In my quest to find a management system that works for me, as well as striving to run the workings of the family in the same manner that I would run a business, I have finally selected my operational tools. It only took me, oh, well, about three years, but…
It has helped that, in the past few years, technology has provided many of those things I used to wish had been invented…so maybe it just is a lucky coincidence that it’s finally now all come together. So, if anything, my reading and research was helpful in that it bought me time so that I’d have the right tools once I knew that which I wanted.
So, here’s what I’m using:
- The iTouch: the ultimate electronic Swiss Army Knife. Syncs with Outlook, which I use to manage email, my calendar, my tasks, and those tasks I assign my family electronically. (Everyone except the six-year-old uses Outlook as well; the six-year-old has a magnetic job chart hanging in the kitchen.) After my brief experience with the iPhone–which I loved but had absolutely no signal at my house via AT&T–and trying out the Blackberry this weekend, I’ve decided I love the Apple applications too much; I’m going back to a basic cell phone with no data plan. Yes, it means carrying two devices, but doing so will ultimately save me $360 a year.
- Daily Plate: This is a free web-based food and exercise tracker. I started using this two years ago when I got serious about changing my body; I still use it as I’m monitoring my pernicious anemia (B12 deficienty). This also has a free iPhone app.
- The Living Cookbook: My meal planning, grocery shopping, and food storage inventory program. I can export to Outlook, which can then be uploaded to the iPhone.
- Homeschool Tracker: Keeps track of assignments, test scores, and lesson plans.
- Microsoft Excel: As my financial management responsibilities include the household and medical expenses (my husband manages the monthly bills and investments), I’ve found I don’t need anything like mVelopes or Microsoft Money or Quicken. A simple spreadsheet keeps it all in order…and I have an app that I can keep updates on the iPhone, too.
While my husband and children had other things planned for the Saturday (birthday parties, poker night, sleepovers, etc.), I divided my day between completing some contract work and setting up my iPhone and my programs to all meld together.
Now, here comes the fun part…using my family as guinea pigs as I apply my theories on family management on all of us.
And, of course, I’ll post reports of my findings here. Stay tuned.
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