Little Notebooks

There is a dangerous obsession with notebooks I’ve encountered recently. Not the digital kind that gets thinner and thinner and thinner (while losing vital functions in both hardware and software), but another kind of notebook. A more paper-based form of the term. The internet tells me it’s been going on for a long time (and who am I to argue?), but it seems that I can remember forms of this even when I was a little kid. Remember those branded folders? The really cool 3D designs and other weirdness that accompanied complex three-ring binders that also held folders and other … Continue reading

My Personal Categories for a Household Notebook

So often others ask me how I divide or categorize my items within my household notebook. It isn’t that they do not understand the use of the notebook, only that they have trouble figuring out how to categorize it. When I discovered household notebooks, I never realized how purposeful and how incredibly important it would become to my family. We rely on this book, and affectionately refer to it as “household central”. If someone comes asking about something they hear “Check household central”. Because I figure if they cannot find it there, it probably is not anywhere in the house … Continue reading

The Best Type of Binder for Household Notebooks

What is the best type of binder for household notebooks? This question has actually been asked to me a lot in my days of spreading the word about our family central binder. The place where the whole family can find almost any information they need. However, the question posed is a good one, because the type of notebook is important. 1” Binder is the bare minimum size that I would recommend. This usually allows a household with maybe one child or two children to maintain a good record for the family. My families binder is a 3” binder. Yes. It … Continue reading

Dividing Your Household Notebook

By now you should have gathered all of the supplies that you need for making your household notebook. If you have not accomplished this yet, I strongly urge you to consider this method of household organization. For years it has saved my family a lot of time and money. So it is now time to focus on the dividers and categories. No two household notebooks are ever the same. Each family has different needs, and has a different focus on family life. For a homeschooling family, they won’t necessarily need a school or field trip section, however they might wish … Continue reading

How to Make a Household Notebook

My household notebook is truly my household manager. Sometimes I think that if I didn’t have it, I would not know which way was up, at least half the time. I discovered household notebooks many years ago. I was shopping at store that sold these little planner things that were very small and you could record all kind of information in them. They were titled Household Inventory. Though truly there wasn’t much in them that made them an inventory. I came home and was thinking about the book. I did not purchase one, instead I had the creativity to make … Continue reading

Time to Update Your Household Notebook and More

My Household Notebook articles were such a hit last year, that I have decided to write more so I can spread the word further. I have been creating these for years and while I make my own templates myself and almost always have, there are dozens of places to go to get downloadable sheets to fill the notebook. I thought I would first review the Household Notebook to make it easier for newcomers. Many of you might be asking exactly what is a household notebook and why do I need one? Others might be asking how a notebook can save … Continue reading

The Household Notebooks – Divided

Now that you know how to get started in organizing your household notebook, it’s time to figure out what needs to go in each category. I’m turning this article a bit personal, to show you examples of what I put in my household notebook. I also just recently added a “Deals and Savings” category, so although I have a few items in there, I will need to add to that as I go along. This section is further explained below. Many forms are available online to download and print. I suggest using Google to search, however OrganizedHome.com has some wonderful … Continue reading

The Household Notebook – Getting Started

Getting started with your household notebook is really very simple. It doesn’t cost a lot of money and helps to save you time and money too! Keep in mind when shopping that the cheapest materials are fine. Keeping your costs down is an important step. After you have gathered all your ideas for your categories, you will need to purchase a binder to store all your stuff. I recommend at the very least a 1 1/2” binder. However, recently with seven of us, we expanded to a 3” binder that seems to be more than enough. In fact, it’s perfect. … Continue reading

The Household Notebook – Further Explained

Recently, my significant other asked me about my household notebook. He didn’t understand the value or reasoning behind it. Well, why not – his organizational methods included plastering a bulletin board with all important information. So I explained to him, in great length, why the household notebook is such a valuable tool. I’ve had mine now for about two years and love it. I’ve never been more organized and up to date on things. The household notebook goes with being organized, but it also is a very frugal way to live. It helps to contain everything you need in one … Continue reading

The Household Notebook – Explained

Having a household notebook can be a blessing. It’s an easy way to keep everything in place and find what you need when you need it. It also saves time and money, and as we all know, saving time seriously does save money in the long run. A household notebook is what you make it, however it’s an organizer for the entire family, sort of a command center for the entire family, if you will. I will explain how I put mine together and how it works for my family. You will need to customize your’s to fit yours and … Continue reading