A few organizational and planning tips and tricks that might help make your life a little easier are some I have used for many years. The cooking substitution list and the medical charts mentioned below are kept taped right inside my kitchen cabinet door, where they are always handy to check or add the latest information. The seasonal sales are also there, so as I am putting clean dishes away, I can check out the latest on sales, so I can make wise purchases.
List of Doctors' Visits - dentist, mammogram, eye doctor, tetanus shots, etc. This is very helpful to keep track of when, where and what and scheduling appointments where your insurance covers dental checkups every six months. Use vertical lines to separate names. (If you have dental insurance that allows a checkup every 6 months, this is very helpful.)
Illness Chart - Keep a record of illnesses for each family member, listing the names, dates, and illnesses.
Phone with Memory ~ This saves much time. Keep a record of names and phone numbers that correspond to each number in the memory next to the phone. If you use a long distance service that requires two sets of numbers to be dialed before the number you are calling, this is perfect for that. Just a side note on this: for just 2.9 cents per minute on long distance calls, go to www.onesuite.com for information. This service has saved us a lot over several years. (2011: We are still using this long distance plan!)
List of Frequently Called Phone Numbers ~ On colored paper (card stock is best) write or type an alphabetical list of names and numbers you use most frequently - ones not already in your phone's memory. Put two pieces of paper together, with numbers on the front and back. Laminate for a more permanent and useful list to keep handy, near the phone, of course.
Price Book ~ Keep a running list of frequently purchased items, such as facial tissues, toilet tissue, shampoo,
toothpaste, bar soap, liquid soap, food items, food items, etc., along with the best sale prices you have found and the store where you found those items. This will help prevent you from overpaying. Then stock up when those items go on sale, being aware that some items have expiration dates. You will have a great savings if you purchase many items like these only while on sale.
toothpaste, bar soap, liquid soap, food items, food items, etc., along with the best sale prices you have found and the store where you found those items. This will help prevent you from overpaying. Then stock up when those items go on sale, being aware that some items have expiration dates. You will have a great savings if you purchase many items like these only while on sale.
Documentation Notebook ~ Keep a record of orders you place over the phone or Internet, along with payments. This helps when a bill is questioned and this is better than forgetting and having no record at all. Keep track of phone numbers, customer service numbers, confirmation numbers, reference numbers and any other information you might need.
Three Handy Lists to Post Inside Your Kitchen Cabinet:
Cooking Substitution List
Measurements
Seasonal Sales
Cooking Substitution List
Measurements
Seasonal Sales
COOKING SUBSTITUTIONS
Flours: To substitute all-purpose flour for cake flour, use 1 cup minus 2 Tbsp. all-purpose for 1 cup cake flour. To convert plain flour to self-rising, add 1/2 tsp. salt and 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder to each cup of plain flour. As a thickening for gravy or stew, 1 Tbsp. flour equals 1 1/2 tsp. cornstarch or 1 Tbsp. quick-cooking tapioca.
Baking Powder: If you're out, use 1/4 tsp. soda plus 1/2 tsp. cream of tartar for each tsp. of baking powder. Or use 1/4 tsp. soda plus 1/2 cup buttermilk or sour milk. This would replace 1/2 cup liquid required in the recipe.
Chocolate: To substitute for unsweetened chocolate, use 3 Tbsp. cocoa plus 1 Tbsp. shortening, butter, margarine or oil to equal 1 square or 1 ounce unsweetened chocolate.
Dairy Items: If your recipe calls for sour milk and you have only sweet milk, measure 1 Tbsp. lemon juice or vinegar in a cup and fill with fresh whole milk. Stir and allow to stand 5 to 10 minutes before using.
Evaporated milk may be substituted for whole milk. Use 1/2 cup evaporated milk plus 1/2 cup water for each cup of whole milk required.
If you need shredded cheese for a recipe, remember that about 1/2 pound of cheese should yield about 2 cups shredded cheese. Also remember that different cheeses weight different amounts.
For thickening custards or puddings, 2 egg yolks or egg whites have the same thickening power as one whole egg.
MEASUREMENTS
The following measurements equal approximately 1 pound:
2 cups butter or shortening
4 cups sifted, all-purpose flour
2 1/4 cups granulated sugar
2 1/3 cups powdered sugar (superfine)
3 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar (4x to 10x)
2 1/4 cups brown sugar, firmly packed
2 1/8 cups rice
3 3/4 cups whole wheat flour
3 cups corn meal
5 cups coffee (about)
2 cups finely chopped meat
9 large eggs (one egg is also about 1/4 cup)
1 square cooking chocolate---1 ounce
1 cup molasses---11 ounces (Most liquids are 8 ounces per cup)
Basic Measurements:
3 teaspoons=1 tablespoon
2 tablespoons=1 ounce
4 tablespoons=1 ounce
4 tablespoons=1/4 cup
16 tablespoons=1 cup
4 cups= 1 quart
4 quarts=1 gallon
SEASONAL SALES
JANUARY ~ After-Christmas sales of Christmas merchandise, winter clothes, clothing, shoes, fur, handbags, toiletries, tablecloths, costume jewelry, furniture, toys, dishes, sports equipment, appliances. This is also the month that most stores feature a "White Sale", which includes most bedding such as sheets, pillowcases, blankets, and quilts.
FEBRUARY ~ Furniture, rugs, mattresses, curtains, bedding, china, glassware, silverware, housewares, radios and C.D. players, stereo equipment, and used cars.
MARCH ~ Garden supplies, luggage, spring clothing, infant's wear, shoes, laundry appliances, luggage, skates, ski equipment, storm windows.
APRIL ~ After-Easter sales for mostly clothes items including, men's and boy's suits, women's and children's coats, housecoats, and women's hats.
MAY ~ White sales, clean-up/fix-up supplies, blankets, women's undergarments, TV sets, handbags, sportswear, tires.
JUNE ~ Women's ready-to-wear, TV sets, refrigerators, fabrics, summer clothes, dresses, building materials, lumber.
JULY ~ Shoes, summer clothes, bathing suits, lingerie, sportswear, home appliances, air conditioners, fuel oil, radios and stereo equipment, rugs and carpet, summer sports equipment, used cars.
AUGUST ~ Furniture, white sales, camping equipment, housewares, lamps, coats, tires, lawn mowers, sprinklers, yard tools, barbecue sets and tools, air conditioners, new cars, paints, school supplies, school clothes, bathing suits, fans.
SEPTEMBER ~ Back-to-school supplies, housewares, bicycles, car batteries and mufflers, children's clothing, dishes, gardening equipment, glassware, hardware, lamps, paints, rugs and carpet, tools.
OCTOBER ~ Fishing equipment, glassware, hosiery, housecoats, school clothes, school supplies, silverware, cars.
JANUARY ~ After-Christmas sales of Christmas merchandise, winter clothes, clothing, shoes, fur, handbags, toiletries, tablecloths, costume jewelry, furniture, toys, dishes, sports equipment, appliances. This is also the month that most stores feature a "White Sale", which includes most bedding such as sheets, pillowcases, blankets, and quilts.
FEBRUARY ~ Furniture, rugs, mattresses, curtains, bedding, china, glassware, silverware, housewares, radios and C.D. players, stereo equipment, and used cars.
MARCH ~ Garden supplies, luggage, spring clothing, infant's wear, shoes, laundry appliances, luggage, skates, ski equipment, storm windows.
APRIL ~ After-Easter sales for mostly clothes items including, men's and boy's suits, women's and children's coats, housecoats, and women's hats.
MAY ~ White sales, clean-up/fix-up supplies, blankets, women's undergarments, TV sets, handbags, sportswear, tires.
JUNE ~ Women's ready-to-wear, TV sets, refrigerators, fabrics, summer clothes, dresses, building materials, lumber.
JULY ~ Shoes, summer clothes, bathing suits, lingerie, sportswear, home appliances, air conditioners, fuel oil, radios and stereo equipment, rugs and carpet, summer sports equipment, used cars.
AUGUST ~ Furniture, white sales, camping equipment, housewares, lamps, coats, tires, lawn mowers, sprinklers, yard tools, barbecue sets and tools, air conditioners, new cars, paints, school supplies, school clothes, bathing suits, fans.
SEPTEMBER ~ Back-to-school supplies, housewares, bicycles, car batteries and mufflers, children's clothing, dishes, gardening equipment, glassware, hardware, lamps, paints, rugs and carpet, tools.
OCTOBER ~ Fishing equipment, glassware, hosiery, housecoats, school clothes, school supplies, silverware, cars.
NOVEMBER ~ Coats, pre-Christmas items, quilts, shoes, boots, men's and boy's suits, kitchen appliances, water heaters.
DECEMBER ~ Toys, gift items, coats, shoes, party items, quilts, used cars. The day after Christmas is Bargain Day all over.
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