The Organizing Aussie Newsletter
March 2009
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Merri
The Organizing Aussie 
 
  
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Dear Friend, 
 
Does your car sometimes look like a bigger version of your handbag with stuff spread all around the seats and the glove box so chock-a-block full you can hardly close it? Then this month's newsletter is for you! I'll give you some ideas about how to organize that mess in your car and make it so you won't need tinted windows to hide it from passers-by!
 
As always, I'd love to hear back from any of you about your own organizing ideas and experiences. so feel free to contact me any time. You might also want to join my blog so you can leave comments there as well. Just click the links over to the left of the page and I'll look forward to hearing from you!
 
Merri
CORRALLING THE CAR
 
You can tell a lot about people just by looking in their car - try it sometime!! A messy car can indicate a busy life-style or an "I don't care" attitude. A neat interior usually indicates an organized person. This month I am going to give you some tips to make it easy for you to keep your car tidy and organized.
 
First of all, take everything out of the car that does not belong in there and redirect these items to their proper homes. Make sure that you have a receptacle of some kind that can live in the car to deposit rubbish into on a daily basis. The floor of the car is not the place for rubbish, OK! Empty this rubbish bin every day.
 
I keep a canvas open basket that has handles on the passenger seat of my car for easy access to anything that I might need while I am out and about during the day. Marshalls and TJ Maxx both carry the ones I love and they only cost about $10. See the image below.
 

Merri's Car Basket

 
They're well worth the price considering how organized it will make you feel! In this basket I keep the following items:

· Coupon organizer
· Business card holder
· Notepad and pen
· Crackers, healthy snacks, gum and mints
· Small makeup purse that holds Ibuprofen, eye drops, dental floss, Airbornne, hand sanitizer, hand lotion and hairbrush
· Shout wipes and Tide pen for clothing "emergencies"
· Travel sewing kit, also for clothing "emergencies"
· A string-like bag which I take into shops so I don't have to use plastic for my purchases
· A small first Aid kit - Band-aids are a must !
· Fold up umbrella
· A current magazines and a book so I will have something to  read if I am ahead of schedule and have some time to fill in. If you have school-aged children and have after school activities to take them to and wait for, you might want to include the days mail so you can go through it while you are waiting.
· Water bottle
 
At the end of the day I simply take this basket back into my home, restock if necessary, and return it to my car ready for the next day. You might also want to keep a tote or bag of some kind near whatever door you leave the house by and when you find items that need to be taken somewhere - like DVD rentals or dry cleaning - pop them in the tote and then transfer them to the basket you keep in the car. I also keep my stocked gym bag and exercise mat in my car so I have no excuse not to go to the gym while I am out!
 
If you have children, you could have one of these baskets tailored for them. In that case you might include these items:
 
· Books
· Colouring book and pencils
· Puzzle books
· Wipes
· Crackers
· Juice boxes
· Hand puzzles
· A few toys
·  Nappies (sorry - diapers!)
 
There are also all kinds of car organizers that fit on the back of the driver and passenger seats that have compartments that you could keep your child's things in too. However, I like the basket best because it is easy to take inside for restocking.
 
OK - now that we have our organized basket, lets move on to other areas of the car.
 
Clear out the glove box (or glove compartment as you Americans call it!) In here keep the following items:
 
· Car Insurance and registration information
· Car manual
· Maps of the local area and any other areas that you frequent
· Notebook and pen
· Emergency contact information
· AAA Roadside assistance information
· Flashlight
 
If you listen to CD's in the car, organize these as well. Buy an organizer that fits over the visor and store them there or keep them in a CD organizer in your basket.
 
So far so good, right ?
 
Next, in an area visible to you, keep that supply of reusable grocery bags. Publix supermarkets even has car decals with a bag on them to put on your window to help you remember.
 
Moving on to the boot (OK, you are wondering "what on earth is the boot" Well that's what we Aussies call the trunk!!) In here keep a plastic milk crate (that's what I do anyway) and the following items:
 
· An Emergency Kit - include flares, tire sealant, torch (flashlight), some non-perishable food, blanket, rain poncho, and first aid kit
· Jumper cables
· Extra Motor oil
· Tire Gauge
· Work gloves
· Spare tire
· Car jack (some cars have the jack in the engine compartment or with the spare tyre)
· Wheel chock
· Gallon of water
· Small tool kit
· Ice scraper
· Spare windshield wipers
· Towels and rags
 
Keep a spare car key in a magnetic box underneath your car or in your purse.
 
Remember the interior of your car is a reflection of you and is visible to anyone who walks by, so leave a good impression at all times!!
 
Happy "car organizing"! I guess now that the interior is organized, you should really give the car a wash too. If a job is worth doing, it is worth doing well (and thoroughly).

Merri