Home Organizing Checklist for May 2011

Here is your Home Organizing Checklist for May 2011.

____ May 1 Plan your meals for the week. Cook some in advance if you have time. You will be happy that you did when you get to dinner time each night and don't have to panic trying to figure out what to have or if you have anything in the fridge to make.

____ May 2 Check for birthdays, anniversaries and other special occasions for the next month to see if there are any you need to send cards for.

____ May 3 Pick one drawer in your house, clean it out and organize it. Return things to their proper places, toss whatever you can. Make sure what's in there is accessible if you need it.

____ May 4 Clean out your fridge. Toss anything that's been in there too long. Check all of your condiments. These don't last as long as you might think they can. If someone else was president when you bought it, toss it.

____ May 5 Look in your medicine cabinet and make sure you have needed supplies. Do you have a box of band-aids? A bag of cough drops? Boxes of tissues? Whatever you and your family use on a regular basis, make sure you have some so that you're not running to the store if there's a problem or you don't feel well. Those summer colds can sneak up on you.

____ May 6 Update your Master List. Go room to room and jot down each thing that needs to be done or fixed. This will give you a good view and enable you to plan for what you will fix and what you might need to get to complete the jobs.

____ May 7 Graduations are coming up. Do you need to buy cards, gifts, perhaps a dress or outfit for the special occasion? Be sure to think ahead and have it all ready in time.

____ May 8 Do you have your laundry done for the week? Be sure to have a plan for what you will need to wear. Does anything need to be ironed or sewn.

____ May 9 Have you checked your vehicles lately? Are your gas tanks full? Have the oil and other fluids and filters been changed recently? Be sure that everything is in tip top shape and safe to drive.

____ May 10 Make yourself a Summer Reading List. Jot down all of the books you'd like to read this summer and look to see if they're available at your local library. You might need to put a reserve on some. Get them in now.

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____ May 11 Is your budget set for the summer? This can be an easy time to overspend if you're not careful. Be sure that you have a spending plan in place and everyone in the family is on the same page.

____ May 12 Have you finished packing away your heavy winter clothes for the season? Be sure that each one is washed and any repairs made before putting it away. Also, carefully consider what you're keeping. If you didn't wear something at all that season, do you really want to keep it? If it doesn't look great on you or make you feel fabulous, it's time to toss or donate.

____ May 13 Check your cameras and be sure to download your pictures and empty all memory chips. You will want to have plenty of room to capture photos of your great summer adventures.

____ May 14 Take some alcohol and a washcloth (or alcohol wipes) and wipe down all of your phones, keyboards, doorknobs, steering wheel in your car--all the places you touch frequently. Get rid of those germs!

____ May 15 Do you have snacks planned for the week? Rather than buying stuff, consider making a batch of fresh cookies. Looking for healthy, easy to grab snacks? Fill small baggies with dried cranberries and soy beans or baby carrots. If these are ready to grab and go, you will be able to resist that urge to stop someplace and buy something that's not good for you.

____ May 16 Considering having a Memorial Day BBQ? Get those invites out now so people can plan ahead. Make a quick menu plan and get a sense for what you might need to pick up at the store for cooking or decorating. If you don't wait until the last minute, you will be able to enjoy the party and not stress.

____ May 17 Have you checked your emergency supplies lately? Do you have water and food in the house for 3 days? Cash on hand? Gas in your car? Know where your important papers are and are able to grab them all quickly? Does your family have a plan in place of where to meet or how to contact each other if phone service is out?

____ May 18 Pick one thing you've been procrastinating on and JUST DO IT! Need to run an errand? Finish that scrapbook? Make a phone call to someone?

____ May 19 Make a list of 10 to 12 new summertime recipes you want to try and have one a week. Spread out the ingredient purchases so that you don't have to buy everything at once. Try to find things that are fresh and bright, don't take too much time, and are colorful and healthy. Focus on fresh produce that's in season.

____ May 20 Plan a fun night in with your family for the weekend. Find a good movie or show to watch, maybe a board game. Plan a fun snack you can all make together. Spend some time with each other.

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____ May 21 See if there are doctor, dentist, eye appointments you need to make for the rest of the year. Call and get them scheduled. Be sure to get your annual physical and twice a year-teeth cleaning done.

____ May 22 Get caught up on your laundry. There's nothing worse than starting out the week with piles of dirty clothes. Wash, dry, fold AND put away! Don't leave stuff unfinished.

____ May 23 Have you balanced your check book lately? If you haven't done it since your last statement, now's the time. Being behind on your finances can cost you money.

____ May 24 Have you stocked up for summer? Do you have good sunglasses, a hat, sunscreen, beach towels? Be ready to hit the beach or the park to enjoy the summer months. Don't be caught with old sunscreen, it loses its potency very quickly and doesn't keep from year to year. Always buy a fresh bottle.

____ May 25 Have you done a disk clean-up and disk defragmentation on your computer hard drive lately? It's important to do these frequently, especially if you download a lot to your computer. These two things will keep your computer running smoothly.

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____ May 26 Plan for 10 things you can do this summer to be a healthier, better you. Get more sleep, stop drinking soda, increase your intake of fresh fruits and vegetables, meditate, join a yoga class, get your finances in order which will help relieve stress--just a few examples of what you can shoot for.

____ May 27 Walk through your house and toss all of the old newspapers, catalogs and magazines. See how quickly you can do it.

____ May 28 Check your bathroom cabinets for all outdated medicines, both prescription and over the counter, old make- up, toiletries you bought and never used and TOSS! Be ruthless.
____ May 29 Clean up that yard and patio furniture. Hose everything down and get your outdoor space ready for a fun summer.

____ May 30 Enjoy the holiday with friends and family. Relax and spend the day remembering those who gave their lives for our freedom.

____ May 31 Plan to learn 3 new things this summer, one for each month of June, July and August.

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by Maria Gracia - Get Organized Now! Get Organizing Now FREE Idea-Pak and E-zine filled with tips, ideas, articles and more to help you organize your home, your office and your life at the Get Organized Now! Web site!