Summer Cleaning

Annual cleaning doesn't always have to occur in the spring time, although that is usually the preferred time of year. Spring represents a new start stemming from the frozen winter. However, a good cleaning out or purging of an area in the house can be very beneficial at any time during the year. In fact I recommend doing so mulitple times a year.

Receipts, tax documents, bank statements, pay stubs, insurance forms, etc should be shredded after your taxes have been filed. Keep copies of what got filed, but get rid of the rest of it before it becomes unnecessary clutter on your desk. This is also a good time to shred the bills you have paid over the past year.

For clothes, it's been suggested to do it every season, not just once a year. This way you know what you have to start the season and you can stretch out your money and buy pieces as you need them. Plus you can set aside some money for the clearance sales which start earlier and earlier every fashion season.

Another important thing to go through annually is makeup. I realize this only applies to the females out there, but a lot of my friends and I are guilty of forgeting to do this and wind up owning makeup for several years longer than should be allowed. If you do it more often, it takes a lot less time to do. There are also several websites that give helpful hints on when to throw your makeup out.

If you're into clipping coupons like I do and most Americans are discovering the need to, I recommend doing it at least monthly if not bi-weekly. The average coupon only last about 30 days now so if it's been awhile since you've gone through them, you may be disappointed to find a bunch of expired ones the next time you're at the store.

I'm always looking for new ideas so feel free to leave a message, and I'll post another Hub when I can find more to write about.