STYLE Savvy: If You Know, You Know

Lisa Hess describes how she happened upon a functional tool that did the job with style.

Organization can often be a frustrating game of trial and error. We all have those spaces in our house that refuse to cooperate, no matter which tools we try. But every once in a while, we happen upon a tool that’s just right. 

An Old System Needed a New Look 

At our house we still use the old envelope system for budgeting — setting aside predetermined amounts of cash for groceries, books, clothing, and other expenses. We adopted this method years ago to get our credit cards under control, and it stuck.  

In this system, I’m the keeper of the cash. And, if we go somewhere where we need cash from multiple envelopes/categories, it can be a challenge to keep all the envelopes straight in an efficient manner. Sure, I can tuck a stack of envelopes into my bag — that part is easy — but by the end of a day of multiple transactions, what started out as an organized system has often become a crumpled pile of envelopes.   

Enter Poshmark and my Kate Spade card holders.   

The first one I found was a black-and-white polka dotted print — the one that matches both my planner and the bag I use for school — so it quickly became a “must have.” Then, I discovered that this cute little tool came in two other patterns, one floral and one striped, both brightly colored.   

Eventually, I ended up with all three of them.   

At first, I didn’t really know what I was going to use them for (I just thought they were cute).

But now that I’ve been using them for a while, I’ve assigned each little cardholder its own category so I can tell at a glance which “purse” I need. Since they’re all small enough to tuck away as well as being brightly colored enough that I can find them easily in a purse or tote bag, they work well under almost any circumstances.  

A Solution True to My Style

While these cute and useful card holders don’t solve an organizational problem in my home, they’re great examples of the qualities of a good organizational tool: well-suited to their purpose, fun to use, attractive, and true to the style of the user (in my case, it’s my I need to see it personal style). All these attributes are key to finding solutions for any organizational challenge. And, while “cute” isn’t essential, it can be motivating; we’re often more likely to use a tool that’s attractive. 

But do you want to know the best part? They truly put the fun in functional, and I smile every time I use them, which tells me they’re just right for me. 

If you know, you know. 

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