A Number in Reach

Image via Wikipedia

Tip Tuesday:

Family Yellow Pages!

With modern technology and all that it provides today's tip might seem like it's from the stone ages. I'll admit I don't have an iphone, I don't tweet and I don't have the web on my mobile device. What's worked for our family is our Family Yellow Pages. Over the years I've made and updated a binder filled with numbers and addresses our family frequently uses throughout the year. It's a one stop directory for any of our family members to use. I've filled it with phone number and addresses for all our contacts. Yep everyone from our neighbors to the dentist to the pizza shop etc. I love how everything is at our fingertips. Guess those of you with iphones are laughing at me now. I'll take the slack - lol.

Since the real yellow pages are available online I generally dispose of or recycle the big books that get tossed on our doorstep. This equals less clutter in the home office. Couldn't I simply program those numbers in my home phone you ask? Sure but, where would I keep the addresses that go with those numbers? The Family Yellow Pages double as our address book as well. All our friends contact info is in the binder by last name alphabetically.

So what's this thing composed of? It's a yellow one inch ring binder with a clear insert front thats loaded with 3-ring clear sheet / paper protectors. It also has 3-ring alpa dividers for organization and easy use. For example, under M we have a few extra sheet protectors where we conveniently store our paper Menus. On the front of the binder in the clear insert, I have a picture of our family and the title, __our last name___ Family Yellow Pages. I have a note to the family stating if you remove it, put it back where you found it. LOL

In a word processing program I typed out all 27 letters of the alphabet, one letter on a single page. I than populated each page with our contacts as you would find public yellow & white pages. I than saved the whole binder on the computer electronically where it's easy enough to make revisions to a single sheet and print out on the home computer. Honestly I don't have to make to many revisions throughout the year so it's not that much work.

Today's Tip Tuesday might not be for everyone but it's been a great resource for our family. I love the fact that I can ask The Mr. to please contact so & so or mail out ____ to ____for me. He'll ask, " is the info in the Family Yellow Pages?" Yes I'll say, and I'm able hand over the task. When the kids are old enough I'll be asking them for lending hands.

See the whole thing came into being because my contacts might not be his contacts and soon enough our kid's contacts might not be ours. Having said this, it's nice to have a central location for everyone to retrieve contact info. When the baby sitter comes over it's easy to point out the Family Yellow Pages and leave it at that. I actually put the Dr office's number right on the front with their office hours & address along with emergency info.

The Family Yellow Pages have decluttered my fridge, tack board and counters. When I have a new contact, I simply stick it in the front inside pocket of the binder and add it to the electronic version for print out next time I make revisions.

Tip Tuesday: Make and keep Family Yellow Pages for members of your family to utilize.

Cheers to organization!
As always, if you have a great tip to share I'd love to hear! Post it in the comments below or drop me an email.