Beyond Folders : summer vacation

So Long Summer: How to Store Summer Gear

Community Manager — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 16:23:00 GMT

Back-to-school shopping signs are everywhere signaling summer's end. Before you know it, cool weather will spell retirement for boogie boards, beach umbrellas and other summer gear. Start your fall on an organized note with our tips for storing seasonal summer items.

Beachy Clean

Before storing beach chairs, umbrellas and sand toys, give each item a cold water rinse and a good scrub. Next, allow items to thoroughly dry in the sun to avoid mildew and prevent sand and salt from corroding items during the off-season.

Likewise, hose down patio furniture and clean outdoor pillows with a mixture of water and mild detergent. Scrub mildew stains with a stiff brush; allow all items to dry in the sun, then store indoors in a garage or basement.

Once the summer BBQ season is over, it's time to thrill your grill. Dismantle and clean all the gunk off, finishing up with a light coating of oil spray to repel winter moisture. Then store your grill in an indoor, protected environment such as a garage. The exception to this storage rule? Propane tanks: safety dictates well-ventilated, protected outdoor storage versus indoors.

Store More

Maximize storage with creativity. Think vertical and use your garage or basement walls to hang lightweight items. Mark off the dimensions of

beach chairs, umbrellas, and surf and boogie boards along the wall. Next, add eye-hold screws along the measurements' perimeter and use bungee cords to affix items to the wall. You can also reduce the number of bulky items to store by deflating all beach balls and inner tubes and storing like items in a plastic storage bin.

Keep in mind that not all items need to be stored for next season. Kids grow like weeds so don't waste time storing outgrown summer clothes and bikes, etc. Organize a swap with friends whose kids are older or younger to pass along outgrown items and inherit what your family can use the following year. Give all items a careful onceover; sometimes an item is past its prime and is ready to toss. That slip 'n slide that is more slip than slide? Toss. Rusty gardening tools? Toss. Inner tubes that constantly lose air? Toss. You get the idea.

Be sure to free up closet space for your fall goods by storing all beach towels and bathing suits in plastic storage bins in the garage, basement or attic.

If you still don't have a place to store all your summer items, hit the stores: storage items are traditionally on sale in the fall as stores court back-to-school shoppers looking to get organized. Evaluate your current storage needs and stock up on what you're missing.

Repair and Retire

Finally, get a jump start on next summer's warm weather fun by tackling needed repairs and restocking seasonal items now, while prices are at rock bottom. By repairing summer sports gear such as tennis racquets and swim goggles before storing, and replacing must-have items now, you'll be ready to dive back into summer fun the minute Memorial Day rolls around.

How do you store summer gear? Share your thoughts here and on the Pendaflex Facebook and Twitter pages.

More with Less: Major Summer Fun for Free

Community Manager — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 13:49:00 GMT

Summer is officially here, swooping in with a blistering heat wave. We've conjured up some cool fun for hot days with these fabulous, free ideas for making the most of summer.

House Swap: Check with relatives or close friends about swapping homes for the weekend or longer durations. Saving on hotels can free up funds for dinners out, theater tickets or other outings. And numerous websites such as www.homeexhange.com provide international house swaps in more than 150 countries.

Staycation: The high cost of travel (plane tickets, high prices at the pump) can put far-flung travel out of reach. If budget is an issue, save travel costs by enjoying a staycation at home. While time at home may not hold the allure of a getaway, you can make the most of a staycation by taking a break from all technology and chores. Put naps, books and recreation on the agenda and let work wait.

Kid Stuff: Raising children may be an expensive undertaking but providing summer fun doesn't need to be. These fun (and free!) activities will create a lifetime of great memories. Big brands like Barnes & Noble and Pottery Barn offer programs encouraging summer reading; learn more here and here. Home improvement giants Home Depot and Lowe's offer building workshops sure to delight young builders. Crafty kids will enjoy The Knack programs operated by national arts & crafts chain Michael's. And culture mavens can access passes to 150 museums across the country with a program run by Bank of America. Finally, DIYers will love this creative passport program that lets kids curate their summer travels: DIY kids' summer passport (includes free printable stamps).

Being frugal has never been this fun!

What is your favorite, free summer activity? Share your thoughts here and on the Pendaflex Facebook page.

Work that Network

Community Manager — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 16:08:00 GMT

Summer is a time for socializing. And while much of your mingling may be at beach BBQs or outdoor events, don't neglect to work your network during the lazy, hazy days of summer.

Need a little kick in the pants to move you from beach chair to business cards? Read our round-up of networking advice from across the web.

Quality, not size, matters most says the author of Managing Yourself: A Smarter Way to Network. Networks that are too large don't allow relationships to be properly nourished. Instead, rely on a group of 12-14 core contacts that provide developmental feedback and new sources of information and expertise. The article also provides tips on winnowing your network and making sure you are using your contacts most effectively.

We recently posted about networking wunderkind LinkedIn. Click here for their useful primer on how to optimize their service and network within their 100 million plus community.

And of course there's always what NOT to do. Inc.com offers "don't let this be you" advice in 6 Social Networking Faux Pas To Avoid.

Finally, for something fun (hey, it's summer!) we like the tips in 10 Apps to Up Your Social Networking Game.

Do you make regular time for networking? What are the most productive ways for you to work your network? Share your thoughts here and at the Pendaflex Facebook page.

Working Out Summer Vacations

Community Manager — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 13:37:00 GMT

Summer officially kicked off at the end of June which means summer vacation season is upon us. With two-thirds of all employees planning a summer break from work, coordinating vacation schedules to maximize employee downtime while maintaining productivity is a must. Translation: Not everyone can head to the beach at the same time.

As we've discussed in previous blog posts, time off from work is crucial for morale and reenergizing workers. A smart vacation schedule can prevent an empty-office syndrome in August when productivity grinds to a halt and can also keep employees from feeling overworked while colleagues are off recreating.

Having a transparent vacation policy keeps employers and employees on the same page. Clearly articulating policies and keeping track of days off is key. So is formalizing responsibility for work delegated during absences.

Here are some tips and resources to help coordinate a vacation program. Ideas to consider include:

Figure out the maximum number of people that can be off at one time.
Require vacation time to be booked a set time in advance.
Reward seniority if too many employees want the same weeks off.
When summer is your busy time, consider offering bonuses or incentive programs for working the entire summer.
Schedule vacation blackout dates (days that nobody can take off).
Offer vacation alternatives, such as three day weekends rather than larger blocks of time.

Looking for more assistance in creating comprehensive vacation policies for your work place? Read Developing Vacation and Sick Leave Policies and How to Set a Workplace Vacation Policy.

How does your workplace avoid vacation conflicts? Do you have tips for maintaining productivity during the summer vacation months? Share your thoughts here and on the Beyond Folders Community's Facebook and Twitter pages.

by Candie Harris