Do you have any little things you do to make life simpler or easier? There are many little things that have been rattling around in my brain lately so I thought I would put them here!

I usually attach a safety pin to all of my shirts. You never know when you might pop a button or need one for re-attaching something. They always seem to come in handy. I just attach them inside a pocket or on the inside of the shirt.

I carry a small sewing kit inside my purse. It has a mini pair of scissors, several colors of thread and a few needles. It has been useful in many cases.

I keep a black permanent marker in my kitchen, then when I am bagging up left-overs I am able to write what it is on the bag. Because you think you will remember, but you won't!

I keep a basket in my vehicle filled with various tools, duct tape, extra oil, brake fluid, transmission fluid, jumper cables, gloves and a rug. Once a brake line busted and I was able to re-fill it and make it to the gas station. My Dad is a mechanic, and we all learned the basics pretty young! But even if you don't know what to do with this stuff, maybe someone will stop to hwlp who does!

I make my bed as soon as I get up in the morning. I talk to people who say they just don't have time, but I can do mine in 30 seconds (timed myself!!) We continually have people here parading through the house, so I like to keep things looking nice.

I keep a little wisk broom and dustpan beside the wood burner, the fireplace and in the kitchen, as well as the laundry room. This makes it quick and easy to sweep up these little areas before it becomes a big mess.

I will come up with a few more, but feel free toadd your hints and tips for easier living!

-- Melissa (me@home.net), December 29, 2001

Answers

Wow, you have lots more than I do, Melissa! Just off the top of my head, the one I can think of that I truly do try to practice is never to leave a room without taking something that doesn't belong there and returning it to its rightful place. With a 5 year old and a 3 year old in the house, I can ALWAYS find something to return to its rightful place! If I think of any more as I am cleaning today, I will let you know!

-- Christine in OK (cljford@aol.com), December 29, 2001.

Don't go to bed at night with a dirty kitchen. It sure looks alot worse in the morning! Pick a day for certain chores..such as change the sheets on Monday, scrub showers on Weds. Etc...that way you know which "extra" you need to do that day. Alot of your tips are the same as mine Melissa. I do as many things before I go to bed at night as I can..I am happier that way in the morning. I am not a morning person..but have to get up early and get going with my day...so I try to make my own morning more organized.

-- Jenny (auntjenny6@aol.com), December 29, 2001.

Wow Melissa, you covered it!

To add a few: I keep a cheap (but sharp) pair of scissors on the shelf above my washer to cut loose threads before they go into the wash and get worse.

I have a small basket velcroed to the floor of my car between the front seats. This holds hand cream, air freshener, chap stick, coins, hairbrush, sunglasses, map, you name it.

When folding the bed sheets, I put all pieces from one set into one of the pillowcases. That way, the entire matched set can be grabbed at once, and the linen closet doesn't get torn apart looking for another piece.

My grocery shopping list is written on a back of a used legal size envelope, so all the coupons can be slipped inside.

I have a list of all the suppers that we like to eat. Each week, I check the grocery store sale papers to see what's on sale and I use this and my list of suppers to create my shopping list. I by just what I need to create each one. That way, I don't wind up with 8 cans of cream of mushroom soup, when I really need cream of celery soup. This helps to solve the "I don't know what to fix for dinner" syndrome.

In the beginning of each month, I get out the calendar and buy or make birthday cards for those celebrating during that month. I fill out the card & envelope but in the corner where the stamp goes, I write the date that it should be mailed. The stamp covers it up. This could work for each month's bills too.

This weekend (end of the year) I'll be cleaning out our filing drawer and boxing up all invoices, bills & correspondence pertaining to 2001. At the same time, I can organize what I need for the income taxes too. All paperwork is boxed and labels with 2001 and goes up in the attic, so it can be easily located if needed.

Whew! That's all that pops in my head now. Looking forward to hearing some more good ideas. Good topic for the start of a new year!

-- Charleen in WNY (harperhill@eznet.net), December 30, 2001.

I do a lot of the things you mentioned, here are a few more:

Some years ago, for some reason, we bought someNestles quick that came in a plastic yellow box. I filled that box with basic first aid supplies-bandaides, dramimine, alchol preps a tube of antibiotic cream, etc. and keep it in the car. We take it on picnics and stuff- the yellow box is easy to find!

I have another canvas bag that I keep in the car that I keep extra clothes in-I change it out seasonally plus tissues, papertowls wetwipes etc.

I keep a canvas tote bag by the frount door and put outgoing mail, library books, things that need to be returned. I pick it up when I go out in the morning, I keep it in the car and collect the incoming mail, reciepts, small packages, etc.

I have yet another totebag (I'm fond of tote bags!) that I keep a small needlework project, plus its tools in. I also keep a changepurse with a small amount of cash and some change. I also keep some tissues, some chocolates, and either a paperback novel or some mags inside. This bag goes with me to girlscout meetings, dentist appointments, etc. Acouple of times Ive had to take a someone to the emergency room-Boy did that change come in handy for phone calls and coffee!

I keep a small memo book in my purse, and write down things. I also have a medium size notebook(5by9, I think) by the phone. Everyday I turn to a fresh page, date it and during the day I jot down errands to run, things to pick up, any phone messages that come in- its a kind of household log. It also keeps up with all those phone numbers and adresses and instructions and directions that uyou get on the phone. We can copy that information down, but NEVER tear a page out!

If I'm working on a project that has instructions I ALLWAYS photocopy the instructions and keep one copy in a safe place.

-- Kelly (ksaderholm@yahoo.com), December 30, 2001.

Good hints everyone, I am keeping those notebook ideas in mind. I used to be able to remember everything, but the older I get the less I remember.

-- Melissa (me@home.net), December 30, 2001.

An idea for all those new electronic gadgets we just got for Christmas: Keep instruction booklets and the cash register receipt in a zip lock bag and store it under the gadget. Not too long ago, I needed to have something replaced, retrieved the instructions (and receipt) and had no problem with returning the item.

Wishing you enough.

-- Trevilians (aka Dianne in Mass) (Trevilians@mediaone.net), December 30, 2001.

One of the things I do is brown/fry a 5 lb. chunk of hamburger (a portion at a time if I do it on top of the stove) and then divide the cooked meat into five or six freezer containers. Think of how many dishes you cook that begin with "brown and drain one pound of hamburger..."...spaghetti sauce, tacos, burritos, stews, etc. This tip has made a huge difference. You can micro thaw, but it's so easy to just put it into the pan and heat thaw it and then proceed with your recipe.

-- Katie (homesteader@accessnevada.com), January 09, 2002.

I keep a bible and a magazine in the car for times I have to wait.

-- Ann Markson (tngreenacres@hotmail.com), January 09, 2002.

Since I only need my glasses to read with----& they bother me the rest of the time---I have bought those cheap ones at the dollar store- --I have them in the car & truck &-motor home & next to each phone--- extras in several places---where I need to see the fine print & might not have my glasses with me---

I love those bags also----I have a sewing bag /I take with me to work on /hand work in the car---a book bag---etc/etc/--- winter kits for the car & truck--etc/--- I also keep cups of pencils & pens all around the house--also a pair of sissors in each cup-(as you can tell we have no small children here!)Keep one by each phone & the computer--etc/etc.

I have a place for everything & it goes back in its place----then I have one "junk room"---anything that doesn't fit /you open up the door & put it in that room---if company is comming & you are working on a project---open the door & put the whole project in that room/ what ever you can't find-- look for it in the junk room---I also have a "junk drawer"-don't know what to do with the small stuff--put it in the junk drawer---only family is allowed in the "junk room" & the "junk drawer"!!!!

Then when you need to just remember family members who have passed away---or want to look at keepsakes---you go to the "junk room" & you spend the day looking in boxes- of keep sakes from family members & pictures & open trunks & spend time remembering!!! Then you walk out & close the door & go on with life!!!!

-- Sonda (sgbruce@birch.net), January 09, 2002.