Defining Time & Space News

Along with the long list of stuff to take and have in an emergency are the important records.  This fall into two categories:  the important paper records and our electronic records.

For paper records, certificates of birth, marriage, death, baptism, etc. and house deeds, stock certificates, etc., we should consider a safety deposit box at the bank or a steel fire proof safe at home.  Business vital records should also be handles in a similar manner.

For electronic records it is important that we back this information up in case of accidental lost of system records, theft of computer equipment or software corruption.  Many business records are only kept electronic and would be devastating to any company (large or small) if these records were to be unrecoverable.  Also consider photographs in these important records.  Since most people use digital camera’s now, these pictures/files need to be stored and backed up.

There are many electronic back-up systems available.  The decision falls in the volume and importance of the information.  There is anywhere from a simple flash/thumb drive (very portable but also easy to lose), an external hard drive (such as those made by Maxtor) or using an external server (either that you own on or offsite or that another company provides as a back-up service off site such as Carbonite).   The benefits to an offsite system are that records are protected from fire or theft.  Just be sure to understand how the back-up company backs up their records! 

Take care of those records,

Rosanne

770.995.8556

www.dtsorganizing.com

Tags: Filing, Home, Office, Planning by organizing atlanta
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If you lost power for several days, would you be ready? Again in keeping with September being National Disaster Preparedness month here is a checklist that can help be more prepared:

1. Flashlights and extra batteries
2. Non-perishable or ready to eat foods (enough for 3 days – one to three 1lbs per person is recommended). Foods such as: canned and dried foods (pop top or twist tops are preferable), dried foods such as fruits and cereals), granola, breakfast/food bars, salt free crackers, dry or canned milk and soups, peanut butter, jelly, nuts, trail mix)
3. Manual can opener
4. Baby formula and foods
5. Pet food
6. Medication (over the counter and prescription)
7. Water - at least one gallon per person is recommended (1-3 gallons preferably) Water Tips: Boiling is the preferable way to purify water. Let water boil fully one minute. Cool before drinking. If unable to boil, use pure chlorine bleach (1/4 tsp, 1.25 ml or 16 drops to each gallon). Stir, then let stand 30 min. Slight chlorine taste and smell is normal.
8. Portable, battery operated radio (& extra batteries)
9. Disposable utensils
10. Camping stove with fuel and matches.
11. Fire extinguisher
12. Toiletries
13. First Aid Kit; including a list of emergency contacts, bandages, scissors, tape, disinfectants, antiseptics, latex gloves, non prescription meds such as aspirin and non-aspirin, bendryl, and hand sanitizer.
14. Cell phone (charged) and/or standard land line phone (non remote) if power is out.
15. Emergency plan for family or business

Rosanne
770.995.8556
www.dtsorganizing.com

Tags: Home, Planning, Uncategorized by organizing atlanta
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If you have to leave in an emergency you may not have much time to prepare.  What will YOU take in a moments notice?  Here are some things you can do to be prepared:

1. Find a home for your pet(s).  Most shelters will not accept pets except for those who are service animals due to health and safety regulations.
2. Turn the gas off in your home if you can.  Do you know how and where to do this?
3. Have a 1^st aid kit
4. Have a portable battery operated radio
5. Have a grab and go bag labeled for each member of the family.  You can use a backpack or small rolling bag.  The items each bag should contain are:
   1. Change of clothing and extra underwear for children.
   2. Toiletries
   3. Food (high protein/calorie food bars, crackers (no salt), dried fruit, nuts, etc.)
   4. Medication (prescription and over the counter)
   5. Eye glasses and contact lenses (& solutions)
   6. 2 bottles of water
   7. Individual towelettes
   8. Children (diapers and special foods)
   9. Plastic & sealing type bags
   10. Favorite item or comfort toy for younger children
   11. Any necessities for disabilities
6. Family communication plan
7. Important/Vital documents
8. Computer file back-up(s)
9. Blanket
10. Cell phone (& charger)
11.  Keys & utility or pocket knife
12. Wallet/Purse

Tags: Home, Planning, Uncategorized by organizing atlanta
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As hard as we try as a society to believe we can “go paperless” we continue to generate more and more paper each year.  Much of the paper we dispose of or “need” to dispose of can be recycled in community recycling centers but now there is an easy way to recycle a lot of paper items even closer to us.

Did you know that many newspaper recycle bins in our communities, schools and businesses can also be used to recycle telephone books, magazines, catalogs, junk mail and shredded paper?  I for one, thought because of the “keep out plastic bags” note on the newspaper recycling bin that I could not recycle bags of shredded paper.   I inquired and found that this note applies to the small bags that newspapers are delivered in because they require too much labor to remove.

Other items to make note of when recycling in the newspaper recycle bins is that we can recycle white paper (but no cardboard or poster board) colored paper (but no construction paper), carbon-less forms, file folders, index cards and envelopes (plain and window envelopes – but no brown envelopes).   Check with other local recycling centers for ways to recycling those things that cannot be put in these newspaper bins. 

If you live in the Gwinnett County area, feel free to call SP RECYCLING  (770) 995-0014, if you have any questions about the green and red newspaper bins in your community or business. 

Rosanne

770.995.8556

www.dtsorganizing.com

Tags: Green, Home, Office by organizing atlanta
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Our lives have become more and more consumed with electronic gadgets and we rely more on various sources of power to run those gadgets than ever before.  I thought I would mention a few things that can help us become more “Green” with our electronics as well as with the power that runs them. 

Unfortunately most of the computers and various electronic items we have including our watches have slowly become something that we no longer bother to fix when they no longer work right.   Instead, we just pitch them to attain the latest and greatest.  Most of these items contain materials that are hazardous to our environment and we should be looking for an alternative way to dispose of them rather than the landfill.   It is usually not too hard to check in our communities to see where we can bring computers, printers, batteries and more.  Stores like Home Depot and Best Buy have places that we can deposit rechargeable batteries at any time.  Staples and several other places now collect used computers and equipment to recycle (check stores for fees that may apply).    Some schools and community support groups are also happy to take them. 

Along with the electronics themselves, there is also something we can do to help with the electricity that runs them.  Most of us have many pieces of expensive electronic equipment in our homes and offices but don’t often think about the number of surges and spikes this equipment experiences.  We also don’t think about the amount of electronic noise that is generated also reducing life expectancy of our equipment and maybe ourselves.   I recently learned about a product that provides an energy management system for a home or office to both protect the appliances and equipment, as well as saves energy and therefore directly saves money in utility costs. The system is called EcoPower4.  It is technology that has been used for years in commercial application but has more recently become cost effective to some of us when electricity prices surged as well as the cost of the equipment it protects.  You can find out more details about EcoPower4 by contacting Debbie Aurand with DAMA Healthy Green Solutions at 770.967.2069 or emailing her at aurandd@bellsouth.net.

Rosanne

770.995.8556

www.dtsorganizing.com

Tags: Green, Home, Office, Saving $$ by organizing atlanta
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Bills and receipts are with us and here to stay.  They come at us in both electronic and paper form and can pile up quickly.  The trick is to have a system and make a habit of using it. 

First thing is if we use an on-line bill pay system and purchase things on line, try to keep as much as you can in an electronic form.

Create electronic files that mirror the paper files so that they can be easily found and make sure they are backed-up.  

Have a system for purging.  The amount of time is not as important as having a plan and using it.  Decide on keeping the last month, last 6 months, last year or whatever you are required for tax or legal reasons.

Besides those receipts that are necessary for tax records, we sometimes keep receipts for warranty or other record of purchase.  For these create a “Receipts to Keep” file.

Happy filing,

Rosanne

770.995.8556

www.dtsorganizing.com

Tags: E-mail, Filing, Home, Office by organizing atlanta
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Many people think about expiration dates on food in the refrigerator but less think about their pantry.  Did you know that spices have an expiration date?  Look in your pantry and see if you have McCormick spices that are in rectangular tins.  If so they are at least 15 years old with the exception of black pepper.  If you see Baltimore, MD on the label of a McCormick bottle, the spice is at least 15 years old.

The recommended shelf life for spices is

2 – 3 years for ground spices

3 – 4 years for who spices

1 – 2 years for seasoning blends

1 – 3 years for herbs

4 years for extracts, except pure vanilla which lasts indefinitely

It is recommended to check the color of herbs and spices for vibrant color.  If the color is faded, then chances are so has the flavor.

Canned goods and other “non-perishables” also expire; check containers for date codes.  Remember when you add new items to the pantry, put the newest dates in the back or bottom so that you can use the oldest items first and before they expire.

After you finish in the pantry you might want to next take a look at the medicine cabinet.  We often keep adding without regard to when medications expire.  Don’t wait until you have a medical need for a pain reliever or other medicine to find out they are years old!

Rosanne

770.995.8556

www.dtsorganizing.com

Tags: Home by organizing atlanta
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Food and gas prices have never made us more eager to find ways to make our dollars stretch further.  Coupons are one method we can use to help with this challenge.  The only problem is we can only be successful if we have a system in place to make it happen.  Like most other organizing challenges, it is important to first know what we have and second to know where to find it.  Coupons are no different.  If we have them and do not know where they are they are of no value.

Some tips to increase our success rate with coupons are:

1. Have a place to keep coupons that is portable.  This system should be easy and allow us to add coupons so we can easily find them.  A product that I can recommend for those without a successful method is the iParenting Media award winning system called The Couponizer.  It is a complete system in one package.  Check it out at www.thecouponizer.com.
2. The system should include a method to purge coupons as well; if we do not have any other process, we should choose a day each month to go through and toss those that are expired or that we have determined we will no longer use. 
3. Have coupons and applicable advertisements available when we sit down to make a list before we go shopping.  Make this part of your weekly goal/task planning exercise.  Planning ahead for a shopping trip is crucial to minimizing the time and money we will spend. Another great resource in this area is a book I read earlier this year called “Greatest Secrets of the Coupon Mom” by Stephanie Nelson.  It has great ideas, processes and tools to become a strategic shopper without spending a lot of time.   $$ Savings Tip:  While supplies last, this book is free with a purchase of The Couponizer.
4. We should not limit ourselves to the coupons in the newspaper.  We can find valuable coupons in our local stores, magazines, mailers, and on-line.  The trick is to identify what we will use and add them to our system.   It is also important that we know when they expire and make key purchases in the right timeframe.  

Rosanne

770.995.8556

www.dtsorganizing.com

Tags: Home, Saving $$ by organizing atlanta
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