Running a Household

Don’t Run Yourself Ragged!

By Deborah Daley

As a single person, you often have to fix or take care of home issues by yourself. Over the years, I have learned some helpful hints and organizational tools that I think will apply to a household of any size.

My first recommendation is to buy in bulk whenever it’s reasonable. This might seem counterintuitive, since there is only one person in my household. The key is to buy only those things that you know you use. For example, I don’t buy fresh fruit in bulk because I don’t eat it fast enough. There are some things, though, that make sense to always have on hand.

I buy non-perishables like toilet paper, garbage bags, and paper towels in bulk. I will also buy a large package of ground beef, divide it into smaller bags, and freeze it. I bought a quarter cow about a year and a half ago, which was a little outside the box. I saved so much money and had meat all the time!

It’s also convenient to buy gift supplies in bulk. When I go to a dollar store, I buy a variety of birthday, get well, and anniversary cards, as well as gift bags and tissue paper. When an event happens, I am prepared and don’t have to make a last-minute trip to the store. The day after Christmas, I get my holiday bags, tags, tissue paper, and boxes for the next year because everything is at least half off. I save tons of money this way.

For a single-person household, I do have a lot of clothes, so organizing closets is a priority. First, I divide my clothes between fall/winter and spring/ summer, into two corresponding closets. I prefer plastic hangers because you can use them for both tops and slacks. I keep tops by category—blouses, shells, sweaters, long sweaters, blazers, and activewear. I prefer hanging hoodies and sweatshirts when possible. I fold t-shirts and summer tops in my chest of drawers. All my slacks, nice capris, skirts, and dresses are in the same area. I replicate the system in each closet.

Packing for travel is really just closet organizing in miniature. I never had a backpack in my younger years, but I invested in one because you can carry it on board with your purse inside. I put my travel toiletries in clear bags and include my pajamas, a change of underwear, a top, and my phone charger cord. If I’m taking a suitcase or even a smaller carry-on bag, I roll my clothes. This really does save space!