The website that taught me financial literacy - FlyLady with over 8 years of experience. What I still use from her system.

I have to admit, this review took me a while to write - I kept coming back to it and adding my thoughts over time. For me, this site is about more than just cleaning, and the FlyLady community is about so much more than just a bunch of housewives trying to get their homes and lives in order.

About FlyLady.

While FlyLady has become a core part of my life and a guiding philosophy, I have to say that I've never fully implemented any of the system's points. It's easier to talk about what has stuck with me than to try to list everything out.

What has stuck with me:

✔ Small steps.

As the great Russian poet Vysotsky once said:

Beauty lies in moving at a pace that's just right, not trying to keep up with the crowd.

I've learned not to try to rush ahead, to compare myself to others, or to strive for perfection. Instead, I focus on making progress at my own pace and living life on my own terms. That's the beauty of small steps - it's not just about cleaning, but about living a balanced, intentional life. For example, I don't feel the need to write reviews on the latest and greatest topics or to compete with others in terms of ratings or income. I just focus on writing in a way that's engaging, diverse, and helpful.

✔ Looking put together, even when no one's watching.

I want to feel confident and prepared, whether it's for an unexpected guest or a scheduled appointment. No more stained sweatpants or messy hair for me! A simple, put-together outfit and a tidy appearance are essential to my morning routine. It's not about trying to impress anyone else; it's about taking care of myself and feeling good about who I am.

Make Your Bed.

It's the same thing with keeping a tidy space - if someone comes over, I wouldn't be embarrassed about my messy room. A made bed with a blanket is a great place to sit or put things.

Wipe Down Surfaces and Tackle 'Hot Spots'.

Before and After Cleaning SurfacesEvery apartment has those areas where things tend to pile up - things you've used, things you need to use soon, or just random knick-knacks without a designated storage spot. Cleaning those areas really helps keep the overall space tidy.

Wash Dishes in the Evening.

I hate walking into a dirty kitchen in the morning!

Keep a Household Journal.

Household Journal 2019But I'm not even using half of what Marla suggests you write down in there. This year, I started a new notebook with dividers, and you can read my review of it by following the link at the bottom. My household journal is just a useful notebook, not just for household management. I wrote a bit more about it in my review of the notebook itself, which you can find by following the link below.

Get Rid of Clutter.

I've got to admit, it's tough being a bit of a hoarder like me. If something's good but just not my cup of tea, I tend to pass it on. Like, I once gave away a review copy to my mother-in-law with a note to just toss it and not feel guilty. It's not that I'm opposed to taking hand-me-downs, but I figure there's no point cluttering up my space with stuff that doesn't serve me. The law of conservation of energy applies here too - you get what you give, and if you're stuck in the past, you're not gonna get anything new.

✔ Scheduling and Planning.

Meal planning for the weekSince I started using the FlyLady system, I've created a ton of useful tables and lists that I still use to this day.

My eternal shopping list and stockpile tracker

My cleaning schedule

My self-care calendar

My menu planning list

My first-aid kit inventory with expiration dates

I even drew up my own daily planner, but somehow I just can't seem to get around to taking it to the print shop and finishing it up.

I'll share a few screenshots of my 'Eternal Shopping List'.

Eternal Shopping List and Inventory - Products Eternal Shopping List and Inventory - Cosmetics Eternal Shopping List and Inventory - Household Goods Eternal Shopping List and Inventory - Office Supplies Eternal Shopping List and Inventory - First Aid Kit

But the most important thing, the most valuable lesson I learned from the system, the forum, and FlyLady blogs - Self-love. Don't beat yourself up when things don't go as planned, don't self-sabotage, see not just what's left to do, but what you've already accomplished. Give yourself credit. Take care of yourself and enjoy the process.

I don't have a messy bookshelf, no timer to keep me on schedule, and I'm not one of those people who wears slippers with laces or constantly cleans the sink. But I do have my own 'thing' - I'm a compulsive wiper of the kitchen table. I hate it when there are crumbs, empty wrappers, knives, and dirty cups just lying around. It's enough to drive me crazy! If someone's slicing bread and leaves a mess of crumbs, a dirty board, and a knife behind, or pours tea and leaves the sugar container, tea drops, and spilled sugar - I lose it and won't calm down until I clean it up. My table needs to be spotless at all times.

A place for everything, and everything in its place - or why decluttering is the foundation of a system.

Regulars on the FlyLady forums and blogs have mentioned that a new item won't come into your home if the old one is still taking up space. For instance, you need a new pair of shoes, but somehow you've been unable to find the perfect pair for months, and your closet is packed with shoes you haven't worn in ages.

But decluttering isn't just about physical space - it's also about mental clarity. However, you still need to start by cleaning up your physical surroundings. When I'm having trouble getting into a productive groove, it's time to tidy up my table or computer. Having a clean space around me helps me get my thoughts in order. I won't go into details, but it really works.

About the website.

FlyLady WebsiteI've been following FlyLady since the early days, when I first stumbled upon the community on a cooking forum. I've been impressed by how the website has adapted to mobile devices - it's so much easier to read now, with a clean and clear font.

FlyLady Website on my phone FlyLady Website on my phone FlyLady Website on my phoneBut what really sets FlyLady apart is the forum. Without it, the website would just be a reference guide with a bunch of translated terms. I want to talk about the forum and recommend some of the sections I think are worth checking out.

Finances. ?

FlyLady's Finance ForumI stumbled upon this forum while learning how to manage our family's budget, and it's been a game-changer. I found some amazing books and authors who share their expertise on personal finance. Thanks to this forum, I started tracking our expenses, opened my first savings account, and even saved up for my first million. The women who contribute to this forum are incredibly inspiring, and my favorite topics include 'Food Budgeting' and 'Analyzing and Planning Expenses.'

I devoured this forum like a book while I was recovering from my first daughter's birth. I couldn't get enough of the advice and support.

?Marathon Challenges. ?

Accessing FlyLady's Marathon ChallengesThis forum section is just as valuable, where women work together to achieve their goals. We're talking about weight loss, decluttering, and even saving money on groceries to spend just 150 rubles a day. You need to be a registered user to access this section.

?Storage and Organization.?

I found some fantastic ideas for storing and organizing our belongings and home space in this forum. I even discovered a book called 'Self-Organization from the Inside Out' – although I didn't finish it, I picked up some useful tips and tricks.

You can check out the other forums on screenshots. There are sections on diets, crafts, holidays, gifts, and much more.

FlyLady Forums FlyLady Forums FlyLady Forums

The FlyLady Blog.

Blogs of FlyLady Club I have to admit, the topic of this website and blogs is personal for me. Back in the day, I was an active blogger, and this community was my haven. People would read us for months, and then 'come out of the woodwork' to share kind words about how welcoming and cozy it was here. The site owners decided to remind everyone who's boss, and things escalated. The core group left, and some people copied their posts, demanded admin remove content, or even threatened to take it to court. I get it – these were more than just online posts; they were people's lives! I asked to remove only the super personal stuff, and let the rest of the content stay, so others could enjoy it. It wasn't my war; I stopped visiting because the people I came back for were gone. I don't hold any grudges against the admin, but I genuinely think they were in the wrong. After all that drama, the site's rules changed, and now all published content belongs to the admin. Plus, the desire to monetize the site sometimes takes a weird turn, like asking to add the site to ad-blocking exceptions. It's just a pop-up window you can't remove, only disable ad-blocking and refresh the page. So, either do that, or don't bother reading our content.

I get that the admins put a lot of time and effort into the site, but sometimes they forget that without all the people who contribute, the site wouldn't be what it is today.

Now the girls are writing on another site, and it's pretty quiet and peaceful there. I occasionally pop in to say hello, but I don't have time for much else.

I still recommend this site to you, despite my complicated history with FlyLady. It's an amazing resource for useful information, not just about household management. I think the FlyLady system has been adapted to fit Russian traditions and way of life.

A problem with perception.

I often hear or read opinions that the FlyLady system is stupid and not suitable for Russian women, and people tend to latch onto things like cleaning the sink or wearing shoes with laces. There's a lot to say on this topic, but my take is that if you want to make it work, you'll find a way, and if you don't, you'll find excuses. Instead of picking and choosing what doesn't work for you and mocking it, try finding what does work and getting started. Nobody's forcing you to follow every single point in the system – it's not a diet where the outcome depends on what you eat, or a recipe where you have to follow every step to the letter.

When talking about the Russian FlyLady community, please remember that the materials are just translations of the original texts by the author. As the song goes, 'you can't un-say something, even if you don't like it, just don't listen.'

Useful resources about the FlyLady system.

Since there's a limit to the number of links I can include in this review, I'll just list them for you – feel free to search for them online.

I've been digging through old YouTube videos of Irina Sokova, and it's clear she's moved on from being a fly-blogger to just a regular blogger. As a result, her content from the past few years is pretty lacking when it comes to household management.

I've been checking out Irina Sokova's group on VK, and it's amazing how many women have shared their own templates and documents, including Excel spreadsheets and more.

Reviews on a related topic:

My new household management journal for 2019

Easy financial tracking program

P.S. I took all the photos and screenshots myself, and even created the documents you see on them.