ANYONE FLYLADY? (I'm trying in an effort to save $$/ Keep it clean)

[poohfriend]

Anyone else trying the FLYLADY method to clean homes/ organized lives? I'm convinced that if I can make myslef do it one step at a time it would help my family.

I'm posting it on this board because I think flylady's meal organization (well, just organization) would also help save us money. (No quick stop at a fast food place because I don't have anything in the house for dinner. Not having to buy something I know is in my house but I can't find etc)

I love the DIS (even though I'm new) and would like to find a buddy or buddies to help me take it one step at a time that share my desire for a family trip to WDW.

We're a family of 5 with the 3 kids under 6. (I'm currently a sahm).

anyone want to buddy? answer here or PM me!

BTW, if you don't know flylady and you're disorganized look at flylady.net, If you're organized, send me some pixie dust !

thanks
jenn

 

[DisneyMomx7]

My oldest dd (28) is hooked ont he Flylady method. She has her books and last year for CHristmas she asked for and I gave her, the organizing calendar and some special dusting thing. SHe swears by her!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I know some have saved money on their meal ideas subscription (Menu Mailer?).

It cost me MORE money---one menu had shrimp AND salmon in the same week....I don't know what region they are geared for--but that was not a cheap week in Florida.

Also--do to various food pickiness (I don't eat red meat--hubby doesn't eat peppers--if anything has bell pepper--he wont' touch it)....it didn't work very well for us--so it ended up being more time consuming as I edited the menu mailers to fit our family situation.

It can work for some---but I would start out with a shorter subscription...or see if their is a sample menu to see how it works with your family dynamic.

 

[poohfriend]

FlyLady is Free. Menu Mailer is different, but offered by a friend of flylady.

FlyLady encourages me to make my own meal plan with foods I know my family loves.

I have found the menu mailer receipes they give for free are mostly things that my family won't eat...so there's no way I'd pay for it. Rather buy shrimp to make my own favorite meals than make a receipe that doesn't sound yummy. And my kids would throw salmon at me!

 

[EthansMom]

I generally like Flylady. Cleaning/decluttering in Zones works well for me. Also, the morning and bedtime routines are great to keep the house picked up. And planning menus for a week is really great during busy periods like holidays. But I just can't keep the Journal and don't suscribe to the Flylady emails -- would be that much more clutter in my life.

Of course, I haven't gotten back into the Flylady thing since we moved last summer and am hoping to get back to it soon!

 

[MEM]

I am currently a "Flybaby" , doing a little at a time and not worrying about catching up. She has many great ideas and a few that are harder to swallow, like do not resent the fact that you are the only person doing the housework! She believes that DH will pitch in eventually, but it hasn't happened yet! In my case I am the breadwinner and DH the SAHD, so you can understand how resentment can develop.

I do not do the menu mailer either because of the expense.

 

[crisi]

It doesn't work as well for WOHMs as it seems to for SAHMs. But the method is really good.

Personally, I think the woman could make a mint by having someone write software. Put in your home (3 bedrooms, 2 baths), how clean you want it, how much time you are willing to spend. Software prints a calendar of what to do when. With a PDA download that you can say "home and available to clean between six and ten" that would alarm you every so often to say "where is your laundry," "go spend 15 minutes in your hotspot" and "what are you having for dinner" on YOUR schedule.

 

[cbrfan]

I've been a Flybaby for almost 2 years. It's made a tremendous improvement in my life and my families. I have a chronic illness (lupus) and was completely overwhelmed trying to keep the house clean. Flylady taught me that it's not about having a clean house, but having a functional house. And to not let my perfectionism get in the way of getting things done. In short, I needed to get off my own back. It may not be for everyone, but it's been a Godsend for me!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

FlyLady is Free. Menu Mailer is different, but offered by a friend of flylady.

FlyLady encourages me to make my own meal plan with foods I know my family loves.

I have found the menu mailer receipes they give for free are mostly things that my family won't eat...so there's no way I'd pay for it. Rather buy shrimp to make my own favorite meals than make a receipe that doesn't sound yummy. And my kids would throw salmon at me!

Say it sistah!!!!

 

[jennypenny]

I love the Flylady system. I think it does save money. Especially when you add in:
getting takeout because you haven't planned dinner
buying expensive, last minute birthday gifts for kids and such
buying replacements for stuff you can't find
paying late fees/finance charges for bills paid late

After doing my morning and evening routines, the next thing I made sure to add was the "what's for dinner" thing during the morning. I use it as my late morning coffee break. I make a cup of coffee and drink it while I check my cupboards and freezer. Then I defrost/cook/prep stuff (if it takes a long time then I get to have 2 cups of coffee )

And don't forget to have a cup of great tea in the afternoon and check your control journal. I use this time to also check bills/kids' school papers/whether I need $$, gas etc.

I like to combine treats with flylady items right on the control journal--it makes me more likely to do it. For example, if my washer, dryer, and dishwasher are all running, I allow myself to check the disboards!

Jenny

 

[poohfriend]

If my DH was the SAHD and didn't help with the house, I'd be upset too. Sometimes my DH comes home and I've feel like I've cleaned and taken care of the kids all day and the house is still a wreck (still working on those routines!)
It really takes both of us to make it work. Happily, my DH is on-board and trying to declutter his life too. I'm really the weak link at our house. I've never been good at any routine. I get bored too easily. BUT I"M trying!

I think you're in a rare circumstance...like all advice, it's written for the majority. It's gotta be hard to be the only one working AND be the only one trying to keep your house/lives in order. I personally would take no offense to a little whining as long as a broom, laundry basket, or 27 item fling were in your hands! Call it venting instead!

 

[dis-happy]

Guess I'm in the minority, but Menu-Mailer has been great for our family! I first tried the free recipes on the website and everyone (even the picky ones) in my family liked them. Then I signed up for 3 months as a trial. Then extended to another year plus 3 free months.

We do the low-carb version here. I buy all my meat at BJ's and Sam's and the items aren't too expensive---just a quick trip to the grocery store to grab the rest of the items like a bell pepper or whatever. Way cheaper than eating out at the last minute! I also like the crock-pot recipes because at least twice a week I am running kids around until the last minute before dinner.

I read that she has a new menu-mailer out for low cost meals. That might be something to check out.

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

I've been doing flylady for about 3 years now and when my son got out of the hospital from having a stem cell transplant he came home to a house we had just moved into (boxes everywhere) that had to be completely clean/germ-free and he was on 4 iv meds and too numerous to count oral meds, not to mention daily clinic visits. I was completely overwhelmed until my dh got our computer hooked up and I started the flylady system again and she just put everything in perspective. My house may have had toys all over the floor most of the time, but they were clean toys on a clean floor which was the priority at my house at the time. And I was showered and dressed every day, which was a miracle since I was pregnant for my fifth child at the time as well.

Now as far as saving money, I agree with another poster who said you save money by not paying late fees when you mail bills on time, not paying penalties for late library books and videos, things like that. I tried the free sample menu-mailer and then instead of doing that all the time I bought Leanne Ely's book, Saving Dinner. That way I can decide which recipes I want to cook. The recipes do save money because you cook with spices that after the initial one or two shopping trips you will have on hand and cooking from scratch like that is alot cheaper (and healthier, saving money on doctor bills) than cooking with shake n bake, for example. Every time I make a recipe that my family likes I highlight it in the book so I can find it again when I'm looking for something to put on my grocery list.

I did see on the menu-mailer website that there is a new "frugal" menu-mailer, you may want to try that out, I haven't had a chance to really look at it yet.

 

[floridagirrl2]

I briefly tried FlyLady--but I just can't stand her bossy schtick! I find it obnoxious and bullying, not amusing or motivating. Her system may be great but I couldn't stand reading her long enough to find out.

 

[barb45]

I used flylady for a short time but "fell off the wagon". I used to do Sidetracked Home Executives. This is the system that flylady is taken from. It uses a 3x5 cardfile system. I used it for years and it was great! Now I want to go back on something so I may try flylady again. If I can't get with it on that system, I will go back to Sidetracked. If you are strict with yourself while you get started you will see how easy it becomes eventually. I remember when my kids were little and doing Sidetracked and calling my mother at 10:00 am and saying "I'm bored". She would say "do some housework" but it was ALL done!! Woohoo!!!!!

 

[8 Ears]

Wahoo! For Flylady!

 

[mom4graceandlogan]

I just started flylady last week. I am truly doing babysteps, doing maybe 1/5 so far of what she recommends but I have noticed a big improvement in my house already. I work part time with very little childcare. So I work at home while kids( one and four years old) are napping, before/after bed etc. This leaves very little time to clean up when they are not messing up. The declutter approach she uses is making a difference already. I am also keeping up with laundy which makes a big difference as it is no longer piling up on furniture. Have not got to menu planning yet as I am a big fan of baby steps. I look forward to seeing where I am in 3 months. Instead of feeling overwhelmed I feel I have at least a little control over things. I would try recommended trying it for several days even if you only do a little at first and see what you think.

 

[mom4graceandlogan]

I just started flylady last week. I am truly doing babysteps, doing maybe 1/5 so far of what she recommends but I have noticed a big improvement in my house already. I work part time with very little childcare. So I work at home while kids( one and four years old) are napping, before/after bed etc. This leaves very little time to clean up when they are not messing up. The declutter approach she uses is making a difference already. I am also keeping up with laundy which makes a big difference as it is no longer piling up on furniture. Have not got to menu planning yet as I am a big fan of baby steps. I look forward to seeing where I am in 3 months. Instead of feeling overwhelmed I feel I have at least a little control over things. I would try recommended trying it for several days even if you only do a little at first and see what you think.

 

[house_of_princesses]

BTW, if you don't know flylady and you're disorganized look at flylady.net, If you're organized, send me some pixie dust !

thanks
jenn

lol....good thoughts! Back to your original request...I don't know how you would want to structure a 'buddy' approach, but I'm game!! I'm a new flybaby, and baby steps are big around here! I'm a sahm of 4 dds, a widow, and I homeschool the girls. I need all the flying lessons and pd I can get!!

 

[luv2nascar]

I got to overwhelmed with her emails and stopped
I need to try again