Staying organized can be difficult when you’ve got a lot of things on your plate. Whether it’s planning and keeping track of a home remodeling project or figuring out what’s for dinner, I’m often amazed at the amount of details we try to keep stored in our heads. Not surprisingly, some details slip through the cracks – like when I forgot to get baking soda for last night’s chocolate chip cookies. Included with the latest version of Microsoft Office Home and Business 2010, Microsoft OneNote is a wonderful program that helps us organize all our projects, recipes, and ideas in one place.
The Review
While I’ve been a Microsoft Office user for several years, this was the first time I had the opportunity to try Microsoft OneNote. OneNote is pitched as a program that will help you to stay organized with all of the different projects we take on through the year – from planning a family vacation to keeping a nutrition journal. Included with Microsoft Office Home and Business 2010, OneNote is easy to use right out of the proverbial box (or download, these days.) It includes pre-made templates and planners for many of the common projects, enabling you to just click a button and get started.
I decided to use OneNote to help keep track of a bathroom remodel project. To begin, I downloaded the DIY Home Remodel Notebook from the Microsoft Templates page and created a new project called “Bathroom Remodel.”
Once created, OneNote guided me in easy to follow steps to help fill out my planner. I started off with Before & After photos, making sure to include notes for some of the items that needed to be changed. Using the “Draw” tab, I’m able to draw custom shapes and arrows, add text, or highlight items that are important.
OneNote has an colorful toolbar at the top of each notebook that allows you to navigate to each section. The DIY Home Remodel Notebook has tabs for Before and After, Research, Buget, Calendar, To Do, and Contractors. There’s also a guide option at the end.
I use Excel for most of my tracking, so I could really appreciate the Budget tab. On this page, you can list out all of the costs for your project and note anything important. Even better is that you can do basic math calculations, so I won’t need to jump from one program to another to keep track of the finances.
I think one of my favorite features of OneNote is the ability to share the notebook with others. You can enable the share feature for each project, allowing other people to log-in to view your notebook. This is a great way to keep in touch with contractors, ensuring that everyone is on the same page and that budgets are on track.
The calendar tab is another great way to make sure that deadlines and scheduling are accurate and on time.
Microsoft OneNote makes it so much easier to keep track of remodel projects. It is easy to use and everything is all in one place for everyone to review. You can capture screenshots of other rooms or projects for inspiration and keep track of things on your to-do list. And it’s not just for remodel projects. You can also use it to keep track of your favorite recipes, planning trips, or even your fitness plan. There are over a hundred different project templates available for download that you can use to help you stay organized.
If you’d like to take Microsoft OneNote, and the latest version of Microsoft Office Home and Business 2010, out for a spin, you can visit the Microsoft website to download a 60-day free trial. You can also purchase the whole kit and kaboodle on Amazon for just $151.63.
Microsoft Office Online
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The WiC Project Microsoft Office Giveaway
The Prize:
One winner will receive a copy of Microsoft Office Home and Business 2010.
Disclaimer: This post consists of my (and/or fellow tester) opinions only. Your experiences may be different. No compensation was given for this review/giveaway. I did receive a free product from the manufacturer or their representing PR agency to use and test for the purposes of this review. This did not affect the outcome of this review.
For tracking client calls
liked!
All of our doctor appointments! Babies have a lot
I would use it to track all our family appointments.
tracking my husband’s appointments. he has a lot
I would use it to organize contests I enter, blogs giveaway and blogging jobs and anything else that I have post-its and tear outs for.
I have a lot of parties, appts and other events that all need juggling…this sounds wonderful
As a teacher and a returning student this can be so useful to track every aspect of my busy life.
I’d like to keep track of all of the lessons/projects/outings for my son!
I would use it to help us keep up with group projects so we are all on the same page
House Remodel !!
It would help e keep track of my work meetings.
id use it to keep track of when we need to pay bills
to keep track of homework assignments
I’d use it for every day events. Parties, school activities, doctor appts. etc.
I’d use it for keeping track of my Mom’s doctors’ appointments, various deadlines that I have at work, new book releases…..the possibilities are endless!
elizabeth @ bookattict . com
We have a lot of projects to get done around the house, so I think it would be a big help with that.
I would give this to my husband to track his appointments.
make a good budget
I would use it to create a budget analysis to help us spread our buck just a little further (if that’s even possible!)
to keep track of the calories i consume and keep track of weekly family meals
My husbands Meds and Appts.
I am the church historian for my local church so this is a very big project that has to be turned in to the central church.
I would try to write out all of the things our family is up to so I could stay on track of it all.
I would use it to keep track of my appts
Dr appts and family dr appts our family and I have a lot at least 3 a week and I get them confused a lot
Everything! Im normally working on several projects especially for my travel business. Would be great to have everything in one place.
I would use it for appointments.
my house remodel
We are in the process of arranging an out-of-state move, and my house is a federal disaster zone (has been for years). I’d use OneNote to help me organize everything for the move, from setting up a cleaning schedule to packing what we need and getting rid of what we don’t.
I would use it to keep track of birthdates/anniversaries.
Just keep everything organized, for a change….lol !!!
I don’t know but once i learn the program I will put it to good use
I think I would have to say I’d use it for keeping track of our Scouting group’s activities and contacts
I would use this to keep track of our homeschool projects. It would be perfect for the kids yearly portfolios.
I’d use it to help with decorating our new home.
I’d use it to help with decorating our new home
5 Boyz in sports… appts!
we could use this!
Homework!
my hubbys biz
definitely for recipes, I usually download them to paper and stick them in a drawer
pedidentalasst at yahoo dot com
i’d use one note to keep track of all my travel preparations and arrangements
I’ll bet it would more easily help me stay on task with my blog posts!
To keep track of bills and birthdays.
i’m “trying” to start a blog
Keeping on track for writing assignments.
mt painting project
doctors’ appointments
I would use it for trips, appointments and anything else that I have to do.
janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com