Small quick/cheap things that make it easier

[TyneTeas]

I haven't seen a thread for a while where people share the small quick/cheap things that they have found make it easier for them

I really like threads like that as I always get some good ideas

A few to start

A magnetic white board on the fridge with pens that are also magnetic to note down eg meals for the week, reminders, things that need to go on shopping list, cooking times

Little motion activated rechargeable LED lights so when I walk to kitchen with hands full I can see what I am doing

Noting down what is in each drawer of freezer and keeping list up to date so I can plan meals with what I already have in, don't run out or overstock things and don't have to spend ages rummaging in all drawers for something I am not even sure if it is in there

Alexa lightbulbs so I can turn lights on/off with my hands full or from bed. Handy when I don’t want turn the big bedroom light on of DH has gone up bed first.

Bag of frozen pre chopped Mediterranean veg for a quick pasta sauce.

Batch cooking. Doesn't have to be complicated. Double up on whatever you're cooking and shove the second portion in the freezer for another day. Works great on spag bols, chillis, shepherd's pie (excluding the mash), curries, stews. As well as saving time it saves us money on our food shop.

Everyone in the house has their own laundry basket for clean clothes. So when stuff comes out the tumble drier/clothes horse/washing line it's folded up and goes straight in to their basket, then up to their room.

Meal plan. I'm really strict with this. I have a spreadsheet with a list of meals that everyone likes. I always check the freezer and cupboards to see what we have and put that on the plan before I start the shopping list. I also have a list of general items that we need regularly but won't be part of the meal plan, so snacks, cereal, milk, toilet roll, etc. I make the shopping list then cross reference it with what we already have to make sure we don't over buy. It's sounds like lots, but takes me about an hour a week and then an hour in the supermarket. We rarely have to do top shop between big shops.

My philosophy with budgeting is "every £ has a purpose". I have a high interest, easy access savings account and as soon as I'm paid money gets sent to it. I use it for car insurance, my hair, nails, clothes, emergency fund, etc. I then have a corresponding spreadsheet (are you sensing a theme here?) that tracks it all. It's a similar set up to the Monzo pots. I then have a separate savings account that I put in to monthly. Then the money I have left in my current account is the money I can be frivolous with for the month!

ETA: chopped frozen onions.

I write a menu and buy food that I need to cook said meals. I have a spreadsheet of meals that we like broken down into meat categories. I have a spreadsheet that tells me how much I should have in my account at any time, I added in line to the budget for incidental spending like prescriptions, dentist appointments etc. I have a to do list ready for when hubby wants to do some DIY

Electric chopper grinder for onions etc. game changer!

Notepad and pen by the fridge to list anything that runs out as soon as it runs out.

Meal planning. Online food delivery only for the food on the meal plan.

Labelling all the batch cooking leftovers for readymade freezer meals with what it is, when it was made and how many it'll serve (using masking tape as the label).

Setting the table the night before so it's ready for breakfast on busy school mornings.

Silicone single portion food freezing trays so I can freeze leftovers or batch cooking and just pop a frozen portion in some Tupperware in the morning to microwave for lunch, or have a single serving of something vegan for unplanned vegan guests, or be able to have the right amount of food for a quick freezer meal if some of the household aren't around for dinner.

Can you recommend a particular one?

Paper liners for the air fryer. Doesn’t completely stop it getting dirty but makes cleaning the drawer easier

Freezable labels (Lakeland sell them) so you can keep things organised in the freezer and don’t defrost bechamel sauce when you expected to find apple sauce (ahem).

A stash of plain brown paper bags with handles, useful for kids packed lunches, small gifts, etc

An anti-static duster on a long, bendy handle so it can reach all the nooks and crannies

Chopped onions and garlic. Frozen chili and vegetables. I hate chopping.

-Electric can opener
-Oxo peeler. I refuse to use any other and have even taken it on holidays 🤭
-Use a straw to poke the green stalk from a strawberry
-I often chop veg with a a meat cleaver. Its then very quick to scoop the lot up to put into the fry pan/bowl etc

I live with 2 teens.

everyone using the shopping list on Alexa has been a game changer. If it’s not in the list I don’t buy it. Everyone benefits from the list.

I don't know why my other pics didn't post, but any ways. This is the oxo peeler I love and similar to my meat cleaver.

A Ninja Crispi air fryer - no more struggling to get it clean as it all goes in the dishwasher and you can see the food cooking. And it's small enough to put away rather than leave on the counter. I've used it every day since my Mum gave it to me for Christmas!

A robot vacuum

Frozen chili/herbs/garlic

Making frozen concentrates veg stock cubes to add to my very fussy ASD DD6's dinners

M&S frozen chicken bone broth for a protein boost in DD's dinners for the same reason!

Meal planning with a realistic mix of quick fresh stuff and frozen, leaving Friday and Saturday more free for spontaneity. Always making sure I've got tinned stuff like sardines I can use to make a pasta sauce with

Stock'd frozen dinner cubes - pricey but works well on weeks where I work lates for DD's dinners after school

Making sure I get my food shop delivered Sunday morning - enough time to put it all away, batch cook for the week if needed. And it makes me get out of bed by 8 instead of following my instinct to lie in! Then I get out for a walk after as I'm trying to hit 10k steps a day to shift some of the weight I put on during chemo last year.

Yes to the LED lights, we have one at the top of the stairs and one just outside the bathroom so if someone is up early or needs the loo in the night they don't need the main light on (to avoid tripping over the cat)

The shopping list on the Google speaker and the freezer list (except OH doesn't use them and it infuriates me!)

Each bedding set stored inside a pillow case.

Berries from the garden, with mixed seeds and chai seeds, frozen in small pots. Just pop then into overnight oats the evening before or defrost in the microwave to add to a yogurt.

Habit tracking app, has helped me get into a routine for exercise and some key household chores.

I got some reusable silicone liners for the air fryer.

I don't use them for everything. Things like fries I put straight in, but they cut down the mess for eg sausages, things that have been marinated, just give liner a wipe and it goes in dishwasher

I got a cheap one at argos, is great for when you can't be bothered to get big blender out or not worth it for small amounts, small enough to stay where you can easily get to it and dismantles easily for dishwasher

https://www.argos.co.uk/product/3631641

1. I always prepare for the following morning on the night before. For example, if I am going into the office: Complete outfit laid out, pet food set up ready to go, work bag packed, lunch bag on the side waiting for the cold food to go in etc. I also ensure I have local radio on from the second I wake up in case there are any travel issues.

2. I always plan errands into one journey so I am not coming and going and faffing about. This includes being in the optimal order to minimise time and fuel too.

3. I don't "browse" as a hobby or activity, either online or in person. First off, its boring. Second, I'll end up wasting money on tat I don't want or need.

surely this picture is upside-down?

If the green bit had gone all the way through the strawberry like that, it wouldn't be looking so pristine and springy (and nor would the strawberry)

Due to DH work we always have in the house: Sharpie pens, different colours electrical tape, gaffer tape, cable ties. Practically anything can be attached mended or labelled.
Also a roll of clear parcel tape for packaging.

Which plug in LED lights do you all have? Thanks!

I think mine are these or similar

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Electight-Cordless-Magnetic-Rechargeable-Wardrobe-Cold-White/dp/B0BTD4618Z

Silicone liners for the airfryer. Can be bunged in the dishwasher.
Big laundry basket split into 3 - Whites, Darks, Colours.
Or 3 separate ones.
Net bags for socks and underwear. No lost socks ever again.
Early morning start and in winter with poor light it’s hard to differentiate between navy and black tights, or navy and black dresses which I wear a fair bit.
If I like it in black I will often buy it in navy too.
I put a small safety pin on the band of the black tights and / or use a blob of bright nail polish on the navy ones.
I put a blob of bright nail polish on the label on the navy dresses.

I have an Amazon wish list for books, and add to it when I’m reading reviews or see books I want to read. I check every day for the 99p kindle ones, and the more expensive ones I add to my reserve list on the library app.

I'm thinking of getting the Crispi but there's no temperature control. Do you find this a problem?

A small ceramic dish on the kitchen table where I put my car & work keys every time I come in. Game changer, they are always there when I need to leave.