​Some Organizational Household Management Ideas While Staying in Place

While the Covid-19 crisis has disrupted our lives; it has also provided opportunities to react to those challenges in new and creative ways. It’s also afforded folks time to reflect on their routines, habits and schedules. If you are working from home, you know first-hand what kind of adjustments you’ve needed to make. And even if you aren’t, you might be looking for some ways to improve your organizational household management and cash flow. Here are some suggestions to get you started.

• Go through your pantry, cupboards and freezer – meal plan and cook with what you have on hand first! Don’t forget to clean out that kitchen gadget drawer. It’s amazing what you might come across that you forgot you had!
• Try out some new recipes or make family favorites – put your slow cooker, stove top wok, cast iron skillet or Dutch oven and outdoor grill to use. 
• Clean out & organize your refrigerator before you go shopping. Incorporate leftovers into your weekly meal planning.
• When grocery shopping, always shop with a list; remember to bring your coupons & reusable bags with you. Observe all CDC safety precautions when shopping.
• Go through your wardrobe and pull out clothes that no longer fit, that you don’t like or that need repair (ask older children to help go through their own closets and dressers). This is a good time to swap out your winter clothes for spring garments!
• Clean and store away heavy winter jackets, hats, gloves, scarves and boots.
• Tackle your mending pile and ironing basket if they’ve been mounding up.
• Take advantage of warmer weather and clear out the attic, basement, garage, porches, and sheds. Fully, recycle, reuse and repurpose what you can.
• Think about having a garage sale later this summer to sell what you no longer need or want. If tag sales aren’t your bailiwick, check into online options to sell clothes and housewares.
• Reevaluate your home, auto and life insurance policies to make sure you have the best coverage for the best price.
• Reassess your cable, Internet and cell phone needs; do some comparison shopping; this might be the time to cut the cable cord and check out online streaming services.
• Go through your medicine cabinet and your bathroom sink – safely dispose of toiletries, cleaning supplies and medications that you no longer need or use. Check out DEC Safe Medication Disposal for Households page to learn where you can dispose of unneeded household medicine in your area.
• Organize family photos – scan them so you can store them online, if possible – be sure to include dates, names and other pertinent information. This can be a fun activity to do with the entire family.
• Organize children’s school papers, art projects, sports trophies/ribbons and other collectibles. If you are empty nesters and are still storing your children’s childhood treasures, talk to them about what they want to keep or what they’re willing to part with.
• Plan home improvement projects – like interior/exterior painting, fence installation, driveway repairs, landscaping and the like. This is a good time to do some online research regarding materials and other related costs.
• Scrutinize household spending – what have you not been spending money on now that you’re working from home? Can you continue to see these savings once you return back to work? What other spending can you cut back on?

For more COVID-19 related personal financial management information, check out COVID-19 FINANCIAL WELLNESS RESOURCES.

Last updated October 16, 2020