Did one of your New Year’s resolutions include the promise to finally get your home organized?  Are you already off track?  Fear not, you can still make it happen!  All you need is my easy-to-implement ‘one-weekend-a-month’ plan and you will be well on your way.

Organizing your entire home can seem like a daunting task, which is why people tend to give up. But my 2012 monthly plan will help you ‘chunk it down’ into manageable weekend projects.  The first step is to promise yourself that – no matter what – you will set aside one weekend a month to do one home organization project.  Depending on the size of your home and how much ‘stuff’ you have your monthly project can take you one day or the entire weekend.  The following is your January to June schedule.  Feel free to change the order as long as you keep to the one-project-a-month plan.  Next week I will give you July through December’s projects – no sense overwhelming you right at the start!

January: Charger Station

Does your home have four, five or even six chargers laying around? Do you or your family members sometimes scramble to find the right one?  Then you need a charger station.  You can either purchase one or make your own. What’s essential is to select a designated area in your home for the sole purpose of keeping all chargers together. For example, if you live in an apartment consider using one of the drawers from a console table. Remember this console needs to have nearby access to an outlet. If giving up a drawer is not possible then a shelf on a bookcase can do the same job. It may take some time for everyone to develop the habit but within weeks you will see each of them placing their phone, iPods, or miscellaneous electronic device to charge in the same location without giving it a second thought.  And I promise you won’t miss being asked, “Have you seen my charger!”

Click here to read more.

Check out Part Two of my  Month-to-Month, Home Organization Calendar in Fox News Latino’s Lifestyle section this Friday.

Image from Nickelodeons Parentconnect.com

While sitting at my doctor’s office I overheard two ladies discussing bathrooms. It was not an over top conversation until I heard one of them say  to the other,  “Did you know that every time you flush the toilet with the lid up,  water particles are expelled  from the toilet bowl into the air,  some of which land on your toothbrush?” 

I wanted to throw up right there and then. Needless to say, I’ve been obsessed with toothbrushes and toilets ever since. I have the habit of searching the unknown by going directly to the computer and Googling the subject. The technical name for the sprinkling toilet water occurrence is the aerosol effect. 

University of Arizona environmental microbiologist Charles Gerba devised a simple test to check for the aerosol effect in your home: 

Conduct tests by placing pieces of gauze in different locations around the bathroom and measuring the bacterial and viral levels on them after a toilet flush.  

For a detailed account of the aerosol effect and how you can combat it, click here.  Once you have read it, you will never sit on the toilet the same way again. 

Life insurance is an often overlooked part of a family’s financial plan.  However, with the right policy money issues need not be a consideration if tragedy does strikes.  People should understand the life insurance process before, during and after they buy policies explains Amy Danise, senior managing editor of Insure.com. Misunderstandings can lead to bad financial decisions.  Below are some common myths to be aware of.

Myth #1: There’s a universal database of life insurance policies that I can use to find my relative’s policy number

This problem often starts with the insured person, who never fully divulges where the policy paperwork is kept. Beneficiaries can’t make a claim without knowing at least the name of the life insurance company. Unfortunately there is no company or agency that tracks all life insurance policies sold in the United States.

Myth #2: Anyone can take out a life insurance policy on you

Your friend, neighbor, sibling – even spouse – can’t buy life insurance on you without your knowledge. The application process usually requires a medical exam – or at least your signature on papers.

Myth #3: Life insurance companies look for ways to reject people

When we talk about buying life insurance, we often end up talking about medical conditions and other risks that can knock you out of the market. But life insurers do try to offer life insurance quotes to applicants with medical problems.

Myth #4: I have group life insurance through work so I’m all set

The life insurance you buy through work isn’t portable. If you lose or leave your job, you’ll be without life insurance. It’s a much better plan to buy life insurance on your own.

Myth #5: A life insurance application rejection means you’re uninsurable

A rejection from one company doesn’t mean that others will do the same. It’s important to keep looking.

Myth #6: My spouse is still young and can go back to work if I die

Assuming your surviving spouse will quickly find well-paying work isn’t a good financial plan. Life insurance also allows you to provide college tuition and money for other large expenses if you’re no longer around.

Myth #7: The government will take care of my family

Payments from government sources like Social Security are inadequate to provide financial stability in the event of your death.

Myth #8: You can’t change your life insurance rate after you buy the policy

If your health has improved substantially since your policy purchase, you might wish you had waited to buy in order to get lower life insurance rates. But you can ask your insurer for a re-evaluation of your rate. And if your life insurance company won’t lower your rate, you can still shop for a new policy at a better price and then drop your old one.

About Insure.com: Insure.com provides free insurance quotes and a comprehensive array of information on auto, home, health, and life insurance. We offer an extensive library of originally authored insurance articles and decision-making tools that are not available from any other single source.