Friday, March 11, 2011

57 March Challenge: Project "Household Binder" {Set Up Binder}

All free printables mentioned within the post are now expired and available for sale!  Please check out my Etsy Shop for a large selection of personalized printables to fit all of your household organizing needs!


  Thank you!


THANK YOU over and over again for sharing your comments and ideas for our March challenge of the household binder!

Since I last posted, I compiled a list of ALL our ideas together!  This was extremely helpful in me adding to my original list and determining all of the categories that would be most beneficial to our family!  Here is what we came up with as a group of category ideas:
  • Freezer Inventory
  • Fridge Inventory
  • Pantry Inventory
  • Storage Inventory
  • Important School Information/Schedules
  • Movie Inventory
  • Cleaning Checklist
  • Menu Planning
  • Finances/Bill Payment Checklist
  • Product Warranty Information
  • Important Contact Numbers {Contractor, Plumber, Electrician, Yard Maintenance, Financial Advisor, Home and Auto Insurance, Poison Control, Neighbors, etc…}
  • Babysitter Note Sheet
  • Pet Care Instructions
  • Travel Checklist
  • Idea Lists/To Do Lists
  • Home Inspiration/Paint Swatches/Fabric Swatches etc…
  • Blog Posts
  • Credit Card and ID Information
  • “Weekend Wish List”
  • Important Dates to Remember
  • CPR Instructions
  • Emergency Pack List
  • Business Cards/Vendors
  • Take Out Menus
  • Gym Information
  • Check In/Out Library System
  • Local Produce Availability
  • Personal Goals/Resolutions
  • Parenting Resources
  • Family Sizes and Measurements
  • Computer Log Names/Passwords
  • Calendar
  • Kid’s Daily Schedule/Routine
  • Kid’s Wish Lists
  • Greeting Card Checklist
  • Medical History
  • Auto Maintenance Log


    Pretty incredible list right?  The next thing I did was go through and highlight the categories that we would be personally using as a family.  When determining, I asked myself, "Will it create future ease for our family? And do we already have a system functioning well for this category?"  For example, we don't need gym information because we don't have a gym membership.  Easy to nix that one.  I can do a great quick visual inventory of our fridge and pantry {due to many clear storage containers}, unlike both of my freezers, so the fridge and pantry ones are on the back-burner for now.  I decided I didn't want my passwords for important things easily accessible to anyone.  We keep important medical information in a special file in our filing tote.  I also have a great planner so I don't want to duplicate my efforts {like extra To Do lists or Family Fun Idea Lists}, so other items may have not made it onto my final list either.  However, SO important to remember that each and every person and family has different situations and needs.  It's all about tailoring to fit you!   
    • Freezer Inventory
    • Fridge Inventory
    • Pantry Inventory
    • Storage Inventory
    • Important School Information/Schedules
    • Movie Inventory
    • Cleaning Checklist
    • Menu Planning
    • Finances/Bill Payment Checklist
    • Product Warranty Information
    • Important Contact Numbers {Contractor, Plumber, Electrician, Yard Maintenance, Financial Advisor, Home and Auto Insurance, Poison Control, Neighbors, etc…}
    • Babysitter Note Sheet
    • Pet Care Instructions
    • Travel Checklist
    • Idea Lists/To Do Lists
    • Home Inspiration/Paint Swatches/Fabric Swatches etc…
    • Blog Posts
    • Credit Card and ID Information
    • “Weekend Wish List”
    • Important Dates to Remember
    • CPR Instructions
    • Emergency Pack List
    • Business Cards/Vendors
    • Take Out Menus
    • Gym Information
    • Check In/Out Library System
    • Local Produce Availability
    • Personal Goals/Resolutions
    • Parenting Resources
    • Family Sizes and Measurements
    • Computer Log Names/Passwords
    • Calendar
    • Kid’s Daily Schedule/Routine
    • Kid’s Wish Lists
    • Medical History
    • Auto Maintenance Log

    The items in PINK are items that I have chosen to use in our binder, create templates for and share on the blog this month!  The items in BLUE are items that I would like to consider, maybe add later, or will be creating a separate binder for.

    The next thing I did was categorize is down even more, some items are similar and can be grouped together in my binder.
    1. Important School Information/Schedules
    2. Movie Inventory, Check In/Out Library System
    3. Cleaning Checklist
    4. Finances/Bill Payment Checklist
    5. Important Contact Numbers {Contractor, Plumber, Electrician, Yard Maintenance, Financial Advisor, Home and Auto Insurance, Poison Control, Neighbors, etc…}, Business Cards/Vendors
    6. Babysitter Note Sheet, Pet Care Instructions, Kid’s Daily Schedule/Routine, CPR Instructions
    7. Travel Checklist
    8. Blog Posts, Calendar {I will use the calendar to better organize upcoming blog posts, however, I will create a generic calendar template that will be versatile for any use}
    9. Important Dates to Remember
    10. Auto Maintenance Log
    • Product Warranty Information will receive it's own binder.
    • Home Inspiration/Paint Swatches/Fabric Swatches etc…will receive it's own binder.
    • Menu Planning, Freezer Inventory, Recipes, Takeout Menus {I already have some recipes/takeout menus in this binder here, will be adding the menu planning and inventory to that binder}

    So in total, my one binder, has now expanded to four all inclusive binders!  WOW!  Who knew?  So I ran back to Target and snagged three more just like the first one I had shown {because my OCD side of me wanted them all to be the same, totally NOT REQUIRED!}


    I also picked up more page dividers.  I made to sure invest in ones that have pockets to hold loose items!



    Next I created a coversheet for the inside of our binder.  This could also go out the outside if you have the type of binder with the clear plastic cover meant for inserting cover sheets!


    Now for your first FREE download {remember, for the month of March only!}

    Click HERE to download

    When you click the link, you should see a screen like this:


    **  UPDATE!  IF YOU HAVE MICROSOFT OFFICE 97-2003, USE THIS LINK HERE TO DOWNLOAD YOUR COVERSHEET **

    ** TO DOWNLOAD AS A PDF, USE THIS LINK HERE  **

    Once you download the file, you can open it in Microsoft Excel, to edit your family names, and print it for your binder! {fingers crossed all goes well!}

    I popped mine through the laminator.  Then I snagged my single punch {I don't own a three hole puncher}


    Then I grabbed a piece of heavy cardstock, placed it under a pre-punched page divider, and used that as a template to make a new hole punching template out of the cardstock.  This way, I always have a pre-made guide for punching all my future papers!


    Then, I just punched my laminated coversheet and popped it into the binder!


    The rest of the weekend I will be working on laminating and inserting all of my current charts and spreadsheets that I am going to centralize into the binder!

    The next steps will entail actually piecing together and building the binder!  Creating our checklists and templates.  I will start plugging away at those to begin sharing more FREE templates next week!

    Who's excited about this project?  I am GIDDY excited!  LOVE LOVE LOVE everything about what's going on this month!  Can't wait to be THAT much more organized!  Thanks again to everyone for all the inspiration and ideas!


    I decided a little challenge would be fun! This month we are creating a Home Management Binder!  Wanna Join in?  Take photos and blog about your awesomeness as you go!  I am hoping to do a giant, "We did it!" celebratory post where we can all link up our binder creating success stories at the end of the month!

    57 comments:

    1. Just in time! This is a project that I was planning on starting a a week or so. CUTE binder cover! Thanks!

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    2. Thanks for the download, I popped it in the front of my binder and added the tabs to my dividers. This is great I am super excited to finally get organized so I can hav fun doing other things.

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    3. This is so great, thank you!! I have a basic home notebook but really want to make it much more functional. What laminator do you use?

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    4. Thanks for the download! I'm enjoying creating this family binder!
      Jo-Anna

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    5. Thanks so much for the freebie download, Jen! I absolutely love your site and have made it my "Organizational Bible"-so to speak.:) Can't wait to implement more of your great tips!

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    6. LOVE this project. I am so excited to get started!! Thanks for sharing!

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    7. Getting organized is soooo much fun! I love working on my binder and sharing my pages with others!

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    8. This is AWESOME! I got the DVD organizer like you had in your blog and I can't wait to use your sheet! Thank you!!

      Question, I have been dreaming of how to do a car maintenance sheet for a while. How do you do yours? Thanks again!! Seriously heart your blog <3

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    9. Thanks Jennifer!

      I don't have an auto maintenance log yet, I got the idea from a reader and HEART it, so I am going to make one for this challenge, and then share it with all of you! :)

      Stay tuned!

      xoxo,
      Jen

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    10. Thanks for sharing the download! I am excited to get started on this!
      I'm also curious about the Auto Maintenance log, so I can't wait to see what you come up with.
      Also, that category list is awesome. I'll be picking out the categories that work for my family and set up my binder this weekend!!

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    11. um... you are so awesome! i love the cover page. thanks so much!

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    12. I am so getting on board with this! Thanks for the inspiration!

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    13. ok, ms. jennifer...can i just say that i'm pretty sure you'e my idol!! :) i love how all your stuff looks so neat and tidy...even mid-process. i found the exact binder you're using at target, so i think i may have to go get some totally copy you :) hope you don't mind! love what you're doing here....

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    14. Very cute binder! I have a household binder but mine just keeps my manuals in order. Well, it use to be in order. I am in the process of organizing it as there are some things we no longer own and new manuals that I have not added. Hoping to get that done soon!

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    15. ohmygosh what a great list! I am going to go through it and choose which items I'm adding to my binder! =) yay!

      xoXOxo
      Jenn @ Peas & Crayons

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    16. oh and thanks for all the free templates.. You would not believe how long it took me to find a colorful free template for a menu plan!

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    17. I Love it! I've been waiting on a follow up post to this project!!! TY

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    18. Thanks for the cute download! Love it and I love your blog! I always get happy when I see a new post pop up in my email! I was wondering what kind of laminator you have? Thanks Jen!

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    19. Thanks so much for this project! and for the download. I am excited to create my binder so I can have a central place where all the important things go! Plus, it's going to be just so cute!

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    20. Love the cover sheet, just so attractive. Thank you!!!!

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    21. Love this idea and LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your site. Thanks for all the inspiration!

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    22. I've been diligently working on creating pages for my home binder for awhile now. I love that you made a list of different sheets to add because I want to make this bad boy really work for my family. I too love to create planner pages and make things personalized. So excited about this month's challenge. I'm working like a mad woman to get mine created to link up at the end of the month. LOVE your blog! It's my organizing crack! :)

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    23. LOL Mandi!! That's totally it... Organizing Crack! hahaha :)

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    24. I've just discovered your blog and I absolutely love what you have done with your beautiful home! My goal this year was to get my home organized and now I am so inspired by your blog that I want to run out to Michael's right now and buy some binders! It would be great if you could tell us where you buy things from. You are truly talented! Keep up the good work. Your boys are darling!

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    25. I tried to download the first one, but it was saved in a newer version of MS Excel. Do you think you could 'save as' the MS 1993-2001 version? That way the rest of us with older versions could also download it.

      Also, I found a typo. "visual inventory of our fridge and pantry {DUE to many clear storage".

      Thanks for all these ideas!
      Jennifer B.

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    26. You are amazing at all your cute-tastic Excel labels and pages!!

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    27. Jennifer,

      Thanks for the catch on the typo {although, be prepared to notice that's part of the blog's theme since I am the worlds worst speller!}

      I have added a second link for the older Excel versions. Let me know if it still isn't working!

      Thanks so much!

      xoxo,
      Jen

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    28. Thank-you so much for all of the fabulous ideas and free downloads! Absolutely LOVE your blog!
      Have a great weekend!

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    29. I also want to say thank you for the freebie download, I love colourful templates. I have to watch with envy with those gorgeous binders as our Target has nothing like that (as I am in Australia)

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    30. Thank you for the free downloads! I am so excited to get on board with this challenge! I'm still single, so it won't be a "family" organizer, but I figure if I can get myself totally organized NOW, it won't be as much of a challenge when I DO have a family! I love your blog!!!!

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    31. Thanks for the free download, I did a "control journal" (through Fly Lady) a few years back but it is way overdue for an overhaul and as we have just moved into our new home this is the perfect time.

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    32. Thanks for the download!!!

      Will you please share where you got those cute binders??? (sorry if you've already mentioned it) Target??

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    33. Hi Dorothy!

      You got it - Target! :)

      xoxo,
      Jen

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    34. Paperwork! Ugh...I just went through years, and years, and years of paperwork. What do you do with all of it? (I ask this now because of the binder inspiration and because I am drowning in paperwork.) Examples of my excessive paperwork: years of check stubs, EOB sheets, old student loan paperwork for loans I still pay, tax information printouts. HELP!

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    35. Hi Melissa!

      We tackled papers on the blog in January - you can find all the steps we took under the Project Gallery tab at the top of the blog!

      Let me know if you need more help!

      xoxo,
      Jen

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    36. Is there a way I can download the cover without using excel (I don't have it) ?

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    37. Love the lists! I just put together my home binder a couple of weeks ago, and it has now become my favorite tool for organization, and keeping my life more simple. Really love the cleaning lists!! I think I need them!

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    38. I can't download these docs, I have micro office 2003 is that why? Is there a specific program I should use to download these docs?

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    39. I think you have mentioned this before but cant remember the answer.......what program do you use for all of your cute templates? I would like to be able to keep the same look through out my binder.
      Thanks for all the wonderful ideas!

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    40. Sorry my question came up anonymous but I am not sure how to post it anyother way!

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    41. I have also added a PDF version of the coversheet for those having trouble with the Microsoft Excel versions. The link is embedded in the post.

      Also, I use Microsoft Excel to create the templates.

      Thanks!

      xxoo,
      Jen

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    42. i just got my erin condren planner in the mail today...smitten, really i am! thank you so much for sharing where you got yours! i will be printing off a few of your freebie blog planner sheets to go along with it. matches perfectly...love them and thanks for sharing with us!!! oh i just love when things match, im more apt to stick with it:)

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    43. Hi again! Could you please provide a PDF for the movie inventory and gift giving record sheet? Thank you so much!

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    44. Thanks for all the free templates! They all work great so far, except I'm having trouble with the gift giving one. Could you do a PDF for that, please? Thank you!

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    45. It sounds like Tarche' (Target) still has these super cute binders you're using... Is that right?

      Jen & Fellor Readers, have you seen them recently? And do they "look" like something that'll actually be in stock? I'm going tonight, hopefully, to pick a few up but I always have such bad luck when I go to get something at Target that I've seen someone else has from there... it's out of stock or no longer being sold :-( Keeping my fingers crossed!!! :-)

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    46. Yep - the binders are from Target, however, each local Target may have different stock. I just got mine late last week!

      I have updated all the links above to go directly to a PDF version, and you will also be able to find a full listing of all PDF's for this binder project now on the right sidebar!

      Thanks!

      xoxo,
      Jen

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    47. Is it too late to add a suggestion for what to include in the binder? I'd love to have a home maintenance checklist that's marked month by month--something that will remind me to change the furnace filter, do those once-a-year cleaning jobs, etc. I'm pretty good at keeping up with the daily and weekly chores, but I forget to do the stuff that happens less often.

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    48. Awww. wish I would have found this earlier :( I missed the downloads.

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    49. @Robin - The printables are still FREE through the end of this week! You can snag them up over on the Sidebar!

      xoxo,
      Jen

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    50. i just have to say complete genius. i can't wait to get started on our family binder and get this house organized to my satisfaction, it may take a while but i have this site to come to if i hit a bump. it's amazing!

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    51. I just sat down to plan this bad boy and it took on a mind of its own... I think im going to have to. break it up into many binders or do a HUGE one... I am thinking separate so I don't hurt myself.

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    52. It’s a shame you don’t have a donate button! I’d definitely donate to this outstanding blog! I suppose for now i’ll settle for bookmarking and adding your RSS feed to my Google account. I look forward to new updates and will share this blog with my Facebook group. Chat soon!


      computer store

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    53. I see that you are selling your templates for the binder, which is great! But I don't see a template for the cover page. Do you sell that one too? I am interested in purchasing it. Thanks!

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    54. Could someone send me a copy of the coversheet? Or link me to where I can get it? the above links aren't working for me :(

      catsta83@hotmail.com

      Thanks :)

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      Replies
      1. Hi there!

        All of my documents are currently sold out in the shop - but will be relisted very shortly - stay tuned to the blog for details within the next couple of days.

        xoxo!
        Jen

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