Homemaking 101: From Cluttered Chaos to Organized Oasis

Your home should be your oasis and the most comfortable place you could want to be. We have many things that can make our house feel like a home, but some skills just cannot be taken for granted that help to make our house a dream come true.

In this article, you will learn about the skills that will help turn your house into the home of your dreams.

What is a Homemaker?

The term homemaker is defined as one who manages a household, especially as a spouse and parent. When you become a homemaker, you need to learn a series of skills. These skills will help make sure your house is a welcoming home. Typically, a homemaker does not work outside the home, which means they can devote all their time and energy to the home.

Often, the role of a homemaker is discounted as a small job that anyone can stay home and do, but to be an effective and efficient homemaker, you need a wide array of skills.

Homemaking Skills You Need

To be a homemaker, you need specific skills to help you reach and maintain the home of your dreams. Along with the skills, you need to be excellent at being flexible and multi-tasking because, unfortunately, not every day will go as planned. Here are some skills you should be adept at.

Make A Meal Plan Every Week

Meal planning is one thing that will help keep your house running smoothly and is an integral part of maintaining the home of your dreams. If you are new to meal planning, the process can seem overwhelming. The best thing you can do is start small.

Planning meals will take time on the front end but will save countless hours in the kitchen and grocery store. When meal planning, you can plan for a week or longer. If you are a beginner meal planner, it would be wise to stick to a weekly plan for dinners and work up to planning full days and months.

Family Favorites

As you begin to meal plan, start with a list of meals that are family favorites, go-to meals, quick-prep meals, and crockpot or slow-cooking meals. Learn how to cook these meals without having to refer to a recipe, this will make cooking these meals more efficient.  

Freezer Meals

Another key to meal planning is preparing freezer meals. Freezer meals are pre-made, frozen dinners that can be cooked quickly on busy days. Batch cooking and freezing meals can save time and money in the long run. This method allows for easy meal preparation on busy nights or when unexpected guests arrive.

Schedule 

Always check your schedule as you begin planning for the week. If you have a busy evening, you want to plan a proper meal. If you have a busy day but a slow evening, plan for something that will take longer to cook.

Calendar

Set up a meal planning calendar by penciling in the meals you have chosen for the week. Remember, the calendar does not need to be set in stone. You can easily change the days of meals if needed.

Grocery Shopping

Create a list of items you will need from the grocery store to prepare the meals on your list. Before making your list, check the pantry, freezer, and refrigerator to see what items you may already have.

Your grocery list will be your best friend when you are at the store, so make sure to check it twice before leaving for the grocery store.

Meal planning is a skill that can help you to feel in control of your household by freeing up time for other things that need to be done.

Cleaning Schedule

Cleaning your home can feel like a never-ending task, especially if you have a large family or pets. To help keep cleaning from becoming overwhelming, create a schedule. The schedule you create needs to work for you and your family.

Creating a house cleaning schedule is a fantastic way to stay on task with cleaning. It is easy to get lost in the details of a cleaning schedule. Be sure to keep the schedule simple.

Following these steps can help:

• List the rooms: Make a list of the rooms in your home to be cleaned. Include hallways and entryways in this list.
• Needs: Identify the cleaning needs of each room (vacuuming, mopping, dusting, etc.)
• How often: Write how often the rooms need to be cleaned. For example, a guest room that is rarely used may not need a lot of attention.
• Materials and tools needed: Decide what you will need to accomplish each of the cleaning tasks and see what you have on hand already.

Morning Routine & Tidy Up

Once you have a cleaning schedule, it’s essential to implement daily tasks as part of your morning routine. These tasks shouldn’t take more than 10-15 minutes but can make a big difference in the overall cleanliness of your home. 

Pro tip: If possible, think about adding a small load of laundry to your morning routine. 

Monthly Decluttering Routine

Clutter can quickly accumulate in a home, and it is essential to keep on top of it. A monthly decluttering routine will help you stay on top of the clutter and make your home feel more organized.

Laundry Routine

Laundry! Sometimes, it feels like it will never end! It’s always easier to tackle the pile if you know that you’ve got a solid routine. 

Here are three tips to ensure you can adhere to your laundry routine effectively:

1. Designate Specific Laundry Days: Having specific days for laundry can go a long way in managing this task. For larger families, you might need more than one laundry day, while smaller households might get away with a single day. Choose days when you are most likely to be at home for longer periods, enabling you to sort, wash, dry, and fold your laundry in an organized way.
2. Sort as You Go: Instead of waiting for laundry day to sort your clothes, do it as you go. Invest in a divided laundry hamper with sections for lights, darks, and delicates. This way, when laundry day comes, you can just grab a section and get started.
3. Involve Others: If you share your home with others, don’t shoulder the burden of laundry alone. Involve the others in the process by assigning them tasks, whether it’s sorting their clothes, helping to fold, or putting their clothes away. This can also teach responsibility to younger members of the household.

When laundry seems overwhelming, take a pause and be thankful that we are no longer required to handwash our clothes! With today’s washing machines and dryers, laundry can be done quickly and efficiently if we put a little effort into creating and sticking to a routine.

Deep Cleaning

Deep cleaning should not be too overwhelming or time-consuming if your daily and weekly routines are followed. Try to tackle one room each month, focusing on areas often overlooked in daily and weekly cleaning.

Once you have created your schedule, try it out to see if it works. Remember, you can easily switch your cleaning schedule based on the need and time you have each week. You will find the cleaning schedule becomes a habit for you and saves time.

Managing Your Home Budget

A large part of maintaining a home is sticking within a budget. Budgeting will look different for each household. Sometimes, the wife or mom is solely responsible for creating and maintaining the budget.

But, married couples should work together on the budget to become net-worth millionaires and avoid stressful debt. Setting and achieving financial goals is more manageable when both parties are on board.

9 Tips for Managing Your Home Budget

1. Understand Your Income: The first step to managing your home budget is to understand your monthly income clearly. Include all sources like regular paychecks, freelance work, or any other source that brings money into your household.
2. Identify Expenses: Make a list of all your monthly expenses. These include fixed bills such as rent/mortgage, utilities, and groceries, as well as variable expenses like entertainment, dining out, personal care, and hobbies.
3. Prioritize Needs Over Wants: Distinguish between necessities (needs) and luxuries (wants). Prioritize your spending on essential items and services first.
4. Set Savings Goals: Try to save at least a small portion of your income every month. Having savings can provide a safety net in case of unexpected expenses or loss of income.
5. Track Your Spending: Keep a record of your daily spending. There are many apps and software that can help with this. This will give you a clear picture of where your money is going and help identify unnecessary expenditures.
6. Reduce Debt: If you have debts, make a plan to reduce them. High-interest debts should be paid off first.
7. Plan for Large Expenses: If you know you have a large expense coming up, like home maintenance or a family vacation, start saving for it well in advance.
8. Review and Adjust Regularly: Review your budget regularly to ensure it’s still working for your needs. Adjust as needed based on changes in income, expenses, or financial goals.
9. Educate Yourself: Continually educate yourself about personal finance. The more you know, the better decisions you can make about managing your money.

Remember, the goal of budgeting is to give you control over your money and help you achieve financial peace of mind. Stick to your budget, but be flexible as your needs change over time.

Entertaining

Part of homemaking is opening up your home to others by entertaining.

The goal of entertaining is to make your guests feel comfortable and at home. To help accomplish this, you will want the space to be open and inviting. Entertaining may require extra foods, drinks, or decorative pieces. But it does not have to be an expensive or overwhelming task.  

Here are a few tips for successful and stress-free entertaining:

• Plan Ahead: Set the date, time, and guest list well in advance to give you ample time to prepare.
• Keep it Simple: Keep your menu simple with dishes that can be prepared ahead of time. Consider asking guests to bring a dish or drink to contribute.
• Create an Inviting Atmosphere: Light candles, play soft music, and add some fresh flowers or greenery to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
• Have Fun with Table Setting: Have fun with table settings by mixing and matching plates and cutlery or adding decorative touches like place cards or centerpieces.
• Think Outside the Box: Consider alternative forms of entertaining, such as a potluck or themed party. This can add variety and make it more fun for both you and your guests.

Remember, the most important part of entertaining is spending time with loved ones and making memories. Don’t stress about perfection – focus on creating an enjoyable experience for all involved. And don’t forget to have fun and enjoy yourself too!

Homemaking 101 For A Happy Home

Old-fashioned homemaking routines may seem outdated, but the fundamental principles of taking care of a home remain the same. By creating and following daily, weekly, and monthly routines for laundry, cleaning, budgeting, and entertaining, you can create a comfortable and welcoming space for yourself and all who enter your home.

What is your goal as a homemaker? Is it to provide a safe and comfortable environment for your family? Is it to create a warm and welcoming home for friends and guests? Or is it simply to create an organized and functional space for your family?

Whatever your goal may be, remember that homemaking is not just about completing tasks or chores – it’s about creating a nurturing and joyful space where life can happen. So take some time to establish your own homemaking routines according to your personal style and needs, and see the difference it can make in your home and life.

With a little effort and consistency, you can become a homemaker extraordinaire! Keep learning, experimenting, and finding what works best for you.