LATEST TIPS
Trays for large appliances To save yourself lots of backache, store heavy appliances (liquidizes, mixers, food processors) on a sturdy tray in your cupboard. That way, when you need to use it, you can slide the tray out and get what you need out with minimal strain on your back. __________________________________________________ Labeling is key when archiving old documents Every home or office has loads of paperwork to deal with (despite the move to email) and every so often, you have to make space for current paper. That is why we need to archive and simply throwing it into a box isn't how it's done. _____________________________________ Keep it at eye level It stands to reason that items of clothing you use often, need to be accessible. So store these at eye level or below whilst keeping items you seldom use, higher up. If you don't have a lot of space in your cupboard, then store seasonal clothing like large jerseys or conversely, your swimming gear, in clear and labeled boxes. That way you have more shelf space for the items you need this season. _____________________________________ Preparation is the key to success Remember when you were at school and you had a project to do? The first thing you probably did was create a spider diagram outlining the process you needed to follow. As adults, we often dive headfirst into tasks, like decluttering our space, without planning, so we often land up failing miserably. Whatever goals you have, spend some time on your spider diagram. The process will save you time and frustration. _____________________________________ Dealing with your child's artwork
Dealing with
children’s artwork can be a challenge – which to keep, how to store it and how
long to keep it for, not to mention the guilt you feel when you throw half of
it away. But let’s face it - realistically you cannot keep every little drawing
or collage with macaroni stuck all over it! So I was very excited when a
participant at a recent Neat Freak workshop said that she takes photographs of
her children’s artwork, and only keeps a few special ones (thanks Jennifer
Pienaar). I think that is an ingenious solution because you get to keep some actual art, whilst still paying
tribute to the 100s of other doodles your child has produced. Everybody’s a
winner! _____________________________________ 'Key' ingredient to never losing your keys... I know it may sound crazy that you have to establish a routine with your keys to avoid losing them, but it really is important. We use our car keys every day, for example, and it makes sense to put them in the same place when you get home. Often, however, people throw them on the couch, on the coffee table, in their bag or some other place they forget about. But if you came home and put them in the same place every day without fail, you will always know where they are. Your 'same' place could be a bowl in your entrance hall, a hook in the kitchen or in your bag. It can be anywhere that makes sense to you, but it is 'key' to keep it the same.
My hubbie recently had a hissy-fit because he couldn't log in to his Sanlam account and I am sure this is a frustration many of you share with him. To avoid a tirade keep a list of the website, the log-in and passwords on hand. If you need a template, email Neat Freak and we'll send you the free Office pack, as one is included in this. Happy surfing.. |
            ARCHIVES(some of which might be repeat tips as they apply to numerous categories) |
RE-INVENT Toothbrush holder (without costing a mint)! Looking for a refreshing alternative to throwing away your toothpaste
tubes? This easy do-it-yourself project upcycles your empty tubes into a
simple toothbrush holder. Upcycling materials like these are a great
way to reuse without costing a mint. ________________________________________________ Letter holder from CDs We all have old CDs at home that have been scratched and rendered unusable so why not save it from the bin! Click here to find out how you do it (could be a great art and craft activity with your kids). Recycle Christmas cards If your used Christmas cards have a clear design or pattern on them, you could cut that out, laminate it, put a beautiful ribbon on the top and then use it as a Christmas decoration.
New lease on life for flip-flops I was looking up some ingenious ways to recycle! recently and found some interesting reinventions for flip-flops. The one I liked the most was using them to cushion the underpart of tables and chairs to prevent them from scratching wooden floors. ________________________________________________ Beauty samples We get given a lot of those fancy beauty product samples but seldom do we actually use them. Recently, when talking to a client about how to save money, she told me that she LOVES beauty products and had quiet a collection so she decided to actually start using them. As a result, she has saved a lot of moola because she hasn't had to buy any beauty products for months! So, take advantage of all those freebies you're hoarding in your bathroom cabinet! (p.s. Thanks for the tip Caroline) Shredded paper for packaging (and hamster cages) I have to package a lot of items and it suddenly occurred to me recently that shredded paper would be really useful for this. There is always a small spot in the box that needs to be filled in order to protect the products and I am thrilled to know, that now all the paper I shred, can save me money on packaging. Equally as interesting, is the realisation that shredded paper can be used for hamster cages. Again, out of necessity (we had run out of chippings), it occurred to my kids that this could be a good substitute. And it is. ___________________________________________ I was recently sent this tip from my sister and I think it is genius. We always have a use for the bottle, well now there is one for the cap.
  ___________________________________ Shower curtain to drop cloth We bought a shower curtain for our outside bathroom but had to cut it because it was too wide. BUT, we didn't cut it very straight, so it now seems way too small! Perhaps I could deal with the waste of money if I reused it as a drop cloth for painting - good plan? ___________________________________ |
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