Is that a bucket under your sink?

Collect towels in this bucket.

Using dish towels and smaller dish cloths saves greatly on paper towel use.  I find that  white wash cloths or bar mops, available in multi packs at Walmart or Marshall's work well as a substitute.  I especially like microfiber towels for cleaning.  After using them sufficiently, I toss them into a bucket under the sink filled with water in which I have dissolved a scoop of Oxi Clean.  I dump the contents of the bucket in the washing machine and wash with a warm water load every other day or so. 

My cousin decided to give up paper towels all together after she stopped buying them during a time when she was out of work.  She said that once she developed the habit of using dish cloths, she never needed to go back to paper towels.  I don't know if I can ever totally give up paper towels, but it's a good goal.  Think of the money and trees we could save if we all just gave it a try.

Party All The Time!

party plates & napkins

What do you do with those left over cute party plates and napkins? Resist the urge to save them! Instead, once the party is over continue to use them until they are gone. Put extra napkins in the car for spills or send them in a packed lunch.

Target and other retailers consistently offer cute new designs every few months. You will be drawn to the new designs and typically forget that you have saved extras at home. Purchasing exactly what you need and to using all of your supply will give you freedom to shop for the next party without creating clutter in your kitchen cabinets.

Where are your digital photos?

What's in your safe deposit box?

Hopefully not on your camera or phone. Either could be lost or stolen.  Images or video use valuable space on your laptop and could be lost forever if your computer crashes.  
Transfer photos to an external hard drive where photos can easily be accessed when needed.  To insure your photos are truly secure, keep an extra hard drive
that you back up after loading holiday, vacation, or birthday pictures in
your safe deposit box.  Put a sticky note on the hard drive with the last
back up date or additional information you might need to remind you what
it's contents are.  This small extra effort and expense could save a lot of
heart ache if your pictures were some how lost.

Roomba - Does that thing really work?

What if I told you that you could afford to own a robot and that it could make your life easier even while you are asleep.  I wouldn't have believed it myself until a month ago, when I purchased my first Roomba.  It vacuums carpet, wood, or vinyl and returns to it's base to recharge when the job is done.  With almost no set up and very little maintenance, it seems too good to be true.  My whole family is sold on it except our dog.  His hair is one of the reasons we need it most!

I suggest mopping your wood floor thoroughly and then using Roomba to maintain that fresh swept feeling, although Roomba picks up way more than any broom or stick vacuum I've used.  I run Roomba every other night when we all head upstairs to get ready for bed.  The next morning the floor is ready to mop, if you're ready to mop.  I have found that I can mop less frequently because the floor is staying cleaner.

The Roomba performs on carpet as well,  getting up way more hair than I thought collectively that we and the dog have.  I love that it vacuums under the sofa and bed!  Be sure to routinely clean out the brushes when using the Roomba on carpet.  Brush removal is literally a snap and the Roomba will tell you if it needs, cleaning, charging or is stuck.  I empty the dust bin drawer after the Roomba vacuums one room.

I can't say enough good things about it and I only bought the less expensive model.  I would be willing to pay way more if my  Roomba could be trained to climb stairs and vacuum those.

iRobot 530 Roomba Vacuuming Robot, White

Easily Made Bed

Use a duvet!

The best way to keep your bed made is to have an easily made bed.  Try a European style duvet or comforter cover.  In combination with a fitted sheet, all you need is a down or down alternative comforter and a cover that coordinates with the fitted sheet. No top sheet or blankets are needed.  You can even use an older patterned comforter that you are tired of because the cover hides it. In the morning it takes one tug on each side of the bed to get it made. Throw on the pillows and your done. 

Great for kids too!

This is a particularly good idea for young children.  Any chores they can do themselves, helps you, and positively impacts their self esteem.

Finding sheet sets that have coordinating duvet or comforter covers can be tricky.  Go online for best results.  LL Bean, The Company Store and Pottery Barn Kids are good resources.

Making your bed will take two minutes in the morning but can make you feel better all day. Getting an easy task done, starts your day with a feeling of accomplishment, and can set the tone for the rest of your day.