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Small changes that make your life easier and more efficient

70 replies

FairyFestival · 12/07/2019 15:54

I have just bought a cordless vacuum and it has changed my life. It is so much quicker to clean and takes up much less space.

So I am looking for ideas to make my life efficient and stream lined with little effort.

OP posts:
RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 13/07/2019 09:38

Work lunches: this is boring but definitely helps me! I order enough of something for 4 days and have the same thing every day in that week (Friday is a Greggs vegan sausage roll!). Eg:
Bagels and cream cheese for 4 days
Oatcakes, cheese and grapes
A Quorn ham salad sandwich
Higgedy rolls and salad
This cuts out the thought about what I should take and means I generally do end up taking something relatively healthy.
Breakfast is yoghurt and blueberries every day!

jackparlabane · 13/07/2019 09:44

A four-slice toaster so two people can get breakfast/lunch at once.

Timer on washing machine so set it to run and finish when I get up. Also have smoke/heat detectors so should get woken if it's faulty and will have had sleep.

Candymay · 13/07/2019 09:59

Let- Our water is definitely not the same as the drinking water. Drinking water supplies kitchen and tank water supplies bathroom. I would never allow the children to drink from the bathroom supply. The way you can tell which is drinking water is the water pressure. Drinking water comes from the mains and has high pressure. Sorry if I’m on a tangent here OP.

AnnieOH1 · 13/07/2019 10:44

For me getting up 1 to 2 hours earlier than needed was a revolution. Before I'd be in bed but awake into the early hours, shifting the day to get up extra early meant those "spare hours" become productive hours early in the morning. It also means once dinner is finished the evening is my own. I have more time for hobbies, projects, DIY than ever before.

I try and meal plan for the week on a Sunday pm and go get groceries on a Monday for the entire week (I will pick up extra fresh ingredients on Thursday but I do try and plan round the need to go to the supermarket!)

Keeping a notebook with me always, it has its own pocket in my bag, has really increased productivity and relieved stress too! Anything I might need to remember gets written down and then I don't have to worry about "what did I do with xyz?" (Like the other day when I was putting a photo into a little booklet thing, I had put it in a heavy book to keep it pressed, could I remember which book? No. But I'd written it down so what might've been a search even for five minutes through all the big books on the shelf meant I went straight to it!)

An organiser insert or just a multi-pocketed purse is another way I've found saves me time. I'm the biggest scatter brain usually (I am the person who will tear the house apart looking for my phone while it is In. My. Hand.) But now everything has a pocket and I can lay my hands on what I need when I need it. Heck I've even got one outside elastic pocket that I use for rubbish like wrappers or used tissues!

I keep a note holder on my car keys, that way I don't have to find an ATM in the middle of nowhere.

I can't think of anything else, other than preparing for any eventuality! So I've always got painkillers, plasters, tissues, sweets, a spare hair brush, spare make up for touch ups, water, kids activities to keep them occupied, breath freshener, pens, perfume, antiperspirant, spare tights, alcohol handgel, earphones.

AnnieOH1 · 13/07/2019 10:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn - duplicate post.

HopelesslydevotedtoGu · 13/07/2019 10:57

Best tip - have a huge huge clearout. Completely minimise your belongings and severely declutter. Game changer. Amazing how quick it is to tidy up when you have little stuff, and how much time you previously spent moving things around. After that continue regularly giving away items to account for any new stuff coming in.

Don't keep any "just in case" stuff - like ski clothes in case we go skiing - if you do need it again you can likely borrow/ hire, or worst case buy and resell.

I wash all clothes together, don't separate whites/ darks etc. If I'm worried about something running I add a colour catcher sheet.

I don't buy any clothes that need a special wash.

When I cook a meal I cook loads and leave in fridge for meals later that week.

MissPhonic · 13/07/2019 11:04

Meal plan every weekend including all lunches, snacks and breakfast. Put on a laminated sheet (wipe clean every week) on the fridge so whoever is home first can get started.

List on the fridge so as soon as we run out of something it gets put on the shopping list (unless it is something obscure that we won't use again).

Another laminated list for cleaning with tick boxes. I found I was spending half a day of my precious weekends cleaning and catching up from a chaotic week (we both work v. Long hours and I lose the ability to make decisions after a 13 hour shift). I listed all the jobs that I would do on the weekend (including washes and general tidy ups) and split them out over the week to fit around our schedule. Means Im not duplicating work, every evening I just have to do 1 or 2 simple things, and the house gets at least a basic clean weekly. Revolutionary! I was at the point of getting a cleaner so have saved myself ££ too!

timeforakinderworld · 13/07/2019 11:16

Don't keep any "just in case" stuff - like ski clothes in case we go skiing - if you do need it again you can likely borrow/ hire, or worst case buy and resell.
Sorry but I don't see how calling around trying to borrow clothes and equipment for everyone because you threw it all away is going to save time!

HopelesslydevotedtoGu · 13/07/2019 11:20

don't see how calling around trying to borrow clothes and equipment for everyone because you threw it all away is going to save time

Because it's rare that you ever need this stuff again. I was holding onto lots of stuff that I hadn't used in years. 95% I haven't needed again and I have freed up space in my house, making my house much calmer and tidier. The 5% I needed again I found quick to borrow or hire.

pheonixrebirth · 13/07/2019 11:38

I try to cook meals that I know will be good leftovers for work lunches.
And I dish them out into my lunch box and the time I'm putting dinner out.
I love a heated up roast dinner or chilli con carne. 😋And I must admit I do feel a bit smug when looking at others limp pre packaged sandwiches!

katmarie · 13/07/2019 11:46

Calendar on the fridge with a column for each person, and one for the dogs. Everything goes on there, and into my diary too. Laundry gets done at the weekend, once its dried I pick five work outfits for me, hang the correct underwear round the top of each hanger, and they get hung in my bathroom for the week ahead. No ironing needed.

My ds is 18mo, I pick him five outfits for nursery at the same time, and they go into his drawers - he has a drawer for each day of the week, mon to fri, so there is no scrabbling around for either of us trying to get dressed on a work/nursery day. If he has forest school on a Thursday for example I pop his wellies in the thursday drawer, and any forms he has to return go in to the Monday drawer, so nothing is missed.

Also meal plan on a friday night and shop accordingly online, delivered saturday/sunday. Always make double of anything like stew, spag bol, chilli, and stash some in the freezer.

We desperately need to do the declutter, but we're mid renovation on a property at the moment, so I have a brand new bath tub stashed behind my sofa and tools etc everywhere. Once the renovation is done we will be decluttering massively, I cant wait.

Avocadodance · 13/07/2019 12:05

Pre chopped frozen veg- mushrooms, onions and peppers. Makes curry, chilli, stir-fry so fast to make.
Jars of very lazy garlic, ginger and chillis also. No waste and less mess to clear up too.
No ironing but clothes smoothed hung up to dry from washing machine quicky
Clothes bundles done on a Sunday night for the week for the DC. Bags packed and by the door.
Meal plan and grocery shop online using 'favourites' so it's very quick and easy. I usually do this watching netflix.
Batch cook homemade lentil and veg soup and freeze in portions so there is always a healthy back up dinner for the DC. Same with hidden veg pasta sauces.
Wear black trousers and one of 5 tops for work so it's easy to dress without having to think about it.

BuzzShitbagBobbly · 13/07/2019 13:20

Every month i clear my bank balance to zero (into a savings account) so on payday I start afresh. By 3 days after that all my bills and savings ("pay myself" just as if it were a bill) are paid and done so I know there won't be any nasty surprises.

I put out a compete outfit night before if I am going to the office, right down to underwear and shoes, so I pick it up in a pile and no fading round finding stuff.

I make lists of my errands and organise them into one optimal big circular route so I'm not wasting time or fuel and everything gets done efficiently. (Eg today I have been to a shop, cashpoint, collected another purchase and picked up something from a friend all in one go and saved about 20 miles and a good 30-40 mins over doing journeys individually.)

fedup21 · 13/07/2019 14:11

I've recently stopped packing at the till. At aldi I keep the paid for shopping and pack it loose in my car. When I get home, I take about 6 items st a time and put said items straight into the cupboard. I really think this cuts thetimes on packing at the supermarket.

But don’t you then have to make 50 trips to the kitchen from your car once you’re home?!

trinitybleu · 13/07/2019 14:26

I do the black trousers work uniform as well. Am currently dieting so Asda £6 a pair tapered ones means £24 and I am done

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 13/07/2019 17:10

Work clothes - Yes to shoving on a hanger the night before, including underwear.

I don't use a diary but send an email to myself every evening, so I know what to do when I first get in the following day.

Cooking - We're mostly only needing to cook for two now, so:
Tilda microwave rice - just the right amount for two, although the plastic makes me feel guilty
An 'on toast', 'in bread' or 'picky' meal once a week - mushrooms on toast, veggie sausages in baguettes with salad, nice cheese and crackers etc
The Green Roasting Tin book is good
Jacket potatoes another really easy meal

FairyFestival · 13/07/2019 17:29

Ah Remus this all started with your thread, tempting me to buy a new vacuum. However, lots of good ideas here. I do need to declutter my bedroom. Also get back into meal planning and organised deliveries.

OP posts:
RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 13/07/2019 18:14

Glad to be of service!

DrMadelineMaxwell · 13/07/2019 21:46

I empty the dishwasher or wash up when I'm making a cuppa.

I wipe down the sink or bath or mirror in the bathroom when brushing my teeth.
I hate making packed lunches, so the kids have always had school dinners and I make 3 x salads on a Monday and then 2 x salads on a Thursday. They go straight into the large work fridge on Monday and Thurs so I don't need to remember them. I buy grapes and apples to go with them and take a box of cereal bars for the week.

unicornsrule · 18/07/2019 16:33

I have just received free trial for

Who gives a crap seem good
Love the fact that they dont have any plastic
And smol dishwasher and laundry tabs which seem good too-
Love the fact that they come in distinct packaging that hardly takes up any room
And that they come through the letterbox .

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