Life-Savers: Creative Systems To Organize Your Life And Save Time and Money!

Origin

This was created out of frustration with my health provider visits and the need to keep track of meds & supplements, as well as insurance requirements that I only do certain tests at certain times.  (e.g.: Mammograms once a year; Paps every three years; etc.).  Also, every Dr. asks the same questions and I hate rewriting everything over and over.

What's Included

This is a living Word Chart, kept in the computer for easy updates. Includes sections for all your Dr. and contact info.; ongoing medications (dosage & frequency); current supplements; allergies; past medications; surgeries; regular tests to track; chronic diseases

How To Use

• This Word Chart is designed to be updated online after each Dr. visit or when new information becomes available
• I update with the current date every time I open it
• Print out and take to each Dr. visit.  I leave with the Dr. or they scan it in
• There is room to include test results

Notes

• Feel free to add any unique needs you may have to the Chart form
• Very useful if you change Dr. or cities

Cost to Purchase: $19.98

Origin

This document was created for tax purposes as well as tracking and maintaining control of medical & dental expenses.

What's Included

• Date & item purchased
• Doctor info.
• Method of payment
• Breakdown of payment
• Yearly totals

How To Use

• This document should be re-started at the beginning of the calendar year
• In January, prior year is totaled, closed out and placed with tax docs
• Record every time you have a medical or dental payment. This includes Dr. visits; pharmacy; treatments; services; rentals; surgeries; etc.

Notes

• This can also be used to evaluate and compare insurance programs

Cost to Purchase: $19.98

Origin

• This document was created to use with pet sitters, so I wouldn’t have to repeat important info. and wouldn’t overlook sharing critical or changed information
• This is also a reference tool for the pet sitter

What's Included

Word document that covers major categories:

• Allergies / Medications
• Vet Info.
• Daily Schedule
• Meals / Treats
• Tools
• Common Behaviors
• Training
• Car Travel
• Words your pet understands
• Contact Info.

How To Use

• This document is printed out for the sitter & reviewed in person (can also be emailed to the sitter’s iPad)
• Word Living Document: It is updated when there are changes

Notes

• When I’m gone, I also request sitter send pictures and texts to keep me informed

Cost to Purchase: $19.98

Origin

• As my dog aged, she developed heart disease and I needed a way to keep track of her meds and supplements.
• The doctors made frequent changes in medications and daily intake, and this chart helped me keep track

What's Included

Word document including the major categories of medications, supplements, amount, daily / nightly intake, where to order, temporary meds, list of healers, notes

How To Use

• Key to success is keeping this up-to-date and recording info. with every change
• I also kept copies (paper or in the iPad)
  • By her dog food and medications cabinet, for easy access
  • With Pet Sitter info.
  • With medical file

Notes

• As medication and supplement use increased, I frequently looked for lower cost options. This chart helped me keep track of past and current sources
• This chart was a helpful resource when I would visit other types of healers (e.g. acupuncturist; energy; etc.)

Cost to Purchase: $19.98

Origin

• Over the years our bill payments have gotten more complex and invisible (auto-pay). In one Homeowner Assoc. everything was paid for (by us with one monthly payment to our HOA) and in another, we suddenly had to pay for more services and bills.
• If you move, there are new utility names; new insurance policies, new credit cards, new purchases with new business names, etc.
• If over 65, you may have 3 or more medical insurance bills
• If you start a home office, you’ll need to track those expenses
• BOTTOM LINE: New bills, more bills, different bills, more complexity – Hence, a bill tracking and payment chart all done online

What's Included

Sections for tracking bills paid as

• a home office deduction
• personal
• home upkeep
• business accounts

How To Use

ALL ONLINE

• Word document that needs to be set up once and reviewed / modified each time bills are paid (even if on auto-pay)

RECOMMENDATION;

• I have also created a file for each billing account and place a record of each transaction into this file
  (e.g: Everytime I pay my Chase Visa XXX, I reconcile the statement to my receipts. All is done online. All records are kept in the online file)

Notes

• This chart can also be used to track all your auto-payments (e.g.: apps; off-site storage; all the expenses you forget you pay every month / quarter / etc.)

OWN YOUR POWER / OWN YOUR MONEY

• As the daughter of a CPA, it’s in my DNA to review and monitor income and expenses. This chart is helpful in doing so.

Cost to Purchase: $19.98

Origin

• Whether you have one home or more, it’s helpful to keep track of your major purchases and supporting documents. This is a useful Word Chart for budgeting, insurance support, disaster planning, tracking service agreements, warranties and purchase documents.
• YES, you can (and should) take a home interior and exterior video. But, unfortunately the outside world still sends paper / manuals / receipts

What's Included

• Purchase item name
• Purchase date
• Payment Type
• Cost / Subtotal column
• Notes (includes where purchased, registered, explanation of use, assembled by, where purchased, other misc. notes)
• Anything over $50, very unique or great sentimental value  (you can set your own price point)

How To Use

• This is a Summary Chart and all the backup materials (manuals, receipts, etc.) are placed in an expandable file.
• The numbered sections on the Home Purchases Summary Chart match the numbers in the expandable file. So, if I purchase a new refrigerator, it’s placed in the Summary Chart under Kitchen-Section 5 and then also placed in the numerical expandable file under Section 5.
• This is an ongoing living document and should be “updated” or cleaned out every 2-3 years
• Includes interior and exterior purchases

Notes

I’ve recently gone through a five year process of organizing, trashing, scanning, and storing, and tried really hard to convert “everything” to digital. (Including historical photos, music, business collections, old letters, recipes, etc.) But, the world is not ready to go completely digital, so having a home for paper is necessary and helpful.

Cost to Purchase: $19.98

Origin

• As we’ve sold properties over the years, we learned to keep track of the improvements made, so we’d have an accurate understanding of the property value. When we were ready to sell, we were able to determine total costs expended. That information factored into the sales price. Obviously, other issues impact real estate pricing, but this information was helpful.
• This document was made to coordinate with the Work Order form we used to identify the improvements for our handyman or repairperson (included in the Life-Savers collection)

What's Included

• Word chart providing information on improvements; how paid; parts; labor; total costs and column for notes

How To Use

• Every time you make improvements to your property, record it on this chart
• At the end of the year, add up the yearly total and create a new chart for the new year

Notes

• Improvements are attached to the building and do not move with you.
• Examples: shelving; built-ins, ceiling fans, window treatments; etc.
• When selling your property, you can request exemptions from certain fixed items and take them with you. Discuss with your realtor
• I also created a Summary Chart of the year-end totals, so I knew how much I had spent on improvements from the purchase on. This was a separate tracking document

Cost to Purchase: $19.98

Origin

• This document was created to help with tracking repairs we made to our property
• Tracking repairs is a useful way to control your expenses, budget for the future, and remember what you did
• This document was made to coordinate with the Work Order form we used to identify the work tasks for our handyman or repairperson (included in the Life-Savers collection)

What's Included

• Word chart providing information on maintenance; how paid; parts; labor; total costs and column for notes

How To Use

• Every time you make repairs to your property, record it on this chart
• At the end of the year, add up the yearly total and create a new chart for the new year
• Check with your CPA to see if this could be used for your taxes

Notes

• I also created a Summary Chart of the year-end totals, so I knew how much I had spent on repairs from the purchase on. This was a separate tracking document.

Cost to Purchase: $19.98

Origin

• This Word chart was created as a way to organize repairs and improvements we wanted done
• One of the things I love about this document, is that I leave it on my desktop and add to it as I find things I want done (improvements or repairs). I don’t have to keep these details in my brain or write sticky notes. Then I can email to my handyman, so he/she comes prepared.
• It’s also a way I can track / evaluate the work that was done, keep track of who is responsible for what, identify purchases needed, what was paid, and identify and plan future work

What's Included

• Word chart - columns for completion; tasks to do; notes; costs for parts / labor; estimates; final costs; who is responsible for purchasing parts; what is already onsite; future work; and payments made

How To Use

• Each Work Order (WO) is organized by area of the home or outside – specific tasks are identified by what is to be done in that room
• Each (WO) is numbered & dated and when payment is made, I reference that WO in the tracking charts – Home Improvements Summary Chart or Home Maintenance Summary Chart
• I review the work done, with the handyman, by checking off completed work on the WO
• After work is completed, I close out that WO by recording what was paid and begin a new WO
• I date the WO by when I want the work done and then revise the date on the actual date of completion
• If all work is not completed when the job is done, then I move the misc. incomplete task to the new WO

Notes

• Handyman / repair people love this tool – doesn’t waste time or energy; they know what and where they’re going to work; and they can manage the job themselves
• This works for big or small projects or projects that you might want done in the future
• Most helpful when there is more than one task to do. But, still a good tracking tool for even 1 repair or improvement.
• Would be helpful in a tax audit to remind you and the auditor of the exact work that was done

Cost to Purchase: $19.98

Origin

• This Word chart was generated when we needed to determine how much we had spent on home improvements the entire term of our occupancy (See Life-Savers document – Home Improvement Summary Chart for how we tracked yearly improvements)
• This is a Summary Chart of ALL home improvements (from the date of purchase to today)

What's Included

• Word chart – yearly totals; purchases / improvements done; yearly totals; where paper records are stored; notes

How To Use

• You can add to this Improvements Summary Chart at the end of the calendar year, when you close out your yearly Home Improvement Summary Chart
• Or, you can reference back and create it from past records
• To be set up as yearly totals with one grand total from start date to today

Notes

• Helpful when selling your home
• Helpful for tax purposes

Cost to Purchase: $19.98

Origin

• This Word chart was generated when we needed to determine how much we had spent on home maintenance the entire term of our occupancy (See Life-Savers document – Home Maintenance Summary Chart for how we tracked yearly improvements)
• This is a Summary Chart of ALL home maintenance (from the date of purchase to today)

What's Included

• Word chart – yearly totals; purchases / improvements done; yearly totals; where paper records are stored; notes

How To Use

• You can add to this Maintenance Summary Chart at the end of the calendar year, when you close out your yearly Home Maintenance Summary Chart
• Or, you can reference back and create it from past records
• To be set up as yearly totals with one grand total from start date to today

Notes

• Helpful when selling your home
• Helpful for budgeting and control of your property and money

Cost to Purchase: $19.98