Maxine’s Housekeeping Tips – Part #8
SUBMITTED BY: Maxine in Idaho
Tuesday’s Tip: Put It On the Calendar
Today’s organizing tip is a simple one. Don’t just use your calendars for birthdays, appointments and social events. If there are things you need to schedule on a regular basis, put it on your calendar, either literally or figuratively.
For example, I need to change the furnace filter regularly. In our previous home, it was about every 3 months. After I made a mental note to change it on the first day of the quarter, I never had a problem remembering. When we moved here, I discovered (the hard way) that the filter needs to be changed monthly (new houses have a lot of dust from carpet fiber, sheetrocking, etc.). For some reason, I haven’t been able to remember consistently. Now my calendar lists CHANGE FURNACE FILTER on the first day of every month. There are many home maintenance jobs you can schedule this way.
This also works for doctors, dentists and other things. For example, I always have a mammogram between Christmas and New Year’s (your birthday is also a good time and easy to remember). I also need to have a minor medical procedure twice a year. I used to wait for symptoms, but now I do it by the calendar–May and November. By tying these things to specific times of the year, I don’t forget. Also, since it takes at least 3-4 weeks to get an appointment, in January I mark it on my calendar to CALL DR. FOR APPT. on April 1 and Oct. 1.
I’ve also found it helps to pay bills on a specific day of the month and to schedule your other activities around it. I used to pay them on the 1st, but here my gas bill arrives around the 5th. Now I use that as a “trigger” to remind me to pay up, since some of the bills that come in earlier start coming due around the 10th. My bank statement comes around the 3rd, so I’ve made it a rule that I can’t pay bills until I’ve balanced my checkbook.
The reason I schedule things and make rules for myself is that this stuff doesn’t come naturally. I have to work at it. And it works!!!
SUBMITTED BY: Maxine in Idaho
Here’s Maxine’s next Housekeeping Tip: Laundry
NOTE: Be sure to stop by and “Like” A Frugal Simple Life on Facebook! 
Other Articles of Interest:
