To illustrate the tools to make a list.

Six Things I Learned in 2020

Karen CaccavoFinancial Organizing, Life Lessons, Paperwork Organizing, Working with Clients

There’s a lot we learned the hard way this past, difficult year. But just reviewing the tough stuff wouldn’t provide an uplifting start to 2021. As a financial organizer / daily money manager, part of what I do is bring hope and positivity. Inspired by a colleague who does this each year, I put together a list of some of the things I… [ for MORE, click on the Title ]

To illustrate a reporter's "scoop"

Here’s the Scoop: Becoming a Financial Organizer

Karen CaccavoDaily Money Managers, Financial Organizing, Paperwork Organizing, Working with Clients

From reporter to financial organizer I learned two important lessons from an earlier career as a writer and reporter.  First, shut up and listen!  If I didn’t have the “who, what, when, where, and why” plus a few good quotes by interview’s end, I was sunk. No story, no scoop. Second lesson:  Always be curious and eager to learn. Two …

I Participated in Alzheimer’s Research: This is What it Was Like

Karen CaccavoCognitive Decline, Financial Organizing

On a hot and sticky August afternoon, I arrived for my appointment as a volunteer Alzheimer’s research participant at the Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research (NKI) in Orangeburg, NY. I was going to participate in NKI’s Memory Education and Research Initiative (MERI) Program, a study begun in 2003 to provide both evaluations to members of the community and …

Illustrates using ideas or inspirations as springboards for improvement

Twenty Ideas for 2020

Karen Caccavodecluttering, Financial Organizing, Paperwork Organizing

Whether or not you make New Year’s Resolutions, here is a list of fresh ideas (not resolutions!) to inspire you as we enter a new year and new decade. Feel free to pick and choose the ones that appeal to you and edit them to better fit where you are right now. Please let Personal Money ManagerSM know if you …

As a financial organizer, I keep both the big picture and the details in focus at all times. It's a balancing act.

The Big Picture and the Details

Karen CaccavoDaily Money Managers, Financial Organizing, Important Documents, Paperwork Organizing, Working with Clients

As a financial organizer / daily money manager, I keep both the big picture and the details in focus at all times.  It’s a balancing act that’s essential to doing the job well. In a typical month-end client visit, I and my client open and review the bank statement. Using this as a jumping-off point, here’s how I zoom in …

Bring that back-to-school energy to your financial organizing

Bring that Back-to-School Energy to Your Financial Organizing

Karen CaccavoFinancial Organizing, Organizing Tips

Feel the energy and anticipation of the back-to-school season?  After a long lazy summer, change is in the air!  (And regular readers know that I enjoy any excuse to “hit the refresh button” when it comes to my specialty, financial organizing / daily money management).  So what is it about autumn back-to-school time that can inspire your financial organizing?  Here …

You may remember that I’ve written about what I learned from my new kitten. Rosie Mittens has grown up beautifully. Now I’d like to share some life lessons from another living thing in my house: my sourdough starter! These, too, inform both my personal life and my professional life as a financial organizer / daily money manager.

Paperwork Pointers from an Unexpected Source

Karen CaccavoFinancial Organizing, Life Lessons, Paperwork Organizing, Working with Seniors

You may remember that I’ve written about what I learned from my new kitten.  Rosie Mittens has grown up beautifully.  Now I’d like to share some paperwork pointers from another living thing in my house:  my sourdough starter!  This, too, informs both my personal life and my professional life as a financial organizer / daily money manager. Hold out for …

Can procrastination be good?

Want to Get More Things Done? Try Procrastinating!

Karen CaccavoFinancial Organizing, Productivity

Can procrastination be good?  An article by Adam Grant in The New York Times asserted that when facing creative challenges, procrastinating can actually yield better results.  To illustrate, the writer tells of almost finishing an article but putting it aside.  Then, before submitting it, he found new inspiration and ending up submitting a more interesting piece. Surprise!  Procrastination is a …

As a financial organizer, my objective is to bring more ease and order to my clients' lives.

Sometimes It’s the Little Things That Make a Difference

Karen CaccavoDaily Money Managers, Financial Organizing, Living Independently, Working with Seniors

As financial organizer / daily money manager, my objective is to bring more ease and order — to make a difference — in my clients’ lives. I achieve this in a variety of ways. Where do I start? I often start by tackling the big issues that are making life difficult for a client.  Erratic bill-paying? I create a system …

We're so used to working at a "crazy busy" pace, but sometimes we can handle important but non-urgent projects at our leisure.

Paperwork Organizing Projects at Your Leisure

Karen CaccavoFinancial Organizing, Paperwork Organizing

This blog was inspired by the longest day of the year (June 21st).  While we are so used to being “crazy busy” and making the most of every minute, sometimes we have the leisure to do the opposite — to take our sweet time. But if you still can’t shake the desire to be productive, why not tackle a longer, …