Managing your Mail Clutter - Clutter Free Kitchen Benches

I see this all the time, lots of junk mail piled up on kitchen benches - and most of it won’t be read. Here are a few quick tips to help start managing your mail clutter.

• When you bring the mail in from the mail box, open it straight away (standing over the bin), throwing out the envelopes and any junk mail and magazines. Don’t sit the mail on the bench and  say “I will come back and sort it out later”.
• Ask yourself, will “I really read this catalogue or newspaper”?
• Once you have a pile of relevant mail you then need to decide what action to take. Many people like to keep catalogues, saying that they will read it later, but they never do. And then the pile of magazines just keeps piling up. You need to ask yourself whether you will really read it.
• You also need to set a timeframe in which you must read the item and then throw out. Take the mail out of the kitchen and into your “office” Space.
• If your kitchen bench is going to be clutter free, it is really important to get into a good habit about managing your mail. Good habits will ensure a clutter free kitchen bench.

By Natalie Morey

Organising your Birthday Card Mail-outs

Do you find that you are always sending birthday cards late, or forget altogether? Here are a few tips to ensure you never miss a birthday again.

• 
  
  Write a list of all your family and friends birthday dates (remember to also record the year the person was born. That way you will know when it’s a “special” birthday).
• 
  
  Purchase a selection of birthday and special occasion cards at the beginning of each year and file them in a box in the relevant categories e.g. adult male birthday, adult female birthday, girls birthday, boys birthday, engagement ect. (It’s also a good idea to keep a selection of new baby cards, just in case. That way you always have a card ready for any occasion).
• 
  
  Purchase a book of 20 stamps and envelopes to match.
• 
  
  Check your birthday planner each month, then write and mail the cards.
• 
  
  It’s also a good idea to keep a “present box” with a selection of presents. You can pick up presents when you’re out shopping. This means you’re always organised and avoid those last minute and often rushed shopping trips.

By Natalie Morey

Weekly Menu Planner

It you are struggling to plan weekly meals then this menu planner is perfect for you. The Kikki-K menu planner is a great resource and will save you lots of time and help you get organised for the week.

The 7 day Meal Planner has room for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack. Use it as a family meal planner, plan for healthy meals, specific allergies and more.

The planner will save you lots of stress. Once you've planned the meals for the week you can use the kikki.K “Shopping List” to list down the groceries to buy and head to the shops. For more information on the Kikki-K menu planners and other great products click on this link: http://www.kikki-k.com/shop/product/meal-planner-green/

Remember, to keep the weekly menu planners after the week has finished. They can be re-used every couple of weeks, which saves you even more time. If your kids think they are mini master chefs, then get them to do a day or two of the menu planning. They could also help with the shopping or preparation of the food. If it’s there great idea, they are more likely to eat the food.

Cannot find my files!!

Do you just save stuff anywhere on your computer? It will save you time (and I mean lots of time) if you write up a simple filing structure. I hear you say, "but where do I start?" A good strategy is to decide on two main categories that all your files will fit into. For example it might be “Household” and “Personal”. Then create as many folders as you require under each of the household and personal categories. Keep it simple to be effective!

The most effective filing system is simple and easily achievable. It’s the one that is written down on paper and agreed to. Whatever structure you implement in your home office it will work best when it’s consistent and followed by everyone in your business/family.

And to take it one step further – mirror/copy your computer systems filing and replicate it in your hard copy system. Type up a list of your filing system, print it out and hang it in view of your computer and files. You will have consistent filing systems in both electronic and hard copy in no time at all!

By Melissa Morey

Tax Time - Get organised for the 2010 – 2011 year

30 June is fast approaching. Not only is it tax time, but it’s also the time when you can make some money too. It’s also the perfect time to start organizing your filing system for the new financial year. Importantly, it will ensure that your document filing and retrieval process is much quicker.

Here are some quick and easy steps to help get you organised for tax time.

1. Decide where all your receipts will be kept. I like to keep it simple and use a lever arch folder to store all my personal receipts in.
2. Using a label maker label the outside of the file: 2010 – 2011 Financial Year - Personal Receipts.
3. I then use white divider sheets/tabs to divide up the sections of the folder and label them according to my paperwork e.g. Health, Car, Personal Receipts, Phone, Gas, Water, Internet, Electricity, Rates (Remember that if you work from home, or even do some work from home after hours, you may be able to claim some of your household expenses, so it’s worth keeping good records)
4. As soon as I receive bank and share statements, I file them straight away. Remember, it costs money to have bank and share statements reprinted, so it makes sense to file them straight away.
5. When a bill comes in, I pay it straight away then file it in the relevant section. However, some people like to set up an in tray, and place all invoices in there and action/pay invoices on a set day and time of the month. It really depends on what works best for you.
6. I also have a log book in my car and record all my work related trips. I have also stapled an envelope to the back of my log book. I place all my parking meter tickets and fuel receipts straight into the envelop. Then each month, I take the receipts from my envelop and file them in my tax folder.
7. When you are getting ready for the end of financial year it’s also a good chance to review all your medical receipts and check that you have claimed all your Medicare and private health fund entitlements. I was organizing a client’s home office recently and found over 30 receipts that needed to be claimed. It was a very profitable day for the client.
8. Keep up the filing. There is no point in creating a new filing system if you don’t maintain it. You need to set aside time each week, fortnight or month to file and action your paperwork. Write a date on your calendar each month to remind you.

Happy new financial year!

My desk overwhelms me - Drowning in Paperwork

Some days I look at my desk and think the amount of papers must have multiplied overnight. I’m sure it didn’t look that messy yesterday. I just want a clean and organised desk, maybe if I just click my fingers, the papers will shuffle into order. I wish!

One handy tip I’ve learned is to set up a filing tray, because I know that I don’t put my papers away immediately. At least this organises part of the roaming papers that clutter my desk.

Note to self – I must get a toast rack type filing stand for my desk. If I do that, it can house my active files when I’m not actually using them. As it stands upright, this will give me a more clear desk space. Finally, I feel like I’m winning the paper war and might actually get a tidy desk.

Now, lastly, what’s your desk look like. Can I even see it under the bulk of papers? Until I implemented a paper management system in the office, I frequently had piles of papers stacked up neatly on the floor.

We spend enough time at the office as it is. Don’t waste time trying to find your files. Set up a couple of filing trays. Clearly label them. Also label your folders and hanging pockets, which are placed in your toaster rack. It will make the office run just that bit smoother.

It doesn’t take long to set up a paper management system for your home office. Trust me – it will save you time in the long run. The obstacles on the floor of course disappear into your system. How many things do you have to walk around or over to get to your desk?

By Melissa Morey

Natalie Morey Receives Industry Accreditation

The International Concierge and Lifestyle Management Association (ICLMA), formerly the International Concierge and Errand Association (ICEA) is the governing body for the personal concierge industry, worldwide.

Recently, Natalie Morey, Director of The Lifestylers Group received accreditation as a Certified Concierge Specialist, the highest level of accreditation available in the Association.
As part of the criteria, Natalie was required to be part of and actively involved in the personal concierge industry for at least 3 years.

ICLMA 's Chairman and Co-Founder Katharine Giovanni said that The ICLMA Certified Concierge Specialist program has been designed to recognize those individuals who understand professionalism is more than joining an association. They are committed to the concept that professionalism is a continuing process that sets the professional and ethical standards for our industry. Attaining the designation as a Certified Concierge Specialist will indicate a member has agreed to further her/his professionalism in both the business arena and the collegial atmosphere of the concierge and errand association.

Natalie is one of only 3 Australian personal concierge experts to be recognized as a Certified Concierge Specialists (CCS).