Websites and programs that keep you organized

Megan · 02-13-2008, 07:39 AM

One of the recent posts on Wise Bread is about Sandy, a site that seems to be a sort of internet based personal assistant, that can be used to track and remind you of all sorts of things. I am the type of person who relies on to-do lists, and am always looking for a better way to track my various lists. I used Remember The Milk for a while, but ended up giving it up. I tried creating a personal Wiki, but I never kept it updated. I have a notebook that I carry around with lists, but I continually forget to open it. So Sandy might be just what I need.

I'm curious though - what do you use to stay organized? Do you use a sort of task manager, or an online calendar? Or are you more of a pen and paper sort?

jdp · 02-13-2008, 08:25 AM

Depends.

Work to-do's: I have a lot of garbage paper in my office. I keep a stack beside my phone. Anything needs attention goes on that piece of paper. As things get completed, assigned to my outlook for planning or what have you, they get crossed off. Generally everything is off the paper by days end and it goes in the trash.

While at work but personal: I have cheap, pocket sized notebooks (Marc's, 2/$1) that are my mobile organizers. Generally I use a page a day. To start my day (usually the night before), I make a page with 4 boxes - 1. to do, 2. to buy 3. to call and 4. misc. Things that come up get added to the page as the day progresses, crossed off as done.

Personal: the above notebook follows me all day. One problem did come up - a lot of things "hit me" while I'm driving or otherwise unable to get in my purse or pocket for the notebook and pen. I have a mini-recorder (the one on my phone wasn't enough). Whenever I get to where I can move an item from mini-recorder to its appropriate spot I do it and reset the recorder.

Besides the notebook I have journals. I have an idea journal (clipboarded papers with colorcoded sticky tabs), daily journal (my nice and fave bound journal) and writing journal (which is just a large 3 ring binder I can stuff more papers in or take papers out of).

My son's org is clipped to the fridge.

rstlne · 02-13-2008, 08:48 AM

I use Google Calendar and Google Notebook for appointments and stuff that I need to remember. I have to-do lists in Google Notebook even though it's not the best tool for managing to-do lists. I use Quicken to manage my finances.

gt0163c · 02-13-2008, 09:23 AM

I use Google notebook for holding onto bits and pieces of information that I come across on the web that might be useful later on, especially recipes. I have one notebook for stuff that I've just grabbed. As I try a recipe or go through the information, the selection gets updated tags and moved to the appropriate other notebook or, in the case where I don't like the recipe, completely deleted.

I also regularly email my stuff. I can't get to my work email from home or my home email (gmail) from work, but emailing information from one account to another helps me remeber to do things and makes sure I have all the information where and when I need it. This is especially helpful for things that I need to do/remember first thing in the morning at work as going through my email is one of my first tasks every morning.

Ronni · 02-13-2008, 05:07 PM

I use Thunderbird with the Lightning extension. It's amazing, and all in one. Every day, the tasks I need to handle are right there. I can expand for the next days and upcoming tasks as well. I can assign categories to things. My bills are red, my income is green, travel is a different color, birthdays another one. I love it.

seaj11 · 02-13-2008, 10:13 PM

@Megan: I know how that is...I used to go nuts trying out new productivity tools, but even since I tried hard to settle down with one tool, I can't find any set of tools, paper or digital, that makes me feel as mind like water as was promised (GTD). So while Sandy sounds cool, I don't think I'll be trying it.

lucille · 02-14-2008, 04:19 AM

I tried using Quicken twice and found it too rigid and time consuming. So now we are using a google spreadsheet to monitor our finances.
I use google calendar for most things we need to remember. I have my google calendar and we have a family google calendar that keeps our schedules coordinated.

Right now I rely on notepad files to keep my to do lists. I want to eventually use something more online. Grocery lists reside on the fridge. We tried online versions but nobody but me would use them. So keeping the list on the fridge gets people to write items on the list and that means it will actually be remembered.

My eventual goal is to have all of my stuff online so I can connect to it when I am not home via either a PDA with wireless or a better web enabled phone.

khorrell · 02-29-2008, 07:17 AM

I'm such a fogey...I am still a paper person. I do keep my budget online, but it is in Excel as I can do what I please. It is just a neater version of my old accounting ledger budget.

To do lists, also on paper, or on paper in sheet protectors for regular items, such as daily chores, packing info, kid's jobs. I require constant visual cues to keep on track.

Of course, we have one computer for six people so I have to budget my computer time.

Lynnae · 02-29-2008, 04:22 PM

Ugh. I just looked at Sandy, and I'm sure I'll be trying it out. I'm such a sucker for productivity software. It looks cool though!

VaranusK · 03-21-2008, 04:03 PM

well... not a site, but my iPaq is the best tool I have ever had for organizing. Not only keeps my to-do and calendar, I can use it as a recorder or take notes wherever I go. Waiting for the kids, at the airport, on a queue... I can use any spare min I get to review my lists or add a new task

02-13-2008, 07:39 AM	#1
Megan Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 304 Reputation: (59)	Websites and programs that keep you organized One of the recent posts on Wise Bread is about Sandy, a site that seems to be a sort of internet based personal assistant, that can be used to track and remind you of all sorts of things. I am the type of person who relies on to-do lists, and am always looking for a better way to track my various lists. I used Remember The Milk for a while, but ended up giving it up. I tried creating a personal Wiki, but I never kept it updated. I have a notebook that I carry around with lists, but I continually forget to open it. So Sandy might be just what I need. I'm curious though - what do you use to stay organized? Do you use a sort of task manager, or an online calendar? Or are you more of a pen and paper sort? __________________ Counting My Pennies

02-13-2008, 05:07 PM	#5
Ronni Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 92 Reputation: (25)	I use Thunderbird with the Lightning extension. It's amazing, and all in one. Every day, the tasks I need to handle are right there. I can expand for the next days and upcoming tasks as well. I can assign categories to things. My bills are red, my income is green, travel is a different color, birthdays another one. I love it. __________________ - Ronni http://lilrongal.livejournal.com

02-29-2008, 04:22 PM	#9
Lynnae Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 58 Reputation: (11)	Ugh. I just looked at Sandy, and I'm sure I'll be trying it out. I'm such a sucker for productivity software. It looks cool though! __________________ Lynnae beingfrugal.net

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02-13-2008, 08:25 AM	#2
jdp Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 184 Reputation: (24)	Depends. Work to-do's: I have a lot of garbage paper in my office. I keep a stack beside my phone. Anything needs attention goes on that piece of paper. As things get completed, assigned to my outlook for planning or what have you, they get crossed off. Generally everything is off the paper by days end and it goes in the trash. While at work but personal: I have cheap, pocket sized notebooks (Marc's, 2/$1) that are my mobile organizers. Generally I use a page a day. To start my day (usually the night before), I make a page with 4 boxes - 1. to do, 2. to buy 3. to call and 4. misc. Things that come up get added to the page as the day progresses, crossed off as done. Personal: the above notebook follows me all day. One problem did come up - a lot of things "hit me" while I'm driving or otherwise unable to get in my purse or pocket for the notebook and pen. I have a mini-recorder (the one on my phone wasn't enough). Whenever I get to where I can move an item from mini-recorder to its appropriate spot I do it and reset the recorder. Besides the notebook I have journals. I have an idea journal (clipboarded papers with colorcoded sticky tabs), daily journal (my nice and fave bound journal) and writing journal (which is just a large 3 ring binder I can stuff more papers in or take papers out of). My son's org is clipped to the fridge.

02-13-2008, 08:48 AM	#3
rstlne Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: New Jersey Posts: 361 Reputation: (115)	I use Google Calendar and Google Notebook for appointments and stuff that I need to remember. I have to-do lists in Google Notebook even though it's not the best tool for managing to-do lists. I use Quicken to manage my finances.

02-13-2008, 09:23 AM	#4
gt0163c Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 210 Reputation: (33)	I use Google notebook for holding onto bits and pieces of information that I come across on the web that might be useful later on, especially recipes. I have one notebook for stuff that I've just grabbed. As I try a recipe or go through the information, the selection gets updated tags and moved to the appropriate other notebook or, in the case where I don't like the recipe, completely deleted. I also regularly email my stuff. I can't get to my work email from home or my home email (gmail) from work, but emailing information from one account to another helps me remeber to do things and makes sure I have all the information where and when I need it. This is especially helpful for things that I need to do/remember first thing in the morning at work as going through my email is one of my first tasks every morning.

02-13-2008, 10:13 PM	#6
seaj11 Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Valdosta, GA Posts: 4 Reputation: (10)	@Megan: I know how that is...I used to go nuts trying out new productivity tools, but even since I tried hard to settle down with one tool, I can't find any set of tools, paper or digital, that makes me feel as mind like water as was promised (GTD). So while Sandy sounds cool, I don't think I'll be trying it.

02-14-2008, 04:19 AM	#7
lucille Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 421 Reputation: (26)	I tried using Quicken twice and found it too rigid and time consuming. So now we are using a google spreadsheet to monitor our finances. I use google calendar for most things we need to remember. I have my google calendar and we have a family google calendar that keeps our schedules coordinated. Right now I rely on notepad files to keep my to do lists. I want to eventually use something more online. Grocery lists reside on the fridge. We tried online versions but nobody but me would use them. So keeping the list on the fridge gets people to write items on the list and that means it will actually be remembered. My eventual goal is to have all of my stuff online so I can connect to it when I am not home via either a PDA with wireless or a better web enabled phone.

02-29-2008, 07:17 AM	#8
khorrell Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 336 Reputation: (35)	I'm such a fogey...I am still a paper person. I do keep my budget online, but it is in Excel as I can do what I please. It is just a neater version of my old accounting ledger budget. To do lists, also on paper, or on paper in sheet protectors for regular items, such as daily chores, packing info, kid's jobs. I require constant visual cues to keep on track. Of course, we have one computer for six people so I have to budget my computer time.

03-21-2008, 04:03 PM	#10
VaranusK Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 66 Reputation: (10)	well... not a site, but my iPaq is the best tool I have ever had for organizing. Not only keeps my to-do and calendar, I can use it as a recorder or take notes wherever I go. Waiting for the kids, at the airport, on a queue... I can use any spare min I get to review my lists or add a new task