This weekend I’m attending and speaking at Gleek Retreat — a blogging conference right here in West Michigan — and I’m so excited for everything I’m going to learn and for all the amazing blogging friends I’ll FINALLY get to meet “in real life”.

I’ll share more about the blogging conference next week, but I just wanted to show you the fun new organizing utility tote bag I got from my cousin {and it’s PERFECT for this conference}

Not only is this organizing tote super cute, it’s also really light weight, and has a million pockets to keep all my technology, business things, {and snacks} organized! It’s perfect.

I’m so excited to use my new organizing tote, but I’m even more excited to announce that this bag will be part of an awesome gift package {from my cousin and Thirty-One bags} which will be one of the giveaways for my huge birthday giveaway celebration!

Yippee!

Oh, and just for fun, here’s a picture taken this morning with my bag…and my mini baby bump.

Just over 17 weeks now

I know…it’s kind-of sad and non-existent, but I’ve been getting hounded for belly pics and I even tried to push it out a little for you!

Happy Weekend

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This giveaway is now closed.

Congrats to Tiffany @ Home Grown Families: “I am SOOOOOOOOOOO excited about this!!! I will use it for receipts, warranties, recipes and my girls medical files!!!!

I’m so excited!!! *dbl squeeeeeee*”

You should receive an email from me shortly !!

I’m so excited about today’s giveaway!

!

I mean REALLY REALLY excited!

You see, I’ve wanted a NeatReceipts for almost three years. I coveted them every time I visited an office supply store. I searched on Ebay and Craigslist but no one was getting rid of them because they are so amazing. I even dreamed about how organized my papers, receipts, business cards, and other documents would be if I had my very own NeatReceipts.

So you can image how excited I was when The Neat Company offered to send me my very own NeatReceipts!

{insert giddy middle-school girl squealing}

And because I love my NeatReceipts so much, The Neat Company has generously offered to give another NeatReceitps away to one lucky Simple Organized Living reader!!

{insert more squealing}

What is a NeatReceipts?

?

Only the best, most wonderful, awesome, super cool digital filing system ever!

NeatReceipts is a portable scanner and digital filing system that helps you manage all of your paperwork on the computer. NeatReceipts includes NeatWorks scanner software that identifies and extracts the important information from receipts, business cards and documents and automatically organizes it for you.  All scanned documents can be searched by keyword so you can find exactly what you need. NeatWorks software gives you an easy-to-use, intuitive application to manage all of your business and personal paperwork.

Quoted from Neatco.com

I could go on and on about all the cool featuers and the many reason I LOVE my NeatReceipts, but then we’d all be here for way too long.

So instead, you can watch the video below:

If you’re reading this in a feed reader, you may have to click here to view it.
And if you still can’t see the video, click here to watch it on the NeatCo website.

See, I told you it’s amazing!

!

It’s actually even better than I imagined it to be.

A Few of my Favorite Features:

:

1. It’s small.

It’s about the same size as a ruler and weighs less than a pound which means I can  carry it around wherever I go.

2. It’s smart.

The NeatWorks software takes each item you scan in and looks for key information.

For example,  if you scan in a receipt, it will automatically look for the date, vendor, purchase amount, and sales tax.  On business cards, it looks for the name, company, title, address, phone, email, website, and fax.  On other documents, the software captures all of the printed text and gives it to you in searchable PDF format.

This means it will be really easy to find everything you need by performing a basic keyword search.

3. It’s simple.

I obviously love simplicity, so I was thrilled to find how simple it was to install and use my NeatReceipts. Seriously, I had it up and running in about 10 minutes!

And the NeatWorks software allows me quickly and easily organize all my receipts, business cards, and other documents right from my desktop. It doesn’t get much simpler than that.

4. It’s stylish.

I usually don’t like anything sitting out on my desk, but the NeatReceipt is really sleek and stylish so I really don’t mind. Plus, I use it all the time so it’s more practical to leave it out.

5. It’s sophisticated.

The NeatReceipts organizes all my business receipts and information in such a way that I can simply print out an attractive PDF report and give it to my accountant when tax season rolls around. The reports look so professional.

I’m also using the NeatReceipts for all Dave and my personal paperwork {and my recipes} —  it has totally saved my butt a couple times when I “accidentally” threw away an important receipt! And now I can simply search for old recipes with key-words…so quick and easy.

Oh yeah, and I also love it because it allows me to get rid of nearly every piece of paper in my filing cabinet! My goal is to be completely paperless by 2012. {we’ll there will be a few things I’ll have to keep…but still!}

So who wants to win their very own NeatReceipts?

?

The NeatReceipts sells for over over $200 in stores, but you can enter to win one today by doing the following…

1. Leave a comment telling me how you might use your NeatReceipts. {Mandatory}

2. Like me on Facebook and/or copy and paste the following message on YOUR facebook wall:

Enter to win a NeatReceipts digital filing system from Simple Organized Living and The Neat Company — Get your papers organized today! http://ht.ly/4hFpO

3. Follow me on Twitter and/or tweet the following message:

Enter to win a NeatReceipts digital filing system from @LivingOrganized and @neatcompany Get your papers organized 2day! http://ht.ly/4hFpO

This contest is open until Tuesday, March 22, 2011, at 10:00 pm EST. ONE winner will be selected at random and announced on Wednesday, March 23. Please read my full disclosure policy and contact me with any questions you might have. I received a free NeatReceipts for review, however all opinions and obsessions are my own!

Want to Purchase a NeatReceipts?

From what I’ve found, Amazon.com has the best deal on NeatReceipts {and believe me, I’ve been looking!}. However, if you want more information about the NeatReceipts and other NeatCo products, visit their website.

139 comments →

According to 41pounds.org, the average adult receives 41 pounds of junk mail every year!

Can you believe that?

My first thought was that 41 pounds seems like an awful lot of junk mail…but after collecting all our junk mail for the past several weeks, I would now say I completely agree!

We have gotten SO much junk mail lately {see picture above} I can’t stand it.

Our influx of junk mail is partially because we not only get our junk mail, but also the previous owner’s junk mail, and also because we’re still waiting for all our unsubscriptions and opt-outs to take affect.

Ever since we moved into our new house 8 weeks ago, I’ve been collecting and saving all the junk mail that enters our home. Why? So I can take the proper steps to remove our names and address from the national mailing lists.

Want to try it out for yourself?

Here are a few really simple steps you can take to drastically reduce the amount of junk mail you get.

Junk Snail Mail

For All Junk Mail — you can sign up with 41pounds.org, a service that claims to stop nearly 90% of all your junk mail. The cost is conveniently $41 for 5 years — which equals about $0.70 cents per month!

For Credit Card Offers — Visit Opt Out Prescreen or call 1-888-5 OPT OUT — this is a free service.

For Catalogs — Call the 800 number on the back of the catalog and simply asked to be removed.

For Valpak Promotions — We get tons of junk mail from Valpak. If you do…and don’t want to, just click here and enter your address.

Any Other Junk Mail – Look for an 800 number or email address and simply contact the company and ask to be removed. This usually works within a few mailing cycles.

Junk Email

Go to Unsubscribe.com and enter your email address in the “free trial” box. It’s a program that you have to install…but it seems to be working really well for me. Here’s another great tip for reducing the SPAM emails you get.

Junk Phone Calls

Simply enter your phone number on the Do No Call List or call 1-888-382-1222 from the number you wish to register. This should work for land lines and cell phones. However, I’m not sure if it works for junk text messages — which are becoming a problem too.

I’ve already taken the necessary steps to reduce junk emails and junk phone calls… and this past week, I went through that entire mess of junk mail and unsubscribed from all of it.  It took me about 45 minutes, but it was time well spent.

What are your tips for reducing junk mail, email, and phone calls?

9 comments →

How many times have you stopped by your local donation center to drop off a bag {or 12} of your unneeded items? Probably more times than you can remember, right?

Each time you declutter, you have to bring your unwanted stuff somewhere…so where do you bring it?

I hear a lot of negative talk about the larger donation centers; and while I personally try to bring our donations to locally based charities, I don’t have anything against these “big-box” donation centers.

In fact, these huge organizations do a lot of good in our local communities and across the country!

But regardless of WHERE you bring your cast-offs, do you ever wonder what happens to the revenue made from your stuff…

Goodwill:

Website: goodwill.org
Online Auction: shopgoodwill.com

I bet every single person reading this post has been to a Goodwill before…or at the very least, seen a Goodwill store! They are everywhere and all of them are packed full with our castaway items. But do you know what Goodwill does with the money from those items?

Goodwill sells our donated itmes at over 2000 retail stores nation-wide and the revenue from their sales goes to train people facing employment challenges.

In 2009 alone, Goodwill helped nearly 2 million people obtain the skills they needed to find employment!

Goodwill inspires hope and self-confidence, helping people from all backgrounds and walks of life to feel successful, valuable and dignified.

We help people earn a living, improve their lives, and strengthen their families and their community.

Learn more about Goodwill Industries here.

The Salvation Army:

Website: salvationarmy.org

We’ve all seen the bell ringers standing outside our favorite shopping malls during the holiday season. I’ve donated my share of loose change — and recently, I even saw a “red bucket” that accepted credit cards! So where does all that money go?

The proceeds go to fund their Adult Rehabilitation Centers that offer all types of services like addiction dependency, family tracing, disaster response, and more. The Salvation Army was founded in 1865 and has since spread to most parts of the world!

Learn more about the Salvation Army here.

Habitat for Humanity:

Website: habitat.org/restores
Online Store:habitatstoreonline.com

If you’ve never been to a Habitat ReStore, you MUST go! Their “ReStore” sites sell everything from furniture and home accessories to building materials and appliances. I’ve purchase many building and remodeling materials there…I can’t even believe how much money I’ve saved over the years! I got a cute little sink for our laundry room with a Kohler faucet for only $10!!

So where does that money go? Obviously, to fund construction of local Habitat homes — all of which get tons of donated materials and labor.

Our church always helps to build one Habitat home each year and the whole process is extremely organized!

Learn more about the Habitat ReStores here.

Where do you bring your clutter? Do you know what that organization does with it?

Comment →

UPDATE: This giveaway is now closed. A winner has been chosen and notified.

Christmas Day has come and gone; and if you’re like me, you’ll be taking down your Christmas tree and packing up all your fun holiday ornaments with in the next week or so. It’s a sad day…but it has to be done.

For me, this day involves putting my ornaments in a big cardboard box and hoping they don’t break as I try to shove them all in! However this year, I have a brand new, super organized way to store all my Christmas ornaments — want to know what it is?

Well, have you heard of Ultimate Christmas Storage?

It’s a company that specializes in high-quality storage boxes like these gorgeous red boxes.

And these super cute blue polka-dot storage boxes!

And, as their name suggests, they have tons of great “Christmas Storage” products for ornaments and other small items that can easily be lost or broken.

All of their products are extremely high quality, durable, and SO much prettier then my cardboard boxes — so I’m using these boxes for my ornaments this year!

The Ultimate Christmas Storage products feature:

• Acid Free heavy-duty chipboard throughout.
• Tarnish inhibitor added to help reduce the atmospheric effect on silvered and metal ornaments.
• Ornament boxes and Ornament chests provide removable trays from 3 to 5 inches deep.
• Trays have fully adjustable dividers to accommodate a variety of collectibles.
• Beautiful fabric covering adds years of durability to acid free ornament boxes.
• Decorative fabrics allow ornament boxes to be used as a decorative accessory.
• Our fabric variety allows for easy segregation and identification of your collectibles.
• Clear heavy-duty vinyl zippered bag protects the archival ornament boxes while stored.

OK, so these sound really fancy, and they technically are…

BUT they are also practical, stackable, transportable, storable, movable, and really pretty. Plus, if you’re planning to move, these boxes are very convenient {yes, I speak from experience!}

I’m sure you can imagine how excited I am to replace my cardboard boxes with these pretty boxes that provide tons of storage for small, delicate items and assure that everything stays neat, organized, and unharmed.

Well, I’m also excited that Ultimate Christmas Storage is giving away a beautiful green ornament storage box to one lucky Simple Organized Living reader!! {see below for details}

More about this storage box:

• Size: 22 x 16 x 7 1/2″ high
• One 3″ deep tray with 28 adjustable compartments
• 4″ deep bottom compartment for oversized items with16 adjustable compartments
• Enclosed in a vinyl zipper bag for storage

Ultimate Christmas Storage is also including a large bag of shredded packing material to assure none of your ornaments break. How nice of them!

This is a $75.00 prize package!

Want to Win?

There are THREE ways to win…

1. Leave a comment below with your current method of ornament storage. {Mandatory}
2. “Like” Ultimate Christmas on Facebook — and leave a comment letting me know.
3. Sign up for the Ultimate Christmas newsletter — and leave a comment letting me know.

This contest is open until Tuesday, January 4, 2011, at 11:59pm EST. ONE winners will be selected at random and announced on Wednesday, January 5. Please read my full disclosure policy and contact me with any questions you might have. I received a free ornament storage box for review, however all opinions are my own!

Want to Buy Your Own Storage Boxes?

Ultimate Christmas Storage has a huge selection of storage boxes and archival supplies to meet all your needs. Head on over to their website to learn more!

Linked to Works for me Wednesday

115 comments →

How many gifts have you purchased this holiday season?

I’m guessing some of you are already finished with your holiday shopping, while others don’t even realize that Christmas is only 25 days away!

Wherever you fall in that spectrum, you are bound to end up with a pile of receipts that will probably turn into a jumbled mess at the bottom of your purse, in your car, in an array of shopping bags, or in the trash.

Then when it’s time to return one of your gifts {which you KNOW always happens when you can’t find the receipt} you’re out of luck now that many stores have implemented more ridged return policies.

Sound familiar?

Well, believe it or not, I have a really SIMPLE way of organizing my receipts each holiday season…

Pay Attention, this is Intense!

1. I group the receipts by person, staple them together, and write the person’s name on top.

2.  I often write a quick description of the items on top as well — this saves lots of time searching for the “right receipts” when I have a bunch to look through.

3. I keep all my receipts in a small fabric “folder” or envelop in my purse. Then when I’m at the store, I know I’ll always have the right one with me.

.

I actually keep two of these folders in my purse; one for receipts and one for all the store coupons.

See, it REALLY is simple!

I’ve been using this “envelope method” for years and it continues to work for me…

Give it a try this year!

7 comments →

Are you in the process of getting organized or thinking about your next organizing project?

Great!!!

First things first, you need a plan — and a budget. And from my experience, the plan comes quite easily; it’s the budget that can sometimes hold me back! Can you relate?

Recently, I’ve received several emails asking for simple ways to get organized on a budget — it looks like you CAN relate! So fortunately, I’m not only organized but also very frugal and have a few tricks up my sleeve for big-time organizing on a small-scale budget.

Keep reading!

1. Use storage containers you already have:

Total Cost = $0.00

Maybe you don’t have any extra containers right now, but once you start clearing some of your clutter, you will inevitably free up a few storage containers that can be re-purposed for your new organizing projects. How many plastic bins, laundry baskets, shoe boxes, crates, and storage bags do you think you can come up with?

.

2. Re-purpose items you have lying around:

Total Cost = $0.00

If you can’t come up with any storage containers around your home and still don’t want to spend the money, you can easily improvise with items commonly found in most homes.

Here are some of my favorites…

Bowls

Coffee mugs

Tin cans

Baskets {I get really creative with baskets}

Baby food jars

Terracotta pots

Glass canning jars {I especially love the vintage blue jars}

Mini galvanized buckets

Shoe boxes {I’m obsessed with shoe boxes!}

Paper boxes

Plastic food storage containers

3. Trade Services with a Friend:

Total Cost = $0.00

If you hate organizing but love folding laundry, baking, or scrap-booking; consider trading your skills with a friend who loves to organize but dislikes one of these other activities.

You will both be happier and probably more productive — plus it’s FREE!

4. Find Inspiration from the Internet:

Total Cost = $0.00

Since you are here, reading this article at SimpleOrganizedLiving.com, I assume you have access to the Internet in one form or another.

Make use of this valuable resource by scouring sites that focus one organization, time management, organizing projects, home renovations, etc etc.

Here are just a few of my favorite websites {and there are THOUSANDS more!}:

• Life…Your Way
• Becoming Minimalist
• Org Junkie
• Simplify 101
• Real Simple

5. Use The Library:

Total Cost = $0.00

I have yet to find a library that charges a fee for information — have you? Instead of subscribing to magazines that offer tips and tricks to get organized, head to your local library and check out two — or 20!

Our library has oodles of great magazines that I check out frequently. I get so many inspirational ideas for my home, garden, kitchen, and organizing projects — all for free!

6. Find Free Printables:

Total Cost = $0.00

I am in love with FREE printable documents, forms, spreadsheets, craft ideas, holiday items, etc. etc. They are ALL over the Internet and totally free for the taking {or printing!}

These documents have helped me, and I know they will help you to get more organized.

• I have over 16 free printable documents to help you organize your shopping, meal planning, gift giving, and more!
• Mandi has loads of free printables over at Life…YourWay
• I love all the fun children’s printables from 1+1+1=1

7. Shop Freecylcle:

Total Cost = $0.00 plus a little gas money

Freecycle.org is a place where you can find nearly anything for free! Have you ever used it??

It can be hit-or-miss and you’ll need to have enough time to run out and pick up your items, but you might just be surprised at what you find.

And not to overstate the obvious, but Freecycle.org is a great way to get rid of your unwanted items and reduce the clutter in your home!!

8. Sell some of your things to purchase others:

Total Cost = as low as $0.00 plus your time

If you are in a bind and can’t find free organizing tools, then why not sell some of your clutter and use that cash to pay for your new treasures?

Over the last 3 years, I have become a pro at selling unused, unneeded items on Craigslist! I sell my own stuff, I sell things for others, I just love Craigslist — and did I mention it’s totally FREE to buy and sell on Craigslist!!!

Obviously, you shouldn’t waste your time selling junk, but if you have anything that might be useful to someone else, I would encourage you to follow my tips and see how much money you can make. Then use that money to fund your next organizing project. {I just had to answer the door for the women who was purchasing 2 items from my Craigslist ad!}

9. Pen, Paper, and Calendar:

Total Cost = $0.00

I’ll take my old-fashion paper calendar over fancy-smancy electronic devices any day. Partially because I can usually find some type of calendar or day planner for free, but also because it’s the easiest method for me to keep track of my life.

And I always have a stack of free paper pads lying around just waiting for my next grocery or to-do list!

10. What are your ideas?

I still have a few more frugal organizing ideas, but I want to know what YOUR tips, tricks, tools, and ideas are for organizing on a budget.

Share them with us! Pretty please!

Getting organized does NOT have to be an expensive ordeal — and in my experience, it can actually save you money! When you’re organized, you know what you have so you avoid overspending on items you don’t need. Plus, by using a few of the suggestions above, your projects won’t require the upfront investment you might think.

Happy Organizing!

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