Home Organization binder

Well January is coming to a close, and am I organized yet? Maybe...halfway there. The pantry challenge was a success (will post on that fingers crossed tomorrow) and my other goal was to create a home organization binder. Seeing as I have never had one before I am starting off rather basic to see what works for us and what doesn't. In the past I have always used a giant wall calendar (which I LOVED), as well as an agenda off and on. Bills and important paperwork didn't really have a home (kitchen counter doesn't count!) until I filed it away.

My new binder starts off with a yearly calendar, then a school yearly calendar. Next every month I have a monthly calendar page where there is room to write notes, important dates and a list of all bills due that month and when they are due. Right after that page I am hole punching my bills and putting them in the order they are due in. I am liking this so far.

Next I have another monthly calendar page where I can see a monthly view of appointments, kids activities and whatever else. Then I start going by week. Every week I start of with a weekly to do list. I LOVE LOVE LOVE lists. I am much more productive when all my tasks are written down and I can check them off when I have completed them. I have even contemplated buying those little gold star stickers that teachers use just to use for when I complete my tasks. No I am not kidding! I am thinking in the weeks to come of starting chore charts with my 2 oldest so that will be my excuse to buy the stars.

Next I have a weekly overview which pretty much is like a weekly agenda page where I can view my week at a glance. I write more specific goals on this than I would on the monthly calendar. For example today Jan.31 Monday I have the following notes: AVERY- NO SCHOOL, BAKE: orange oatmeal bread (recipe in later post) Lunch: ?
My last sheet for the week is my grocery shopping list with meal plan, you can get your own here $5 Dinners

At the end of my binder I have some lined paper that I am using to plan out the themed crafts for the month and what materials I need, as well as any projects I have on the go. I really need to get started on curtains for the kids new rooms and book slings for them. I always have so many project ideas and NO TIME!

Things I still want to add to my binder are something for my coupons. I don't use too many so I think a simple envelope will work. Also something to write down our expenses every month, nothing complicated as a lot of our expenses remain pretty constant. Also looking for something to organize my thoughts on the activities I do in the home with the kids. I don't homeschool but I firmly believe that it is still the parents primary role to teach your child. Avery goes to Jr.K 4 or 5 mornings a week but in the afternoon it is quite common for us to do a craft, storytime, baking or other activity based on a theme that I have planned out in advance. Seeing as my kids are so young I keep the plan very loose and flexible dependent on time and the mood that day. If any of you homeschooling moms out there want to share some advice on planning pages for preschool children I would love to hear from you!

Do you have a household notebook or binder? I would love ideas and comments from you!