Procrastination is one of those things that so many of us struggle with. As an organizer, I help clients to focus and plan ahead, even though I wonder if procrastination can sometimes be good for us.

It turns out that it can actually pay off when you plan your vacation at the last minute with PackLate.com. Where can you go with PackLate?  You can score a last minute deal to Alabama, California, Florida, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, South Carolina, Utah, and Costa Rica. To test things out, last night I chose October 13-18th with the Florida Keys as my destination. The results showed three properties (2 BR/2 Bath that sleeps 6) ranging in price from $191-$227.

Not ready to go anywhere yet? You can sign up (or join with your Facebook account) to stalk a good deal. So, go ahead and procrastinate.

A few weeks ago, I shared a tip on how to manage your dirty laundry while on a road trip.  Here’s another quick tip on how to keep some of the stuff in your car from flying all about the place while you’re driving.

Want the trunk organizer profiled in this video?  Send me an e-mail to place your order! …or buy the one below from Amazon.

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Check out these 5 simple tips from Financial Organizing Expert, Nanette Duffey, on how to better manage your finances and protect your identity while on vacation.

An enjoyable vacation awaits you, but being charged overdraft fees, being buried with medical bills, or dealing with identify theft should not be part of anyone’s post-travel routine. With these five quick tips you can organize your finances, put your mind at ease, and recharge your batteries during your time away.

Tip #1: Lose weight by clearing out our wallet. Gather up your current wallet and then find a comfortable seat with a flat surface such as a table or counter. Begin by emptying out 100% of the contents. Discard out-dated items, return items you’ve been carrying for others, and remove unnecessary paper bits. Be honest, do you really want to carry 14 days of credit/debit card purchase receipts in your wallet? Finally, replace those items you need on a weekly basis to your wallet. Not convinced you can live without it? Try going 2 weeks with a lighter load and you’ll never look back.

Tip #2: Avoid fees by signing up for text alerts from bank & credit card issuers. These tiny reminders are now readily available from most major issuers. Start by logging onto your bank and card issuer. Sign up for alerts that notify you when you’re entering a “danger zone” such as low balance on your checking or over the limit on credit card accounts. With the average American now carrying 3.5 credit cards, according to a Federal Reserve Bank of Boston study, a low balance alert will be the best text you get all week if it helps you avoid just one $29 fee or notifies you of fraudulent activity.

Tip #3: Exercise caution when withdrawing cash at ATM. Your relaxed attitude makes you more prone for ATM PINs at risk for scams, and unfamiliar ATM machines make it easier for thieves to use skimming devices to steal your personal data.

Tip #4: Verify your health insurance cards are current. Nobody likes a health emergency, but in the unlikely event you are injured while away from home, having your current coverage and contact information becomes critical. Leaving on a vacation tomorrow? No problem, many major health insurers (Blue Cross, Humana, and United Healthcare) allow you to print replacement cards online. Having current coverage info means faster access to care and you also avoid the hassle: claims filing, billing headaches, and follow-up calls.

Tip #5: Stop identity thieves at your mailbox. A full mailbox broadcasts broadcasts “I’m NOT Home” and rolls out the welcome mat to potential identity theft. Next time you have travel plans, stop mail in less than 30 seconds. This is especially important for those who still receive paper bills and home-based business owners.

With these five easy tips for organizing your finances, you gain time and peace of mind to enjoy your trip without worries about managing your finances. Now you’ll have plenty of time to review your photos, share memories, and begin daydreaming of your next big adventure!

About the Author

Nanette Duffey, Daily Money Manager & Professional Organizer, is an award winning entrepreneur, speaker, and self-described numbers gal. She created Organized Instincts to share her organizing talents and personal finance knowledge with the world. She helps people quickly and effectively manage any activity that has financial ramifications. Nanette is passionate about helping busy adults who need “practical organizing advice and solutions that work in the real world!”

Connect With Nanette: Web | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn

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Ok, road trippers, this tip is just for you. I have discovered a new way to make sure that dirty laundry doesn’t mingle with your clean stuff. Check out this quick video and let me know how you manage laundry when you’re on a road trip.

Click here to see more great videos on our YouTube Channel

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This is the 3rd and final installment of a three-part series by guest blogger, Mike Neumann.  He shares tips on how to make business travel more organized and less stressful. Click here to read Part I and Part II.

Now that you’ve finished your trip, it’s time to prepare to come home.  If I’ve brought a bag to check, I try to load this bag up with as much as possible, keeping in mind the typical 23Kg (50Lb) weight limit for checked bags.  Going home is when I dress casual.  Jeans and a long-sleeved shirt w/pocket (for boarding pass/passport) are the usual.  Keep your carry-on bags light, because…

Return Airport

Airport and airlines rules and practices vary widely around the globe.  Everything from expectations of the security personnel (shoes/no shoes, belts on/off, passport in shirt pocket ok/not ok) to the baggage policy (carry-on and checked) of the airline will impact your experience at the return airport.

Some airlines, for example, Qantas Airlines, have very strict carry-on restrictions that involve not just size and number of bags, but weight as well.  I wasn’t prepared for this on one of my trips to Oz and was required to check my “heavy” roller briefcase and most of its contents and purchase a small, disposable bag for my computer, music player, and other things that I didn’t want to check, but were under the 7Kg (15lb) limit per bag.

“Debrief”

Sometimes, there is only a very brief period before heading out on the next business trip; every now and then, less than 24 hours.  Aside for the expected laundry gymnastics, there are a few things make the next trip much easier.

1) Get all of those receipts in order. Even if I don’t have time to finalize the expense report, I will make certain to have all of the receipts in the envelope sorted in chronological order and add slips of paper for the minor (<$10) expenses.

2)  Clean out the “cruft.” I go through each pocket of my backpack removing loose change, re-group the currency Ziploc™ bags, and if its not already in there, put the itinerary and hotel information for the next trip in to the travel folder.

3)  Finish the quick “ToDo” list for follow-up. Business cards, follow-up emails, etc., that must be completed in the next few days – that all goes on to a list while it’s fresh in my mind.

The Bottom Line

Plan to be flexible.  “Semper Gumbi” should be your motto.  Remember that you’re not that big a deal, getting there tomorrow really won’t be the end of the world, and that a smile and a “Thank You” no matter the circumstance will make everything much, much better.

About the Author

Mike never planned to launch Agile Set, LLC and consult to smart card clients worldwide.  He planned to be an astronaut.  Now, he is a Certified GlobalPlatform Trainer and editor of ISO/IEC 24727-3, a standard poised to influence future card and system architectures.  After earning his MSME from Virginia Tech, Mike intended to play for a year, and then get serious.   Seventeen years and two kids later, the serious part has yet to kick in.

Connect With Mike: Twitter

This is the 2nd installment of a three-part series by guest blogger, Mike Neumann.  He shares tips on how to make business travel more organized and less stressful.  Click here to read Part I.

It’s crunch time.  The plane is leaving in less than 24 hours, probably closer to  less than 12 hours.  It’s time to pack; but first, the essentials.

The Night Before – Checklist

“I really should write this down someday,” ;-) so here goes… 

• Boarding Passes (if domestic) – It’s always good to check-in online as early as possible, usually 24 hours in advance.  This increases your chance of a “day of” upgrade and place in the queue if you want to catch an earlier standby flight.  This only applies for domestic travel.  You still need to check-in in person for international flights.

• Flight itinerary and hotel details ON PAPER – Paper has zero boot-time and is much easier to show to the airline agent, taxi driver, or hotel receptionist.  Save a tree some other way.

• Passport – I carry my passport with me in the same place in my bag every time, except for when I don’t, which causes nothing but panic.

• Liquids – You know the drill by now, I hope.  Pack those little shampoo/conditioner bottles, too.  Hotels outside of the U.S. don’t typically offer much in the way of soap/shampoo.

• Envelope for receipts – When the airlines quit handing us those nice boarding pass sleeves, I lost my favorite place to put misc. travel receipts during the trip.  It goes in a separate folder with my flight itinerary.

Foreign Currency and Transit Card(s)

I keep a Ziploc™ bag containing leftover local currency and/or local transit system cards (Oyster™ card for the London Underground, Translink™ for San Francisco Bay Area, SmarTrip™ card for D.C.) for every country/region to which I’ve traveled.  It’s a good idea to make sure you have at least a cab fare worth (assume $80USD or equivalent) of local currency before you land.  (Note: Salt Lake City counts as a Foreign Country as the ATM at SLC did not accept my 6-digit PIN ATM card. #ProTip)

What to wear on the plane

You can’t always fit it all in to a carry-on and a “personal item.”  For most international trips, I’m checking a bag.  For this reason, I always wear something that I can get by with in a business meeting and carry-on at least enough ‘necessities’ for two days/one night without the checked luggage.  Hat, coat, umbrella, etc. – all are carry-on.

Departure Airport

Don’t forget to turn off your data services, disable Twitter DM to Txt notifications, and/or choose the “Off while Roaming” option on your smart phone.  At $15/Mb abroad, and $0.35/SMS the pain can rack up quickly.  Last chance to say “I love you, Mom” before $0.99/min cell phone roaming.  Skype is nice, but see “WiFi”, below.

Destination Airport

Luggage and customs are the same everywhere in the world, except Australia, where you will wait a LONG time for customs.  They take their quarantine seriously.  ATMs are usually easy to find and will support your U.S.-based ATM cards.  ATMs away from the airports can be less tolerant of U.S.-issued plastic.

Hotels – What to Expect

If you travel mainly within the United States, you’ve likely become accustomed to free or affordable WiFi, an iron and ironing board in each room, and hand towels.  Europe and the UK won’t have the iron/ironing board, but sometimes you can check one out from the front desk.  You might find washcloths in the UK and Australia, but not in Europe or Brazil.  Pack one in its own Ziploc™.  As for WiFi, it’s rough out there.  If it is free in your hotel, it’s likely dicey and slow.  If it’s not free, it’s not going to be cheap.  Most hotels in Europe are prepay and serviced by companies such as Meteor or Swisscom.

Welcome to your destination.  Stay awake that first day.  “Live where you are,” and for goodness sake, take some pictures and put them up for friend and family back home. :-)

About the Author

Mike never planned to launch Agile Set, LLC and consult to smart card clients worldwide.  He planned to be an astronaut.  Now, he is a Certified GlobalPlatform Trainer and editor of ISO/IEC 24727-3, a standard poised to influence future card and system architectures.  After earning his MSME from Virginia Tech, Mike intended to play for a year, and then get serious.   Seventeen years and two kids later, the serious part has yet to kick in.

Connect With Mike: Twitter

Today’s guest author, Mike Neumann, is a frequent business traveler.  Check out his tips on how to keep sane – and organized – with a hectic travel schedule.

I travel frequently for client work, and most often, the travel is international.  I’ve traveled to Nice, France for a day, and around the world for a month.  Each trip has its own differences, but some things are always the same.  I’ll try to focus on these common things to help you make any business trip a little less harried.

Visas – Check Carefully

If you’re fortunate to live within any of the VISA Waiver Program (VWP) countries, then your pre-travel complications are few.  Keep in mind, however, that some countries, such as Australia, require an Electronic Travel Authority, which is a form of a “light” Visa.  You will be denied boarding at your originating airport unless you can prove to the agent that you have completed an ETA or have a valid Visa in your passport.  Visa processing can be expensive if you wait to the last minute.  Plan as far ahead as possible.  You’ll need to purchase your flight before you can apply for either a Visa or ETA.

The Week Before

Check the news and weather for the city that you are traveling to.  As I write this, the ash plume from Eyjafjallajökull has grounded air travel in Europe for nearly a week.  Some things are beyond planning.

I also try to begin my expense report at least a few days before I get to the airport.  An empty template with trip purpose, airline ticket and mileage to/from airport, is a good start.  I then try to do a brief update of expenses each evening during the trip.

Your Gear

I’ve been through a shoulder bag phase, a roller briefcase phase, and now I’m firmly in the backpack phase.  Regardless of the bag type, I must be able to run my business out of it.

The most important thing about any of these bags is the arrangement of pockets.  My favorite backpack was a conference ‘freebie’.  It had a large, narrow, yet separate pocket for the computer that kept it from getting too much pressure from the rest of the bag’s contents.  My current backpack has a nearly perfectly sized external pocket to hold my passport, boarding pass(s) and customs form.

We have a lot of electronics these days.  Fortunately, most things don’t require external voltage conversion (our adapters handle it automatically), but the plugs are still an issue.  I carry adapters for the destination country as well as connecting airports.  Also, I prefer devices that have USB “Synch-and-charge” cables.  I power my computer from the wall, and charge the phone, Bluetooth earbud, etc., all off of USB.

Whatever you plan to take, think light and essential.  In the next post, we’ll cover the night before travel and arrival at your destination.

This is the 1st installment of a 3-part series, so check back for more tips from Mike.

About the Author

Mike never planned to launch Agile Set, LLC and consult to smart card clients worldwide.  He planned to be an astronaut.  Now, he is a Certified GlobalPlatform Trainer and editor of ISO/IEC 24727-3, a standard poised to influence future card and system architectures.  After earning his MSME from Virginia Tech, Mike intended to play for a year, and then get serious.   Seventeen years and two kids later, the serious part has yet to kick in.

Connect With Mike: Twitter

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Last week was Rubbermaid week for me.  I was one of the hosts of their Spring Into Organization – 5 Day Twitter Chat, I started using/reviewing one of their products*, and wrote a guest article for them, 6 Tips for Stress-Free Conference Travel. Below are three of the six tips I shared.  What do you do to stay sane and stress-free when traveling for a conference or out of town meeting?

#2  Stay at the conference hotel. If another hotel is cheaper, consider how far away it is.  Is it worth the cab fees or time spent walking?

#3  Keep your travel documents close by. It’s the night before your flight.  Do you know where your travel docs are?  Keep your itinerary in your handbag (murse for you guys) or carry on.

#5  Store your receipts separately. Keep your receipts in a separate envelope (labeled, of course) and put it in location that you’ll easily remember (e.g., zippered pocket of your carry on).  That’s it.  Simple, yes?

Click here to read the entire article

*Rubbermaid sent me a free junk drawer organization system to review.  I will not be compensated for this review.

*Update: The Hybrid is not quite gone…yet. You can find it on the Butler Bag website, eBay, and Amazon.com (see the picture below from Amazon). One thing that really is gone is the discount. -Deb, 4.16.11

Ok, girls, the Butler Bag that I love so much is getting the heave ho.  That’s right, Hybrid style is being discontinued so this is your last chance to get it before they are sold out.  Grab your coupon code (see below), my friends, and get the world’s most organized bag before it’s too late!

Test it out and let me know if you love it, like it, or if it’s not for you.

Do you have a butler? I do. In fact, I have two. Alright, I’ll confess. I’m talking about the Butler Bag by Jen Groover. This bag is perfect for the person who hates digging through mountains of things in their purse. It keeps everything neatly organized and easy to find with an organizer tray (comes with each bag). I’ve been testing out both the classic (smaller) and Hybrid (larger) bag for almost a year.

This is my Butler Hybrid sitting prettily on my chair…

Ok, time for confession #2. I ignored the organizer tray in my Butler for a week and just threw just about everything I thought I needed in there. In fact, my shoulder started to hurt. So, I dumped everything out…

Can you see the organizer tray inside the bag?

Here’s a closer look…

…and then I put some things back in and pitched a few things, too…what do you think?

Ta da!

So, it took about 10 minutes for me to dump/purge my purse and to put all back together again. Not long, which means that even the busiest person can find the time to organize her purse, especially if it’s Butler. Once the organizer tray is full, that’s it, nothing else goes in your purse. Yes, you can put a few things along side your tray (I sometimes put my notebook in my bag). Just try not to over stuff it. Your shoulders will thank you.

Wanna test the Butler Bag out for yourself?  Check out the coupon below.

*Update: The coupon is no longer valid, but check them out anyway! ~ Deb, 2.13.11

Organize to Revitalize! is a Butler Bag affiliate.