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Monday, May 5, 2025
4 Weeks to Decluttering Your Life and Mind for More Focus
Sunday, April 13, 2025
Tax Time is Around the Corner – Are You Prepared? Make Next Year Run Smoother by Being Organized!
It's getting close to
Tax Time! I know that people are probably scrambling to get all of their
documents ready to take to their accountant. But there are ways to make this
time of year a lot less stressful - by being prepared ahead of time.
Start by having a folder
dedicated to all things "tax related".
During the year -
anything that comes in - that might be tax-related - any receipts or documents
- put them into your tax folder.
That includes any
banking or financial documents. Also - any mortgage or loan interest
statements.
Tax deduction documents.
Expense receipts. Donation receipts. W2's. 1099's. Saving, investments,
or dividends. Any other income or losses.
And much more. Your
account can provide a list of all of your needed documents.
Something that is really
helpful is having spreadsheets that you can use to keep track of things like
donations or medical expenses. By having a list (or spreadsheet) of these
expenses it will save you money by not making your account add it all up. They
can look at the spreadsheet total and quickly make a determination if those
expenses can be used as a deduction on your taxes (depending on your
circumstances). Of course you will want to have your backup documentation. Be
sure to make a new spreadsheet every year.
What is most helpful -
is having a tax checklist that you can reuse every year. A list of all of the documents
that you are waiting for and that you will bring to your accountant. When they
come in - just check them off your list! Keep a blank copy of this list in your
tax folder. If things change - you can always add or delete them from your
list.
By having a system in
place - and a place for your tax file - this time of year should be a lot less
stressful!
Another thing that is
needed is a place for all of your tax paperwork that you will need to keep for X
number of years (depending on your tax situation). A filing cabinet space or a
box dedicated to taxes. If you have backup documentation for your taxes – put
all of that together into one folder and mark it for the tax year and keep it
with your tax form.
Use this year as a learning tool for what kind of
information you will need to capture for next year.
By being organized - by
having all the needed information in one place - your life will be much less
stressed.
Tax time is not a fun
time for anyone - except maybe tax accountants. Take the stress out of
the equation by being more organized.
Keeping good records
throughout the year will make year end and tax time a breeze.
So take a deep breath and get your paperwork in order and resolve to make next year a better one.
Keep on Organizing!
Less Clutter = Less Stress SM in your home, your business and your life
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
.
Visit our Life & Business Coaching website: North By Northwest
*** check out the Products tab for self-paced workshops, planners and more....Thursday, April 10, 2025
Clearing Out Your Pantry - Shopping in Your Own Home
Clearing out your clutter - purging and organizing your home should be an ongoing event. One of the areas that a lot of people overlook is the refrigerator and the pantry.
Once things go into the refrigerator or the pantry - they are never seen again! They sit there - on the shelf or inside the door - and are forgotten. People buy condiments or spices for a recipe - use a little bit - and then forget about them. Or they "buy one bottle of ketchup or salad dressing and get one free" - and they never end up using it all. Or they buy multiple cans of soup or vegetables - and they just sit on the shelf.
Don't forget the cake mixes, frosting and sprinkles....because you can never have enough!
And then everything is forgotten. We go to the store - mostly without a list - and everything that looks good or is on sale - ends up in our grocery cart. Even with a list - how can you resist all of those bargains???
We buy too much food and it's wasted. It's time to make some changes!
First - make it a habit to clean our your refrigerator. I mean really take a look at every single item in the refrigerator. Start with each door - check the expiration dates of everything. Toss out anything that is expired and anything that is opened and has been in the refrigerator too long - anything that is half used and you are not going to finish it.
Then, start with the top shelf of the refrigerator and work your way down to the bottom. Take out all of the items - wipe down the shelf - and clear out anything that is too old or you won't eat anymore. Go from shelf to shelf and do the same.
Start a new habit by looking into the refrigerator each time before you go shopping and checking out what you have left in there - before you buy anything else. Do the same with your pantry! Shop your home first!
In your pantry - when you put anything in there - be sure to put the new items that you buy in back of the older items - so that you always use your older items first.
In your freezer - before you put anything into your freeze - date it and write the contents on the bag (or container) on it so that you know what's in there. Believe me - you will not be able to recognize the frozen blob a few months from now!
Now to really get a head start on clearing out your pantry, refrigerator and freezer - try a "No Buying - Shop Your Pantry" month!!! For one month - use up everything in your kitchen, refrigerator, freezer and pantry! Whatever you have on hand - is what your meals will consist of! Be creative. Use up all of the meat that you bought, use up the beans and pasta and rice. Use up the soups. Make some desserts.... Clear out all of the old food!
Not only will this save you money but it will also help clear out the stockpile of food you have in your home. One of the other benefits - is that you will see the kinds of food items that you have too much of and really don't use a lot of. When you start buying food again - you will be more conscious of what you really use and what you don't.
So - try the Shop Your Pantry month - save money and have a more organized home.
*** this great idea was shared with me by Judy - a great client who is on her way to becoming more organized every day
Happy Organizing!
Less Clutter = Less Stress SM in your home, your business and your life
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
.
Visit our Life & Business Coaching website: North By Northwest
*** check out the Products tab for self-paced workshops, planners and more....Monday, December 23, 2024
Don't Stress About Christmas - But Learn From It
It's almost Christmas Eve....and most of us are done with our shopping and ready for Santa. But for those of you that aren't ....don't stress....just try to be a bit more organized next year.
The holidays are not about presents. They are about family. The best present that you can give anyone is "yourself".Time is a precious thing. It goes too quickly and there is never enough of it.
Picking up the phone and calling your loved ones....a real phone call...not a text....means more than you will ever know. Hearing a loved ones voice. Hearing the caring and knowing that you are loved....is a precious thing.
Reach out to your friends and family during the holidays. Let them know that you have not forgotten them. In this busy time where we are all working, struggling to make ends meet...the gift of yourself is more precious than anything that you can wrap up. And if all else fails - a Gift Card to a nice restaurant is a nice gift that doesn't take up mych space.
Take the opportunity to learn what worked and what didn't work this year. Make a promise to yourself to start planning for the holidays earlier next year. Put a reminder on your calendar (or phone) to start prepping for the holidays in October next year! That should give you more time to plan and mayabe even send out those Holiday cards that you didn t get around to this year!
Wishing all of you a very HAPPY HOLIDAY and a more ORGANIZED NEW YEAR !
Happy Organizing!
Less Clutter = Less Stress SM in your home, your business and your life
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
.
Visit our Life & Business Coaching website: North By Northwest
*** check out the Products tab for self-paced workshops, planners and more....Wednesday, December 11, 2024
Wishing You A Wonderful Holiday Season
I want to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday Season. May your days be filled with joy and happiness.
If you have not sent out any holiday cards yet - I encourage you to send real cards to your friends and family. For some of us - we look forward to getting real cards in the mail during the holidays and hearing from our friends and family that have moved away. Reach out and brighten someones day!
Less Clutter = Less Stress SM in your home, your business and your life
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
.
Visit our Life & Business Coaching website: North By Northwest
*** check out the Products tab for self-paced workshops, planners and more....Sunday, December 1, 2024
Is it just Clutter? Or is it more than that? Don't Let Hoarding Control Your Life
Are you tired of the clutter in your home and your life? Has anyone ever told you that you have issues with hoarding? Don't be embarrassed - it's more common than you think!
If you are ready to make a change in your life and want to live in a home that is less cluttered - where you can have family and friends over - there is help available!
A Group to Address Hoarding Behavior
The Buried in Treasures Workshop is about more than clutter...
· Overcoming challenges
· Increasing motivation
· Reducing acquiring
· Prioritizing and celebrating choices
Clutterers, Collectors, Treasure Hunters, Savers, Pack Rats
Unite and Support Each Other
Is clutter getting in the way of how you want to live your life?
Are you feeling overwhelmed with too many possessions?
Are you embarrassed to have people over?
This program offers a 16-week course that is based on the book ‘Buried In Treasures’. Join us on this journey to learn what's behind your clutter and how to start living the life you deserve. A life that is less - cluttered!
The Buried in Treasures group is for people who would like to learn tips on how to de-clutter and stop over-acquiring with people who know what it’s like. Each week we will have a discussion around a specific skill, followed by the completion of challenging and rewarding exercises. Individual progress, challenges, successes, and goals are also monitored throughout the sixteen weeks.
You can make changes to the way you live your life - with support and understanding from people that are going through the same thing. You are not alone!
Participants are expected to commit to attending all the sessions as well as to participate actively.
A Buried in Treasures Group is forming >>>
*** this will be a VIRTUAL CLASS - anyone - anywhere can participate in the class
Sessions start Wednesday, February 5, 2025
Wednesday, February 5, 2025 - 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm - Mountain Time
Wednesday, February 5, 2025 - 9:00 am - 11:00 am - Mountain Time
This group offers a judgment-free environment for people ready to make a change in their life.
Early Registration required. Call or email for more information.
(440) 666 – 9326 or kefconsulting@gmail.com
**** Class is on Zoom- call / email for more information or to be put on a Waiting List for future classes
**** ask about our condensed 8-week class "Getting Unburied and Moving Forward" which starts in March 2025
Tuesday, November 26, 2024
Happy Thanksgiving! to Your and Your Family!
Have a great THANKSGIVING filled with lots of stuffing!
Wishing you and yours a very HAPPY THANKSGIVING !
Less Clutter = Less Stress SM in your home, your business and your life
Organizational Consulting Services
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