Another question...I probably know.I own an HTC sensation,and I suppose I should use the calendar in it...How do you guys keep these shops straight that are scheduled day after day?

I use two methods. A month-at-a-glance type calender purchased from WalGreens every year for less than $3. I fill it in, with pencil, of course. It goes everywhere I go. Often enough, I get calls while I'm out doing shops. When schedulers call, it can be a good $ thing. They normally can't wait for you to get home and check your calendar. I'm able to give them an immediate yes or no. (I don't have a smartphone or I guess I could use that.) My second method is a simple spreadsheet, which I use as a backup for record-keeping.

Well, Missouri is tax free this weekend,I should get one. Another excellent idea from you. I've applied at almost 20-25 places now...not up to 75 yet. lol

I have a weekly planner, goes in my purse and I fill it in with shops weekly...if a scheduler calls or I get an immediate emil, I got it....at home I keep a calender by computer and in my car I keep my log and fill it whenever I go out on jobs...job name, date, miles, MSC name and check off when paid. I pick these two items up at 99 cent store.

Rhonlynn - I tried different things when I was starting out, and I've been settled on one "away from home" system for a while now.

I have an 8 1/2 x 5 1/2 three ring notebook. There is a sheet on each company I work for with my personal shopper numbers, sign ons, and their contact information. I keep this book on my desk, and carry it with me when I leave the house no matter where I'm going.

My schedule is on a spread sheet, and I have the spread sheet printed out and in the book. This spread sheet includes my personal and business appointments and my shops, along with personal projects and "to do" lists. I leave some lines blank and print the grid lines so I have some extra spaces to write stuff in.

I print the current day plus all future days that have entries. If I get a call when I'm away from home, I can look at my spread sheet and see where I have openings. If I need to call someone, I have that information with me. The book also contains an annual calendar I printed off the net.

I schedule commitments only on the spread sheet in my notebook. I post from the notebook to the computer. Whenever I post to the computer, I print a new spread and put it in the notebook. Works for me.

I have to make do with paper and pencil when I'm away from the house. I think a laptop or good smartphone would be wonderful. There are lots of good ways to do this. You'll discover the best system for you as you go along.

I keep mine organized through the google calendar. I like it because I can check it from my comp or phone. I put the address, instructions, and fee amount in details area. I make all my jobs blue and then when they pay me, I turn them gray.

Like Vicki, I use Google calendar. Android is incredible for streamlining and organizing. If it's a shop in an unfamiliar area, I enter the address and phone in the Where field. When the reminder pops up on my Android phone, one tap takes me to Google maps or my dialer. In the description field, I enter the MSC's report URL for ready access later. . Sometimes I upload guidelines or other documentation to Google Docs and attach them right to the calendar entry; I also use Dropbox. My calendar is my brain! I use reminders daily.

I use a paper monthly calendar that I keep on my desk. I also use my Yahoo mail calendar which sends me email reminders a day ahead of a job. I don't do more than 5 or six shops a week so I can keep up with these two things. I am now starting to 'sort out' companies that pay almost nothing or those that only do 'bank jobs', so that I can do a better job for the ones I like It works for me.

I have an HTC sensation, but sometimes my shops don't make it into my smart phone. i'd rather have a 5x7 or 8x10 page I can look at...I do Yelp activities also, and sometimes it makes it into my phone.

It seems there aren't any shops in my area today (maybe I've done them all) So I'll check tomorrow. I don't want more than 5 a week, either, I don't have time for any more. I'm not going to do one that is FF, or reimbursement only. I would do a few FF, if they paid better, but I'm 95% vegan, and that doesn't work. lol. They don't pay well. Banks, mobile phone companies, matteress sales, pizza shops (they actually pay pretty good, and it's no biggie to eat the cheese, but I don't really want to.)...I've not done a car sales yet...and high end shops I may not want to do yet.

I want to get my gold certificate, but I'm not sure it'll make a difference.

There is a free email program called incredimail that I use for scheduling and keeping up with which companies I have signed with and work for. I can schedule a month in advance with no problems. I can also put my information on a memory stick and not worry about the computer crashing and losing my data.

I also use google calendar. We are a one car family, and my wife usually has it. We each have a google calendar, we share them, so we each know what the other has planned, and I can make sure I plan shops when I can get there. We both have it on our phones so it can be checked any time.

We have one car, too! Fortunately for us, my husband works one mile from home and can walk to work. I do most of my shops during the day and just pick him up from work. I'm planning a few overnight routes in the next few weeks, though, and he's fine with walking. I'm thankful we can avoid a second car payment and/or insurance.

sweepnet Wrote:
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> I also use google calendar. We are a one car
> family, and my wife usually has it. We each have
> a google calendar, we share them, so we each know
> what the other has planned, and I can make sure I
> plan shops when I can get there. We both have it
> on our phones so it can be checked any time.

I use Outlook's calendar. It is great and I can color code MS jobs differently than personal appointments or other things. I have an iPhone, so it gets synced with that It is also set up to sync with Google Calendar so I can check it anywhere I have access to a computer. Plus, I have it set up to sync with my new Acer Android tablet. So, I have my calendar everywhere I am and whenever I add or update something on one device, it automatically gets updated everywhere!

I should try google calendar. I've never tried it, but I'm sure it's the calendar ap for the HTC sensation.

Oh, yeah! Anyone with an Android phone should at least check out Google Calendar. It provides seamless synchronization between your smartphone and the web. You can color-code entries, attach files to events (think shop guidelines)...It's great.


There is a wonderful calendar app available for Android called Jorte. It gives you more functions and different calendar views, plus a big assortment of customizable widgets for your phone's home screen. You can have it set to sync with your Google calendar or just work as a standalone calendar. Oh, and it's free.

Rhonlynn Wrote:
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> I should try google calendar. I've never tried it,
> but I'm sure it's the calendar ap for the HTC
> sensation.