Cozi | FREE Family Organizer/Management Online Service

Cozi Life Simplified

I recently found out about Cozi and used the online service to manage my schedule at BlogHer. I was impressed with the many benefits the software offers. And, since it's FREE, well I'm sure you'll love it too!!

I have been looking for a family management system that will allow all of our schedules to appear on one calendar color-coordinated. We have many schedules, games, appointments and craziness to manage with our 5-family household. Well, Cozi DOES IT – and it's all FREE!!!

There are several features to Cozi, they include:

  • Family Calendar
  • Customizable Lists
  • Reminders and Messages
  • Mobile Access
  • Family Journal
  • Photo Collage Screensaver
  • Outlook Sync Ability

So far, I have only used the calendar and mobile access and I'm beyond thrilled! I guess my excitement comes from the fact that we had a real need to organize the multiple schedules in our family so we're all on the same page. In the time I have been using Cozi, it is meeting the needs we have!

In the Family Calendar feature, each member has a different color. This is so nice because you can assign appointments to certain people and recognize the color when you look at the calendar. It's visual – I'm a visual kinda gal. You can also add every member of your family as a user with Cozi so they can add their own appointments. I guess I will have no excuse not knowing if my husband has a doctor's visit :)

I am planning on printing each week on Sunday evening. I can have it in a highly visible location so everyone in the family knows what is going on. I may even get extra ambitious and put the menu for each night on a set night. Wooooahhh – baby steps, that's right :) But, it would be nice so the kids know to prepare their heads that they are eating broccoli that night! But, more than anything, I know I have it on my calendar and can see it in front of me to thaw or prepare stuff in the morning.

I definitely see the value in the Customizable Lists feature too. I have played with the feature briefly and plan on making my grocery list and shop using a mobile list. We'll see how it goes. If only there was a price column to total, I would probably be in heaven.

I like the List online because if you forget it at home, you can get it immediately! You simply call Cozi's 800-number and can have your list read to you, or sent to you via text (to your phone of course ;)! I think getting a text is more practical since you can mark things off as you go. Otherwise, you are just writing it down on paper, or keeping a mental list which defeats the purpose of the mobile list. No duplicate work or brain power – I need to preserve all energy I have!

And, I have mentioned the Mobile feature to Cozi several times – that's my favorite part. I have an iPhone so anything that can be done with my phone to help me manage my time better and justify a monthly fee with AT&T is just awesome! You can even set up your Calendar/appointments to be sent to you via text beforehand. I didn't do that since I can pull up the mobile calendar on my phone.

I really am using my phone as my mobile management system. The two biggest things me, as a mother especially, needs to manage at all times is my day and remembering things. I don't need an app since Cozi can help me with both of those things (although, I still love so many of my apps ;)

So far, so good from me! I truly am liking this service and plan on utilizing it to manage the craziness of our family's schedule!! What do you use to manage your schedule? Have you tried Cozi before? What are your thoughts? It really is amazing, and even more amazing because it works and it's FREE!

Now if it could just motivate me to be a Domestic Princes…well, now that's just crazy talk ;)

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9 Comments

  1. WOW – sounds too good to be true. I will definately check it out! I strive to be more organized – I was at work, but stayin home is a whole different ballgame! When you figure out the domestic princess thing, let me know LOL!!! I am starting a weekly organization segment on my blog in the fall and will link you!

  2. I love Cozi!! My favorite feature is the calendar sync with outlook. I use outlook a lot, but LOVE that I can sync the two together. Even nicer is that hubby can sync is outlook at work with my Cozi calendar and he knows if there are appointments that pertain to him, or practices he needs to attend without me having to remind him!!! Love it! It’s also great for jotting down those cute little things my kiddies do each day. I can then print them and put them into their scrapbooks or baby books (yes, I’m a dorky Mom like that…haha).

    1. Kandi, that’s a great idea to remember the kids things they do! I may have to try that one!!

  3. this sounds great… wondering if you can sync it with palm products as I just got a new palm centro phone. Love having my calendar with me all the time and syncing it to the computer… how great would it be though if my husband could also log in and update with his schedule and we could keep kid schedules there too.

  4. Sounds similar to a site I wrote originally for my wife to use: http://www.myfamilydayplanner.com/

    It also includes the ability to store recipies, plan your menu, and generate a grocery list based on the ingredients in recipes on your menu.

  5. Kendra Neal says:

    I love Cozi!! My favorite feature is the ability to text shopping lists and errand lists to either my phone or even better DH’s phone!! Since using that feature DH never forgets an item at the store!

  6. Google Calendar also does many of these things. Plus you can choose to make your calendar available to others to see but not edit (like grandparents, caretakers, etc.). Online calendars are wonderful!!

    1. Courtney, I’ve heard Google calendars is great. I prefer Cozi over that though because you can assign each person a Cozi ID to enter their appointments. Our younger boys don’t have gmail accounts, which I think you have to have to enter calendar stuff, right? I love online anything, especially anything to organize my life – I need all the help I can get!

  7. Cozi is a “must have” for families to manage their calendars, keep their shopping lists and all of their to-do lists. The family journal is such an easy way to capture family memories and you can share it through your Facebook account! Plus Cozi’s Live Simply blog is the place to get organizing and fun ideas for your family. I recommend Cozi for my organizing clients.

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