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 keep a box of small size toiletries in a cupboard and when I go away they are quick and easy to locate and pack

There are some great tips here! I have two to contribute:

1. I check my banking app every morning to see where things are at and check it against a spreadsheet I made with running totals and planned expenses. Saves so much stress and prevents ££ bank fees for insufficient funds.
2. I heard about this one on MN and it was super helpful. Before my ds started reception, I designated the top drawer in his little chest of drawers as 'uniform' and each night, I put exactly the clothes he will need to wear the next day (normal uniform or PE kit). This way, he knows where all of his clothes are and can put them on himself. It saves a lot of stress during busy mornings!

I'm stunned by how difficult some of your lives are ! Or even common sense 😅

I go away for work, leisure and family reasons at least three times a month so I keep a weekend bag prepacked with toiletries, hair basics, PJs, undies, socks/tights, phone/ laptop charger, slippers, folding umbrella, a pair of heavy jersey trousers rolled up, two t-shirt-style tops, a cardigan and a pair of trainers ready to grab at short notice. I add extra clothing and other items depending on what I need, but having all the basics preassembled saves having to hunt around for chargers and spare toothpaste etc before leaving. When I get back I wash all the weekend bag dirty clothing in the same wash, dry it and then repack it back in the bag for next time.

Following on from @Abeona's post I'm going to put a usb charging plug into my suitcase. I've forgotten this on so many occasions.

I've been using the Knock Knock "All Out Of..." pads for years. You stick them to the fridge (there's a magnetic strip on the pad) and tick items as you run out of them or get close.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Knock-Magnetic-Grocery-9-inches-Original/dp/1601061935/

I've just seen there's a keto version too.

I would also add a USB A to USB C adapter (or vice versa) as we’ve been caught out a few times with the wrong USB cord. They’re tiny, only a few cm long. Rental cars for example quite often come with USB C now.

I don't even unpack the travel toiletries bag! It just gets put in the drawer full! I have a toothbrush just for going away etc.

Much easier to just shove it in the case, than faffing about with everyday toiletries

I have been recently using the bedding set in pillow case parcel storage method (see that Stacey Solomon programme)

Maybe not useful for everyone but my tired baby brain needed a step to make (3 plus cot!) bed changes easier and it has helped- I just pull out a bundle and it's all together and matching.

I’ve done that for years!! Makes a big difference and Stacy didn’t invent it!

My robovac.
Literally I'm in love with this thing. It's a year now since it's part of my life and I could marry him (it's a he- robovac :) I even name it but its outing I suppose

Seriously it's amazing. The days I WFH I hear this thing going around the downstairs and my happiness is immense.

I've been using this for so long I didn't even think to post it.

This tip was in a magazine article by Anthea Turner must be twenty years ago

Bloody hell. It’s not a competition of “who said it first”. 🙄

thank you for posting, @Pourmeacupofhope . You might have helped someone 😊

I told a friend the info about babies’ vests being envelope necked so you can pull them down; changed my friend’s life! 😂

Related: if you pick up a pen that doesn't work after scribbling a few times - throw it away so you/others don't try to use it again!

I still don’t understand why that pillow case thing makes life any easier, we have only a few sets so I’m never delayed in finding anything. Maybe I’m not understanding the tip.

There was a really mind blowing thread a few years back where the woman had no dividers in her cutlery drawer, she just threw everything in together.
She said it changed her life.

Im still not over it.

I didn't discover that hack about babies vests until mine were gone beyond that stage.

I also do pillowcase hack, bf was amazed at this.

Another bedding related one, turn duvet cover inside out, reach in to the corners and pick up duvet, turn cover back right way around all the way up the duvet, much easier than trying to stuff duvet into cover normal way.

Everything is together rather than sheets in one place duvet covers another and pillow cases somewhere else. Also you don't need storage for them in one spot in the house, the set goes in top of wardrobe in each room, one on bed, one in wardrobe/wash

Haven't owned a TV in 10+ years, no tacky reality TV, no news and its accompanying misery, no ads. The house is filled with music, conversation and hobbies. Much happier environment.

It’s a real pain moving everything off the floor and removing wires etc though.

I eat a lot of cheese, but have arthritic hands and struggle with slicing and grating.
I grate a kg block using my food processor, put it in a few containers and refrigerate it.
I also have an old fashioned marble slab with a wire for cheese slicing.
The bedding in the pillowcase never worked for me, I'm not majorly fussy but prefer to stack my sets neatly rather than have lumpy pillowcases.

Related: if you pick up a pen that doesn't work after scribbling a few times - throw it away so you/others don't try to use it again!

How is this a tip? Who doesn't do this automatically? Everyone throws out pens that have run out.

Reminds me of that Pippa's Tips Twitter thread

Everybody SHOULD.

Unfortunately, some of us don't... 😳☹️

How is this a tip? Who doesn't do this automatically? Everyone throws out pens that have run out.

Not in my house. Nor in my workplace. Lost count of the number of times I've been mid presentation and found several dead whiteboard markers.

I've heard of many of the tips on this thread but don't feel the need to belittle the poster as I know it will be new to someone. I've picked up a couple of great tips which I doubt are new to everyone but they are to me.

Bought a bagel slicer

Well said! Some people are too quick to jump in, when they think you're "stating the bleeding obvious"! No, to some people it's not obvious! I've seen people scribble with a pen, it doesn't work, so they put it back and try another one?! What use is that?! You eventually end up with a pot full of non working pens! (I had a stationary obsession years ago... So having said that, I don't think I'll ever run out of pens in this house!!!) 🤣