Simplify Your Life: Get Out from Under that Paperwork!

We are all electronically connected. We have emails, texts, and all that social media that keeps us so busy. Our finances, memories, agendas are safely (?) stored online or in clouds. So why do we still have all that paper clutter invading our space? Well, some people just don't know what to throw away!

Lots of stuff can be stored in your computer. Are you afraid it will be lost of stolen? Well yes, both can happen. But there are some things you can do to keep your stuff both safe and protected. For example, you can always have a backup external drive. You can use a flash drive if you use more than one pc and now a days they easily sync back and forth. We all know that there are many applications that will keep your data synced on all your devices. This goes across all platforms. Now I am not going to give you a technical review as to which product to use to store and sync your stuff. But I will suggest what you should store.

First of all, some documents need to be originals such as birth certificates, social security cards, deeds, etc. We know what we need originals for.....all that official stuff. But there are many things you need to store but you don't need an original. A scanned copy of the original will do. If you don't have a scanner you can download great free scanners for your phone. I use Quick pdf Scanner.

Here are some things you can scan and save:

1. Insurance documents
2. Warrantees (make sure first, it will be written on the document)
3. Receipts (make sure first, ask the vendor)
4. Correspondence
5. Telephone numbers/Business Cards (How many of those do you have? Its time to toss or store in your contact list)
6. Greeting Cards!  I know this is hard, but unless it is really really sentimentally important toss them or frame them. Another idea is to scan them and keep a file on your pc with the cards you have received.

Then there are those papers you keep on the kitchen counter or on the dinning room table until you have time to get to them. This is inevitable in our busy lives. I keep a small basket with papers that I know I have to take action on but don't require immediate attention. On holidays or long weekends my must-do is to empty out the basket and execute those needed but not urgent tasks. Yes, I know if I were better I could schedule this for every weekend, but....it is what it is. For the papers that require immediate attention, well the word is self explanatory; DO IT IMMIDIATELY!

And who doesn't have a filing cabinet? Spring cleaning is the time to go through this for me. It depends on how many documents you acquire through the year. Once a year may not be enough for you but don't ever file it and forget it or your home will end up looking like an office with filing cabinets storing long forgotten and useless documents.

Simplify Your Life with me!

Everyone talks about stress but who is actually doing something about it. Well, its time we did. "We" yes, lets do it together. I will a series of essays about what I did to simplify my life and I hope you will join me in the journey and in taking action too. Hey, give me tips and encouragement. We can do this together. There are different types of simplification. Let me show you what I mean: 1. Material Simplification We all know about clutter. It is the simplest yet the most difficult place to start. All that clutter that you hate just can't get rid of. Well, clutter occupies your space and your mind. You will feel refreshed and relieved when you get rid of clutter. The space you live in will be simplified and clear. But your mind will too. Think about it, how do you know you have that little kitty figuring from a hundred years ago? How do you know where it was last you saw it? All that stuff is stored in your mind. Clutter and unnecessary information. Why occupy you mind and your space with it? Lets make room for something really important and hopefully enjoyable. 2. Worry Everyone says it, don't worry it will be ok. But still you worry. Even when there is nothing you can do about it. Well its time you stop for real and let things that you cannot control go and unravel as they may. Just let it go. No more fussing about things that are eating you up inside while there is nothing in your power to change them. Yes, I know that is hard to do but it doesn't mean that it isn't doable. So lets begin: Physical Clutter Go through one draw at a time or one room and dig through the corners and all those hiding places you call storage. Take out everything you haven't used in at least a year and gift it, donate it, or sell it. Now be careful about the selling part because that can be tricky. Sometimes you value something more than others will and you can't sell it so you end up keeping it which defeats the purpose of getting rid of it to begin with. If you haven't been able to sell something in a month its time to slash the price or change the category to "donate". Take the tax deduction instead of the sale profit. After doing your search and tackle of clutter, you know there will still be things left behind. Keep a bin or box next to your door. Every time you come something you realize you really don't need, put it in that box. Donate all the contents of that box. You will feel so much better. Mental Clutter - Worry Lots of things make up mental clutter, but we are tackling "worry" first. Throughout the day you will worry about the silliest things, did you water the plants?, will your friend call you?, will you have time to go to the grocery store? - this is all stuff that clutters your mind and you really shouldn't ponder on, but sometimes you find yourself worrying about the silliest commonalities that you don't even consider it worrying. STOP, if you need to water the plants just do it, if you forgot, then tell yourself when you get home you will do it and don't think about it again until you get home. Don't let silly things linger in your mind and become insignificant sources of worry.

Groceries on a Budget? Call in the Angels!

We all know how horrific those visits to the grocery store can be. How horrible is it to pack your cart, stand in line, and as you wait pray that you won't come up short? Well I have a solution for you. Try Angelfood Ministries. This site allows you to place your order online and pick it up at local distribution sites around the USA. They even provide recipes. You can choose from various packages with a variety of foods for every budget and every household need from diabetes, allergies and even meat lovers. You can order fresh fruit and vegetables as well.

Not being a great cook, I first had lots of difficulty in preparing the whole foods from scratch. I could have chosen prepared foods but I really wanted to pick the foods that were healthy and not just convenient. Well with their recipes both on video and in print I am now eating healthier and learning to cook.

Here is a news clip that tells you all about AngelFood Ministries.

To Teach or Not to Teach? Asked the Administrator...

When speaking with other educators the issue of salary invariably is discussed. Teachers in Florida do not make much money. I have a Masters degree and with ten years experience I make around $42,000 having started at $36,000. If you do the math you might think that I have received an impressive raise in salary. The $3,000 increase was due to achieving my Masters degree; the rest is ten years of seniority.

So what is the other topic teachers discuss? Respect. Teachers basically want to be allowed to teach. We can’t afford to live. But why won’t anyone allow us to teach? With all the pressure and micro-managing teachers are under they rarely really have the ability to do what they were trained and really want to do, which is teach. Teachers end up being scared robo-educators lacking creativity due to the rigidness that is forced upon them.

This teacher just smiles when she hears an administrator remind their subordinate teachers they too were teachers just before they are going to act like administrators. In my safe insides I know why they are no longer teachers and have chosen the path of administration instead. It’s harder to be a teacher than it is to be an administrator and the pay is just so much better.

If only the politicians knew how much more they would get from teachers if they would only respect them a little more.

Discounts for Florida Teachers

http://www.fldoe.org/justforteachers/discounts.asp Discounts just for Teachers

Apparel
Ann Taylor offers exclusive deals and discounts just for teachers. Sign up to receive 20% off right now!

Books
Barnes and Noble offers a regular 20% discount off the list price of hardbacks and 15% off soft cover books with their Educator Discount Card. For more information, click the following:

Barnes & Noble Educator Discount Card

Computers and Software
Most computer manufacturers offer educator discounts. Before purchasing a personal computer, contact the major manufacturers to ask about their discounts. Click on the appropriate company to view their discounts:


http://www.apple.com/education/
http://www.dell.com/content/segmenter.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=eep&cs=2244
http://government.hp.com/hub.asp?agencyid=135&state=FL

PC People, Inc.
Offers a discounted price list for educators that offers more than 10,000 software and hardware items. You need to show a valid faculty badge or pay stub to be eligible. http://pcpeople.com/pricelist/Pricelist-Acad_Retail.htm.

Software Express
Offers discounts of up to 75% from a variety of publishers. Their online catalog lists products by category, publisher and title. They require a Staff ID or letter from the Principal on school letterhead along with a driver's license to take advantage of these discounts. http://www.swexpress.com/home.nsf/pages/eligibility

Supplies
JoAnn Fabric and Craft Stores
Offers a Teacher Discount Card good for 10% off each total purchase all year long. Office Depot Star Teacher Program
Teachers who participate in Office Depot's Star Teacher Program receive everyday discounts on qualifying in-store purchases and are included in a variety of special events and promotions during the year. Sign up for the Star Teacher Program by visiting your local Office Depot store.

Florida Offers
Home Loan Discounts and Apartment Assistance
http://www.fldoe.org/justforteachers/financial_resources.asp

Theme Parks
Free 12 Month Educator Passes to Sea World (Orlando)
The “Florida Teacher Study Pass” provides unlimited admission to SeaWorld for full-time, classroom (K-12) teachers from August to August of each school year. In order to receive your pass, simply present a copy of your Florida Teacher Certificate, a photo ID, and a recent paycheck stub to the Annual Pass Center at SeaWorld Orlando. Call 407-370-1386 for the most up-to-date information.

Free 12 Month Educator Passes to Kennedy Space Center (Orsino-45 min. NE of Orlando)
Discover first hand how a field trip can enrich every student’s education with the “Educator Study Pass.” Full-time Florida and Georgia educators receive a free Annual Pass to explore the Kennedy Space Center themselves. Educators can enjoy all the benefits of admission, visit the NASA Educator Resource Center to learn about educational programs and receive new classroom materials. Teachers can also tour NASA’s launch headquarters, meet a real astronaut and watch exhilarating IMAX movies. To be eligible for an Educator's Study Pass, educators must possess a valid Florida or Georgia teacher certificate and be currently employed at an accredited school as a full-time K-12 classroom educator. To receive an Educator Study Pass, educators must present these items to the ticket agents located at the ticket plaza. Professional educators can visit the NASA Educator Resource Center (ERC) to receive information, copy NASA videotapes, reproduce software, slides and videotapes, and review lesson plans and other teaching materials. For details on available materials or to make an appointment, call the ERC at 321-867-4090.

Grow Your Own Food!

Other ways to save money is to actually grow your own food. You don't need a farm or even a large back yard. You can start with simple herbs that you can use to cook with or to make teas. You can even grow some fruits and vegetables in pots.

You can grow just about any kind of berries. The best containers for growing fruit are those only slightly larger (2-3 inches) than the existing rootball. A good size for most fruits is 18 inches in diameter and at least 16-18 inches deep. Soft fruits like strawberries can be grown in much smaller pots and work well in hanging baskets or window boxes. Set large pots on casters to make moving them around the yard and in and out of the house easier. http://tiny.cc/hQKZP

But if you want to move beyond small fruit here is a list of all the fruit you can grow in pots:
Tropical Fruits
Citrus Fruits
Avocado
Banana
Key Lime
Kumquat
Lemon
Strawberry
Carambola
Cattley Guava
Guava
Papaya
Passion Fruit
Pineapple

Pretty amazing! for more information on how to grow fruits in pots visit: U of F Fact Page at http://tiny.cc/1vdjl

So far I have planted the following:

drawf lemons (very succesful), mint, spearment (yerba buena), cilantro, drawf oranges, oregano, tomato, guisquil (see picture), bell pepper, lettuce, papaya (only gave one fruit), avocado (will take 4-6 years to bear fruit), casava (yuca-matures in 6 months).

I have had the most success with the drawf lemons. They are delicious. I just love them. The herbs are all very succesful too and I love to add mint to my salads and I have learned to add them to my main courses too.

I have had tomatoes before and there is nothing like a tomato grown in your own backyard. Once you've tasted a tomato that is home grown you don't want to buy them at the store. I had to start my tomato garden again because my dogs got into my garden and destroyed them. I guess they like tomatoes too! This time I invested in cages and I think they will do much better.

Guisquil is not a very tastey vegetable, actually its tastes like water, but it has no calories and takes on the taste of whatever you cook with it. I could not verify it but I have been told it has diuretic properties. So far I have about 5 quisquiles from 1 seed in less then a couple of months.

You don't have to buy plants you can plant seeds from fruits and vegetables you've bought at the store. Not all of them will flourish but some will. Just keep trying or go ahead and buy a plant or two at the store. If you have a friend that is into gardening and has some herbs they may give you a spring and that is all you need. I have a beautiful lush mint plant that was planted from a spring that came with a take out dinner from a vietnamese restaurant!

My brother is also into gardening and he has beautiful pineapples in his garden from left over pineapple tops he bought at the supper market.

So next time you want to save some money, think about growing your own food! Its fun, organic, and cheap.

Coupons, Samples, and Sweepstakes

Coupons can save you money. But you don't have to wait to see them in the newspaper or favorite magazine. You can seek them out on the Internet. Just be very careful not to sign up for Scams! Search out for coupons on well known corporate websites and not from third party websites. Be weary and be safe.

You can also sign up for samples. Sometimes you get the free sample in the mail and other times you get a coupon to go pick it up at the store. But NEVER return a card for a free sample you get in the mail, most likely you are signing up for a free sample plus a monthly order. Return the card and ask them to take you off ALL thier mailing lists.

Sweepstakes are terribly difficult to win, but they are free. You also have to deal with the follow up junk mail you will most likely generate after you sign up. You make up your mind if its worth it. Again, only sign up with large well known reputable companies and be careful because there are copy cats out there.

Here are some places you may look for samples, sweepstakes, and coupons:

http://tinyurl.com/3y3akm Bombay Furniture

http://www.planters.com/sweepstakes1.aspx

http://tinyurl.com/3ydbkb Better Homes and Gardens

http://www.cvs.com/CVSApp/cvs/gateway/cvsmain CVS