Trello is a great task management system but it’s also an amazing way to organize your home – everything from grocery shopping to your closet. Take a look at how I use Trello at home.
1 How to use Trello for Meal Planning
4 ways I use Trello to organize my home
I absolutely love using Trello for both of my blogs (this one and League of Extraordinary Moms), but I’ve expanded into using it for my home and personal life and it’s been truly amazing. It can go beyond to-do lists, calendars, and even meal planning.
1. couponing/grocery shopping
2. pantry/fridge/freezer inventory & organization
3. cleaning routines
4. capsule wardrobe
P.S. You can copy all the boards on this list by clicking on the picture of each board. It will take you to the Trello board and then you can click Show Menu > More > Copy Board and type in whatever you want to name it (make sure you have the “keep cards” checked!).
1 COUPONING & GROCERY SHOPPING
If you know me at all, you know I do not believe in extreme couponing but in a more of an intentional couponing strategy. In a nutshell, I make a list of the items I buy that are most expensive and then I go looking for coupons for those things.
I call it my “TOP 10” but it’s usually more than ten. I keep it named that because it reminds me to keep it simple and not go overboard and spend hours looking for coupons that save me a quarter. Reminder: my time is worth money and so is yours!
When I find a coupon for that item, I add a lime green ‘coupon’ label. I use that in the coupon list but also for the item when it’s in one of my grocery lists. This way, I don’t forget to use the coupon! If you get multiple copies of the same coupon, you could notate that in the title or add a checklist!
The rest of the board is how I organize my monthly grocery shopping. There’s a list for each store I frequent and the unique*** items I get at each. I add one card for each item to make it simple. Then I have list for each section of the grocery store where I add general items I need. When it’s time to go shopping and I know where I’m going, I will move the card to the proper store.
To copy the board, click on the picture then go to Show Menu, More, Copy Board.
2 KITCHEN INVENTORY
I love love love this board! It’s where I keep an inventory of everything I have in my pantry, fridge, and freezer. I used to keep a printable inventory sheet but this is SO much easier!
It’s pretty simple – make a list for your pantry, fridge, and freezer and just add the items! You could get more detailed and organize it by category like a grocery store but I prefer just one long list for each.
I also have a separate column to keep track of pre-made freezer meals and I label them if they’re pre-cooked or if they need to go in the slow cooker.
So create your inventories, and then as you you use an item, you just move it to the “need to buy” list which you’ll move to your grocery list!
To copy the board, click on the picture then go to Show Menu, More, Copy Board.
If you’d like to download the Ultimate List of Trello Boards (there’s 101 of them!) that has all my sample boards linked, you can do that here:
3rd WAY TO ORGANIZE YOUR HOME WITH TRELLO: A CLEANING ROUTINE
So…I totally stole this cleaning routine Trello board from my friend and business partner, Cara. But I love it, I don’t need to change it much, and why re-invent the wheel???
You should set up your board the way you clean.
- Do you do certain chores on certain days? Then organize by day.
- Do you just clean willy-nilly? Then maybe one list for everything and one list for DONE! will do it for you.
- Do you have a checklist for each room? Make lists for frequency and cards for each room (that’s how the sample board below is set up – copy it for yourself!).
To copy the board, click on the picture then go to Show Menu, More, Copy Board.
4 CAPSULE WARDROBE & KIDS CLOTHES
Have you ever heard of a capsule wardrobe? It’s basically a very intentional, minimal way of organizing your clothes. There are lots of articles that explain how it’s done, and this is one of my favorites that explains a capsule wardrobe in simple terms.
I don’t follow it to a T but it has made me much more intentional in what I purchase, for both me and the boys, plus my laundry has been cut by like 75%!
I kid you not.
I do 1-2 loads of laundry a week, and that’s it!
So you would simply organize your Trello board by category of clothes, and add a card for each item – brownie points if you snap pictures! You could even get really detailed with it and add where you bought it, how much you paid, etc.
Anyway, my favorite way to use this particular Trello board is when I’m traveling. Instead of pulling out all the freakin’ clothes I own and throwing them on the bed (then throwing them on a chair for them to sit for a week), I pull out my Trello app and start a new list for my destination. Then I scroll through my clothes, and drag the items I want to bring to that new list. It helps me to see if there’s maybe one or two items that don’t coordinate with others, because I like to mix and match so I can pack as little as possible.
To copy the board, click on the picture then go to Show Menu, More, Copy Board.
KID’S CLOTHES – I am also in the process of making a board for my little guy’s clothes – because how many times have I been at the store and found a shirt on a clearance rack, and wasn’t sure if he had any shorts to match??? I also like keeping track of the “next size or season” items that don’t currently fit him. Things that have been handed down to me or something I’ve picked up super cheap because I know it’s for next season.
So there you have it – my favorite 4 ways to use Trello at home. If you’d like a list of 101 board ideas (and a bunch of sample boards that you can copy!) you can get that here:
1 How to use Trello for Meal Planning