May 17, 2007

There was a question on the radio show regarding keeping paper. So....... Here is a basic list of what to keep and how long. If it is not on the list it would then be up to your discretion. I live by if in doubt throw it out .

Keep :

• Birth certificates
• Adoption papers
• Custody agreements
• Death certificates
• Deeds to property
• Divorce papers
• List of previous employers
• Loans that have been paid off (canceled notes or other evidence)
• Marriage certificates
• Passports
• Photographic or video record of house and household contents
• Record of any governmental employment (e.g., armed forces)
• Income tax returns (supporting documentation may be destroyed after six years)
• Tax forms and supporting records relating to non-deductible IRA contributions
• Tax forms and supporting records relating to sale of a home

• Bank statements-six years
• Brokers' confirmation slips for purchases-until security is sold
• Canceled checks-six years
• Contracts-seven years after expiration
• Credit card statements-six years
• Receipts for home improvements that can be added to tax basis of home- six years after home is sold in a transaction that is not a "rollover" transaction
• Insurance papers (all types of insurance)-four years after expiration
• Mortgage records-three years after paid off
• Owners' manuals for appliances-until item is discarded
• Receipts for major warranted purchases-until item is discarded or sold
• Records supporting income tax returns and deductions (W-2s, 1099s, receipts)-six years
• Warranties and extended service agreements-until expiration

• Owners' manuals and warranties for appliances and cars you no longer own
• Receipts for credit card purchases if not major or related to a tax deduction

May 17, 2007

I am overwhelmed with many photos..after almsot 36 years of vacation photos, relatives and friends sending photos, what do I do?

I am giving some away, but do I just throw some away, and not feel guilty about it?

Thanks for any advice you can give me.

If I felt guilty about tossing some photos I never look at, I would scan them to my computer and then transfer them to a CD. This is purely hypothetical because I rarely feel guilty. Some may view this as a character flaw. LOL

Tom

May 17, 2007

Tom,

We are having our house rewired and as you would expect it is incredibly dusty. I am finding it difficult to live with the dust never mind keep up with it! I donÕt go mad; I vacuum just one or two rooms and have a 1-minute wipe but itÕs me whoÕs wiped at the end of the day.

My husband who works on building sites and just doesnÕt see what the problem is. I told him I couldnÕt possibly get the dust out of the house all on my own, so he vacuumed once. I know he works in dust and brings dust home, too, but now IÕm starting to give up doing laundry because there is no place thatÕs NOT dusty for the clean clothes to go! Right now, we donÕt have use of the wardrobes to hang the clothes, so I just iron the day before. This is a pain since everyday I come in after work and have to do the equivalent of a half home blessing plus iron everyoneÕs clothes.

I canÕt figure out what which is more frustrating: the dust or him not helping! Any tips on motivating my dust bunny?

Ladywell Flybaby

Most guys like doing stuff that matters. By that I mean lasts. During construction you aren't going to have a dust free home. He vacuumed once and the next day it was as if he never did anything. You husband is used to the dust and understands the futility of fighting it.

I think if you take the attitude that your situation is temporary, you will be able to deal with it better. True, I do not know how long you will have to deal with this,so it is easy for me to say. If I was you I would dust off a place for me to spend my time and let the rest wait.

If I did not have the use of wardrobes or closets I would have to improvise. Moving companies sell wardrobe boxes that you could hang your clothes in until the dust clears.

Here is an example http://store.uhaul.com/product_detail.aspx?id=3529

Tom

May 17, 2007

Hey Tom,
Any ideas on how to clean the exhaust fan and hood above the stove so that it doesn't collect every dust mite in the whole kitchen? Mine seems to have static electricity and grease build up??? That shouldn't be possible should it? Also, since all of you at Flylady only deal with quality items, do you know any good door mats? We live on a hobby farm and I think the dirt that is brought in might be part of the reason why I can't keep my sink/kitchen counters clean. I know this may sound trivial to you, but I'm really ashamed and frustrated that I can't control the first and most important place in the Flylady system!!!
PLEASE HELP!!!
Pamela

Robert Here:

I know almost nothing about door mats; sorry. You might consider, in addition to a mat, one of those cast iron wiener dogs with the scrape blade along its back, for use in scraping mud off the bottom of shoes.

As for the exhaust fan, I suppose it is possible that it develops an electric charge. Grounding it couldn't hurt, and might possibly help. The grease is easy to explain, though. Various oils and fat constituents become vapors at cooking temperatures, but quickly revert to their usual form when they cool. The fan--its filter and its blades--is where they condense. With a more powerful fan, you could force them farther up the duct before they condense, but they would only be harder to clean out, up there. And of course, the grease collects dust.

May 17, 2007

Hi Tom and the Guys,

My husband, who's overall a pretty good guy, completely blew off Mother's Day this year. And since our DS is only 4, he's really not able to do much on his own without at least a little parental help.

I really want to talk with DH about this, but cannot figure out how to start the conversation without nagging or sounding accusatory. And getting him defensive right off the bat is not what I'm hoping for here!

What I'd hoped for: A "Happy Mother's Day!" greeting in the morning, DH to make breakfast for us, and a card from DS (preferably homemade, but I'm not picky). Flowers would be icing on the cake.

What I got: Nothing at all, except a hug from DS when the cartoon moose on Noggin told him to give me one.

A little background, in case it makes a difference: DH is not the greatest about giving gifts or cards for birthdays or holidays other than Christmas, but he generally scrapes up something at the last minute. He hasn't completely ignored a holiday before, although he's come pretty close. We haven't been having any major problems, he's a little stressed but not nearly as much as he was just a couple years ago. Money's not an issue, since we're doing okay and don't give each other expensive gifts anyway. Oh, and DH used to make breakfast every weekend before DS came along, but now I usually do since I'm up earlier. And yes, he knew it was Mother's Day because we spent yesterday morning with his mom as an early Mother's Day and we gave her a nice card.

So is there a way to tell him he really hurt my feelings, so that he'll hear that and (maybe) change the way he handles this holiday? And not just sound like I'm picking a fight?

Thanks,
Sara

Robert Here:

Mother's Day is thought of by many men as one of the Hallmark Holidays, celebrated not as a cultural tradition, but because somebody pressured Congress into declaring it, like National Pickle Awareness Week. If it wasn't a big deal in the household he grew up in, then for him it isn't a big deal now, and for you to sulk because he didn't make it a big deal will only make you look bad. Anyway, you are not HIS mother. But if you really want to push it, suck it up and do something nice--not extravagant--for Father's Day; maybe he'll notice the imbalance, and resolve to do better.