I’m on the “So Money” Podcast

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Take a listen to my So Money Podcast to (1)What do lists have to do with money — you might be thinking?  Well a lot actually.  If you’ve read my book Listful Thinking, you’ll know that I believe a list can be adapted to any situation. In particular, lists can be really helpful when your trying to stick to a budget and get a handle on your finances.

I met Farnoosh Torabi a few weeks ago and we connected immediately. She is also an avid list maker – she’s been making lists since middle school. Plus she used to be a TV producer and is an author too.  She asked me to be a guest on her daily podcast So Money!  I’m not into numbers so much but you’d be surprised how much a list can help you keep track of financial stuff.

In the podcast we discuss:

  • How using lists can help you lead your best life.
  • The idea of a permission list when it comes to budgeting and how it can help.
  • My biggest habit – besides list making – that helps keep my finances in check.

Listen to it here:

My Favorite Trick for Saving Time & Money

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trick

Do you know exactly what’s in your kitchen? Or in the drawers of you desk? Over time – both at work and at home we tend to accumulate more then we use.

Did you know delving into the back of your pantry could save you time and money? How many times have you gone to buy something from the store, not realizing you still had some at home?

Get to Know Your Kitchen Again

This week I encourage you to reacquaint yourself with your kitchen to start.

Make a list of everything you have in your inventory. I’m talking about paper towels, maple syrup and even olive oil. Then when you do your weekly shopping you will have an idea of what you already have on hand.

You probably won’t spend anywhere near as much on groceries rebuying stuff you already have. Come on, we’ve all done it! It’s also a good time to get rid of old and expired food.

Optimize Your Desk for Efficiency

I also recommend taking a look through your desk at work. You’ll be surprised how much you can accumulate that will get in your way of being efficient. You might even find that file you’ve been looking for! I have lots of extra papers and pens that I never use. They just take up space and I always have to move them out of the way. Go through and take a look at what you have on hand as far as supplies go. And make sure to refill anything you need to do your job better.

This tip can also be applied to your inbox too. If you’re constantly sending similar emails, keep a saved draft version so all you have to do is edit the details and resend. It will cut down on time spent crafting emails from scratch.

What are some of your time and money-saving tricks?

The Story I Was Never Going to Tell

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I didn’t want to write this post. I’ve been putting it off for months. Part of me still doesn’t want to admit this actually happened to me. And I really never wanted to admit it to anyone. But the truth is — the recent purchase of our first apartment, renovation of said apartment and the act of moving into it, shattered me.

January 21st marks exactly one year that my husband and I closed on our co-op in Manhattan. And so I thought it finally fitting to talk about my experience.

I’m known for having my act together, being organized, thinking on my feet, problem solving in my sleep and being productive and efficient. I mean — I’ve dedicated this blog to these things and even wrote an entire book on the subject!

But I was none of these things during this time period. I was literally frozen, paralyzed and I felt pretty helpless.

I’m not typically dramatic and as a journalist – I’m very good at just stating the facts. But I’m also an optimist and that got in my way for sure. Read more

Don’t have time to read my blog? I’ll read it to you!

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I’m all about shortcuts.  I stand in the right spot when the subway shows up so I can get to work faster, I pre-register for flights, buy gifts in advance and I’ve started listening instead of reading.  It’s just quicker to have something read to me while I commute rather than read half a page of a book and then forget where I left off because I get distracted or arrive at my destination.

So in the past few months I’ve been listening to more podcasts and using a really smart app called Umano.  I’ve written about Umano before but briefly it was created for people like us who are on the go.  It contains lots of articles that you can add to a playlist and they will be read to you while you commute, workout or hang out on the couch!  I loved it so much I partnered with them.

So now you can hear me read many of the blog posts I write here on ListProducer.com on my Umano channel.  I’ll also read some of the guest posts that I write for other sites as well.

I hope you’ll subscribe and give a listen — it’s free!  Oh and my good friend Terri Trespicio is on there too — she’s got a great voice and lots of fabulous content too!

I Want to Give You My Productivity Course for Free!

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paulaI’m excited to announce that in December I’ll be offering a productivity course called “Listful Thinking” on PopExpert.com. Pop Expert creates online video workshops to help you live a more fulfilling and connected life.

I had such a blast shooting this course in September with the Pop Expert team.  We filmed in a fabulous loft in Brooklyn and spent a whole day talking lists and productivity.  It didn’t feel like work at all! Read more