Tell me at one or two small thing you've done to make your life easier

[listsandbudgets]

I've done 2 this year

1. I've unsubscribed / marked as spam from nearly all my mailing lists. Now my inbox is an oasis of calm and I don't spend what feels like hours every week wading through emails I don't want My spam file is brimming over!
2. I found a sharpie and (once I was sure they were the right way round!) labelled my double fitted sheets with side and top - wish I'd done this years ago not having to shuffle them about trying to work out which way up they go

I write a list showing what is in each freezer drawer and cross it off when used. Saves rummaging about and easier to decide on what you have available for dinner.

Same, cat food on a worktop in the futility because otherwise dogs will eat it.

For the luddites like me who dont have WhatsApp you can email yourself and or text yourself.

Last job had so many 4 digit codes, all different, no chance I could ever remember them. In the first instance I would text myself the latest 4 digit code, then once not super busy I'd transfer to an email. The email would just be updated from then on. I think its labelled as WORK DOOR CODES, capital letters so easy to find.

Passports, just get each person a different colour holder? Or washi tape.

The charity shop bag deffo keeps the crap from accumulating. If I buy something cheap enough it's not worth sending back or will be a pain to return and I dont like it, it goes with tags still on into the bag. However the bag then stays because fewer charity shops are open when I have time to take stuff. I end up with 3 or 4 bags full until I have time.

Reducing working hours, stopped working on Mondays, switch off work phone and work email on Mondays-and dedicate one full day for kids. Every weekend in the house is now a bank holiday weekend!! DH was jealous of our funday and has also applied for reduced hours at his workplace but he has to wait for another 6months.

Our cat eats on the worktop in the utility. He has his own little set of steps to get up there as he’s old now….

Cling film and sellotape

I store mine in the FREEZER as much much easier to find the start of the roll!

Just made myself my own WhatsApp group. That a game changer. Thanks.

I keep a few empty/mayo jam jars and when I open something like double cream I transfer it to the jar and date it with a sharpie on the glass.

def going to get big bags for my freezer.

Oh, I just remembered another one.

When the kids were young and lived at home (there were five of them), we had LOADS of single socks. The washing machine ate the pair or they'd got lost at school or fell down the back of a radiator or whatever. I tried buying everyone the same socks, but the size range was too great, so I'd end up having to try to 'size' socks, so I stopped and started buying patterned socks again.

All the spares would go into a box. When the box was full I would spend an hour or so (often got a child to help, it was a good 'off school poorly' activity) pairing socks back up again. All the loose singles went back into the box. When the box was full of single socks I'd use them as stuffing for toys that had lost stuffing or filling spare cushion covers. They were very useful for restuffing the dog bed too!

I keep a few empty/mayo jam jars and when I open something like double cream I transfer it to the jar and date it with a sharpie on the glass

Genius!.

Can you (and anyone else) share label maker brand/spec recommendations please?

I have an Excel spreadsheet of all grocery and household items we buy on a regular basis - loo roll, shampoo, mince, fish fillets, Coca-Cola etc. I print it and then go through the house to check what we will run out of in the next month.

That becomes my shopping list.

Occasionally, when I get home, I enter the price paid into the spreadsheet. This then calculates the average price paid and doubles as a grocery price book. It makes it easy for me to see what good price is or if a special really is special enough to stick up on.

It did take a little effort to set up but is now a huge timesaver.

I already do several of the things others have suggested. What I can recommend on top of what I've read so far:

• in addition to family calendars, e-mail addresses and such, I always have a todoist list open in a browser for myself. This way, I don't have to worry about forgetting it, and it's so easy to use. I know there are many more powerful list making apps, but I want something super simple
• When reading mumsnet, there are often threads about many, many loads of washing per week. I'm thankful I live in a rented apartment in a European country, where we share a washer and dryer, and a laundry hanging room. It means we (a family of 3) always wash Tue PM (after 6 pm, when we're home) and Sun morning. I don't have the luxury to wash a lot, in other words.
• I have a big folder with translucent sleeves for any paperwork - one per year. Most things get to us electronically these days, but if I get actually useful or important papers, I put them in the next sleeve right away and recycle the envelope. If I need to, I add it to my todoist.
• DD and I have several shared notes on the Notes app on our apple devices. It really helps not letting things go forgotten.

Yes! I have it in my work bag, just in case I need any of the components on the go.

Some of these are genius, going to have a proper sort over the next few weeks and stocking up on plastic boxes!

The first time I go into a big shop and see world book day/children in need/halloween etc outfits, I buy one and leave it in a car for when I inevitably forget it’s world book day/children in need/dress up for Halloween day at nursery

I just ordered the Supvan E10 label printer, a bestseller on Amazon with good reviews.

I bought a tape dispenser after seeing the same tip on an earlier thread!

Best thing I did last year was do all of my xmas shopping and wrapping early before having a csection in November, and refusing to send any cards.

Perfect prep machine for formula.

Bathing my baby on the kitchen table so i don’t have to bend down.

Don’t iron anything.

Clothes and nursery bag the night before.

Toothbrush upstairs and downstairs for my 3 year old

Oh and air con unit for my son’s bedroom!

I bought a giant roll of Kirkland foil from Amazon a very long time ago and it's still going.

amzn.eu/d/5P8Wv8r

I make a list of all the plants I’ve eaten in a week to make sure I get to at least 30 different types.

I take stock on Thursday/Friday to see how many I need to add over the weekend to reach the goal.

Some of the suggestions here have reminded me of some others

• like scissors in every room, a duster in every room and don't be scared to buy two of things if you have an upstairs and a downstairs.
• label chargers/appliance plugs: whenever I buy a new applicance, I cut a piece of masking tape, stick it on the plug and write on the plug what appliance it relates to. It saves hunting for the right battery charger and also means when you dispose of it, you don't hang on to defunct plugs because you aren't sure what it was for.
• metal tape + magnets: stick a strip of metal tape on the inside of the undersink cupboard, get some magnetic hooks with carabiner snaps on them (act as handles) and use it to hold your rubber gloves flat against the door - easy to fine and space saving.

This is the one we have which is easy to use. Currently a good price too.

https://amzn.eu/d/9HaZkyE

I have a Dymo LetraTag

I got a Nimbot recently and like it a lot.

I do that. I date them too for interest of how long I take to use them. 18 months my last one lasted. Much more batch cooking going on now so won’t last as long.

WhatsApp group with DH for each DC medicines pinned whenever they get poorly is so helpful.

Any craft is either done on big roll of brown paper or A6 cards to turn into wrapping paper or gift cards.

Anglo doorstop charity collections booked every couple of weeks force me to continuously get rid of stuff - https://anglodoorstepcollections.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/share/prDSZoXaL2BxvfNq/?mibextid=UalRPS

I just saw this fitted sheet hack on Facebook, I wish I had known about it when I had babies