I’m often asked what I do as a financial organizer / daily money manager. (Understand, first, that I am not a financial planner or advisor; I don’t work with your investments.) So what should you or a family member of yours expect from working with me? What is my role? Why does someone contact me for help? In short: to …
“What Should I Do With All The Books?”
I grew up in a home full of books. My parents — avid collectors — took us to book fairs the way other kids are taken to the zoo. But my real education in the book world occurred when my mother moved into assisted living and eventually passed away, leaving thousands of books behind. I was left to figure out …
Meet Steve
Meet SteveSteve developed his strong organizational, problem-solving and “people” skills during a career as a business owner / entrepreneur; a business organizer / advisor / coach; and as a certified Professional in Human Resources (emeritus). To jump-start his knowledge of seniors’ needs, he studied for and obtained the professional designation of Certified Senior Advisor (CSA)® in 2010. He maintains this …
5 Paper-Organizing Challenges … and How to Overcome Them
In my 10 years of financial organizing / daily money management, I have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to people’s attempts at paper-organizing. Here are the top paper-organizing challenges that have tripped up my clients, and the solutions I have shared with them and helped them implement: No “landing strip” for your mail. One …
The Ins and Outs of a Safe Deposit Box
After sorting, shredding and filing with my financial organizing / daily money management clients, a few irreplaceable items often emerge that need special handling. The solution: A fire-resistant, waterproof locked box at home or . . . a bank safe deposit box. Is there a safe deposit box already in place? Sometimes a client already has a bank safe deposit …
Finding Memories on the Back of an Envelope
Clients expect me, as a financial organizer / daily money manager, to be all business, forging ahead with one goal in mind: to work with them and conquer their paperwork clutter. But my work as a financial organizer is more nuanced. After all, I am working with people, not just paper! The key to success in my close-to-10-years in business …
Trash or Treasure? Downsizing a Lifetime of Stuff
My parents moved across the country several times over the years, with second homes along the way. Each time they moved, they hauled not only the necessities, but also lots of “stuff,” which was … trash or treasure? One item left to us was a rusty and broken child’s bank in the shape of a bank building (see photo of …
Seeking Life’s Important Papers (Not the Ones You Might Think)
A fellow professional organizer brought me in to locate a client’s important papers during a whole-house packing and moving project. The client had bolted across the country (that’s the only way to explain the dirty dishes left in the sink) for a lucrative new position. He was climbing the ladder in the financial industry at a speed that left him …
Managing Your Credit Cards Wisely
My Amex card turns 40 this year. I got it when I was suddenly promoted from admin to manager and had clients to entertain and business travel to book. My Lord & Taylor and Bloomingdale’s credit cards were not going to do the job. I had gotten them to 1) start building a credit history, and 2) make me feel …
Take Control of Your Desk! (Part 1)
If this is the year you are going to take control of your desk, I’m here to tell you it’s not too late. There is plenty of time to clear your desk and learn new habits to keep it that way. Here’s a plan to try: First, set up four or five bins. Buy cardboard sorting trays or use receptacles …