Suffice it to say I love talking organization.

I’m really good at dreaming up ideas and placing them into a few, maybe several?, okay a LOT of pretty notebooks.

Hmmm…I just might have a slight problem.  Maybe.

But instead of dwelling on that unpleasant thought, let’s talk home management notebooks today!  **Update: Also take a look at my 5 favorite planning tools at this post!**

Why Have a Home Management Binder?

Often called a notebook or binder, it’s simply a place to collect important info to you and your family.  Think of it as a portable mini file cabinet of sorts.

Three reasons I like having a notebook handy:

• for when I’d like to work away from home
• for the family to have access to important info
• for a quick overview of many areas of life

In one place, I can prep to meal plan, scope out the kids’ reading lists, find the contact info for our church family or my daughter’s field hockey coach, and jot down ideas for blogging!  It’s a great tool – I depend on my notebook quite a bit.

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What to Place in the Notebook?

The wonderful thing about a home management notebook is it’s completely customizable — put into the binder whatever is beneficial for YOU.

Need help brainstorming?  ANY of these could be placed as categories of your notebook:

Creating YOUR Home Notebook

After you’ve decided which categories to begin with – you can always add on – it’s time to gather materials to put the notebook together.

You’ll find an excellent post on the WHY and also great tips for set up over at Habits for a Happy Home – a super starting place.

If you’re the visual type, this YouTube video is one of the most detailed I found.  You certainly wouldn’t need to do everything here, but it helps to “see” a notebook in action.  And, she offers a link to some really nice FREE printables!

Take a Look at these How-To Posts

• A Bowl Full of Lemons – detailed lists of materials needed and a how-to
• The Nest Effect – a step-by-step how to on creating a notebook
• The Unlikely Homeschool – another how-to example with several links to lists
• By Sun and Candlelight – Dawn’s binder posts are always so helpful!!
• Imperfect Homemaking – see how she uses cork in her notebook – handy!
• Amy Bayliss’ Life Management Notebook – a whole SERIES of posts with lots of thoughts of sections or categories to include (free printables!)
• Organized Home – take a look at their notebook tours and series on creating one yourself
• Simple Mom – another series with printables
• Motherhood on a Dime – details and a step-by-step explanation
• I Heart Organizing – my favorite post & series for creating a notebook — LINKY PARTY here with over 35+ examples of notebooks created!

This year, I’ve fallen head over heels for the Martha Stewart line of products!  My management notebook above and some of the stickers, dividers, calendar and more are from that line.  They’re sold exclusively at Staples.

But really, I like just about any office products!  A few of my favorites used to make a home binder:

 

Where to Find Printables for Your Home Binder

Thankfully, there are numerous spaces and places to find printables and sheets for ANY section of your management notebook — for purchase or for FREE!

Need a Bible reading plan?  A blogging planner or weekly menu sheet?  Want to write out goals and projects for the year?

You name it, it’s probably out there.  I’ve searched high and low, wide and far to find some GREAT printables just for you.  Get your wallet or your printer ready — here we go!

Etsy Shops

• Clean Mama Printables – home management printables
• ListLab – a variety of sizes for printables for business, home or blog management
• The Nest Effect – cleaning, groceries, weekly calendars and much more
• Zing Press Printables – very unique categories such as room decorating & outdoor spaces printables
• I Heart Organizing – several to choose from here, so pretty!

 

FREE & Paid General Printables

Many sites or blog posts offer several different kinds and types of sheets:

• Mrs. January – couponing, lots of home management categories and finance printables, all for FREE
• List PlanIT – both free & paid.  It’s worth it to simply look at the many, many types of lists they have!
• Organizing HomeLife – Ginny has a series of 31 Days of Home Management Printables, all for your printing pleasure!
• Life Your Way printables – birthday party planning, medical info, weekly calendar, Bible reading, car maintenance log, and SO much more
• Lisa Whelchel – available for free in EXCEL and PDF!  chore charts, to do list, monthly menu planner, daily schedule
• Organized Home printables – a HUGE list to select from – all FREE

 

Category Specific Pages

You’ll find LOADS of categories and printables in the above link lists…but just a few more to mention by topic — because you just never know!

Daily Dockets & Planning Sheets:  Contented Home has two posts with 20 choices!  Part I and Part II, here’s her own daily sheet for good measure.

Bible Reading:  Contented Home has gathered some Bible plans for you to print and here’s a post on over 20+ reading plans!

Cleaning Lists:  here’s some task cards to print (nice & handy!).  I personally use several resources – Money Saving Mom’s cleaning lists and Confident Mom’s weekly household planner is my FAVORITE for 2012!  Motivated Moms also offer a great chore planning system.  Of course, don’t forget the FlyLady!

Blogging:  Jolanthe’s FREE 60+ pages blogging planner is so pretty & functional!  I also bookmarked several more on my writing & blogging Pinterest page.

General To Do list:  need a place to simply jot down some notes?  Gricefully Homeschooling offers just that.

Weekly Planning:  for menus, for calendar, for blogging, for cleaning — here’s a one stop place for FREE printables.

Homeschool Planning:  I’m always on the lookout for free printables in this area.  Mama Jenn offers her own documents, Notebooking Nook has beautiful color or black-and-white planning printables.  And one more for all those curriculum choices to track and purchase.

Donna Young also has a w-i-d-e variety of homeschooling planning printables for every age grade, stage AND every subject — a must see!

Menu & Food:  of all sizes and varieties, check out these customizable menu planners and freezer cooking planning sheets.  Lots more in the ‘general’ links above.

Christmas, Thanksgiving:  an Advent planner for November & December, and keep up with what cookies you bake as well.  12 Days of Christmas planning looks quite helpful!

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Oh, we could go on and on, right?

Hopefully, this helps get you started (or get you moving) on organizing what’s important for YOU and your family.

 

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This post is a part of DOZENS of Ultimate Guides available through iHomeschool Network

 

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