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Blog: If Your Money Ain't Happy, Ain't Nobody Happy
 Some Things You May Have to "Spring" For In Springtime
Spring always comes with joy and excitement of everything becoming new again. There are so many things to look forward to especially the beautiful weather. It's a good time to think about pre-planning some of the costs that you might have in the near future. Sometimes we can get so wrapped up in thinking about the season and all the activities and holidays that we forget to add up the costs. Here are a few things to think about that you might have to "spring" for in your budget.
Yard work and yard supplies will be needed. Yes it's that wonderful time of planting, mulching, and making everything fun and cute around the house. Not to mention all the new entertaining items for entertaining out on the decks and patios. Getting the yard treated and renewing mulch beds and flower beds can add up quickly so start getting your cost analysis now. Sometimes you can get better prices by calling places that supply items you'll need, like mulch or yard treatment, during the slow season which we are in now.
Holidays, special days and vacations are in the near future. Easter, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Memorial Day, weddings, birthdays and spring breaks and summer vacations are all at our doorstep. We personally have quite a few spring birthdays as well to budget in the next few months. All these holidays can add up so planning for these special events will take the edge off of high expenses in the next few months. Food for Easter Sunday can be budgeted more easily when you plan your menu and start buying items now during your regular grocery visits. Look for gift items now that are on sale or get an idea of what someone wants as a gift so you can know exactly how much to set aside and even buy your gifts early along with all the Easter basket candy and toys. Gas prices will be a factor when planning vacations this spring and summer.
Repairs and maintenance. Having your heating or air conditioning units receive their routine maintenance will be one expense, along with possible repairs for lawn mowers or yard equipment. Boats and other recreational vehicles will need their maintenance done as well.
Clothing for the new season is another expense that can easily go unnoticed until crunch time. Don't forget that you and your family may want some new sandals, swimsuits and summer outfits. Not to mention those Easter Sunday dresses. Easter is only a few weeks away so that will be something to think about in your March budget.
So now you are more prepared for what you might have to "spring" for this spring. I hope it helps your money and you stay happier and assist you in preparing for the upcoming season.
posted on: 2/27/2008 11:30:00 AM by Triste Horrell
category: Finances
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If Your Money Ain't Happy, Ain't Nobody Happy
by Triste Horrell
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About Triste:
Being an organizing expert makes one want to be a "showroom" in all areas of life. However reality can hit hard when you're a mother of small children and a military wife and own an organzing business. Of course Triste would like to have a picture perfect Better Home and an even Better Garden. Throw a Pottery Barn in the backyard for exceptional creative time to become the wiz-woman for all the ideas and inventions that the world could not live without. But Triste has settled on the fact of telling herself "I can be perfect in my mind and no one can mess up my space there!" In reality Triste is very self-motivated and has true business accomplishments like having SYSTEMIZE since 1997, the first home and business organizing firm in the state of South Carolina. She has been repeatedly recognized in her Greenville, SC area for her organizing expertise and makeovers on local NBC and FOX news, Greenville News, local magazines such as Greenville Magazine and Upstate Parent and NPR radio. She has turned people's lives around by focusing on what she calls the "four building blocks of being organized" consisting of space, time, financial and personal. This is even represented in her business logo. "That's what I'm in business for, turning people's lives around!" Also applying her popular 3 Steps to Systemize have not only organized her clients but KEPT them organized for years.
Triste's Website:
www.systemize4u.com
Downtime Activities
- Reading Magazines
- Spending time at our cottage
- Keeping our Westie pretty
- Putting tealights around after the kids are in bed
- Adventures with my awesome hubby
- Making microwave smores...just for me
1 graham cracker, broken in half 1 small piece of chocolate 1 big marshmellow On one side of cracker put piece of chocolate and marshmellow on top. Place in microwave and heat for approx. 17 seconds (while cooking replace marshmellow on top of chocolate if needed). Put other half of cracker on top, eat and enjoy and watch out for oozing chocolate!
My Organizing Tool-Box
- Time - Outlook
This is a great way to keep papers off the desk and track where you need to go, task list, jot down quick notes on the virtual "post-its, keep up with contacts in the virtual Rolodex
- Personal Finances - Quicken
This simple yet practical program keeps your bank accounts in tact...did I mention simple?!
- Business Finances - QuickBooks
I have used this program for years and have set many clients up on it. It is a must for keeping track of business transactions and keeping tax time easy...push a few buttons and out come the reports, your done and your tax preparer loves you.
- Space - turntables
I love these things! You can put them in cabinets, the fridge, garage, and closets. They are inexpensive, easy to find and available at any discount store and you can even find fancier ones. If you are not sure what they are, they are the white (or other fancier kinds) and spin around like a lazy susan, you can have a single or double-tier one for spices.
- Personal - Magazines and Internet
I love to look at magazines and the internet for good articles on personal development, pictures for decorating inspiration and fun projects to do with my family. I keep my magazine subscriptions to a minimum (3) so I can read them and enjoy each one. I look for things on some of my favorite websites for whatever fancies me at that time.
- Online Recipe Boxes
Use these on some of your favorite websites, bring the laptop into the kitchen while the recipe is up and you never have to have the paper clutter. One of my and my husbands favorites is Williams-Sonoma.
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1-877-251-8435
www.OnlineOrganizing.com is a service mark of Bradford, LLC.
