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I feel like I am regularly updating schedules and reworking things to make our lives run more smoothly. It used to bother me that so much updating was necessary, but then I realized that it’s just life. Especially when you have several growing and changing children!
This actually isn’t a “new” binder. I’ve had it for several years, but I recently added some new folders/dividers with write-on tabs, and I reorganized some of the things inside.
The tabs I have are:
- Schedules
- Cleaning
- Menu
- Budget
- Goals
- Homeschool
- Projects/Misc.
- Contacts/Passwords
Behind the “schedules” tab, I keep our current schedule and also my written morning and evening routines. I first discovered the morning and evening routine idea from FlyLady. If you need help and inspiration for establishing routines, I highly recommend the Make Over Your Mornings course.
Behind the “cleaning” tab, I keep a couple of cleaning lists and some other resources like natural cleaning recipes. Money Saving Mom has some cleaning lists and schedules that you can download. I loved the format of hers, but it wasn’t personal to our family, so I made my own in Excel, copying her format.
Behind my “menu” tab, I keep things like a master meals list (which is just a list of some of our family favorites for menu-planning ideas) and other meal planning reference sheets.
Lately, I’ve been using Build A Menu to make our menus, so I keep some of those sheets in there also.
The “budget,” “goals,” “homeschool,” and “projects” tabs are pretty self-explanatory. And then at the end I keep an alphabetized list of personal contacts (names, addresses, and phone numbers of friends and family) and then I have a list of passwords I’ve typed up at the very back.
In addition to my home management binder, I also use a clipboard with my daily schedule typed up in a “checklist” form, with times and activities listed just like they are on the main schedule. That way I can check things off as I do them.
And then I use my Homemaker’s Friend Daily Planner to keep track of daily tasks and things that come up that aren’t part of my regular schedule. I’ve been using this planner for the past few years, and I’ve written about it before (you can read my reviews here and here). I really like the way it’s laid out, I love that the binding is spiral, and I love the encouraging quotes and verses sprinkled throughout the book.
Right now the Homemaker’s Friend Daily Planner is on sale! You can buy one and get one free! If you buy a 2016 planner, you’ll also get the 2015 planner for free! That way, you can go ahead and use the one for this year, and when 2016 rolls around you’ll be all set with your new 2016 planner. I’ve already got mine! You can go here to see the Buy 1 Get 1 FREE offer, and you can see inside the 2016 planner here.
The Giveaway
Today I’m excited to be giving away 2 planners to one winner! The winner will receive both a 2015 and a 2016 planner.
Enter Below to Win 2 Planners! One to use now, and one for next year!
This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only, and you must be 18 years or older to enter. Use the Rafflecopter form below to enter (if you can’t see the Rafflecopter form, please click through to the blog so you can see it). The winner will be notified and announced on the Rafflecopter form.
Disclosure: This post contains my affiliate links. I received a free planner for review purposes, and the opinions expressed here are my own.
I try but I just can't find one I like!!
I have a hand written homemaking binder in process!
-Hannah Avery
hannahavery85@yahoo.com or havery@kmbc.edu
I used to use a planner all the time in college, but then I somehow got out of the habit. It would probably be good to start again, so that everything is in the same place, instead of me having little notes all over! Thanks for your blog and for offering a giveaway. 🙂
Meagan S.
My current planner is just a piece of paper! ha! I could really use something more organized and that wont get mistaken for trash and thrown out. 🙂
Yes, I use a planner that I got at the dollar store. thx
Joy, We would love to see your great articles on http://www.CollectiveFaith.com. Please join and share with our Christian Social Network.
I think I may have just ended my quest for a planner that suits my needs! And thanks for the "reminder" to update my homemaking binder. 🙂
This homemaking planner is very helpful for homeschooling . I want to try that planner for my kids as soon as possible. I hope my kid will get a better result by using the new planner. Thanks
I started a binder, but need to finish it. I have used a planner for years, but not one with God's Word sprinkled throughout…what a lovely encouragement.
I started a Home Management Binder…but I have a long ways to go…and don't use a planner with it. These look great! Will the giveaway end before the sale does?! 😉 -Joy C.
Hi Joy!
I'm not positive, but my understanding is that the sale will be good through the month of July. 🙂