How to Create a House Manager

A busy household needs a simple way to keep track of projects, schedules and miscellaneous information. A House Manager is part planner and part guidebook to keep things running smoothly even when you aren’t there.

What you need:

• 1 binder (1.5 to 2 inches thick and preferably a bright, eye catching color)
  
• 10 – 12 tabbed dividers with pockets
  
• Lined paper

Possible sections could be:

• Important phone numbers: Assemble important phone numbers to your doctor, dentist, family members, your children’s day-care or schools, for easy-access in case of emergency.
  
• Household maintenance schedule: Keep track of when the furnace needs to be cleaned, lists of building repairs and mark the planned purchase/repair dates here, other household maintenance chores etc.
  
• Children: Have a section for each child. Keep school notices and current report cards here. Also file information for extra-curricular activities and up-coming medical appointments.
  
  
• How-to-operate information: Keep instruction booklets in pockets at the back of the binder. Also, if you expect babysitters or other family members to operate the dishwasher, washing machine or VCR, include instructions written by you, which include your temperature preferences and other details.

This tip is from episode 33, Click to view the Episode Summary