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What ‘Life Admin’ do you do and how much time do you spend?

46 replies

MooFroo · 05/05/2025 08:53

I first picked up this term here on Mumsnet and use it for anything Home and Personal related including things like car insurance, medical appointments, etc.

  • Car and home insurance is once a year
  • Dentist, Opticians etc are a couple of times a year

We are a family of 5 with older DC now so out of school and all the school and social admin, and thankfully no disabilities or health issues which would require dedicated time and attention.

Be interesting to hear what you life admin you do how long it takes you.

I’m not very organised so usually wait until I get an email to remind me to do something or something happens and then needs sorting, so if you have any tips on how you organise this, that’d be great too :)

OP posts:
Strawberryorangejuice · 05/05/2025 08:56

My husband typically does most money admin and car admin as I'm not a keen negotiator and he is.

I do all child admin - paying for clubs, trips, school dinners, doctors appointments, dentist appointments, personal banking. One child is neurodivergent so I spend a lot of time figuring out stuff for that and battling the EHCP process.

TeenToTwenties · 05/05/2025 09:00

I manage prescriptions for myself, my DD and both my parents.
For my parents it is difficult due to the cocktail of prescriptions they are both on, and the fact they are 2 hours away. I use photos and reminder alarms.
For myself and DD that is relatively straightforward except I get overwhelmed by other tasks occasionally and leave it to the wire.

For some things I write on a physical calendar eg 'pay holiday balance'

For some things I just remember eg 'do tax return'

So many things of 'life admin' are not the doing it is the remembering/knowing that the doing is needed. As I get older, and now with elderly parents I am finding it harder to remember things I used to so now need more lists.

RampantIvy · 05/05/2025 09:02

It depends on your circumstances.
In our case it is the same as @MooFroo .

DD is a post grad student so I will have to sort out admin for her rent later on this year as well, but that is all.

We have one car, breakdown and travel insurance is through our bank account and all household bills are paid by direct debit.

Loveduppenguin · 05/05/2025 09:05

Car insurance/tax/- once a year
Car NCT- every 2 years
Bloods appointment- every 6 months
Dentist check and clean- every 6months (for me and two dc (not all at the same time so one every 3months or so)
prescription reordering- every 3 months

I can’t think of anything else but I’m sure there’s more…

troppibambini6 · 05/05/2025 09:07

It’s probably easier if I say what I don’t do.
I don’t do
car insurance, house insurance, paying for dc activities and renewing their memberships.
I do everything else for a family of six and two dogs with health issues. I also help my mum with hospital appointments which are regular.

Dogaredabomb · 05/05/2025 09:09

I actually have to do quite a lot, maybe a couple of hours a couple of times a week. One of my adult dc is disabled so there are a lot of applications and appointments.

I'm extremely careful with filing and labelling all that paperwork in case something happens to me so that any file can be easily understood.

I keep everything house, car, all insurances up to date and filed correctly. In labelled folders 😁

I used to be an old fashioned PA and find the 'office management' and diary management second nature and weirdly quite fun.

Crunchymum · 05/05/2025 09:10

My youngest is disabled so my main time consuming admin are her appointments (she has regular planned admissions so I have to manage my work schedule and plan childcare for older DC as well as attend actual appointments) plus her DLA forms and EHCP.

Anyone that's ever filled out the DLA and EHCP forms know what life admin is 😥

Plus there daily medication I need to keep track of and ensure I reorder.

I also have a health condition myself which includes blood tests every 3 months, appointments every 4 months and several medications I need to stay on top of.

Plus middle DC has asthma so there are her meds as well.

Of course none of our medications need to be ordered at the same time.

Dogaredabomb · 05/05/2025 09:11

Anyone that's ever filled out the DLA and EHCP forms know what life admin is ain't that the truth!

Radra · 05/05/2025 09:14

A lot depends on the approach to things.

We review our bills roughly annually and look at alternatives - insurance in particular if you just auto renew, the premiums go up and up but if you get other quotes and negotiate can be a lot cheaper.

We also regularly change current accounts and savings accounts for better interest rates.

It's not essential but it saves a lot of money Vs "just stick everything on a direct debit and forget about it"

That said, for us it's not so much the regular stuff as I tend to find there is always something else.. at the moment, it's coming off our mortgage deal and remortgaging which involves a lot of paperwork. Next up is getting quotes to redo the bathroom.

And different people have different things going on - I have one child who has a health condition and while it isn't super serious, he has around 8 appointments a year with different clinics which involves keeping track of them, chasing sometimes, gathering the right test results for the appointment, booking time off work etc.

MooFroo · 05/05/2025 09:15

TeenToTwenties · 05/05/2025 09:00

I manage prescriptions for myself, my DD and both my parents.
For my parents it is difficult due to the cocktail of prescriptions they are both on, and the fact they are 2 hours away. I use photos and reminder alarms.
For myself and DD that is relatively straightforward except I get overwhelmed by other tasks occasionally and leave it to the wire.

For some things I write on a physical calendar eg 'pay holiday balance'

For some things I just remember eg 'do tax return'

So many things of 'life admin' are not the doing it is the remembering/knowing that the doing is needed. As I get older, and now with elderly parents I am finding it harder to remember things I used to so now need more lists.

So true! I think I spend more time thinking about things and what needs to be done than actually doing it

OP posts:
Bambamhoohoo · 05/05/2025 09:19

I think there are specific times in your life when this is just utterly overwhelming particularly if you’re adhd.

so for example, if you are single 25 working full time and have the evenings to visit the gym then do a few mins life admin a week it’s easy as. When you’re 65 and hugely experienced as well as not bringing up children and maybe working less it’s easy as.

40, primary school children, full time jobs, house to run, activities, commuting etc????

I brought a new car last year and the admin nearly finished me off for the few weeks it covered. It took me weeks to get over it too.

GingerLiberalFeminist · 05/05/2025 09:19

In addition to car and home insurance, I compare gas/electric, broadband, mobile phones.
Then I include in "life admin" doing cards and presents for all the family. Birthday, anniversary, Xmas. We have the only grandchild/niece/great niece so they all like a card from her! And yes I commit the MN sin of doing all his family too, but it's the decent thing to do!

Cornishmumofone · 05/05/2025 09:20

I see it as being the mental load of organising everything. I have one DD. I work full time, plus do some voluntary work and am studying. I also do 8/10 school drop offs/collections. This is complicated by being a 1-car family. I have the car on M, W, & F; the other days I have to cycle with DD which takes longer, requires different clothing in winter and does not allow me to carry so much. DD has extremely long hair which I have to brush and plait daily - that might seem trivial but takes 15 minutes. I also have to restyle for certain activities (put it in a bun for ballet; check it’s in a style that her bike helmet will go over etc).

I also take DD to dance classes and sort out the required clothes and shoes as well as making the payments when a bill for classes is sent. I take DD to cubs, and sew on all her badges. I ensure that DD takes the right clothes to school for an after school drama and dance class. I ensure our house is tidy and the music stand and instrument are set up for when DD’s music teacher arrives and also pay him. I walk DD to a weekly band practice (can’t cycle as the instrument is too large)… this takes 30 minutes each way whilst carrying a heavy instrument. Finally I take DD to swimming lessons and ensure that payments are made for classes and that she has the right kit.

i’m usually the one who receives communications from school about additional events which may require specific items or payments. This seems incessant in comparison to when I was at primary school and we’d have a single own clothes day requiring 50p to be brought in.

DH works F/T in an office an hour away, so although he leaves home at a similar time, he works 9-5 and doesn’t have to worry about logistics for DD. He drops her off on the way to work in the car. In comparison, on the days that I finish work at 3pm, I have 20 minutes to get to school (over 2 miles away, plus via busy roads). I find that stressful.

i acknowledge that much of this is by choice. I could just send DD to after school club every day and not give her enrichment opportunities but I want her to have the opportunities that I didn’t have.

Motherknowsrest · 05/05/2025 09:24

So much. Teen with an EHCP here. I work part time partly so I can keep on top of it.
Am literally sitting down now to ping a couple of emails off to school.

andtheworldrollson · 05/05/2025 09:26

Planning a menu for the week, planning what exercise can be done when
checking what household goods need replacing - loo roll , toothpaste etx
, what irregular household jobs need doing ( I don’t clean ovens or windows weekly )
leeping the calendar up to date so we don’t double book things
my current list included booking eye tests and medical reviews , getting wills and POA written and planning a short holiday and booking sone train tickets ( haven’t quite decided on time of travel )
rember library books due back this week

calender and list writing being my methods - notes on phone and pad by bed for when o remember stuff random

OnArainyNight · 05/05/2025 09:26

Paying bills
Moving money from various accounts to the other
Getting quotes for insurance, etc (We have 2 cars)
Emailing DC’s teachers
Booking clubs, paying clubs
Booking medical appointments

It really doesn’t take up much of my time. I can go weeks without having to do any of the above.

The physical bits are harder and more time consuming, especially if you work outside the home: gardening, car service, grocery shopping, swimming lessons, cooking, DIY, visiting elderly parents, meetings, uniforms, pets etc

stargirl1701 · 05/05/2025 09:27

Repeat prescriptions x3
Checking expiry dates on allergy meds
GP appointments x3
Dental appointments x2
Dental hospital appointments x1
Extra-curriculars (payment, running to/from)
Library cards and visits and books and emails
Summer Reading Challenge at library
Cars - maintenance/MOTs/servicing/insurance/fuel
House insurance
Investments
Joint account money transfers
Scout and Guide camps and trips
Printing badge evidence for Scouts and Guides
Checking helmets - size and expiry dates
Food order and delivery weekly
School emails
ASN paperwork and meetings for DD1
Passports and GHIC cards - checking dates
Checking DD1’s phone
Booking tickets for theatre/cinema/festivals
Booking events for DC
Paying for school lunches on ParentPay
Consent forms for school trips on ParentPay
Checking School Music Tuition App
Updating DC Yoto cards seasonally
Service wash for bulky items
Changing DC clothes seasonally
Ordering next size of DC clothes and shoes
Ordering school uniform

i’m sure there’s lots more!

FloatingSquirrel · 05/05/2025 09:31

When it comes to organising, everything goes into my phone calander. So eg clubs are written down with details each week, when anyone has the dentist or optician I write down either the next appointment or write "book optician" a few weeks before it's due again, spaced out payments for things like school trips I write the amount due the following month on the date I'm paid as a reminder to put it aside and then again on the date its due to be paid.
Even days out or things like "book for hippodrome" or "Book Mot by 'date'". It's hugely helpful.

Basically anything that I think "I need to do this soon" goes into the calander.

Wincher · 05/05/2025 09:35

For me it’s all the messages from two different schools on various different platforms, with Google forms to be filled in for trips/deadlines to make payments/one platform does auto instalment payments for trips and lunches, the other doesn’t. Sometimes Spaces on a trip go live on Sunday evening at 7, first come first served, so you have to set a reminder. £1 needed for a dress up day for something, PE kit needed on a random day, class WhatsApp groups with messages, etc etc. Then there’s out of school clubs and sports, yet more different platforms/payment methods/whatsapp groups/dates for matches/deposits for camps etc. It all just takes keeping on top of.

Of course then there is also insurance (car/home/travel), shopping around etc. Remembering to book car for its MOT. Booking dentist/eye tests though that’s easy compared to all the school and club stuff. Helping kids sort out logins to online banking/alexa/spotify/leisure centre.

Doing online shopping. Arranging the cleaner and making sure to have cash in. Booking someone to feed the cats while we go away. Finding a window cleaner. Booking a chimney sweep. Booking a boiler service.

This all pales in comparison to the life admin involved in buying and selling a house which we are embroiled in! It’s been relentless for months.

And then I feel guilty about how much time I spend on my phone - but nearly all this gets done on my phone!

unlimiteddilutingjuice · 05/05/2025 09:43

First Friday after payday:

I sit down with all the bills,
Work out which ones I can afford to pay,
Write a rough budget for the month
Put something in savings if there's anything left over
Go through all the emails, actioning stuff
Update my google calendar so I know what I'm doing every day

It takes a couple of hours, once a month.

I'm very disorganised by nature so its taken me a while to work out a system. Its working for me now.

Nannyfannybanny · 05/05/2025 09:43

It seems to be a lot,it takes up space,filing in the bedroom
Monthly bank statement arrives, checked,filed.. monthly dog flea treatment,planner on fridge,6 monthly check up for them . 6 monthly wormer.Savings accounts for grandkids,car insurance,MOT,servicing done by DH. Prescriptions have to be in writing and only ever 2 months supplied.. GP and consultant appointments. Dental appointments,pension paperwork, property insurance.. gas, electricity, water, solar, council tax, phone,sky, netflix arranging and paying for garden waste bin, and parking permit. I also have a ds doesn't live with us, rapid cycle bipolar and severe depression,I sort out his various appointments as well
There's something every week.
.
.

.

Nannyfannybanny · 05/05/2025 09:44

Oh, I forgot about opticians.

TheScentOfElonMusk · 05/05/2025 09:49

Booking kids and my sports classes every week via their associated apps. (For some reason, with this particular class you can’t book further than a week in advance - it’s infuriating.)

Topping up both kids school dinner’s accounts every week.

Topping up eldest’s zip card weekly.

Endless comms from the school about SATs, early starts, timetable changes, residential trips, non-school uniform days, etc.

Paying for after school clubs.

Car service in summer, MOT in winter, tax renewal in spring, and insurance renewal in winter.

Organising 3 x birthday parties per year.

Booking kids holiday clubs over school hols.

Researching and booking summer holiday.

Ordering pets flea and wormer every three months.

Organising pet sitter for weekends we’re away.

Paying cleaner.

Its endless.

Sunbline · 05/05/2025 09:57

We have a hard copy calendar and everything goes onto that as soon as it's sent ie school/club things we need to remember like non uniform days. Check it every Sunday as a reminder of what's coming up that week, don't really think of any of it until then. If its something that needs me or DH to take a day off then we chat about it that evening and decide who is best placed to do that particular one and they'll add it to their phone.

Do the other bits as soon as they come in ie book lunches for the whole term once the release email comes in in one go, pay subs as soon as the invoice comes through which takes a few mins but not having to have it take up brain storage is worth it. Insurance renewals etc just check the reminder email when it comes through and leave it to renew or have a quick check if elsewhere is cheaper. MoT I have reminders on and so just book it when that comes through a month before and straight away mark the date in my work calendar. Me and DH sort out our own cars. Bills are direct debit.

The key is being organised and if in a relationship having a partner who doesn't just leave it all to you because you're a woman.

Taytocrisps · 05/05/2025 10:51

Just one child here and she's a young adult, so I obviously have a lot less life admin. than someone with multiple DC and/or medical issues necessitating regular GP or hospital appointments.

My bills are all paid via direct debit, so mostly it's annual stuff like renewing house/car insurance.

I do up a monthly budget on an Excel spreadsheet, to keep track of which bill is due out and when. I've been doing it for years, so it's second nature to me now and only takes about 15 minutes each month. I do a quick check throughout the month, to make sure I'm on track.

I need to keep an eye on my home heating oil and order more before it runs out. If it runs out, I'll get an air lock in the system which will necessitate a visit from an engineer.

The house requires occasional maintenance. For example, I need to ring a plumber because my kitchen tap is dripping atm. It probably needs to be replaced, so I'll need to pick up a new tap. If I run into problems with an appliance, I have to do some research and decide if it's more economical to get it repaired or replaced. If it needs to be repaired, I need to find a repair guy and take time off work. If it needs to be replaced, I need to do some research in order to buy a new one (size, cost, energy efficiency rating etc.). And book leave to take delivery of the appliance.

The car NCT (our equivalent of the MOT) is due every two years. So I usually arrange a pre-NCT service and then I have to book the car in for the NCT itself. Occasionally I have to book the car into the garage if a problem arises.

I meal plan every week and do up a shopping list. I buy a lot of the same stuff every week, so that's easy. But I have to remember to put the one off stuff on my list. For example, I need to buy a drain unblocker, because one of my sinks is very slow to drain atm. Yesterday I had to buy a new yard brush. Seems like every week there's a one off purchase.

I have two cats, so that adds to my life admin. Vet check ups, remembering to do flea treatments and administer medication or eye drops etc. One cat had to have surgery to remove some teeth (rescue cat).

Christmas involves a lot of life admin. Buying presents for assorted family members and friends. Arranging nights out with family and friends. Buying extra food and drink for the festive season. Making up beds if I have guests staying. I could opt out of Christmas, I guess. But I don't think that would be fair on DD. And it's an opportunity to catch up on friends I might not see the rest of the year.

Holidays require a fair bit of admin. Researching flights and accommodation. Booking airport transfers. Arranging travel insurance. Applying for an EHIC card if I'm travelling within the EU or EEA. Booking my car into the airport car park. Checking passport expiry dates and applying for a new one if required.

There's no NHS in Ireland. If I incur medical expenses, I've to claim back the tax relief from Revenue.

I'm separated and that involved a lot of life admin. Assembling assorted documents and sending them to my bank and solicitor. Re-sending them when they lost them. Endless phone calls to the bank and the solicitor to remind them I exist try to get things moving.

Which reminds me, I need to remind DD to apply for her college grant. I can't apply on her behalf because DD is the student. Except, if she forgets to apply, it will be me who will have to foot the bill for her college fees.

It's hard to quantify life admin. because it's not a regular, weekly task. A quick phone call might take two minutes, but I've often spent an hour or two researching holiday accommodation and flights. As a pp said, I spend more time thinking about the things I need to do than actually doing them Smile.

There was a lot more life admin. when DD was small, because I had to keep an eye on her school calendar (days off, non uniform days necessitating payment, dress up days etc.) and her clubs (payment dates, dance class rehearsals and shows, Scouts events and days out etc.). Buying school books and uniforms for school and clubs.