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The Family Manager Takes Charge: Getting on the Fast Track to a Happy, Organized Home
Being a mom means more than being a wife and parent-it also means being the household accountant, building manager, cook, gardener, housekeeper, and personal shopper-just to name a few of the roles that come with the territory! As America's "Family Manager," bestselling author Kathy Peel has shown millions of moms that running a household is like operating a business. Like any good C.E.O., every mother must know her goals, determine her strategies, and manage her human resources.
Delegate-Motivate-Organize...Relax!
Every smart manager knows that success depends on teamwork. Kathy shows readers how to get kids and spouses to help around the house-with lots of practical advice and encouragement to get them motivated and keep them going.
Save Time, Money, and Your Sanity
With hundreds of time-saving, money-saving, and stress-reducing ideas, this indispensable handbook also shows readers how to take charge of running the home-without running themselves into the ground.
Delegate-Motivate-Organize...Relax!
Every smart manager knows that success depends on teamwork. Kathy shows readers how to get kids and spouses to help around the house-with lots of practical advice and encouragement to get them motivated and keep them going.
Save Time, Money, and Your Sanity
With hundreds of time-saving, money-saving, and stress-reducing ideas, this indispensable handbook also shows readers how to take charge of running the home-without running themselves into the ground.
384 pages, Paperback
First published September 2, 2003
10 people are currently reading
106 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
February 6, 2019
See yourself as a manager (you oversee an economic institution): set up a base of operation (Control Center where you organize and schedule everyday tasks, and keep lists and important papers), build a team and delegate; manage by departments (filing system can be based on this list). Departments:
1) Home and Property
- CEO: Home / Family Manager
- Maid: Cleaning, Laundry, Sewing / Mending: keep three chore lists, one for weekly chores, one for monthly, one for 3-4 times a year. Use potpourri and sachets to naturally provide fragrance.
- Home Organizer: Decluttering and Organizing
- Building Manager: Maintenance, Building and Remodeling, Pest Control
- Interior Decorator:
-Arranging room: find the focal point and plan seating from there
-Selecting furniture: Let the space breathe around the corners; Strike a balance in furniture between wood pieces and upholstered; Every chair and sofa requires a table or flat surface; Place coffee table 18" in front of sofa & allow another 18" between ends of sofa and other pieces
-Window treatments: Extend curtains about 8" beyond windows
- Lighting: 3 types are general (replace sunlight), task (no shadows), accent (visual interest, spotlight plant and art, highlight texture of wall or ceiling); each seating area should be bright enough for reading
- Mirrors and wall hangings: suspend mirror between two windows to add light and space, at end of hallway; hang pictures at eye level, about 60" from floor to center of picture
- Floor coverings: Use a colorful rug as entrance mat with medium background color
- Extra touches: use natural items: flowers, fruit, personal treasures and rotate them; when displaying collections, group objects by color or type
- Painting: one gallon covers 400 square feet; sunny room often needs neutral, softening hues and north/east facing rooms need warmer tones to brighten natural light; usually warm hues best in spaces where there's activity; light, cool colors makes space look bigger; if you purchase paint using color chip, buy one shade lighter; buy small quantities of 2 or 3 shades and paint patches on different locations of room, like spot with direct sun and one in a dark corner and look at over a few days
- Gardener
- Safety Officer: twice a year, make sure fire extinguisher works; make inventory of all possessions and keep copy in safe place (178); make sure everyone knows how to turn off water, gas, and electricity at main switches; Make an emergency preparation plan, a disaster supplies kit, and an evacuation supplies kit
- Chauffeur: Driving, Car Care
2) Food
- Menu Planner: Meals, Nutrition
- Head Chef: Cooking, Food Safety
- Event Planner: Entertaining, Parties and Birthdays
3) Finances
- Accountant: You need a financial philosophy, financial priorities, and financial strategies:
- Spending Plan (budget): determine monthly earnings after taxes, calculate monthly expenses, subtract expenses from income; with spending money, create short-term & long-term savings plan, put aside at least 3-6 months' income for emergencies, put aside at least 5 percent of each paycheck in an IRA, pension fund, or 401(k) plan, and figure out how much you can save each month for big purchases; track spending plan with spreadsheet
- Banks (savings)
- Credit
- Downsizing
- Money Management
- Financial Planner:
- Insurance
- auto (revisit coverage and costs at least every other year)
- life (types are term, permanent, and variable; review occasionally to see if coverage is appropriate; get equal to between 5 and 10 years of annual salary)
- home)
- Investments
- Stocks (2 types: common ('equity'; vote, get dividends), preferred (don't vote, dividends)
- Bonds (issued by corp., gov't, state, city and pays interest and value of bond when matures)
- Mutual Funds (pool of combined monies used to purchase stocks, bonds, combination)
- Taxes: make separate folders for each category of deductions, then toss in receipts, bank statements and other documentation during the year: charitable contributions, business- and job-related expenses, dependent care, income sources, investment expenses, medical expenses for each dependent, mortgage expenses
- Wills and Estate Planning, Power of Attorney documents:
- Will: organ donation, burial and funeral instructions, names executor (often spouse or child), ...
- Durable Power of Attorney: allows for someone to act on your behalf while alive, to write checks, make decision about your home...
- Healthcare Directive (living will): states your wishes about medical treatments if you can't communicate
- Medical Power of Attorney: allows for someone to make medical decisions on your behalf
- Legal Trust: a legal entity that contains all the assets of your propery and states specifically what to do with assets
- Real Estate Agent: Selling / Buying House, Home Protection, Moving
- Personal Shopper (get best products at best prices): Savings, Buying Big-Ticket Items
- keep manual for appliances, write date and store of purchase and staple receipt to it
4) Family and Friends: Family life, relationships, child-rearing, education, marriage, friends, neighbors, aging parents
5) Special Events (coordinating projects): birthdays, holidays, vacations, garage sales, family reunions
6) Time and Scheduling
7) Self-Management
1) Home and Property
- CEO: Home / Family Manager
- Maid: Cleaning, Laundry, Sewing / Mending: keep three chore lists, one for weekly chores, one for monthly, one for 3-4 times a year. Use potpourri and sachets to naturally provide fragrance.
- Home Organizer: Decluttering and Organizing
- Building Manager: Maintenance, Building and Remodeling, Pest Control
- Interior Decorator:
-Arranging room: find the focal point and plan seating from there
-Selecting furniture: Let the space breathe around the corners; Strike a balance in furniture between wood pieces and upholstered; Every chair and sofa requires a table or flat surface; Place coffee table 18" in front of sofa & allow another 18" between ends of sofa and other pieces
-Window treatments: Extend curtains about 8" beyond windows
- Lighting: 3 types are general (replace sunlight), task (no shadows), accent (visual interest, spotlight plant and art, highlight texture of wall or ceiling); each seating area should be bright enough for reading
- Mirrors and wall hangings: suspend mirror between two windows to add light and space, at end of hallway; hang pictures at eye level, about 60" from floor to center of picture
- Floor coverings: Use a colorful rug as entrance mat with medium background color
- Extra touches: use natural items: flowers, fruit, personal treasures and rotate them; when displaying collections, group objects by color or type
- Painting: one gallon covers 400 square feet; sunny room often needs neutral, softening hues and north/east facing rooms need warmer tones to brighten natural light; usually warm hues best in spaces where there's activity; light, cool colors makes space look bigger; if you purchase paint using color chip, buy one shade lighter; buy small quantities of 2 or 3 shades and paint patches on different locations of room, like spot with direct sun and one in a dark corner and look at over a few days
- Gardener
- Safety Officer: twice a year, make sure fire extinguisher works; make inventory of all possessions and keep copy in safe place (178); make sure everyone knows how to turn off water, gas, and electricity at main switches; Make an emergency preparation plan, a disaster supplies kit, and an evacuation supplies kit
- Chauffeur: Driving, Car Care
2) Food
- Menu Planner: Meals, Nutrition
- Head Chef: Cooking, Food Safety
- Event Planner: Entertaining, Parties and Birthdays
3) Finances
- Accountant: You need a financial philosophy, financial priorities, and financial strategies:
- Spending Plan (budget): determine monthly earnings after taxes, calculate monthly expenses, subtract expenses from income; with spending money, create short-term & long-term savings plan, put aside at least 3-6 months' income for emergencies, put aside at least 5 percent of each paycheck in an IRA, pension fund, or 401(k) plan, and figure out how much you can save each month for big purchases; track spending plan with spreadsheet
- Banks (savings)
- Credit
- Downsizing
- Money Management
- Financial Planner:
- Insurance
- auto (revisit coverage and costs at least every other year)
- life (types are term, permanent, and variable; review occasionally to see if coverage is appropriate; get equal to between 5 and 10 years of annual salary)
- home)
- Investments
- Stocks (2 types: common ('equity'; vote, get dividends), preferred (don't vote, dividends)
- Bonds (issued by corp., gov't, state, city and pays interest and value of bond when matures)
- Mutual Funds (pool of combined monies used to purchase stocks, bonds, combination)
- Taxes: make separate folders for each category of deductions, then toss in receipts, bank statements and other documentation during the year: charitable contributions, business- and job-related expenses, dependent care, income sources, investment expenses, medical expenses for each dependent, mortgage expenses
- Wills and Estate Planning, Power of Attorney documents:
- Will: organ donation, burial and funeral instructions, names executor (often spouse or child), ...
- Durable Power of Attorney: allows for someone to act on your behalf while alive, to write checks, make decision about your home...
- Healthcare Directive (living will): states your wishes about medical treatments if you can't communicate
- Medical Power of Attorney: allows for someone to make medical decisions on your behalf
- Legal Trust: a legal entity that contains all the assets of your propery and states specifically what to do with assets
- Real Estate Agent: Selling / Buying House, Home Protection, Moving
- Personal Shopper (get best products at best prices): Savings, Buying Big-Ticket Items
- keep manual for appliances, write date and store of purchase and staple receipt to it
4) Family and Friends: Family life, relationships, child-rearing, education, marriage, friends, neighbors, aging parents
5) Special Events (coordinating projects): birthdays, holidays, vacations, garage sales, family reunions
6) Time and Scheduling
7) Self-Management
September 14, 2020
Despite the dated references (CD-ROMs anyone??) and the heteronormativity/gender roles, this is nevertheless a hugely valuable reference book. I would LOVE to see a version updated for 2020.
October 12, 2007
It's as if your grandmothers, aunts, mother and best friend's mother sat down and compiled all the bits and pieces of advice they'd ever heard, used, or given into a book.
September 9, 2009
I didn't actually "read" this book as I just couldn't get through even the first chapter, for an organizing book I felt it was far to wordy. She talks about running your home like you would run a business, which in theory is a great idea, but I don't know many businesses that have kids as part of the workers :) and we all know how that works!
December 4, 2013
"meh"...I liked it in theory, although it didn't exactly grip me. Some of her specific advice--about calendaring, for instance--was a little antiquated, from what I remember. Would be nice to have an updated version for the 21st century. I do love a good fast-track. And a good happy-organized-home.
January 31, 2014
This book had a TON of good ideas for disorganized moms like me. But the book is really big and it really does have so many ideas that it's almost overwhelming. I ended up just focusing on a few of the sections at a time.
February 3, 2008
Lots of great tips -- I need all the help I can get. :)
August 21, 2008
This had a few helpful hints that I hadn't heard before - I was hoping to be really inspired. I think I just need someone to come in and organize for me, weekly.
August 10, 2008
condenscending, didn't help me. i am already a good cleaner and organizer
December 22, 2009
Violet & I are reading this together this year for her home economics! Lots of great ideas.
April 12, 2012
The number one book that should be frequently pulled off the shelf of every homemaker!
June 18, 2012
Love! I go back time and time again to look up stuff. I'm not very good at cleaning but I want to be, and this book helps me out a lot!
November 8, 2013
I read this book at work during breaks. The reason it took so long. Lots of good tips, ways to save money and budget. This is a book you need to own and use over and over again
November 17, 2015
Just too dated and not as useful as other books in the Family Manager series. I'd recommend the original book first, even though it's even more dated than this.
September 30, 2021
I rated this book 3.5🌟 but if you’re in more need of household organisation help, you’ll find it much more useful 👍🏻
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews