Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Spring Cleaning Tips...Continued

Have you looked in your medicine cabinet? Did you purchase Advil, Tylenol, etc. when it was on sale and buy more than you could use? Look at the expiration dates on medications and lotions. Discard anything that has expired.

Do you purchase packaged foods in large quantities when it is on sale? Look at the expiration date on boxes, cans, jars, etc. Discard foods that have expired. Donate foods you no longer use BEFORE they expire. Use up the surplus before you purchase more.

Sunday, March 1, 2015

A New Month...New Opportunities

March signals SPRING. Daylight Savings Begins Sunday March 8th and Springs Begins Sunday March 20th. As we enter March we have the opportunity to think about preparing our homes for spring.

Spring Cleaning Checklist:

1. Do you have winter clothes you did not wear this year? If so, donate them.

2. Do you have shoes or clothing that need to be taken care of before being put away for the season? Many dry cleaners will make repairs to clothes as well as clean them. In many communities there are shoe repair shops that will replace heels and take care of damage caused by wear or salt used to take ice/snow off sidewalks. Shoe repair in San Diego can be found here.

3. Check your herbs and spices. If they have lost their vibrant color, it is the time to get rid of them. Many have a shelf life of about 4 years, but each home environment differs. Some companies have a use by or fresh by date. Look for that to get an idea if your bottle should be kept.

4 Check your pillows. Are they stained? Does your pillow stay folded when you fold it in half? Is the foam in your pillow lumpy? If you answered YES to any of those questions, it is a good time to replace your pillow!

5. Look through your cupboards. Replace any plate, bowl, etc. that has a chip or a crack. If your non-stick cookware is starting to "stick" it is time to get new pots or pans.

Allow SPRING to a an opportunity for a fresh start for you. There is no need to make your fresh start break the bank. If you realize that you need to make some purchases, look for sales. If you stat now, you can spread out your spending over the course of the next two paychecks....or more if necessary!