To ask just how do you make it all work?? Life admin etc.

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Sort of inspired by the ‘perfect friend’ thread.

How do you keep on top of different aspects of your life and have time for it all? How do you make it work for you? Would really appreciate some constructive advice please!!

E.g. how do you keep on top of your job (if you work) as well as staying on top of housework and life admin? How do you even deal with life admin? Do you just make a massive to-do list of random bits and bobs and force yourself to stick to it and get through it?

...And how do you then make time for things like having a social life and doing things you enjoy?

I don’t have particularly high standards for anything except my relationships and my work. That makes life loads easier. Also I have a cleaner. That makes a huge difference. And my husband pulls his weight as much as me albeit on different things - I do laundry, organisation for kids/ family activities, holiday planning, tidying. He does garden, house diy, finances (all shared with me, no secrets just he cares more), washing up, bins. We share cooking and shopping. Oh and we get a Gousto box for our evening meals during the week. So much easier as you don’t have to think or plan, and we spend less on food as just need to buy for us and the kids at the weekend.

Oh and shared google calendar. Everything goes straight in there. Sometimes I look at my house and the piles of crap that accumulate and I think about hiring a skip. Then I think ‘fuck it, posh people don’t worry about this shit so why should i’. I definitely missed the houseproud gene.

I think it is about finding a balance.

I am just not the type to be up at 5am
cleaning or staying up until 3am to get stuff done. Fair play to those that do though.

Single mum of 2 primary DC.

Work part time (although government now pushing for me to work full time and get childcare - another debate! ) Do as much as possible during the week, be as organised as possible. When bills come in stick 'em on the 'to pay' pile. Try and save money - will always have unexpected things to pay for - accept 2nd hand clothes for the kids, shop in lidl or aldI, pound land etc. Give kids chores such as washing up and taking bins out, pairing up freshly washed socks and tidying up after themselves. I am not a freakin' maid! On the weekends they see their dad, make sure you go out, even if it's just over to a friends house. Accept help from friends and family. Accept that your house will never be a show home. Accept you will not always be able to give the kids what they want, but try to provide what they need. Don't compare yourself with others. Accept that you aren't perfect, but are doing your best.

For life admin I have come across a brilliant new startup in the UK, which automates life admin and helps you keep on top of it all. It's called BYLT (www.bringyourlifetogether.com). Basically you can store all of your documents on it electronically, it gives automatic reminders for renewals and other important dates and (although I haven't used this feature) it reads all the fine print to make sure you're not overpaying or paying for stuff you don't need!
Not 100% sure if it's helpful to anyone, but thought I'd share in case it is.