Staying Organized with a Planner

I have always kept a planner...at least since high school. I always had to have things written down so I didn't forget to do it. I must be a visual learner! ;)

When you are the manager of your household (as I am) or maybe a business...sometimes one planner just isn't enough!

I have my *main* planner (which can be purchased HERE). I like the room it gives to write and there are lots of boxes to record other things on the opposite page. This planner keeps track of chores I want to accomplish each day, reminders of things to do in the week, appointments, errands to run, supper plans etc. This planner is large so it mostly stays at home...

In my personal sized filofax, I keep track of bill paying and my monthly schedule. This little baby travels with me to appointments, errands and anywhere I take my pocketbook. This way I can keep track of appointments without lugging my bigger planner around with me. (Yes, this means I have to double-write down appointments and things...but I don't mind.)...

As I had written in THIS post, I keep track of my bill paying by writing when bills are due in my planner (along with their amount). Days outlined in blue are things that are taken out of our account via direct deposit. Days highlighted in yellow are paydays. Here is November dates...but I don't have all of our bills written in yet (although it would be quite lovely if we only had this many, wouldn't it?)...

Here is our schedule in a *nutshell* for October. Notice it's just vague with times...just so when I need to make appointments at the dr or for something else, I have an idea of when we are free...

The top planner holds my checkbook, insurance cards, debit card etc (the bottom one does not have a function yet...but should soon!)...

Are you a planner? Or are you more like a free spirit? I am most definitely a *planner*...however, I am learning, by the grace of God, to ease up a bit. Being rigid is *not* an endearing quality. Being punctual, reliable and organized *are* good qualities....so I am trying to hold onto those while attempting to not be rigid.

If you are a planner, I would LOVE to hear how you plan! If you blog about it...share the link!

Bill Paying Caddy

 I have this beautiful wooden caddy. I have been using it as a bill paying station. It's mobile and keeps all I need in it for bill paying (as well as some extras!). The basket caddy in the left rear of the photo is where I keep stickers, pens, markers and pencils for updating my personal planner or doing homeschooling with my children. (See...you can organize with so many beautiful things...it doesn't have to only be restricted to plastic bins and totes!).

It is really nice that it is mobile. At the moment, it sits on my desk in the schoolroom. In the winter however, that room gets terribly cold. It will be nice to have the option to just grab the caddy and bring it into the dining room so I can pay bills. 

Inside of the caddy I keep my bill payment binder (more on that below), bills to be paid, some stickers and pens, scissors and tabs and a return address stamp. 

Then I have my folders...one for Bills to Pay (if I don't want them directly placed in the caddy), the second one is for bill stubs and other things that need to be filed...and the last folder is for things I need to shred. 

Now into my bill paying binder....I am using November's pages so as not to reveal all our bills to be paid that I have filled in on previous months (normally many more dates would be filled in)! I use the month-on-two-pages refills only. You can find these planners inexpensively HERE. I added tabs and then wrote down all the dates of our bills on the date they are due and their amounts (once paid, I check it off). Where it is highlighted in yellow ~ that is a pay day. Where it is highlighted in blue ~ those are days that we have bills taken directly out of our account. This way I never forget anything and I can easily keep everything paid...on time and in our budget. **I also keep stamps and address labels in this binder so I have everything I need to pay bills!**

Although I tweaked this planner to work for me, I cannot claim to have thought it up. I read about it HERE and found it to be a great idea to keep bills paid. Many of us don't have a lot of extra money to buy expensive planners as she has (but some of us do...and if you can, that is wonderful). For me, I make use of what I can and what is affordable for our family. She uses hers as a wallet as well as a payment binder. I do not....I keep this at home with my bill paying items.

Everyone has to do things the way that works best for them. My way may not work for you...or maybe it will...you just have to tweak things to make them your own. That is what I am constantly doing ~ always tweaking to make things more beneficial for my family and me. Who knows...maybe I will tweak my system again at some point...if I do, I'll share all about it!