Do you have a home manager binder - Page 5

[sabrinat]

Originally Posted by nudnik

I actually started using an hPDA (http://wiki.43folders.com/index.php/Hipster_PDA) and printing sheets from diyplanner.com.

It's a brilliant idea - a bunch of index cards held together with a binder clip. Easy, portable, very modifyable, and cheap! (Staples has a great deal on blank index cards.)

I've also heard of people who hole punch one corner and keep the cards on a key ring. Apparently, you can even hole punch a credit card (avoid the magnetic strip) and voila! a do-it-all wallet you can carry with one finger.

Ohmigoodness, that diyplanner site is rocking. I think I'm going to download it into my pda! It's too cool. I love this thread. I gotten so many great organizational ideas and tips from here. It's really made a difference in a very short time.

[cece]

Originally Posted by sabrinat

Ohmigoodness, that diyplanner site is rocking. I think I'm going to download it into my pda! It's too cool. I love this thread. I gotten so many great organizational ideas and tips from here. It's really made a difference in a very short time.

I agree! That's an amazing website. This is a phenomenal thread. I have a home binder now, and I'm going to do an index card DIY one to take with me. I think I'll sew up a little pouch for it. I used to always buy blank notebooks and try to do this myself, but it always ends up disorganized and annoying. This is absolutely perfect. I am making one for my best friend, too, she will adore this!

[Bearsmama]

Okay, I'm totally lovin' diyplanner. Thank you!

[sabrinat]

bumping to share the love

[CrunchyDoula]

What a great site DIYplanner is!!

[Bonny]

I have everything on my computer on Outlook and sync it with my Palm, so that I have a copy of everything w me in my bag when I'm not @ home.

[ILuvMyBaby]

I wish I had something but I really cant find anything I like so far.

[aratiaw]

I started one thanks to this thread! So far it's very basic, just a lever arch ring binder with dividers. I'm still trying to figure out which sections I need, but it's already useful. Someone linked to this blog which has a good tutorial series on creating a HMB. I'm not following the series, but still finding it really useful, so thought it was worth posting again.

[sabrinat]

I think no matter how you set it up for yourself I think you can find a good use for your HMB.

[carolm22117]

I've tried so many times to use a home management binder. I am really,really good at putting them together, but horrible at using it. It usually ends up languishing under the sofa, collecting dustbunnies.

Enter, my home management whiteboard! I went to Lowes and bought a piece of white tileboard for about $12. It works just like a dry-erase board, except one this size (its probably 5 foot by 4 foot, cut down from about 8 foot by 4 foot) would have cost over a 100$. Hubby hung it on the wall and used trim tape (bought at the automotive store) to divide it up into sections. I should put a picture up on my blog since its kinda hard to describe, but the top is divided into 7 squares, one for each day of the week and I write EVERYTHING in them that is going on that day.

There there is a big empty middle area where we write notes to each other or jobs that need to be done for the day.

The bottom half is divided into sections and I have all the Flylady zones written down and my weekly menu section and a "NEED" section where we write down what we are out of (ie TP or Milk or whatever).

I have to have stuff IN MY FACE, all the time or I'll get distracted and wander off task and get NOTHING done all day. The board has worked miracles in our house!

I also made my own little custom weekly planner out of a small moleskine notebook that I just LOVE. EVERYTHING gets written down there and then I take a few minutes on Sunday night to transfer info from there onto the weekly board.

I think I've tried just about every type of binder/planner/system out there and failed miserably at them all until I started using THE GIANT WHITEBOARD OF DOOM! (as my kids have dubbed it).

[newbymom05]

Originally Posted by carolm22117

I've tried so many times to use a home management binder. I am really,really good at putting them together, but horrible at using it. It usually ends up languishing under the sofa, collecting dustbunnies.

Enter, my home management whiteboard! I went to Lowes and bought a piece of white tileboard for about $12. It works just like a dry-erase board, except one this size (its probably 5 foot by 4 foot, cut down from about 8 foot by 4 foot) would have cost over a 100$. Hubby hung it on the wall and used trim tape (bought at the automotive store) to divide it up into sections. I should put a picture up on my blog since its kinda hard to describe, but the top is divided into 7 squares, one for each day of the week and I write EVERYTHING in them that is going on that day.

There there is a big empty middle area where we write notes to each other or jobs that need to be done for the day.

The bottom half is divided into sections and I have all the Flylady zones written down and my weekly menu section and a "NEED" section where we write down what we are out of (ie TP or Milk or whatever).

I have to have stuff IN MY FACE, all the time or I'll get distracted and wander off task and get NOTHING done all day. The board has worked miracles in our house!

I also made my own little custom weekly planner out of a small moleskine notebook that I just LOVE. EVERYTHING gets written down there and then I take a few minutes on Sunday night to transfer info from there onto the weekly board.

I think I've tried just about every type of binder/planner/system out there and failed miserably at them all until I started using THE GIANT WHITEBOARD OF DOOM! (as my kids have dubbed it).

This sounds so awesome--I'd love to see a picture! I really like the idea of incorporating th eFlylady zones but I'm having a hard time visualizing it.

[AngelBee]

:

[cherrymary]

Holy cr*p I am in love with http://wiki.43folders.com/!! Whoever posted that, thank you. Productivity pr0n?!? It's like hours of endless procrastination dressed up as productivity!!! I love it! Also loved http://midnightbeep.com/ and http://wiki.43folders.com/index.php/Hipster_PDA_Hacks. I'm in geek heaven. And I might even be becoming a more organized person at the same time, despite my best efforts.

[StartingtoCrunch]

This sounds really cool, but I am still kind of in a quandry about how it functions. Do you use this as a filing system more than a daily use project? I can't imagine carrying a huge binder everywhere. Do you pull out the calendar for the week and post it somewhere? How does this fit into your everyday lifestyle?

I love to organize, and I am getting all excited, but I know if it doesn't work for me I'll set it up just for the fun of it and then never use it!

Do you keep paid bills for receipt, bank statements, etc. here, or is that in a filing cabinet?

[sabrinat]

Originally Posted by StartingtoCrunch

This sounds really cool, but I am still kind of in a quandry about how it functions. Do you use this as a filing system more than a daily use project? I can't imagine carrying a huge binder everywhere. Do you pull out the calendar for the week and post it somewhere? How does this fit into your everyday lifestyle?

I love to organize, and I am getting all excited, but I know if it doesn't work for me I'll set it up just for the fun of it and then never use it!

Do you keep paid bills for receipt, bank statements, etc. here, or is that in a filing cabinet?

Here's my answer to the how my HMB works, but I think the beauty of it and why it works for me is that it's totally customized to my needs.
I looked at alot of them and looked at what I liked having available to me as I was organizing mind. I do have a section for budget/bills but since most of my banking is done online I don't utilize it heavily. However I am trying to budget better and it's a nice place to store receipts and what have you.

[Momma Aimee]

Yes,

but I take it a little far

• I have a day-planner i carry with me in the diaper bag. All my appts, and i make notes on the days -- first step, baby weight, and so on -- these gets tranfered to baby books once a month (or when i do it). But I know where to look for them :: when i have time to do somehting offical with them. also nice for me looking back. I buy a sprial bound one at like Target each eyar, and i keep them all together (have them dating back to HS) they are a time capsle in to themselves.
  
• i have a 3 ring binder titled HOUSE STUFF -- the owners manuals for big stuff hole punched and put in, a list of conractors numbrs and who installed what, warenties for like the water heater ... all hole punched
  
• I have a recipe binder -- with an area for UNTESTED as well as the other normal sections, so i see one i like, i print it or pull itour of the zine and stick it there. to be refiled or trashed after being tested
  
• I have a Mom taking care of the kids binder -- i have prints out of the infant / child doses of OTC medications, i have shot records, and so on -- eventually this will also have rosters from class and / or sports teams and so on. also has a refence section with infromation on illnesses and so on
  
• I have a Idea Binder -- craft projects i pull out of zines, craft recipies, art project notes
  
• I have a CHristmas bindr -- each year gets a section. I include allt eh crafts we attempted with notes, and photos if possible. I have a page showing the menu, who came, and any notes on what we did -- like i will note the first year Theo makes cookies and so on. In the future we plan to make gingerbreak houses and i will photo it each year for the binder
  
• I have a mom's specret note book -- i keep track of what santa or snowman paper i used for which child each year, so i don't repeat too soon. I keep reciptes for gitfts in there, and so on
  
• I have a birthday Binder -- one section of ideas and then each child's BD each year gets section. a photo of the cake, notes about where we got it, a sample of the tmese (a paper plate or napkin), a guest list and so on --

-----------------------aren't my kids gonna have fun trashing all this when i am old ?? --------------------

• I have a countre top note book -- sprial bound, 5X7 or whatever size, whatever is on cleance at target .. i keep my on going shopping list there, as well as list for like Sams or whatever i don't go to as often. I make notes as i think of them to deal with later, and i make my daily to do list there, i also have random things -- now there is a list of who all needs a 2 year photo of T and the size to get -- crossed off as i mail them out with gifts and what have you.
  
• I have a PROJECT notebook ...........My house and systems are still a work in progress, as I have just started and the kids are still young and we are still trnasting to some extent. I realize that my Master Plan for teh house / family is not going to happen over night (ie in 2008 my goals is to start monthly mean planning and get teh shopping list better undercontrol and rogized and bring down $). Given that the whole greant "how i want the house to run" systkem is not an over night / instant thing .... I have my PROJECT NOTEBOOK. again a cheap note book from target -- I have notes on my Mater Plan ... things torn out of zines and taped in, notes to myself about how things could work, and a list of goals (monthly meal planning, craft projkect each week....). Then i have lists of projects, and under each project is a list of items i need to find or buy or have DH make, as well as a to do list -- everything necessary to get that Project done.

all of this is a work in process, most newly made and there are still things that over lap or don't quite fit -- ie i need a list of all thebirthday we buy for -- by month -- so i can keep track of what i need to buy / have bought (I shop all year). I need a list of Christmas gift people and what i have already bnoght / what i need (again i buy all year) and i am not sure where to put thoese .....

I also have plans for a QUick Reference Binder -- for DH or babysitters -- with COPIES of things they might need, doses of OTC medication, phone lists, and so on .....

but it is starting to get there

AImee

[Bearsmama]

Originally Posted by Momma Aimee

Yes,

but I take it a little far

• I have a day-planner i carry with me in the diaper bag. All my appts, and i make notes on the days -- first step, baby weight, and so on -- these gets tranfered to baby books once a month (or when i do it). But I know where to look for them :: when i have time to do somehting offical with them. also nice for me looking back. I buy a sprial bound one at like Target each eyar, and i keep them all together (have them dating back to HS) they are a time capsle in to themselves.
  
• i have a 3 ring binder titled HOUSE STUFF -- the owners manuals for big stuff hole punched and put in, a list of conractors numbrs and who installed what, warenties for like the water heater ... all hole punched
  
• I have a recipe binder -- with an area for UNTESTED as well as the other normal sections, so i see one i like, i print it or pull itour of the zine and stick it there. to be refiled or trashed after being tested
  
• I have a Mom taking care of the kids binder -- i have prints out of the infant / child doses of OTC medications, i have shot records, and so on -- eventually this will also have rosters from class and / or sports teams and so on. also has a refence section with infromation on illnesses and so on
  
• I have a Idea Binder -- craft projects i pull out of zines, craft recipies, art project notes
  
• I have a CHristmas bindr -- each year gets a section. I include allt eh crafts we attempted with notes, and photos if possible. I have a page showing the menu, who came, and any notes on what we did -- like i will note the first year Theo makes cookies and so on. In the future we plan to make gingerbreak houses and i will photo it each year for the binder
  
• I have a mom's specret note book -- i keep track of what santa or snowman paper i used for which child each year, so i don't repeat too soon. I keep reciptes for gitfts in there, and so on
  
• I have a birthday Binder -- one section of ideas and then each child's BD each year gets section. a photo of the cake, notes about where we got it, a sample of the tmese (a paper plate or napkin), a guest list and so on --

-----------------------aren't my kids gonna have fun trashing all this when i am old ?? --------------------

• I have a countre top note book -- sprial bound, 5X7 or whatever size, whatever is on cleance at target .. i keep my on going shopping list there, as well as list for like Sams or whatever i don't go to as often. I make notes as i think of them to deal with later, and i make my daily to do list there, i also have random things -- now there is a list of who all needs a 2 year photo of T and the size to get -- crossed off as i mail them out with gifts and what have you.
  
• I have a PROJECT notebook ...........My house and systems are still a work in progress, as I have just started and the kids are still young and we are still trnasting to some extent. I realize that my Master Plan for teh house / family is not going to happen over night (ie in 2008 my goals is to start monthly mean planning and get teh shopping list better undercontrol and rogized and bring down $). Given that the whole greant "how i want the house to run" systkem is not an over night / instant thing .... I have my PROJECT NOTEBOOK. again a cheap note book from target -- I have notes on my Mater Plan ... things torn out of zines and taped in, notes to myself about how things could work, and a list of goals (monthly meal planning, craft projkect each week....). Then i have lists of projects, and under each project is a list of items i need to find or buy or have DH make, as well as a to do list -- everything necessary to get that Project done.

all of this is a work in process, most newly made and there are still things that over lap or don't quite fit -- ie i need a list of all thebirthday we buy for -- by month -- so i can keep track of what i need to buy / have bought (I shop all year). I need a list of Christmas gift people and what i have already bnoght / what i need (again i buy all year) and i am not sure where to put thoese .....

I also have plans for a QUick Reference Binder -- for DH or babysitters -- with COPIES of things they might need, doses of OTC medication, phone lists, and so on .....

but it is starting to get there

AImee

Aimee-Man, now THAT'S a system!

I have a 'personal' file and all my clippings, articles, etc., that I want to save that are important to me in some way (from a haircut I really like, to some words of wisdom from an author I like, or a touching article I need to save, etc.)

I really wanted to add tonight that carving out your own space in the house is so essential, IMO. I didn't really have this until recently. I've always kept a detailed dayplanner, but I never really had a place to park it or myself. I finally got my dream desk a few months back, with some drawers, etc. and it has made my life happier, really.

[StartingtoCrunch]

Are any of you that are using HMB's WOHMS? I am trying to get it tweaked before I start, wondering what will be the most beneficial.... Anyone seen ideas for WOHM lists/schedules?

[sabrinat]

Wow Aimee! You might need a system for your system

[Momma Aimee]

I really wanted to add tonight that carving out your own space in the house is so essential, IMO. I didn't really have this until recently. I've always kept a detailed dayplanner, but I never really had a place to park it or myself. I finally got my dream desk a few months back, with some drawers, etc. and it has made my life happier, really.

This is what I need. WHEN we finsih the basement -- was supposed to be this winter, i want it to be next cuz of the new baby and a 2 yo ... I am supposed to get a huge walk in closet (like a big master closet) to have as "mine" -- a mini office if you will that i won't wactually WORK in. shelves for me, a locking door to hide gifts behind, space for my stuff when i someday become a LC or a CBE (or both) .... I am soooooooooooo excited, then it will all be in one place, i can find it all when i want it, i won't have to keep moving c%^p around from area to area and it will be out of sight and thus not look so clutters ...... so excited -- but it wil be a long time.

I have asked Scott to put up a shelf (anohter one) over the computers so all my binders can live toherget (not recipie one, lives on cookbook shelf in kitchen) .....

I also just bought 3 letter / flie sorters and have labled the slots (Scotts mail, Bills to pay, to read and trash, scotts to deal with not mail, to be files ... and so on) and I need Scott to hang them on the wall by the computer too -- they are sitting on the one shelf i have jsut taking up space -- if it CAN hang on the wall HANG IT ....

NOTE: Not all the binders are completed ... I finally realized ... that i jsut needed to JUMP in, so i have all the binders and they are all labled, but not everything is in them (a lot of stuff is still in stacks, folders, and various places all over the house), and they do not all have all the sections i plan for them to have ... But I am working towards it ... Jumping in at least got me somewhere rather than just thinking about it ...

Wow Aimee! You might need a system for your system

I used to run a front office of a private school -- i got my binder obsession then ... i put everything in Binders cuz things got lost out of normal files (emergency slips, staadne froms, yadda yadda yadda ..) and what ended up staying in the flie was not in order any more. AND the normal fiels were too hard to qickly tell the differnce between ... so i put everything in differnt color binders with BIG lables -- so i could see them, and so could other staff ... thus my binder addiction .....

Aimee