15-Minute Decluttering Tasks: Quick Fixes for a Tidy Space
In our fast-paced world, finding time for long decluttering sessions can be challenging. Luckily, you don’t need hours to make a significant change! With just 15 minutes, you can tackle small but meaningful decluttering tasks that will help keep your home organized. Here’s a guide to quick and effective 15 minute decluttering tasks that you can easily fit into your busy schedule.
1. Sort Through a Single Drawer
Pick one drawer in your home. Maybe the kitchen junk drawer, a desk drawer, or a bathroom drawer. Empty its contents, discard expired or unused items, and neatly organize the remaining essentials. These clear organizers are perfect for drawers! A tidy drawer can not only make a difference in how cluttered your space feels but also make daily tasks way more efficient.
2. Clear Out a Magazine or Book Pile
Books and magazines can quickly accumulate. Spend 15 minutes sorting through a stack, recycling old magazines, or donating books you no longer need. You’ll free up space and make your reading area look more organized.
3. Organize Your Purse or Backpack
Our bags often become catch-alls for random items. Take 15 minutes to empty your bag, discard old receipts or expired coupons, and sort through the remaining items. Use pouches or small organizers like these to keep things tidy.
4. Declutter Your Desk
Your desk can easily become cluttered with papers, pens, and random office supplies. It can feel overwhelming, but spend 15 minutes sorting through these items and you’ll see it was not as bad as it seemed! File important documents, discard unnecessary ones, and organize your supplies into drawers or containers.
5. Clean Out the Fridge
The refrigerator is a prime spot for hidden clutter. In just 15 minutes, check for expired food, clean out spills, and reorganize shelves. This quick task not only declutters but also ensures your food stays fresh and your fridge remains sanitary. Try to make it a weekly habit so it takes no time at all!
6. Declutter a Closet Shelf
Choose one shelf in a closet and sort through its contents. Remove items you no longer use or need, and organize what remains. This quick decluttering task can greatly enhance the functionality of your closet.
7. Organize Your Entryway
The entryway is often the first impression of your home and can quickly become cluttered with shoes, coats, and mail. In 15 minutes, tidy up this area by putting away shoes, sorting mail, and hanging up coats. Adding a small basket for keys or other small items can also help keep things in order.
8. Sort Through a Set of Towels
In the bathroom or linen closet, towels can take up a lot of space. Use 15 minutes to sort through your towels, discarding any that are worn out or stained. Fold and organize the remaining towels neatly.
9. Clean Out Your Car
Your car can accumulate clutter just like your home. Spend 15 minutes removing trash, organizing the glove compartment, and clearing out any items you no longer need. If you have a little extra time, give the seats a quick vacuum to get rid of dirt and/or crumbs.
10. Organize Your Kitchen Utensils
Kitchen drawers can become a tangled mess of utensils. Take 15 minutes to sort through them, remove duplicates or items you rarely use, and organize the remaining utensils in a way that makes them easy to access.
11. Declutter Your Digital Space
Your digital life can be just as cluttered as your physical space. Spend 15 minutes cleaning up your desktop, deleting unnecessary files, or organizing your email inbox. This digital decluttering can improve your productivity and reduce stress. Whew!
12. Sort Through a Basket of Laundry
Laundry baskets can become catch-alls for various items. Spend 15 minutes sorting through the contents, returning items to their proper places, and dealing with any laundry that’s been piling up. Listen to an audiobook or podcast to turn it into a “fun” task!
13. Tidy Up Your Coffee Table
Coffee tables can quickly gather clutter such as magazines, remote controls, and random objects. Use 15 minutes to clear off the table, organizing or discarding items as needed. This will help create a more inviting and calm living space.
14. Organize Your Jewelry
Jewelry can easily become tangled and disorganized if you don’t take care of it. In 15 minutes, untangle necklaces, sort earrings, and put your jewelry back in its proper place. Using small containers or organizers, helps keep your jewelry accessible and untangled.
15. Purge Old Greeting Cards and Paperwork
Greeting cards and paperwork can accumulate over time. Take 15 minutes to go through these items, keeping only the ones that are truly meaningful and recycling the rest. This task helps keep sentimental clutter to a minimum.
There you have it! What 15 minute decluttering tasks would you add to the list?
By decluttering in manageable 15-minute tasks, you can maintain an organized home without feeling overwhelmed. Consistent small efforts can lead to big improvements, making your living space more enjoyable and functional.
Find the best School Backpacks for less. This selection will take the stress out of shopping while saving money too.
The best school backpacks
Can you believe it? Back to school is just around the corner. Save money on back to school shopping by purchasing your school backpacks at a price that feels right.
It can be overwhelming in-store so shopping online is a great option.
Browse this list and save time while getting the best deals. No need to spend a ton of time or money when the deal hunting has been done for you!
This list truly has something for everyone to start the school year off right. There are even some backpacks listed that include lunch kits and more. Go ahead and start shopping today for the best selection.
From solid color options to school backpacks with patterns, the options are endless for the school year. This list has it all.
This Roots backpack is from Costco Canada. It looks great for high schoolers and has a lot of pockets!
7. Kids Recycled Backpack $39
I realize that this one is more than $50 when it’s not on sale, however, it’s from Gap Canada and they always seem to have some sales or coupon codes happening. So if this is the backpack you need, do not pay full price for it!
8. Super Mario Bros.™ Canvas Backpack for Kids $39.99
Perfect for the kid that loves Mario! This Old Navy backpack is sure to be a hit with early elementary aged kids.
9. Outbound Kids’ Multi-Pocket Backpack $16.99
Great price for a great backpack! This simple backpack is perfect for younger kids.
10. Outbound Oak Kids’ Recycled Backpack $19.93
This Outbound backpack is a smaller backpack perfect for daycare or preschool.
11. Skip Hop Zoo Big Kid Backpack $38
Oh man these are cute and perfect for younger kids! This is a bigger version of the classic Skip Hop backpack that I’m sure you have seen.
12. Skip Hop Zoo Little Kid Backpack $30
Here’s the smaller classic version of the Skip Hop backpack. Perfect for daycare or preschool.
13. Patterned Backpacks from The Children’s Place $49.95 or less
The Children’s Place has a great selection of backpacks! You’ll see Spiderman, Minecraft, princess, Paw Patrol, dinosaur, colorblock and more! They are currently on sale too!
14. High Sierra Swoop Sg Backpack $49.99
This High Sierra backpack has so many pockets! Perfect for the high schooler that likes to be organized!
15. SoYoung Neo Rainbows Backpack $48.98
This SoYoung backpack is a cheerful backpack in two different sizes. Like all backpacks I find, this one is machine washable.
16. Jansport Superbreak Backpack $30.20
This Jansport backpack is perfect for the kid that just wants a plain black, functional backpack.
17. Impact 3-Piece Backpack Set $19.98
You can’t beat the price on this one! This is a backpack set that includes a lunch kit and a pencil case.
18. Dickies Varsity Backpack $24.97
This Dickies backpack is everything you need in a backpack. Has a front zipper pocket, side mesh water bottle pocket and interior padded laptop sleeve.
19. All Canadian Backpack $29.97
Another black backpack with lots of pockets, perfect for carrying everything that’s needed at school!
20. Reebok Celeste Backpack $34.97
This Reebok backpack has storage for a laptop, sunglasses, water bottles and so much more!
21. Jetstream Marble Print Backpack $29.97
So much storage! This Jetstream backpack has pockets everywhere. Includes my favorite water bottle holders and more.
22. Dog Paw Prints Backpack $44.64
Perfect for the child who loves dogs! This Paw Prints backpack is another with lots of pockets.
23. Foldable Backpack $35.99
So this backpack is different than the others because it has a separate section on the bottom for shoes and a pocket on the front for holding wet items.
24. Lightweight Water Resistant Backpack $49.99
This one looks like a really durable backpack perfect for preschool or kindergarten. Lots of different patterns to choose from!
25. Casual Style Lightweight Bag $38.99
This backpack comes with a lunch kit and a pencil case! There are a ton of different designs to choose from too. Perfect for the high schooler.
26. Water Resistant Backpack $48.99
Sometimes, a solid colour backpack is just the thing that kids want. This water resistant backpack with high ratings is perfect for teens.
27. adidas Laptop Sleeve School Backpack $31.97
This adidas backpack is a sturdy, highly rated backpack that is perfect for higher elementary/middle school grades.
28. Solid Colour Backpack $36.99
This solid colour backpack is another option with lots of pockets. Comes in several different colours.
There you have it! A great selection of school backpacks found in Canada for under $50! Which ones do you think your kids will like the most?
Cost Effective Alternatives to Buy at the Grocery Store
So, you’re looking to save some more money at the grocery store without compromising your health. Sometimes it can be as simple as replacing one item with another similar item! Today, I’d love to tell you about 8 items you can buy to replace their costly, less healthful counterparts.
Oatmeal instead of cereal
Do away with the expensive boxes of cereal full of sugar and buy oatmeal! You could purchase those convenient packs of pre-made oatmeal, but I’d encourage you to buy a bag of oats instead. I find it so easy to create my own instant oatmeal packs, plus I can control the sugar content by adding various delicious toppings. Oatmeal will also help keep you feeling full so you may need less snacks 😉
Frozen fruit instead of fresh
Purchasing fresh fruit in season can be an inexpensive way to get them, but frozen fruits are a good option too. Especially because they’re picked at the peak of their flavour and aren’t any less healthful than fresh. So if you find yourself in the dead of winter wanting fruit, try grabbing a bag of frozen fruit to save yourself some cash and disappointment with the lack of flavour.
Yogurt tub instead of cups
Sure, yogurt cups are really convenient for packing in lunches, but you could spend a little extra time once a week filling up reusable containers with yogurt from a tub instead. Buying yogurt in larger quantities (tubs or those pour bags) will save you big time.
Make dressing instead of bottled
Making salad dressings from scratch has got to be one of the most simple kitchen tasks you could do. Believe me because I don’t do complicated in the kitchen. If you’re used to buying those expensive bottles of organic/natural salad dressings, you’ll be saving yourself a bundle at the grocery store by making your own with simple inexpensive ingredients you may already have on hand! Here are some of my recipes:
Not only is a head of lettuce much cheaper than the bags or containers of salad, they last longer too! I understand the convenience of buying a bag or container, but really it doesn’t take much effort to tear up some lettuce leaves for a salad. Especially when you have to sort through the slimy pieces in the bags or containers anyways.
Rotisserie chicken instead of deli meats
Go for the whole rotisserie chicken instead of the deli meats for sandwiches. Your boring ol’ sandwiches will taste so much better! Plus, you’ll be feeding yourself something a bit healthier. But don’t stop at sandwiches, hang onto the bones and extra meat to make a delicious chicken noodle soup for another meal or two.
Dried beans instead of canned beans
I’ll be honest and say that we don’t eat a lot of beans in our house so I do tend to purchase the cans of beans. But, if you use beans a lot in your cooking, purchasing dried beans is the way to go if you want to save yourself a bundle! Cooking up a batch of dried beans is simple if you put your slow cooker to use or the new Instant Pot.
Brown Rice instead of white rice
There may not be much of a price difference between white rice and brown rice, but if you look at the nutritional value, you’ll win with buying the brown rice. The vitamins, minerals and antioxidants are some of the benefits, but one of the biggest pluses may be that the high amount of fiber in brown rice helps fill you up longer than white rice would. In turn, cutting down on the amount of snacks you may need between meals. Or even the amount you pile on your plate in the first place.
A you can see, there may be no need to stop buying some items completely to save money, but a simple replacement should help you out. How many of these replacements do you buy already? What are some other things that you buy to save money?
If your child is not yet old enough for a typical part time job but mature and responsible enough for making money, there are plenty of ways they can get started! This summer, they can supplement their allowance, tuck money into savings, or build up their comic book collection.
Some ideas I have gathered are traditional money makers and others are new needs in this modern busy world we live in.
Your little entrepreneur is sure to find something in this list of 10 ideas they can do this summer to make money! These are fantastic ways to teach responsibility, money management, and many other life skills in a real life setting.
Set Up a Lemonade Stand
The good old stand by money maker of yesterday can still be a great operation now to draw in kids and adults alike . A sweet and simple lemonade stand is a good way to teach your child some money making skills, a new recipe, persistence, marketing, and more. Set them up at the end of the driveway or a local park.
Making Crafts
Kids who like to make anything like duct tape wallets, friendship bracelets, watercolor paintings, doll clothes, pot holders, necklaces, etc.. can turn it into a little business to build up their funds. They can be sold to friends, family, and neighbors or even setup on an Etsy storefront, brought to craft shows or similar venues.
Try Craftsy!
If you’re looking for some craft ideas, try a Craftsy membership for only $2.49 your first year! There are a whole ton of craft videos you can watch!
Being a Babysitter/mother’s helper
If your child is old enough they can advertise for independent babysitting but even younger children, probably at least 8 or 9, who enjoy younger children can be a mothers helper keeping the kids occupied, making lunch, and playing with the children while mom does other tasks.
By Mowing/Pulling Weeds
Children make fantastic helpers in the yard and no doubt you have a neighbor or two who can use a little help with the mowing or pulling weeds from the flower bed. Since growing season is in the summer but many people still have to work they extra hand is appreciated.
Bring in Mail/Newspapers/Water Plants
Summer is prime vacation time and people are often looking for someone to bring in the mail, gather newspapers, and water the plants while they are gone and this is a great job for kids to get them started on responsibility and money making. You can accompany younger children and let older children go on their own.
Pooper Scooper
Those with dogs in fenced in yards frequently need to clear it all out, and it’s a job no one likes. But turning it into a money maker is a win win for both sides. Invest in bags and a long handled scoop (that your child can pay back in payments) and let them give a hand while filling their pockets.
Having a Yard Sale
When I can make money AND clean out the clutter it is a very good day indeed. Enlist the kids help sorting out knick knacks as well as clothes and toys no longer wanted/needed and have a yard sale. Let them do the majority of the work including setup, taking money, and handling customers.
Washing cars
Double duty jobs are the best! Kids can cool off and have fun while earning cash for movies, toys, and more. Car washing is a need and it seems especially during the summer when bugs, dust, and pollen are at a high! They can make signs, pass out fliers, and offer deals to get the word of mouth going around the neighborhood.
Pet sitting/Walking Dogs
While everyone is vacationing without their pets a great need is someone to come several times a day to walk and play with the dogs, clean kitty litter, feed fish, and similar tasks or while they are at work instead of paying big bucks for a doggie daycare.
Starting seeds
If your child has a green thumb (or wants to find theirs) you can have them start seeds or make cuttings for plants and sell them. Many people just don’t have the time and getting a hold of organic plants without pesticides can be difficult. Serve a need and make money by starting butterfly plants and veggies to sell in the neighborhood. You can also advertise on local Facebook groups (meeting in public place of course!)
How do your kids work to earn extra money during the summer?
Amazon Prime Days are coming! Watch this page July 16 & 17, 2024 for all the best deals!
To take advantage of the deals, you have to be a Prime member. BUT! If you haven’t been an Amazon Prime member in the last 12 months, you can sign up for a free trial!
Groceries. We need them and we have to buy them. Yet, while they are a necessity, do you find that you have quite a high grocery bill? Are you frustrated by that fact? There are ways to keep grocery costs down and I’m about to reveal my secrets that will help fix your problem.
You might be feeling as though there’s no possible way to lower your grocery bill. But, I’m of the mindset that our grocery bill is one of the most flexible bills we have to pay. There is no set monthly bill that a grocery store sends our way, unlike the phone company. We make the call on how much our bill will be each time we stop at the store.
Shop your Pantry
Before you even head to the grocery store, peruse your pantry shelves to see how many ingredients you already have that will help you put together as many meals as possible. Take inventory. Every once in a while I like to dedicate a week or two to shopping from my pantry. On those weeks, I literally only spend about $30 on dairy products and fresh fruits & veggies. Simply because I’m making an effort to use what I already have on hand. This is a great way to ensure that you don’t spend money you didn’t have to, and that you don’t find good food that has expired.
Have a Meal Plan
I’m a huge fan of meal planning. Like, huge! Every week, I try to have 5 dinners planned out by Sunday evening. Five, because one night we usually eat out and Sundays are spent at my parents. Also, I plan dinners only because lunch usually consists of dinner leftovers and breakfast is a rotation of oatmeal/peanut butter toast/pancakes/French toast/and eggs, each always served with fruit. This works for us because usually the same things get marked down on the list and I know what each item generally costs. This makes our bill fairly consistent, since there’s usually only a few “not usual” items needing to be purchased.
Shop the flyer sales
I’ll admit and say that shopping the store sales and planning meals around those sales is not my strongest trait. But often times if there’s an item on sale that I know we’ll use in the near future, I will buy at least a couple. (Chicken is on sale this week so I’ll probably buy at least four packages to get us through to the next sale.) If you can get good at planning your meals around what’s on sale each week, you’ll be saving a ton!
Breakfast is cheaper than dinner. There are usually a couple of nights a month where I plan to make breakfast for dinner. Waffles with whipped cream, fresh strawberries and bacon? Yes, please! My husband also likes to make a huge batch of French toast once in a while and we put the leftovers in the freezer for super easy breakfasts.
Use rice & pasta
I like to use rice and pasta quite a bit because I find them to be so cheap! Pasta is very cheap when I can find a good deal using coupons. Rice, when purchased in bulk, is cheap and lasts a long time! I like to make up stir-frys once in a while using rice or pasta to serve the veggies over. (Stir-frys are also a great way to use up vegetables!) Also, I know when I make something involving rice or pasta, it’ll be a hit with my toddler, and that’s a win!
Eat leftovers
Growing up, I was not a big fan of leftovers. When my parents would inform me that we’ll be having leftovers for dinner, I usually cringed. Now, as an adult, I LOVE leftovers! Leftovers mean one less meal I have to make during the week! More often than not, I’ll actually double up on dinner just so we have extra. Most of the time we save leftovers for lunch, but occasionally we’ll have a busy night that will need a super quick dinner.
Use meat substitutes
These days, I’m actually forced to use something besides meat and poultry because my daughter has decided she’ll have none of it. Luckily, she loves beans, lentils and eggs, which I find to be a great grocery budget saver! There are also many other vegetables that are high in protein such as mushrooms, green peas, kale, broccoli and cauliflower that I prepare with each meal.
Use frozen vegetables
While I much prefer fresh vegetables, sometimes buying frozen vegetables can be cheaper in the long run. Especially if you find certain vegetables are always going bad before you have a chance to finish them. (That’s cauliflower in our home!) I usually have a bag of mixed frozen vegetables on hand for those nights when dinner can’t be made fast enough. We have also determined that steaming them makes them taste the best. They’re not as soggy that way!
Use coupons
I don’t use a lot of coupons, but as I mentioned above, I’ve stocked up on pasta (and other items) many times because of some sales and coupons I’ve had. I also consider paper towels, toilet paper, toothpaste and other household items to be grocery items and I won’t buy these items unless I have a coupon. There are also some great cash back apps that I use to save even more.
Eat before you shop
This is a tip you probably hear every time someone tells you how to save money on groceries. But, I can certainly attest to its truth! Nearly each time I grocery shop hungry, I end up with extra stuff in my shopping cart. And it’s usually not healthy stuff! A bag of chips? Sure! A bottle of pop? We haven’t had that in a while! I always have snacks in my purse because of my daughter, but I’ve been known to “share” them with her just so I’m not starving and fill our cart full of unnecessary stuff.
There you have it. My 10 Secrets to a lower grocery bill! I hope you found something helpful in this list, or at least something that inspires you to try harder.
I’d love it if you would share your tips and tricks in the comments!
In today’s fast-moving world, keeping tabs on your finances is pretty darn important if you want to stay above water. But perhaps, keeping a full on budget isn’t your thing. Enter printable expense trackers: your trusty sidekick in the quest for financial proficiency.
Imagine a world where tracking your spending feels like organizing a DIY project—except this project saves you money!
These already made printable expense trackers that I have for you, come in a minimalist design so there’s no confusion on what needs to be jotted down. In this freebie, you’ll find 12 printable sheets – one for each month of the year.
These trackers are your personal finance cheerleaders, shouting “You got this!” as you track everything from groceries to that daily latte. By jotting down your expenses, you get a crystal-clear view of where your hard-earned cash goes. It’s like shining a spotlight on your spending habits—making it easier to tweak budgets and save up for that dream vacation or rainy day fund.
Going old-school with pen and paper isn’t just nostalgic; it’s smart. Writing things down makes you more mindful of your money moves. It’s like having a mini-financial coach nudging you towards smarter decisions—like skipping that impulse buy or renegotiating that subscription you forgot about.
Plus, these trackers are like a yearbook of your financial journey. Flip through and see how far you’ve come from those early days of tracking. It’s not just numbers; it’s your story of financial growth and savvy choices.
Best part? These trackers won’t cost you a dime. They’re like the best DIY project ever—free, fun, and oh-so-rewarding. Just download, print, and let the financial adventure begin!
So, whether you’re plotting your escape from debt or aiming to stash away for that epic road trip, grab these printable expense trackers and make managing money as fun as finding a hidden treasure map. Your financial future will thank you for it!
This homemade Baking Mix (Bisquick) is made with only 5 simple ingredients and takes just minutes to mix up. It’s cheaper, healthier and tastes great!
Homemade Baking Mix (Bisquick)
If you are like me and looking for ways to eat healthier and save money at the same time, then you’ll love this copycat “Bisquick” mix!
It only takes minutes to make, is cheaper than buying the Bisquick brand and it doesn’t have any ingredients that you can’t pronounce.
Take a look at my recipe for homemade baking mix (Bisquick)! Use it in any recipe in place of Bisquick. It’s so great in casseroles, quiche, pancakes, biscuits, muffins and more.
I’m so ready for some summer fun! In fact, I’m so ready I created some summer bucket lists for you all to enjoy along with me! There are two for you to enjoy: