My Household Binder

Posted on Thursday 10 August 2006 at 8:31 AM in Household Projects - Post Comment

Homekeeping Planner
Command Center
Control Journal

Household Organizer
Home Management Notebook


Call it what ever you like, it's all the same.  It's a notebook or a three ring binder that holds your calendars, schedules, menus, bills and more all together in one place.  The three ring binder allows you to change your binder around as your household needs change.  I started my own binder way before my son (he's 6 now) was born after I learned about Flylady's control journal.  Unfortunately Flylady's methods never really worked for me, so I ended up coming up with my own version of a control journal.  While I love the idea of the three ring binders with the pockets where you can slip in your own covers, I went with something more durable and clutz friendly...a nylon binder with a zipper to keep things from falling out.  Not very pretty, but functional.  I have noticed that there are some really pretty binders out there now for back to school, so I'm thinking I might be updating mine soon.  I'll let you know!


One of the things I really like about this binder is that it already has pockets for notepads, pencils and such.  Even so, I have a zippered pouch for extra pencils, paper clips, stamps etc.


Since I can't print out a cover for the outside, I printed one off for the inside and put it in a plastic page protector.  On it I printed Proverbs 31:25-28.


After that I printed title pages for each section.  I have tabs that are stuck to the plastic page protectors.  This way I can change the divider pages easily if I need to.

My section titles are:

Calendars/Schedules/To Do Lists
Activities - To keep track of info on 4H, scouts, church, homeschool group etc.
Finances - Budgets and bills.
Addresses & Phone Numbers
Household & Cleaning - Cleaning info and articles
Bible - Studies, prayer requests, notes etc.
Parenting & Child Training - Articles and info.
Homeschool - Lesson plans, attendance charts, articles etc.
Meals - Menus, recipes etc.
Special Occasions - Plans, ideas and gift lists for birthdays and holidays
Projects - Plans for things we are working on such as our vacation or remodeling our kitchen
References - Articles, catalogs, flyers and things I like to refer back to as needed
Misc. - Anything I can't find a home for

Here are some that I think you will enjoy checking out:
Stephanie's Household Management Binder
Melissa's Home Management Binder
Clasically Speaking's Household Notebook

You may know of some others...or maybe your own. I'd love to hear about it.

I have my own daily planner pages that I print off.  They aren't elegant, but they are functional.  If you look in the right column on my blog page you'll find copies there that you are welcome to use.  Here are some other websites where you can find info and printable pages for your own binder:
A Virtuous Woman
Organized Home
Control Journal from Flylady
Donna Young Printables

Hello

Posted by Anonymous on Friday 11 August 2006 at 5:14 AM - Link

Hi.. My name\'s Jan. I\'m on a list with you at Yahoogroups and saw the link for your blog here so I thought I\'d take a look. I love your ideas for the household binder. I think I\'m going to start one of these. I need all the help I can get at staying organized. Would be great to have everything right there in one spot.

I\'ve really enjoyed taking a look around and reading here.

Take Care

Jan Nitz

Untitled Comment

Posted by Brownsmichelle on Friday 11 August 2006 at 8:38 PM - Link

THank you for all of the great links.