What shortcuts do you take daily to make your life easier?

[TwinklyGoldReader]

Just that really, what hacks/short cuts do you use daily to make your life easier? We have a newborn and toddler at home, so even the smallest tricks are welcome!

Use voice typing for all my messages and emails, saves so much time!

Yes to prepping things the night before, cleaning as you go (really minimal effort), and putting things in their defined space.

But the biggest one for me (live alone) is cook/meal only 2-3 times a week. It's a game changer.

I cooked from scratch pretty much every day for over 20 years. Now I cook at weekends and maybe once in the week. It doesn't bother me in the slightest eating the same dish 2-3 days in a row. It's cheaper and saves sooooo much time!

Have a weekly clean/shop routine.
Keep house tidy so not losing things
Delegate jobs.
Write everything down on a calendar.

I never pair socks when I put them away. I just have 3 little ikea drawer inserts and shove them in with all the others the same colour.

When I see something that would be perfect for “Annie” but it isn’t her birthday (Christmas, other occasion) I buy it anyway. She’ll either get receive an early birthday present or I’ll just store it in a drawer.

I buy precut, frozen veg.

I always cook more than necessary and freeze some portions or eat the leftovers over the next few days (might take them to lunch, have them for dinner twice in a row etc…)

Wash baby socks in a lingerie bag. No hunting down lost tiny socks. Tumble dry them in the bag too. So much easier.

Definitely cook double or triple portions. We usually eat the same thing two nights in a row. Third portion goes into the freezer for a non-cooking night. Just thaw and add pasta, rice, rice noodles or a bagged salad.

Someone on MN once posted on one of these threads to allow yourself to run the dishwasher even if it's not completely full. Absolute game changer for me!

I have a spray bottle with diluted washing liquid and a washing up brush in the shower. Spray glass and walls with washing up liquid (I don’t want to shower with chemicals and if it’s good enough to eat my food off of it’s good enough to clean with) give a quick scrub then squeegee it all down when finished. Takes an extra few minutes and leaves glass sparkling

Food delivery same slot every week. We have a delivery pass and the cost of that is less than £1 a week, all delivered straight to the front door. When I was heavily pregnant they even carried it into the kitchen and unloaded it all!

If I'm in going into the office, either breakfast or lunch must be made the night before.

I get the cups, tea bag, coffee, teaspoons out the night before. Fill the kettle which is on a smart plug to boil at same time every morning. Then the water is hot as soon as I head downstairs and I don’t have to wait for the kettle to boil.

And frozen fruit for toddler DC's pudding. Ready chopped, can get out as much or little as we need. Doesn't go off/not yet ripe enough.

I’ve found we accumulate a lot of clutter with kids.

I’ve spent bloody ages sorting things to donate to charity/baby banks, and our local freecycle group. Tbh it’s a pita. With the freecycle group i have to wait to see if anyone wants it and then arrange a collection time.

So sometimes, even though not environmentally friendly, i just go round with a bin liner and chuck stuff. Easier.

I also give my kids’ clothes to nursery as spares which they appreciate. Easier than a drive out to baby bank, sorting into sizes or arranging collection on freecycle.

I hate washing up so much if there are four or five items in the sink on side - I take that many out if the clean dishwasher and load them in and re run again
saves loads time unloading whole thing some mornings and sooo worth it !!

same - anything to avoid a faff
I bin loads or leave on lawn out front with a ‘free’ sign’

When I had newborns and toddlers my biggest shortcuts were buying frozen Cook meals and filling my freezer with them & also having a cleaner come once a week.

These days - buying a robot vacuum, dishwasher & clothes steamer so I spend less time on chores. And also letting my standards slip slightly when it comes to housework!

prepping breakfast/lunch/bags/uniforms the night before and batch cooking have already been mentioned but I do this religiously too.

frozen veg
make enough food for two meals
tumble dryer
dishwasher
airfryer is so much quicker than an oven
dont iron anything
online grocery delivery every week
online shopping as much as possible
internet banking
postal voting

Preparation
Do it now, not in a minute
Pick it up and put it away

Always turn dishwasher on every evening even if it’s not full. It’s just easier to empty each morning and have everything clean to use.

have a drawer with clothes kids can grow into. Means a) you can buy items in sale b) no rush or bulk spend money if they suddenly seem to outgrow everything at once.

Toiletries , loo roll, cat food, garden basics buy online and somewhere you can re order quickly

Always keep 1 weekend day free from activities or major plans. Means you can then do something last minute, or opt to relax at home or do gardening without rushing or being overscheduled.

Sunday prep - week of breakfasts (yoghurt +extras), week of lunches (I used to do the kids sandwiches and freeze them- works for most ingredients), big salad and roasted veg tin or a load of cooked chicken. Can then mix and match for a few meals

I used to put my bread in the toaster the night before, so all I needed to do in the morning was push it down.

When I had toddler and newborn I food shopped in M&S to get nicer convenience foods: pre marinaded lamb chops, pre-breaded veal, those pots of new potatoes you stick in the microwave, ready made mash/rosti/colcannon, those meal deals of stir fry where the sauce comes with veg noodle and meat/fish. I also bought the dine in for 2 for £10 which I presume is more expensive now.

I like to cook from scratch and batch cook but with young children in tow it made life easier for a year or so.

I also got a cleaner and gardener.

I’ve been known to run it with 4 mugs and a plate lol
Usually goes on every night around half full
x

Tumble dry everything and only half fill so comes out ‘ironed’

Get multiples of the kitchen items you use most (for us it is forks, bowls, small plates) so that you dont run out and can run the dishwasher less often.

Online supermarket shop. Lifesaver