My idea that I use is that I have a 3 ring binder with dividers in my kitchen. I print recipes from the internet & copy from friends that I want to try and place them in the front of my binder in a plastic page protector behind a "to try" divider. I keep notebook paper at the front of the binder for making my grocery list. I quickly scan the "to try" pages and through the tried and true ones that are behind my food category dividers to decide what we will be eating for the week. I make my list and then keep the ones I've shopped for at the front of the binder behind my "weekly menu" divider. Then when its time to decide what is for dinner I open the binder to the "weekly menu" divider and there are all the weeks recipes to pick from so no more wasting time and money trying to decide what is for dinner and I know I have all the stuff in the pantry! (I decide the day before what we will be eating so that I can defrost meat etc.) After I finish cooking I refile the page behind the right food type divider or if it was a new recipe we didn't like it simply gets tossed in the trash (save the page protector ofcourse!). When you want to use a recipe again its at your fingertips and won't get dirty while you cook. You NEVER waste money on another cookbook and don't have tons of cookbooks that you would only use a couple of recipes from! We also keep a few favorite local take-out menus behind a divider in here so we don't ever waste time looking for a menu on line or in a drawer somewhere. I also have a staples list that I keep printed in there so I can check for each item and add it to my grocery list if we need it. We've saved lots of money this way because I ALWAYS know what is for dinner, never forget "usual" items at the store and have to go back to the store which is when money gets spent on things we don't need, we aren't tempted to eat out nearly as often and my kitchen is not cluttered with a bunch of loose paper lists or cookbooks taking up space that don't ever get used! The best part is it only takes a few dollars to start up your system! All you'll need a 3 ring binder, a package of dividers, a package of page protectors and some notebook paper!

I do this too! I created my binder a few years ago... I can't remember where I got the idea but maybe it was Flylady.

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"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." ~ Dr. Seuss

I do this too and in a few years I should have a giant cookbook without any receips that I dont like.

Mine is a work in progress but that is what I hope to complete by the time we move next month!

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This is what I would like to do. I am so disorganized and am trying to pull everything together to help with my organization skills.

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