nuts, turkey jerkey and healthy things to keep our energy up on the go. It allows us to be more spontaneous. . .quick trips to the beach to swim or fish. . .without skipping a beat!

Nicole T. Woodard, Author & Home/Food Blogger

http://www.facebook.com/NickiWoo

http://www.twitter.com/nickiwooguru

http://www.instagram.com/nickiwooguru

 

 

 

With two teenage-ish boys in the house, I am constantly on the go running them to a friends house or maybe even the mall for a day filled of fun and game. It’s fun for me as a mom, but it can be crazy sometimes. Even though many of these trips are last minute, I try my hardest to plan ahead. By planning ahead, I can make sure that everyone is where they need to be, when they need to be there without overscheduling anything in the process. 

 Kristi Reddell, Blog Owner at MomsConfession.com

Twitter: @momsconfession

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/momsconfession

Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+KristiReddell/posts

 

Love these ladies thoughts! Thanks so much for sharing!

Hugs and happy organizing Teen Closet

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Hugs and happy organizing is all about sharing client success stories. Here is a happy ending for organizing a teen closet.

teen organizing

Is your teen’s closet out of control?  Too many clothes, shoes, and hats to keep organized?  Too busy to get organized? Just schedule two hours with your teen on a Sunday afternoon to get her or his space organized. Organizing your teen closet will make everyone happier.

  • If the floor of the closet is covered with shoes, pull them all out, match them up and see which are beyond repair or use.  Drop these in the trash asap.
  • Go through tee shirts and decide which are to wear and which are to make a quilt.  Store the memorabilia in a box at the back of the closet or on the top shelf.
  • Set a timer for 15 minutes and group clothes together by tops, bottoms, dresses, exercise, and sleepwear.
  • Set a timer for 15 minutes for each clothing group. Create a consignment pile.  As an incentive to your teen, getting money back for clothes will help them make good decisions about what should leave.
  • Consider bins for tee shirts, swim stuff, underwear and jammies.  Label the bin so everyone can drop in the items.
  • Check out shoe storage options. It can be a rack on the bottom of the closet or just a basket.  (Your teen won’t take time to put shoes in a box.)
  • Keep it simple and easy.  The easier it is to put laundry away, the more likely it will be!
  • Add a 3 section laundry sorter (click on clothes on this affiliate link) to keep clothes off the floor.  Place it where the clothes drop.

 

Kids love their clothes!  Help them keep up with them with an organized closet.

 

Summer storage tips: What goes in and what comes out?

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 Thank you to Jenny Young of Uncle Bob’s Self Storage for sharing these ideas on self-storage. 

summer organizing and storage

 

Summer is (finally) right around the corner. Before you can start celebrating on the beach, now is a good time to take stock of what you have at home and in your self storage unit and make some changes.

Here are some ideas for what moves IN and what comes OUT of your self storage unit this summer.

IN: Holiday decorations. Typically, the most common items heading into self storage during the spring and summer months are Christmas decorations, says Mike Nowicki, area manager for Uncle Bob’s in the Virginia region.

OUT: Clutter. They call it “spring cleaning” for a reason. As you move things in and out of your self storage unit, do a lap around and take stock of what you have in there. Are there things you haven’t touched in years and probably won’t ever use again? Consider discarding them to free up space for other, more important items, or donating them to someone who could put them to use today.

IN: Winter clothing and outerwear. The parka can be put away! Hallelujah. It’s swimsuit and tank top season, so move sweaters, coats, hats, and gloves into your self storage unit in order to make room for your warm weather ensemble at home.

Bonus tip: While it might be tempting to stick your clothing in any box you have lying around, invest in a couple sturdy storage totes.

“My recommendation is not to use recycled grocery boxes to store,” Nowicki says. “They may be free, but they attract pests even if they don’t have food items in them. The box itself is scented with the item that was in it. Grocery boxes also break down over time, and they are liable to fall if stacked.”

You can typically find a good deal at big department stores this time of year, so a plastic bin will be well worth the $10 or less it’ll cost.

OUT: Lawn and landscaping equipment. Nowicki tells me the most popular things he sees coming out of self storage units this time of year are lawn care and landscaping equipment. That means grab your car, and load it up with the lawnmower, weedwacker, rake and other garden tools you’ve been storing away all winter.

Friendly Reminder: There are many items you should never keep in your self storage unit, which include many things you might be purchase over the summer. Pool chemicals and weed killers, gasoline for your lawnmower, and propane for your grill are a few of the items you should never put into storage. Keep that in mind as your stock up for the season.

IN: College dorm essentials. As your kids move home from their universities, tell them leave their stuff in storage facilities in their college town, rather than take it all home. It’s a win-win for everyone: It’ll save them the hassle of transporting it a far distance, and it’ll save you the headache of finding a place to put it in your already cramped storage spaces.

“My experience shows that college students get together and share a larger storage space and split the rent. This makes it easier to afford the space, and it allows them quicker set up in the fall when they return to school,” says Nowicki.

OUT: Camping gear. Take advantage of the great weather, and sleep under the stars! If your tents and sleeping bags have been tucked away all winter, it’s time to grab them and take them to the great outdoors.

What will you use your self storage unit for this summer? And what will you be taking out and enjoying in this nice weather? Let me know on Twitter at @JennyStorage.