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

1000 replies

listsandbudgets · 08/02/2024 12:19

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
OP posts:
Thread gallery
21
Oldie2 · 10/02/2024 21:22

I have read this with interest, thanks. Being an empty nester, there has been a bit more money for clothes, so I think I'll have enough till I die. It is an incentive to keep fit, eat well & not put on weight or get gout or something. However, only having a small house, the wardrobes get a bit full, so I pack summer & winter wardrobe things away each year. When I do this I also sort out things I didn't wear that year for review & re-work/move on to charity shop/ repair & check for any missed marks & stains that need cleaning. I also wipe the insides of shoes with surgical spirit & remove any dust & mud from soles before putting away, usually in the original box they came in. I try to totally avoid clothes that need a lot of ironing, or that pill or snag. I was lucky enough to get some bargain quality cashmere jumpers 15yrs ago from TKM & also Edinburgh Woollen Mill. I have thrashed them to death over many years & they don't pill or need much maintenance, just the occasional handwash in Ecover. They are always very warm, but not sweaty. The same for my Smedley merino ones bought from the factory shop. I have also, during covid, discovered the wonder of Zoflora linen fresh concentrated disinfectant for soaking delicate knickers before giving them a quick low temperature wash. It doesn't damage the fabric & say goodbye to any stains or chance of thrush etc. When I very occasionally wear stockings, I wear quality holdups. If one gets damaged, you can still use the other. I buy a big batch of kids grey school socks from Tesco (I'm a size 5) that are all the same, so no issues with pairing. I keep them in a seperate laundry bag & wash & rack dry them together, also after a Zoflora soak. This means less odd socks & protects against fungal nail infection. I think I might get one of those cheap knock down clothes rails, to help with wardrobe sorting & quickly getting ready for going away. I use John Freida hair shampoo & conditioner plus their wonderful Frizz Ease, which if you get busy & don't do your hair properly & get a matt, it totally makes it super quick to brush or comb out later. Before this I have had hairdressers resort to practically shaving my hair off because my workworn dreadlock wouldn't comb out. I take a Tesco multivitamins every day, in case I don't have time to eat properly & want to avoid getting really sick. I note these now also contain folic acid, as well as the all important in the winter vitamin D. Pre covid, I never used wipes, but I now keep some Dettol ones in the car. Apart from cleaning up after being out & about, they are excellent for generally wiping the interior down, far better than a lot of car products & they are kind to your hands, as is Fairy WU liquid, which will even remove black hoof oil from jodphurs. Other cheaper brands I've used were a waste of money. Lastly, don't have too many handbags. It can get very confusing & time consuming moving stuff in & out of them, & they take up quite a lot of space, but I have plenty of fold up hessian bags of various sizes for shopping, carrying extra stuff & the beach. All have great designs on them, & they seem to keep clean.

Oldie2 · 10/02/2024 21:23

I have read this with interest, thanks. Being an empty nester, there has been a bit more money for clothes, so I think I'll have enough till I die. It is an incentive to keep fit, eat well & not put on weight or get gout or something. However, only having a small house, the wardrobes get a bit full, so I pack summer & winter wardrobe things away each year. When I do this I also sort out things I didn't wear that year for review & re-work/move on to charity shop/ repair & check for any missed marks & stains that need cleaning. I also wipe the insides of shoes with surgical spirit & remove any dust & mud from soles before putting away, usually in the original box they came in. I try to totally avoid clothes that need a lot of ironing, or that pill or snag. I was lucky enough to get some bargain quality cashmere jumpers 15yrs ago from TKM & also Edinburgh Woollen Mill. I have thrashed them to death over many years & they don't pill or need much maintenance, just the occasional handwash in Ecover. They are always very warm, but not sweaty. The same for my Smedley merino ones bought from the factory shop. I have also, during covid, discovered the wonder of Zoflora linen fresh concentrated disinfectant for soaking delicate knickers before giving them a quick low temperature wash. It doesn't damage the fabric & say goodbye to any stains or chance of thrush etc. When I very occasionally wear stockings, I wear quality holdups. If one gets damaged, you can still use the other. I buy a big batch of kids grey school socks from Tesco (I'm a size 5) that are all the same, so no issues with pairing. I keep them in a seperate laundry bag & wash & rack dry them together, also after a Zoflora soak. This means less odd socks & protects against fungal nail infection. I think I might get one of those cheap knock down clothes rails, to help with wardrobe sorting & quickly getting ready for going away. I use John Freida hair shampoo & conditioner plus their wonderful Frizz Ease, which if you get busy & don't do your hair properly & get a matt, it totally makes it super quick to brush or comb out later. Before this I have had hairdressers resort to practically shaving my hair off because my workworn dreadlock wouldn't comb out. I take a Tesco multivitamins every day, in case I don't have time to eat properly & want to avoid getting really sick. I note these now also contain folic acid, as well as the all important in the winter vitamin D. Pre covid, I never used wipes, but I now keep some Dettol ones in the car. Apart from cleaning up after being out & about, they are excellent for generally wiping the interior down, far better than a lot of car products & they are kind to your hands, as is Fairy WU liquid, which will even remove black hoof oil from jodphurs. Other cheaper brands I've used were a waste of money. Lastly, don't have too many handbags. It can get very confusing & time consuming moving stuff in & out of them, & they take up quite a lot of space, but I have plenty of fold up hessian bags of various sizes for shopping, carrying extra stuff & the beach. All have great designs on them, & they seem to keep clean.

NutsandPuffs · 10/02/2024 21:41

Ponderingtosk · 08/02/2024 23:03

Batch cooking has really changed my life and I found a great way recently on MN for listing them on the freezer door. Manic week this week and we’ve had a batch cooked meal with some added green veg every night. I peel and chop parsnips and celeriac and freeze without blanching for a speedy start to roast dinners, I par boil them longer and bung the spuds in about half way through.

three dirty washing baskets, lights and whites, darks, and my dresses and tights in another. A small bin by my bed, take off clothes and empty pockets, turn right way, tights get turned right way and put into a zip net bag. empty hangers removed to a free standing clothes rail in back bedroom. I hang all my wet washing on a hanger (either on rail to dry indoors on hang on line outside so putting away when dry is really quick, I rarely iron and if I do I iron at the time it’s needed, no more horrendous iron piles).

but my total best ever purchase was a robo hoover that also mops. We have mainly tiles and wooden floors. I set it going and then go do other things, keep an eye on how it’s going via its app often whilst putting my feet up having a coffee and reading mn.

love my label maker, my fridge has a pull out shelf and I’ve got all the jars on it and I’ve labelled the lids of jams and sauces etc. I also labelled ALL my chargers and the ones not used lots live in a basket under my bed.

I change my toothbrush head on 1st of the month and water my succulents the same day.

inside my largest food cupboard I write a two week menu plan straight onto the the back of the door, it’s like a whiteboard, and I use whiteboard pens, cleans off perfectly with a bleach spray.

love Libby for books and magazines. Any paperbacks are given away as soon as I’ve read them.

our loft is next, so will be using lots of tips on this post for that huge job.

Hi! Lots of PP mention label makers (yourself included) - what type do you use/ would you recommend?
Thank you!

Fizzzfuf · 10/02/2024 21:47

I HATE cleaning the shower glass. I have a fillable dishwashing brush in my shower that is filled with whatever cleaning product I'm using to clean my shower tiles and glass. While I'm waiting for my conditioner to sit, I clean the glass and tiles.

I refill my babies nappy bag/going out bag as soon as I get in, so it's always ready to grab and go.

If there is something important I shouldn't forget to do the next day, I set my phone alarm with a note of what to do, to ring at various points the next day.

I keep my SPF on a shelf by the front door, so I always remember to put it on

twopencepetula · 10/02/2024 21:53

@NutsandPuffs

Lots of PP mention label makers (yourself included) - what type do you use/ would you recommend?

This has been answered up the thread and are easy to find.

  1. Make sure under your account talk settings you have under Threads for the section On threads show messages per page: set to ALL. This will display all of the messages for you on the thread on a single page.
  2. THEN use the find on page function and the term 'label maker' in your browser (usually under edit or tools menus) to scroll quickly to the answers and posts about label makers.
ferntwist · 10/02/2024 22:07

This is a brilliant thread but bloody hell the women of Mumsnet are working their asses off! I hope we’re all taking time to chill with a big glass of wine as well

marshallzumarubble · 10/02/2024 22:11

A massive roll of brown paper - super super cheap and recyclable. Wrap the present and then you can jazz it up with ribbon or bows, leave it plain or, for kids birthdays especially, write on it with a crayon 'To Cora, love from Thomas' - cheap, good for boys/girls/anyone, easy to recycle and no need for a gift bag or label!

marshallzumarubble · 10/02/2024 22:12

ferntwist · 10/02/2024 22:07

This is a brilliant thread but bloody hell the women of Mumsnet are working their asses off! I hope we’re all taking time to chill with a big glass of wine as well

Literally as we speak! Cheers!!

fromBodentoBandM · 10/02/2024 22:20

Stopped looking at news apps
I get the important news via other ways
I save a good 10-15 mins of scroll time by doing this and my mental health is much better for it

Any catalogues that come in I put straight in the recycling. I am sure there are lovely things in them but if I don't know what they are I can't want them.

bonzaitree · 10/02/2024 22:24

Can’t believe the mental load in some women where these convoluted “time savers” make their life easier.

Insane.

Londonbabyland · 10/02/2024 22:30

-superglue
-gaffer tape
-DIY toolbox, decent drill, electric loo snake
-upright metal stick on stand near the entrance for the receipts (very old school)
-recycle fabrics, charity bag
-rechargeable batteries
-5L soap, shampoo, dishwasher liquid, laundry liquid, vinegar, oil (also for skincare)
-rubber loo cleaner
-youtube for DIY jobs
-spotify (stories for kids, podcasts for adults) + headphones for kid during transport trips
-libby app for audio books
-library book orders
-kid pocket money
-multi-job kitchen combo (mincer, bread mixer, chopper, slicer, juicer etc all in one compact machine)
-sack of flour - baking simple buns/bread every few days
-pantry with every type of grain, lentils, beans and pasta + tins
-frozen food bought in bulk (from fish market, meat market, veg market etc)
-bulk packs of nuts, seeds, dried fruits
-bulk of dark chocolate
-comfortable well fitted jeans
-puff pastry
-pin reading light

seriouslynonames · 10/02/2024 22:41

Following so I can read these in a spare moment and see what I can do to make life easier. Thanks all!

Jeannie88 · 10/02/2024 22:43

Not got there yet! Have so many ideas but just fruition stage.

LimeAnkles · 10/02/2024 22:56

Closed all my social media accounts.
Stopped watching the news
Stopped endlessly scrolling through Netflix for something to watch. If I don't start watching something within 15mins of putting it on in, I turn it off and put the radio on.
Unsubscribed from digital newsletters etc
Stopped all paid subscriptions to stuff I wasn't using
Cleared out my wardrobe to create a capsule wardrobe of clothes I actually wear
Got rid of my duvet and use a top sheet plus quired comforter. No more fighting with a king-size duvet cover!
Bought smaller storage solutions. So I really had to decide what to keep and what to throw away. Went through every room to declutter.
Decided to let my hair live it's s best naturally curly life. Easy to manage. 2 -3 washes a week. Saves me the ordeal if styling every morning.

MoonWoman69 · 10/02/2024 22:59

StrawberryJellyBelly · 09/02/2024 13:49

Thank you, but I still don’t understand it.

You write the address on a piece of paper, secure it in the documents pocket and stick the pocket on the parcel! Waterproof!

Punxsatawnyphil · 10/02/2024 23:04

I have a Dymo 450 label maker from work. I think the replacement is Dymo 550, pricy but I love the functionality of different sizes labels and fonts etc.

I label everything, I'm a little bit obsessed. I hate my own handwriting. It's mainly used for envelopes and gift tags. I will also label folders, files, storage boxes, electrical cables, spice jars, basically anything that can be written on. I have some waterproof labels for brown glass bottles and shampoo/ conditioner/ shower gel/ handwash.

Pallisers · 10/02/2024 23:07

During lockdown I gave away all my mismatched tupperware style stuff and bought a matching set. So much easier.

The biggest one for me is I sorted out all my paperwork and did a list of where everything is. I went through every piece of paper in the house - every file, everything (I appreciate this may be digital for most people). Put like things with like, made files and did a file list with locations. Now if I need to find anything I just consult the list (in attic in box number 3 - or in basement in box number 10 at back). I hadn't realised how stressed I was not knowing where everything was. Now I go through our kitchen filing drawer at least every 3 months and sort it - archive some stuff to the basement/attic, shred others and relabel all the files so I know where all the current stuff is.

When my kids were young batch cooking saved me so much time. I made loads of dinners (curry/ragu/casseroles) every second sunday and froze them. I like cooking so I quite enjoyed the time in the kitchen on my own listening to the radio. I could make 10 dinners in a couple of hours.

Maxstress3 · 10/02/2024 23:08

Reduced my hours at work and loving the ease of life

Wherediditgoto · 10/02/2024 23:10

Punxsatawnyphil · 10/02/2024 23:04

I have a Dymo 450 label maker from work. I think the replacement is Dymo 550, pricy but I love the functionality of different sizes labels and fonts etc.

I label everything, I'm a little bit obsessed. I hate my own handwriting. It's mainly used for envelopes and gift tags. I will also label folders, files, storage boxes, electrical cables, spice jars, basically anything that can be written on. I have some waterproof labels for brown glass bottles and shampoo/ conditioner/ shower gel/ handwash.

Waterproof labels you say? Now those could be useful..

Hootamaryannie · 10/02/2024 23:18

I have three children (now older) and got them all to pick their own ‘special’ colour. They then had lunchboxes, water bottles, towels etc. in that colour. We could all see who had left their lunchbox behind, which made it easier to follow up and they never left their towels on the floor because there was no hiding from it. It worked a treat and they liked it too because they could see in an instant if they’d forgotten something.

Cuckoochanel80 · 10/02/2024 23:19

Best thing I ever did to make my life easier was delete social media accounts about 6 years ago in my early 30s,

Queenbeeme · 10/02/2024 23:28

barkymcbark · 10/02/2024 18:09

I bulk buy Christmas cards, birthday cards and cards with nothing on the inside

I also buy smellies, gift sets etc from boots in the sale just after Christmas, so when I need a gift for a friend or my dd needs something for her friends we’ve always got something in the house

I used to do the boots thing every year but didn't realise until I 'gifted' one to myself that their toiletry gift sets come with a voucher inside...with an expiry date of course 😳! Was so embarrassed to think everyone who ever received one from me must've thought I was a cheapskate for buying them a year (or more!) in advance!!
It's been a few years since I've done it as I don't really buy for many adults since having kids but I'd definitely recommend checking inside the packaging just in case 😉!

LouLou198 · 10/02/2024 23:30

Between Christmas and new year I buy all the birthday cards I need for the year, along with a few new baby, new home and sympathy cards.
I write all the birthday ones, add the date to the back of the envelope and store in date order in a box.
No more last minute trips to the card shop!
I always have a roll of silver wrapping paper in too, as it will do for any occasion.

Badchickenpecks · 10/02/2024 23:49

Bought loads of material/jute Christmas gift bags in various sizes. Makes stockings a doddle. Just make sure you collect them back in again.

Chickdaft · 10/02/2024 23:54

Decluttering big time this year. Selling, charity or dump. Systematically going through a couple of cupboards and drawers at a time. I find the best way is to empty them all in a pile on the floor and it took 15 mins to realise what I needed, rest was either dumped or moved on. Feels ruthless at the time but if in the right mood, it’s amazing what you can shift and or rearrange to keep.
freezer……I found that batch freezing didn’t work as never labled so a plastic tub which looked a bit orange could be chilli, bolognese, stew, tomato sauce etc was to random. Will declutter that to hold chicken and various meats as I wasn’t organised enough despite good intentions at the time.
Have cleared loads since January and ongoing. It’s so easy to shove stuff into a drawer or cupboard for later or just incase. That was me to a T.
Have at least 2 of what Michael macintyre called man drawers, so they are next!

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