As a freelancer, you’ll notice that your inbox can become just as cluttered as the rest of your life.  Clients, spam, and family members make it harder and harder to keep an uncluttered inbox, and to keep from feeling overwhelmed when cleaning it.  It’s not as hard as you may think, we’ll get through it together!

Here are my simple steps to achieving Email Zen:

1) Don’t check email first thing in the morning, or have it constantly on. This isn’t a new tip, it’s on most of the productivity blogs in existence, but that’s not to say it’s not 100% correct.  When you check email first thing in the morning, it gets you into an instant “procrastination” mode.  Try to get your most important things done in the morning, and then check your email after lunch.

2) When you check your email, dispose of each one, one at a time, right away. After reading an email, delete it immediately if you don’t need it.  Make the decision after each email, and your inbox becomes much less cluttered.

2a) Is it junk or some forwarded email? Trash it immediately.

2b) Is it a long email that you just need to read for information? If it’s an email that contains instructions, or something that you don’t need to read all the way through, make a folder called “read later”.  This way you can move it to the folder, and quickly scan it when you need the directions.  Then delete it!

2c) If the email requires action, make a note of the action on your to-do lists. You can star, or archive the email for easy viewing later.

2d) If you can respond to it in a minute or two, do so immediately. For quick responses, answer it immediately, and then delete.  You’ll save a lot of inbox room this way.

2e) If you need to follow up on the email later, or are waiting for a response, note it on a Waiting For list. Don’t just leave it in your inbox as a reminder.

3) I have only one folder: Archive. I don’t need a million folders.  More often than not, this just creates messy folders as well as a cluttered inbox.  If you aren’t cleaning out your inbox, what makes you think your folder system will be any different?  You don’t need a bunch of folders!

Email Zen is that easy: check email at regular periods, take action on each email right away (or note it on a list to do later) and archive.

Ahhh. Empty inbox!

The first step is to pile all the paperwork into one spot on the floor.  You want ALL  of the paperwork that comes out of the mail box, and then takes up residence on your surfaces to be included in this pile.

Next, go to Wal-Mart or Office Depot and get a simple plastic file storage bin.  I have 3 of these, and they have become a true godsend.  While you are there, pick up some colored file folders, and a rack to hang them inside the file storage bin (if it didn’t come with one).

Now, sort through your paperwork and start placing it in piles.  Use the colored folder system to give each type of paperwork it’s own color,  and to make it easier to find later.

Here’s what I did.  I put all the bills in one pile, and then started to create sub-folders for each of them.  The color I selected for bills was red.  Now, I gathered several red folders and started to label them.  I came up with water, power, gas, sewer, trash, cable, internet, phone, cell, car, insurance, and more…  All of these bills went in their own folders, and they were all red.  Now I have a stockpile of past bills that normally would have been paid and thrown away.  This is useful for billing disputes, tax records, and your own peace of mind.

Now go through and do the same with other paperwork.  You should have folders for receipts, cards, and anything else you might want to keep.

Here is the key.  Keep everything in these bins for approximately one year, and then move them into a box that can go in a storage areas such as the basement or garage.  Just pull the folders out, and toss them in a box with the paperwork still inside.  Store these boxes for 7 years, and then you can shred them.

So, to recap, what I’m doing is storing records inside for one year.  Moving them into file boxes in storage for 7 years, and then throwing them away.  Not rocket science, but great file management!

Over 60% of us couldn’t survive in the same lifestyle if we missed just ONE pay check.  That’s a startling number.  With most of us having more credit debt than savings, we are just one misstep away from a serious setback in our financial future.  What’s even more startling is that we are SUPPOSED to have 3-6 months worth of living expenses saved, yet most of us would have to make huge lifestyle changes if we missed just one paycheck..  We need to save more money!

But you knew that.

It’s the most common piece of fincancial advice, and it’s universally agreed upon, you need an emergency fund.  We all know that, but what we don’t know is how to save cash, when we are barely making ends meet as it is.   So today we’ll look at some strategies for building up an emergency fund, for those of us who don’t have it so easy.

Why It’s So Critical
I don’t like to use the word “critical” often, because it’s often an exaggeration. But in this case, when we’re talking about the health of your finances, an emergency fund is definitely critical.

If you are having financial problems, the quickest way to relief are the simplest…  1) Cut back, and live below your means; 2) Stop accumulating new debt, you can’t get out of debt by signing up for another card to pay for your emergency expenses; and 3) Start an emergency fund.  $1,000 is a good round number to start with, but we need to gradually build this to 3-6 months of living expenses.  Don’t worry, it doesn’t have to happen immediately.

Here are a few reasons an emergency fund is critical to your financial health:

1. Stop getting into debt. When an emergency happens, our first reaction is to take on more debt.  Whether it be a loan from a friend or a financial institution, a new credit card, or even worse a pay-day loan, we’re all guilty of taking on debt, to pay existing debt.  Although it’s a short term fix, it makes for long term headaches.
2. Smooth out your budget. First things first, if you don’t have a budget, make one!  An emergency fund is of the upmost importance, because with emergency cash, you can navigate the potholes in life without having to completely overhaul your budget.
3. Prevent late fees. Most of us have had to overdraw our account, or pay late fees on a delinquent bill, but with an emergency fund we won’t have these problems.
4. Get ahead. If you can get ahead in your bills, even by a month, your stress level will decrease dramatically.  Imagine having the peace of mind in knowing that you can support your family for 6 months should you lose your job unexpectedly.

21 Strategies for Creating an Emergency Fund
Most of us were never taught much in the way of financial security in school.  Over half of high school students can’t even balance a checkbook upon graduation.  It’s not enough to tell you that you need to save more money, so I’ve come up with 21 ways that you can start putting more money in the bank, starting now.

Please note that you should choose the strategies that work best for you, and perhaps combine some of them if that works better.

1. Start small. The most disciplined investors are the ones that can always put something aside, even when they aren’t making enough to pay their bills.  If you can only afford $20 per paycheck, instead of getting discouraged about it, put it in your savings account.  $20 per paycheck gives you about $520 a year in your savings account.  Hardly insignificant.
2. Automatic deduction. There are many financial institutions that will auto-deduct an agreed upon amount and deposit in your savings.  If you have $20 every 2 weeks, start letting them auto-deduct it.  Out of site, out of mind.
3. Pay More Taxes. This isn’t a popular choice, but you can always pay extra taxes.  Instead of writing down the bear minimum of witholding on your tax forms, have them take out an extra $20 from every paycheck.  It’s not a great option, because you lose potential interest that you’d gain had it been in a savings account, but it’s an easy way to save.  You’ll of course, get this money back on your tax return.
4. Treat it as a bill. Don’t think of saving as a luxury.  Pay it just as you’d pay any other bill and you’ll find that your savings account will start to grow incrementally.  Give it a try!
5. Reduce an expense, save it. We could all be a bit more frugal, but this tip is actually savings gold!  Instead of paying the extra $20 a month for the movie channels on cable, cancel it and save that money.  Why pay $4 for a cup of coffee and a bagel when you can get premium roast coffee and bagels at home?  Try finding where you are spending your money, and start to eliminate things.
6. Round up. I got this tip from J.D. Roth of Get Rich Slowly … actually, it’s a strategy used by his wife, who will log every purchase or check she writes into her checkbook or finance software — but rounds up to the nearest dollar. So if she spends $26.01, she enters it as $27. Over the course of a month, this can add up to decent savings.  You can now do this by opening a “keep the change” account at several large banks.
7. Double purpose account. This tip is from Trent of The Simple Dollar, who wanted to pay down his debts but still have the financial security of an emergency fund at the same time. So Trent brilliantly used a double-purpose account: he would save money in an account, and after he reached a certain minimum, anything above that amount was being saved to pay off a specific debt. So let’s say the minimum amount is $500. After you pass $500, the money being saved is for a $200 debt (for example). Once you reach $700 in your savings account, you can pay off the $200 debt completely. Repeat the process for each debt.
8. Tip yourself. Eat out often?  After tipping your server 15-20%, make sure to tip yourself too!  If you “tip” yourself 15-20% of what your bill is when eating out, it serves two purposes — 1) You’ll eat out less often because it becomes more expensive; and 2) You’ll quickly add even more cash to your savings.  It’s a win-win!
9. Keep paying debt, but to yourself. “Oh if I could just pay off my car, my life would be much easier”.  Instead of thinking that way, keep paying the bill amount to your savings account.  It’s a quick way to save by paying money that you are already used to paying.
10. Budget big for groceries, then save the difference. You can do this for anything, but groceries are a good example.  If you normally spend $350 on groceries a month, budget $400 and add the surplus to your savings account.  It’s always better to over budget!
11. Quit smoking or drinking. Neither of these things are good for you, so why not quit and save the money?  If you spend $5 a day smoking, that’s an extra $150 you can add to your savings each month!
12. Limit your access. If you are having trouble keeping your hands off of saved cash, try making it harder to get to.  Open a CD or buy Treasury Bonds.  This money isn’t as easily accessible.
13. Stash a bonus or tax refund. Christmas bonuses and tax refunds make for great kick-starts to your savings account.
14. Save your change. Don’t ever spend your change.  You can get a coin sorter and start rolling your loose change.  This can actually add up to hundreds, even thousands of dollars every year.  How’s that for keeping the change?
15. Save dollar bills. The one dollar bill doesn’t buy much anymore, so let’s start treating it like change, and saving it.  Save your bills in an envelope, and add it to your savings each month.
16. Refinance.  If you can get a lower interest rate, it’s always smart to do so.  Add the extra cash to your savings of course!
17. Sell your car. If you have two cars, see if you can live without one of them. That’s what my wife and I do, and it works out fine, even with six kids. Take the amount you were paying on the second car and save it. Or, alternatively, sell your car and buy a cheaper used model. Save the difference in the payments.
18. Cut out dessert.  Just skipping dessert can save you at ton of money each year.  Not only that but think of the health benefits!
19. Stay in. Most of the stuff you can do going out, you can do at home.  Invite friends over and play a game, or watch a dvd.  Pop your own popcorn, and enjoy a night at home.  Put the savings in your savings account!
20. Freelance. Take your skills and market them as a freelancer, or get a second job on the side. Take the extra income and bank it. This was one of my strategies, and it works great.
21. Save on auto insurance. Most of us not only overpay on insurance, but we have way more insurance than we need.  Some car insurance policies cover damages up to 1 million dollars, or more.  The state minimum is usually 25-50k.  Guess who pays for the extra coverage?  That’s right!

Set up folders for things like newsletters, passwords, receipts, and whatever else you get regular email from.  Now, set up a “filter” in gmail by including the name of the company, or the name that the email normally comes from.  Set these up to automatically skip the inbox, and go directly to the folder that you’ve created for them.

Filters can be a great way to limit the time you spend checking email, all while organizing and sorting things you may need later.

Another trick with gmail that I use is separate email addresses.  In gmail, if your email address is abc123@gmail.com - you can use any variation of that name with periods as well.  So, abc.123@gmail.com is exactly the same email address as the original.

How can this help you?  Start using your email address with the period in separate locations for different tasks.  For example, family can be your regular email address.  Bills can be a.bc123@gmail.com.  Newsletters can be ab.c123@gmail.com and so on.  You can also set up filters this way so that it sorts your email and puts them in the above mentioned folders.  Give it a try!

Starting the day right includes giving your body the fuel it needs to perform well. What better way to do that than to provide the best type of fuel for it, a good hearty healthy breakfast.

Heres 9 reasons why you should always start your day off with a healthy, balanced breakfast.

1. Have a large breakfast, good lunch and smaller dinner. Get your energy at the start of the day when you need it, instead of at the end of the day when it will be converted to fat.

2. To get your metabolism jump started you need to have food. If you are dieting and think that not eating is helping you to lose weight, you are wrong. You actually burn more calories when you eat a healthy breakfast instead of skipping it.

3. If your last meal was at dinner time, and you wait until noon to eat your next meal, your body is going to rebel against you. You won’t be able to think as clearly as you would if you had eaten a good, healthy meal.

4. When you are hungry, you might tend to get irritated easily. So eat some breakfast!

5. We live in a fast paced world full of stress. When you do not eat properly, stress can break down your immune system and more easily.

6. Eating a good breakfast helps you to concentrate better all day long. Breakfast gives you the nutrients it needs to get your brain functioning properly.

7. You need a good breakfast every morning because that’s what your mother always told you, and you should always listen to your mother, right?

So, whats for breakfast today?

These 10 items to simplify your life, aren’t meant to be done all at once.  It’s sort of a roadmap to an overall simplification process.  Start with one of these today, and tackled another one each day thereafter.  You’ll simplify your life, and you won’t get overwhelmed by doing it.  Good luck!

1. Make a short list. I’m a huge fan of lists in general, as most can tell - but simplifying begins with prioritizing.  Take out a list and write down 5 things that are the most important to you, IN ORDER.  After that write down 5 things you want to accomplish, and 5 things you want to change.  Work on it.  And if you need motivation, remember the 5 things that are most important to you… you are also doing it for them.

2. Drop 1 commitment. We all have time constraints that we could do without.  I want you to find one regularly occurring commitment, and drop it.  Whether it be the PTA, the library board, city council meetings… drop one of your commitments and see where it takes you.  You might enjoy the free time enough to start dropping other unneccessary commitments.  You’d be surprised.

3. Purge a drawer. Shelf, drawer, closet, counter top… doesn’t matter.  We all hide junk somewhere.  Find the place that accumulates the most stuff, and go through it.  Get rid of ALL that you don’t need.  If you are undecided… place it in a box, and if you don’t open that box for 3-4 months or more, throw it away next time you clean that space.

4. Set limits. Basically, you set limits for things you do regularly: email, RSS posts, tasks, feeds, items in your life, etc. And try to stick with the limits. Today, all you have to do is set limits for a few things in your life. Tomorrow, try to stick with them.

5. Simplify your to-do list. Nobody HAS to do 20 things in a day.  Nobody.  Go through your list, and mark off the things that aren’t absolutely essential to you or your family.  I guarantee you don’t HAVE TO do everything on it.

6. Free up time. The more things you can cross off of your to-do list, or your regular commitments, the more time you have for what’s important - Self and Family.  If you can’t find 30 minutes to walk the dog, you really need to find where you can start trimming time.

7. Clear your desk. You’d be amazed at the feeling of satisfaction you get from working at a clear desk.  It’s a liberating feeling to know that you don’t have clutter poking out of every drawer.  However, it’s a tough task, so let’s break it down into steps.

• Take everything off of your desk, put it on the floor
• Go through the pile from top to bottom
• Act immediately, don’t start a new pile for different items such as filing, bills, pens… put them away as you go and the job will get done quicker.
• If you can’t find a place for it, you don’t need it.

8. Clear out your email inbox. Psychologically, this has the same effect as a clean desk.  It’s truly liberating to have a clean inbox as well.  The key?  Just delete EVERYTHING.  I use Gmail, and they have an added feature of allowing you to store your trash in the trash folder.  I clean everything out, and once a week I empty the trash.  This allows me to go back and find things I may have deleted by accident.

9. Move slower. American’s as a whole are prone to rush, and you’ll find that it’s often unneccessary.  Enjoy your food by eating slower, get that cup of coffee in the morning, take the extra 10 minutes to read to your kids.  You’ll be happy you did.  Your tasks will be their when you are done.

10. Single-task. Forget multi-tasking.  It’s largely uneffective, and it can be extremely stressful.  Handle one task at a time, and do it well.  Once it’s done, then you can feel free to move on to the next task on your list.  Too often we decide to tackle 10 things at once.  The result?  We end up having to go back and redo some things, forgetting to do others, and getting incredibly stressed about it in the process.  Not worth it.  If you can’t do one thing well, why try to do 10?

This post was inspired by zenhabits

2. You will learn to not take things for granted. You learn to use what you have, and being frugal helps you to really seperate the necessities from the luxuries.

3. If you have children, you can be a great role model and teach them how to save money and budget. If children are taught a good attitude towards money, it will benefit them for their whole life.

4. A sense of pride and accomplishment, it’s like beating the system. When you can see how much time, money, and energy you are saving, it will make you feel good about yourself.

5. A frugal lifestyle means less waste, so you will be doing your part for the environment.

6. It generally gives you a more positive outlook on life all around.

Sometimes people use the word “frugal” as if it were something to be ashamed of. I’m proud to be frugal and one day, when I’m retired, sitting on the beach, I’ll have my frugal ways to thank for it.

Are you frugal? Why or why not?

Some more frugal tips:

* Half of Us Are Living Paycheck to Paycheck
* Beware the Anti-Frugal
* The Frugal Millionaire
* Make Your Own Stuff and Save
* How Much is That Habit Costing You?

Photo: Boyce Duprey - http://flickr.com/photos/boyce-d/2579231381/

What is hypermiling? Its the practice of trying to maximize your milage (MPG) through a set of sometimes controversial techniques. Some hypermiling techniques are very extreme, to say the least.

I would never ever recommend that you draft behind a semi trailer, or removing your side mirrors to improve aerodynamics. But I would recommend borrowing these common sense techniques from hypermiling:

1. Stay at one steady speed. Frequent acceleration and braking uses up petrol.
2. Make sure your car is tuned up and serviced. Keep your can maintained properly with normal oil changes, air filter changes, coolant.
3. Make sure your brakes are in good shape. Get them checked regularily
4. Make sure you tires are balanced, aligned, and rotated often. Also make sure the pressure in your tires is correct - the wrong tire pressure will cost you money.
5. Mapping your route so that you have as few stop signs and stop lights as possible.
6. Don’t use the air conditioner, it requires more gas.
7. Wind your windows up to make the car more aerodynamic
8. Take any uneeded junk out of your boot. You are wasting gas when you drive around with extra weight.
9. Remove your roof rack if you arent using it. It will save weight and your car will be more aerodynamic. You can easily put it back on when you do need it.
10. If possible, start your commute to work when traffic is lighter. You will use less gas when you dont have to stop and start all the time.
11. Keep track of the millage you are getting. How can you know that you have improved if you dont measure it?

While some techniques of hypermiling are extreme and even dangerous, this list shows that the average person can learn something useful and save a bit of extra cash.

So whats your millage like?

Here are some other hypermiling resources if you would like to find out more:

* 100 - count ‘em - suggestions for hypermiling
* Hypermiling How-To
* Maximize Your Car’s Efficiency With ‘Hypermiling’
* How to Become a Hypermiler
* Six Amazing Hypermiling Videos

Three Traits You’d Want People to Remember You By - On Simplicity

We Should Thank Those That Disagree With Us - My Super-Charged Life

Investing in Exercise - Productivity 501

Home Management Online: My Favorite Tools - simplemom