Easy does it - bill paying

I found a site that appears very helpful (though admittedly I have not yet tried it). User beware and then keep us posted (just kidding) - www.manilla.com says it is "the easiest way to manage your bills." Anyone tried this?

Quick organizers!

I am on a roll with trying to organize our house...one kid has moved out (way out...to Japan!) and the other is half way out the door at 19! Too much house and too much stuff - so I am sharing any odds and ends I find along the way.

Per a recent issue of Redbook magazine, here are a couple of easy organization ideas -

Spray paint and old cookie sheet and then place stones (from the beach, a craft store, etc.) to cover the sheet. Use it as a shoe/boot dryer - ok, so here in AZ this isn't practical, but it will be in lots of other regions!

For craft fanatics or those who are "gifted" with wrapping (get it?!) use a pants hanger to hang and group spools of ribbon by color, shade, width...(very crafty, huh?).

More ideas as Spring approaches! Please share yours with us!

Trade in gift cards!

Are you still hanging on to gift cards from the holidays from stores you can't imagine shopping at?
Cash in on your gift at www.cardpool.com. You can trade your card(s) for an Amazon card of equal value or get 92% cash back. Fill out the information for your car and mail it in or enter the online
code. (FYI - you can also by gift cards from dozens of retailers for up to 35% off...!)

Celebrate your ancestry!

Visit The Peopling of America Center in New York to experience the view from Lady Liberty's torch via webcam (a site not seen in-person since 1916)! And, if you can't visit the exhibit in-person, trace your family history on the museum's website at EllisIsland.org. Happy hunting!

Light a single candle...

Hart Main, a 14-year-old from Marysville, OH, has designed a line of candles in "man scents" including "Sawdust," "New Mitt," "Grandpa's Pipe," and so on. His candles are made in cans recycled from his donations to a local soup kitchen -- over 10,000 sold so far at $9.50 each!

Check out the selection at man-cans.com and support this young entrepreneur!

A taxing situation!

The Penny Pincher is admittedly a fan of lists, color-coded files and cute post-its. But for those of you who are not "Type A," here are some organization tips to ease the pain of tax preparations! (courtesy of Avery Dennison Corp.):

• Categorize: create separate files for each type of tax document (income, expenses, deductions, etc.)






• Color code: within each category, sort using colored tabs (i.e.: within deductions - pink for healthcare; green for charitable donations, etc.)






• Keep a checklist: track all documents that you receive in the mail.

For more tips, check http://www.avery.com/.

A random thought...

February 13th to 19th is "Random Acts of Kindness Week." Take a moment to put this on your calendar (though feel free to start sooner!) and be part of something wonderful!
Check out www.randomactsofkindness.org for ideas!