One good thing to come out of this economic downturn is that since more people are looking for ways to save, hot coupon sites & smartphone apps have popped up all over the place. Here are a few of my faves:

FOR EVENTS:

• Groupon.com & Twongo.com: Each day they feature something cool to do in Raleigh/Durham for around 50% off. Deals for Adventure Landing, horseback riding, restaurants, cleaning services, smoothies, mani/pedis — you name it!
• CouponDivas.com: Has grocery coupons, but I like it because it lists where Kids Eat Free!

FOR STUFF:

• RetailMeNot.com: Reliable coupon codes for online checkouts as well as printable coupons for food, apparel, drug store, etc.
• Dealcatcher.com: Deals on electronics, computers, household, clothing, games, etc. Can browse by your favorite stores like Best Buy, NewEgg, Apple, etc.

FOR GROCERIES:

• Coupons.com: Printable manufacturer’s coupons that can be used in any grocery store.

PHONE APPS:

• Pic2Shop & RedLaser: Scan a barcode on an item and see if it’s cheaper elsewhere.
• Cardstar: You’ve heard me talk about them before — put all your club card numbers into the app and cashiers can scan the barcode from your phone — you never have to carry a keyring mess again!
• CouponClipper.com: Multiple coupon offers per store or restaurant on lots of categories including food, retail, entertainment, automotive, services, beauty. Pick the coupon that gives you the best deal and the cashier can scan the barcode right off your phone!

KARA’S SHOPPING & COUPON TIPS:

• When coupons or gift cards come in the mail, immediately tear them out and put in your wallet. Or keep an envelope or small accordian file in your car so they travel with you — place them with your keys so you don’t forget to transfer them to your car next time you head out.
• Do the math. Even though you may have a coupon for a brand item, still compare the sale & generic priced items first because they may come out cheaper, even on double-coupon days.
• Ask if your store still gives a discount for buying a single item, even if it’s a bulk deal like 3/$10.
• Be careful of buying in bulk: check the price per unit now listed in the upper corner of the shelf labels to see if the bulk price is really less expensive. (Or try this iPhone app called CompareMe which will do the math for you!) Overbuying may not be cheaper in the long run and can create clutter. When is it ok to stock up? If the item’s on sale and it’s something you purchase weekly, but picture where it will live when you get it home and only stock as many as your space can hold.
• Avoid overbuying & impulse shopping by reviewing what’s in your cart before you checkout. Do you really need 3 kinds of snack chips this week or can you wait on some till next week’s trip?

So shop till you drop but save time & money doing it!

If you’re feeling like there’s too much to do, things are backing up, and there’s just not enough time, it’s easy to become overwhelmed and paralyzed. Here are some tips to overcome:

• Gather up the “Action” items. Create a list of all the things you think you have to do — actions to take, bills to pay, phone calls, events, shopping, and anything weighing on your mind. Go down the list and ask yourself “what ACTION needs to be taken on this?” You may find some things are just “mental clutter” and not actionable and can be immediately eliminated.

• Say “No.” Remove extraneous items from your to-do list by writing down your top 5 “life priorities” and if items on your list don’t contribute, immediately scratch them off. Prevent future items from getting on your to do list by practicing this skill.

• Prioritize what’s real. Many times we identify tasks as high priority that really aren’t important and if everything’s marked “urgent”, nothing will get done. So review your to-do’s and be realistic about what’s a high priority.

• Delegate. Sometimes we get caught up thinking we have to do it all ourselves, but if you’re not getting things done the guilt and stress can be all-consuming.

  So realize it’s ok to ask for help from family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, or hire someone to help, like an organizer or a virtual assistant like www.TasksEveryday.com. What items can you hand off to keep you focused on the “urgents”?

  Be sure to tell the person you’ve delegated to the order you need things done, and assign deadlines for each task. It’ll prevent any confusion and frustration from either of you and hopefully keep them willing to help in the future.

• Estimate time-to-completion & block time. For truly urgent items you can’t delegate, split them two groups based on how long they will take:

  - “2 minutes or less”
  - “Takes longer to accomplish”

  Then block a hour on your calendar to knock out as many 2 minute items as you can. Set a timer to keep you focused.

  For “takes longer” items, schedule a specific time on your calendar you’ll work on them and just do it.

• Get a “body double.” If you work better with someone else around, ask someone to sit with you for a bit while you work things out.

Then don’t forget to reward yourself when you’re caught up and to express your gratitude to those who helped you.

Got a splattered or smelly microwave? Clean in it 5 minutes flat with almost no elbow grease:

1. Heat a cup of water for 3 minutes in the microwave
2. Let it sit and steam up the microwave for 1 minute to soften all the stuck-ons
3. Take 1 minute to wipe it out. Easy!

Got smells too? Add a lemon slice or lemon juice to the water before you heat it to freshen things up.

Timesaver tip: Common sense will tell you to wipe up immediately after a mess has been made before it can get stuck on. But if that just isn’t gonna happen, wipe the microwave out after you heat any liquid (coffee, tea, soup, etc.) since the steam will still do the trick.

Paperwork is a big problem for many people and no one likes to file. And did you know that, in general, people only need to keep 20% of the paperwork they have? Paper can be manageable if you know what to keep and for how long. Just ask yourself these questions:

• Am I legally required to keep it? (i.e., vital records, tax documents)
• If so, for how long?
• Will I actually use it/refer to it/need it?
• Is the information still current?
• Can it easily be replicated if needed again (i.e. found on the web)?
• Is it a duplicate?
• What’s the worst that can happen if I toss it?

Now that you’ve decided if something’s worth keeping, here are some guidelines for how long to keep it:

• Permanently: Vital records including birth/death/marriage/divorce certificates, wills, military records, passports & social security cards should be kept in a safe deposit box. Diplomas, very special memoribilia, medical records (not bills) can be kept at home permanently.
• As long as you own it, then shred: Car title, house deeds, owner’s manuals, warranty receipts, household inventory list, stock certificates (in a safe deposit box)
• 7 years, then shred: Tax returns
• Until the next one comes (generally quarterly or annually), then shred: Investment statements, Insurance agreements & in-network directories, Social Security statements, school schedules
• 1 month: Monthly bills (unless it’s a tax deduction, then 7 years), receipts (once you’ve reconciled), magazines, coupons (until they expire), event announcements (once they pass)
• Daily/weekly: To Do lists, handwritten notes that are out of date, contact info (this should get entered into your address book whether paper or electronic), newsletters
• Never: Junk Mail, flyers, magazines you won’t read, coupons you won’t use, invitations for events you won’t go to. Toss these in the outdoor trash so they never enter your home.

TIP: Most banks have electronic statements and many now keep 3-6 years worth in archives so you don’t need to keep the paper bank statements once you’ve signed up. Also, investment companies can send electronic statements & you can sign up to view statements & prospectuses online so you can shred or toss these as well.

Now go blast through those piles and enjoy a clean desk!

Perfectionism is ok if you’re an Olympian who’s been training a lifetime for a single flawless performance, but it can be destructive in daily life. So unless you’re training for the Gold, remember that “perfect” is just a goal to work toward, and not a lifestyle choice.

I’m not saying that people shouldn’t work hard or aim high, but when taken to extremes, perfectionism contributes to an overall feeling of never having enough, and of never being satisfied with what you do have. It breeds disappointment for you, and resentment towards you from others when they can’t live up to impossible standards.

I hear many clients express extreme and constant disappointment in many areas in their lives, and find that they regularly employ “all or nothing” thinking like, “If I can’t do it 110% then I won’t do it at all” or, “I feel paralyzed by this stuff and don’t know where to start,” or “I could work for hours but it still wouldn’t make a dent.”

This only creates unhealthy feelings of guilt, depression, and low self-esteem. Often perfectionists fear rejection from others if everything they do doesn’t qualify as sheer genius, and constantly striving for perfection can breed a fear of failure, anxiety, and even contribute to procrastination. All of which can ultimately lead to depression and total immobilization.

So how to overcome perfectionism? Start by vowing to do your “best” (not to be “perfect”) and allow yourself the flexibility for “good enough.” Realize that we’re all in the same boat since no one is perfect. Forgive yourself and others for not being perfect. Recognize that character isn’t developed at the finish line but in your efforts to get there. Reward yourself when you’ve done a good job. Be aware of “grass is greener” thoughts and stop comparing; instead focus on the postive in yourself and others and work towards acceptance.

Want some specific tools to overcome perfectionism? I love this article on LiveStrong.com.

If you’ve ever opened the door of your fridge and said, “Ew, what WAS that?” then you might want to keep reading.

Everyone hates wasting food. It’s money down the drain and a disappointment when you’re looking forward to eating something only to find it’s now a slimy mess in the fruit drawer.

So check out www.stilltasty.com or download their iPhone app. It’ll tell you all you need to know about shelf life and food safety like how to best store fruit, how long thawed meat will stay safe, how long things will last in the freezer, and the truth about expiration dates.

And when you’re storing food, don’t forget to label what you’ve put in the fridge or freezer:

• Which labels? Post-It notes with all over sticky backs or basic white mailing labels are great for both bags & containers. They’re cheap and come off easy. Keep them stuck to the side of the fridge with a magnet so they’re right where you need them.

• What to put on the label? On the label, write what the food is and the date you stored it. Go one step further and write the projected expiration date so it’s a no-brainer at clean out time.

• Where to store it? Store your newest containers at the back of the fridge and move existing ones forward so they get used first.

• Keep it clean. Clean out your fridge right before you shop for groceries. It’ll be its emptiest and will give you a chance to see what you already have so you don’t repurchase. It’s also a great time to quickly wipe down the shelves & drawers.

To make the most of your leftovers and to prevent wasteful shopping, try these sites for a little help with meal planning:

• Lowes Foods to go: www.lowestogo.com – purchase groceries online and someone at the store shops for you and you pick up in designated zone. Can repeat common shopping items.
• The USDA has a wonderful resource with shopping & food safety tips, planned meals, and shopping lists.
• www.bigoven.com – $29.95/mo for recipe software or searchable database, calculate nutritional values, has calendar for meal planning.
• www.mealsmatter.org – cost is free and focuses on healthy eating and recipes
• www.sparkpeople.com – great for dieting & fitness meal planning!

New Years is a great time for a fresh start and setting new goals. But knowing how to keep yourself motivated is a skill you can use year-round. So for those of you whose resolutions are already waning, try these tips to get re-energized and keep on truckin’.

• Remember what you’re working for. Remind yourself of all the good things to come once you reach your goals. Then visualize life beyond the finish line so you don’t lose steam and stop short.

• Prioritize. It’s easy to get overwhelmed if everything seems equally important. So make a list with highest priorities first. Then start working on #1 first and move down the list.

• Identify & eliminate the roadblocks. Ask yourself if an item on your list is really going to help you accomplish your main goals. If not, eliminate it completely. Or if there’s a task you don’t want to do that’s preventing you from moving forward on other items, do it first and get it over with. You’ll be done before you know it and it’ll clear the path to get on with the easy stuff.

• Make goals “bite size.” Break long term goals into smaller, more manageable phases.
  • Be realistic, and give yourself deadlines.
  • For small hands-on tasks, try setting a timer and stopping when it dings so you still get stuff accomplished but won’t burn out or dread it next time.
  • Pick a day and schedule it. Sometimes just knowing when you’ll work on something will keep the guilt at bay.
  • Just get started — tell yourself, “I’ll do one small thing and if I feel like it, I’ll keep going.”

• Do it with a friend. We call it “body doubling” when you get more done just because someone’s there with you. Recognize those times you need someone else around and ask for help.

• Ask someone who inspired you how they did it. Knowing you’re not alone and that what you’re aiming for can be done is very uplifting.

• Find rewards that work for you, then mix & match. Whether it’s allowing time for a hobby, a movie, an ice cream cone, or a walk, make a list of things you can do to celebrate each small success and mix them up so you don’t get bored.

• Track your progress. When you’re feeling particularly unmotivated, take a look back at how far you’ve already come and be proud of yourself for wanting to do something better for yourself.

• Tell someone what you’ve done. Sometimes we just need to hear someone else say “good job.” It’s ok to be proud of what you’re doing and ask for a pat on the back.

• Think positive & lose the excuses. You will get there. Rephrase negative thoughts to focus on how good you’ll feel when you finish.

• Know that this is only temporary. “This too shall pass” is my mom’s mantra in tough times, and she’s right. As usual.

• Ease up. You don’t get points for speed or being perfect, both of which are common paths to burn out. So allow yourself some wiggle room. The ebb & flow is a natural part of any personal growth process, so watch out for “all or nothing” thinking and put small setbacks in perspective. They don’t equal failure.

• Make it fun. Otherwise, what’s the point?

I love the new Public Storage commercial that just came out about how a family’s junk drawer grew to take over a now crowded closet, then mushroomed into a cluttered and unusable garage. Many of my clients tell me they don’t know how things got out of control so fast and I think their ad agency hit the nail on the head. And then they try to sell you a way out — find freedom from your clutter by renting a storage unit.

But here’s the thing…you’ve already spent so much money on the stuff that’s cluttering your home, why waste more money on a monthly bill to store stuff you’re not using anyway? In my area, a 10′x10′ unit (which supposedly holds enough to furnish a 1 BR apartment) runs anywhere between $75-$135/month!!! On average, that’s over $1260/yr…EVERY year!

A cheaper and more effective long term solution is to hire an organizer. We help you figure out what’s really imporant to you, get your space organized, then coach you how to prevent being overwhelmed by clutter in the future. That’s a potential savings of over $6300 in storage fees over 5 years and some significant cash!

We start with identifying your goals and what it is you’d like to achieve with both the function of the space, and your lifestyle goals.

Then we begin the sort & purge process and ask our clients questions about why they’re really holding on to things. Sometimes it’s an easy decision to find another home, donate or trash items and sometimes it’s a little more difficult to let go, but we’re trained to help; we know what questions to ask and when to challenege you to help you reach and maintain your goals for a clutter-free space.

After we’ve identified what’s important to keep, see how much you have, and figure out how you “tick,” we can pick the right organizing solutions to fit your lifestyle and space. We help you store your precious items properly, then we figure out the best way to maintain it.

And throughout the process, we give advice and “tips & tricks” to help coach you how to live a more organized lifestyle that will prevent the clutter from overwhelming you and your spaces again.

So although storage may seem like a quick and easy option, it’s not a long term solution. And it’s been my experience that once people have a storage unit, they keep filling it up until they have to rent a bigger and more expensive unit. Hire an organizer instead and use the money you save to do something fun.

Know someone who could use a little help getting organized?

Give the gift of organization with our Little Virgo Gift Certificate. Great any time of the year to help your friends and family get started on the path to living a more organized life.

Excellent for birthdays, holidays, or when people are feeling overwhelmed and don’t know what to do about it. 

Please contact us to discuss pricing and options.

Did you know that, in the U.S. alone, over 3.7 million trees are killed each year just to make receipts? Want to be eco-friendly and organized at the same time? We can help get your receipts and business cards scanned, categorized, and online for easy access.

Little Virgo is affiliated with Shoeboxed.com’s Receipt and Business Card Mail-In Program. You’ll receive a pre-paid envelope to stick your bundle of receipts and business cards into, then put in the mailbox! Your receipts and business cards will be scanned into your online account, automatically categorized, and sent back or recycled. You’ll also get a new envelope in the mail for your next batch of receipts and business cards. Think of it as NetFlix for your receipts!

Click here to sign up!

Choose one of our unlimited, monthly plans.
No long term contracts. Change your plan or cancel at any time.

All accounts come with:

• Unlimited Free Space
• Export to Quicken, Excel, PDF expense report, CSV
• Itemized tracking from receipts
• Spending charts and analytics
• An email address for online shopping

	Business $49.95/month Annual plans get 2 months free!	Classic $19.95/month Annual plans get 2 months free!	Lite $9.95/month Annual plans get 2 months free!
Receipts & Business Cards Scanned	500/mo	150/mo	50/mo
Free Catch-Up Scanning	1000 Receipts (with annual plan)	500 Receipts (with annual plan)	250 Receipts (with annual plan)
Turnaround Time	1-2 days	2-3 days	3-5 days
Use our Prepaid Envelopes	Yes	Yes	No
Receipts You Upload	Unlimited	Unlimited	Unlimited
Email Receipts	Unlimited	Unlimited	Unlimited
Backup CDs	Included, Quarterly	Optional	Optional

How long does it take to process the receipts and business cards I mail in?

Never more than two business days after receiving your envelope, unless your receipts are heavily wrinkled, folded or contain staples.

Can I download my receipts and business cards?

Yes, you can download your receipts to PDF (with receipt images), Excel, Quicken, and CSV formats. You can also download your business card contacts to CSV, which you can import to many places, including Outlook, Salesforce, Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo, Apple Address Book, Act!, LinkedIn, and many other programs and websites that organize contact information.

Are my receipts secure?

Yes. Even though most receipts, by law, do not contain social security numbers or credit card numbers, we take security very seriously. Shoeboxed.com uses the same data encryption technology as major banks: 128-bit SSL. Online security and privacy are actively monitored by leading experts such as TrustE, McAfee and Thawte. We log all visits to the site and we maintain regular backups of all the data we store and backups are housed in a secure location. The physical receipts are kept under lock and key in a secured facility. All Shoeboxed employees must also pass criminal background checks.

Who is this service for?

The majority of our customers use Shoeboxed to track their personal expenses or expenses for their small business. Many of our customers are frequent business travelers too.

Why do people use Shoeboxed?

The number one use of Shoeboxed is to track paper receipts. Not only do our customers want to track their spending, they also want secure backups of their receipts. If you’ve ever lost a receipt, you know that Shoeboxed can help with book-keeping, tax returns, warranties and insurance claims.

Do I still have access to my receipts and business cards if I cancel my account?

If you cancel your Lite, Classic, or Business account you will still have access to the Shoeboxed.com tools and to your old receipts. If your account is canceled, we will not scan or process any new receipts for you.