To ask for your ultimate life hacks/time saving ideas/easiest recipes/money saving tips all in one go.

[shakeituntilyoumakeit]

I’ve been unwell and off work for a money and the combination of getting back on my feet and January and kids and school and washing and ALL OF THE THINGS to be a bit much at the moment and need some ideas on how to make life easier.

I’ve just started making overnight oats for everyone which is very cheap, very quick, vegan, a nice kids activity for them to learn to chop fruit and pick what they want and thought of the time I could have saved over the years. This combined with the fact it’s really healthy and it’s a nice activity to do with the kids made me want to reach out for hive mind collective wisdom.

What am I missing! I’m looking for your smuggest tips!

Home hair keratin straightening treatment on my shoulder length hair = no hair straighteners for three months. I don't even bother using a hair dryer most of the time. Just smooth some oil in once it's dry to stop any flyaway hairs. Not sure I could be bothered to do it at home if my hair was longer (it's meant I have been better at getting it trimmed going from once a yr to once every three months)

I luvs my robot hoover.

@KangapooandRoo Oooh that sounds fab. Do you mind me asking which brand you used?

@SirChing I’ve used this one www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00IRSMZR8/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_8?smid=A1DS7FQE60DIFC&psc=1here&tag=mumsnetforu03-21 PRO lasted ages, really cheap CON scalp did tingle & it stripped my dyed hair to a lovely orange colour (dyed it a week later & had no issues)

This one here
PRO didn’t make scalp tingle, my dyed hair remained the same colour CONS can’t wash for 72 hours after

& I use this to smooth once dry oil I have shoulder length hair & would guess there is enough product in both boxes to do 3 treatments.
Only put enough of the product on your hair to cover it & then comb out OR it will NEVER dry when you have to use the hair dryer.

Both products absolutely stink so dry your hair near a open window. I manage to do it by myself but it is tricky to keep of the scalp – hence the tingling. My hair has gone frizzy/ fluffy to straight very slight wave. Its been amazing, I can go swimming wash my hair at the pool & walk home with damp hair knowing I won’t look like a mad scarecrow by the time I get home, weekends away without hairdryer/straighters & just timesaving at home.

They recommend you use a sulphate free shampoo (Holland & Barratt have a selection) when you wash your hair in the months after.

@KangapooandRoo Ooh brilliant. Thank you.

@stairway,
Which brand do you have? Was it totally worth it?

Cassandrainthenight We have a eufy bought on sale. It was meant for in between hoovering, but in fact it’s so good I haven’t hoovered since November.

Thanks, stairway.

Also have an eufy and I’d say it’s the favourite member of our household!
Amazing how much it picks up even after I’ve already hoovered with a handheld Dyson!
I’m going to buy one for each floor, eventually!

I've read the whole thread and had a think, this is what I have to offer -

1. I use colornote app on my phone and have lots of post it's open for various lists. I like this one because you can choose different colours for different categories of notes, and do text or checklist - I like being able to tick things off Used the app to make a list while I was thinking what I could add to the thread

2. I used to take a photograph of the DC before we left the house when they were younger, so if they got lost I knew what they were wearing, and if I couldn't spot them in the playground etc I knew what colours to look out for. It was just routine, by the door, photo, coats on and let's go. I deleted them when we got home, except for the really nice ones

3. To organise clothes turn all of the hangers the wrong way round, as you use something turn the hanger the right way, after x amount of time go through all of the hangers that are still turned the wrong way and give most to charity shop, just saving things that are more dressy and you haven't had a dressy occasion in that time etc.

4. Separate bags for each of the DC activities, when the bag comes home after an activity its all washed and put straight back in to the bag so it's ready for next time. Easier than having one bag as less likely to forget one thing like goggles for swimming, and no rush of a morning as you can just pick up the right bag and know its all there

5. Tub in the fridge with snacks they can help themselves to, it saves me having to always get them something or them having to check with me first and means that they don't have something I had planned for a meal - fruit that was going to be part of breakfast, cheese that was going to be used in evening meal etc

6. DC are expected to do their fare share of household chores as we are a family and that means working as a team and helping each other, but there are extra jobs that they can do if they are bored and want to earn a bit of extra pocket money.

7. Photograph appointment letters, school letters, invitations etc on my phone as I get them so I always have the details to hand. Go through about once every 2/4 weeks and delete any that have passed

8. Keep a calendar by the door for school things, so it's easy to glance at before we leave and realise that they need to take £1 in today, it's swimming today for DD2, DD1 is going to a friends house after school etc (other Calendar in kitchen with everything else)

9. I spend 5 minutes doing admin when we get back from school while they get changed out of uniform, I add stuff to the calendar, fill in permission slips and put back in bag, reply to invitations and add to calendar - also make a note on phone to buy gift/check if I've got a suitable gift - etc

10. We do a 5 minute tidy, it's amazing how much you can get done when you know it's only going to be 5 minutes you have to do it for. Occasionally we'll do a 10 minute tidy and then we are rewarded with hot chocolate or ice cream, depending on weather, which gives motivation to do the extra 5 minutes

11. Spend time teaching DC to do things, it adds extra time/work to begin with but then they can take over a job.
    DD1 makes sure her activity stuff is washed and put back in bag herself now, DD2 puts it in washing machine and puts it back in bag once dry - I sort the detergent etc and from machine to dry, DS is getting used to bringing it to me/the washing machine when he gets home.

12. With DS, and with DDs when they were younger, I take/took a photograph of all of their artwork and creations and made a photobook every 6 months to a year (as they got older they made less so didn't need to do it as often) so that it takes up hardly any space, you don't feel bad for getting rid of the actual thing and DC doesn't get upset. I saved the best ones and they have a box each of books and originals. Free photo books app is good for this, you get a free book each month and just pay postage

13. Put a hook on the back of highchair for bibs to hang on

14. Puppy training pads are cheaper than the children's version for using in bed when they are still occasionally having accidents (well they were when I was using them, not sure if they still are)

15. When we go on holiday or out for the day I give them each a set amount of money, worked out by how much I would budget for extras. I keep hold of it in 3 separate purses. If they ask for an ice cream I offer them their purse, it means I don't have to say no all of the time and more often than not they decide they don't really want that piece of tat if they are spending their own money. I will still buy us all an ice cream if I would have anyway, but if its something they are asking for then the purse is offered. Any money left goes in their piggy banks so they don't feel they have to spend every penny. It's made holidays and days out better because I'm not saying no all of the time and they don't ask for stuff as often as they used to

Great thread and am working my way through it all! I've never tried freezing jacket potatoes - genius idea, thanks.

Of the entire thread, the only things I don't already do (where relevant to my life) was the bread/chicken kiev thing.

I am quite that some of this stuff is so new to people - it feels like basic common sense to me!

I cut up old towels and t shirts to make rags for anything (cleaning, dusting, wiping, as a serviette - anything and everything you might use kitchen roll for). They either get washed or binned according to how grotty.

I also put a damp bit of cloth in with lettuce in a sealed bag or box which keeps it crisp for weeks.

I use any old plastic bag (frozen veg, fresh fruit etc) to line my food waste caddy. My scheme doesn't use biodegradable bags but if yours does this won't work.

I buy my daily antihistamines in bulk online - costs me about a tenner for a year's supply.

I have taken to drinking all my tea out of a travel mug as it stays hot so much longer!

I put a tub of rice and salt in my old, crappy fans, no AC, car to absorb moisture and stop condensation inside. Works like a charm!

@BuzzShitbagBobbly how does the rice and salt trick work? I presume you need to leave it without a sealed lid but don't you end up with it all over your car if you brake suddenly?!

Delegate. DS6 loves hoovering with the cordless hoover and earns 20p.

Hope you'e auto enrolled him into the pension scheme

Have never worn paired socks... but then I'm a webel.. xxx

@mum2jakie " how does the rice and salt trick work? I presume you need to leave it without a sealed lid but don't you end up with it all over your car if you brake suddenly?!"

The salt absorbs the moisture and the rice does something to the salt.

I had mine in an open takeaway container in the footwell behind the driver door. It was absolutely fine driving/braking/cornering as it is a low flat container. So unless you are in the habit of full-on emergency stops all the time, should be fine.

It was all fine till I absent-mindedly put a bag there, caught the edge and flipped it

It's now got a lid with holes in it (knife though the lid and twisted)

When buying name labels for uniform if you have 2 DC get a label with one's initial at the star and the other ar the end. Then snip off the initial you dont need as you stick/ see on. It means you save money buying say 100.
ie for Ann and Brian Davey order
A Davey B

I agree with posters about making stick from chicken bones, jelly, skin etc. I chuck carrot. onion, maybe bit of swede, celery, peppercorns a bayleaf. I do this when Iv saved two or three bags of bones in the freezer.
I heard somewhere that the bones should be baked in the oven for a bit before boiling but iv never done this.

I use the large glass jars that candles come in for vases. Stick them in the freezer if there's a bit of wax left and it pops out really easily then just give it a good wash
Great for flowers with short stsmst

*sew on

Of the entire thread, the only things I don't already do (where relevant to my life) was the bread/chicken kiev thing.
What's the bread/chicken Kiev thing please?

I don't have anything to add to this apart from kitchen things:

(a) Instant Pot - it's got lots of functions including slow-cooking, but what we use it for is pressure cooking. You can brown all your ingredients in the pot using the saute function, which properly works as an electric hob, and then you switch to pressure cooking and get a stew that would normally take at least 2 hours to cook properly in the oven in under an hour. Also, if your hob dies you've got a usable alternative. I know some people swear by slow-cookers but the last thing I want to do before I leave for work in the morning is chop a load of evening meal ingredients so the pressure cooker is a life saver.

(b) One of those stick blenders you can also use as a food processor. I can't remember the name of my one but it's a cheaper version of a Bamix. I don't often get the big processor out these days because the stick blender is so much quicker and easier to tidy up afterwards.

I've not really followed MOMM's cleaning method, but her concept of being your future friend is brilliant. Every night I make sure I've got work clothes laid out and that everything I'll need for work (I'm not office based and visit clients in lots of different places) is already in my bag, laptop powerpack charged etc.

Oh, and @DisinterestedParty is absolutely spot on. The best hack I have is a husband who doesn't see housework as only my job.

Buy a slow cooker, and then freeze what you dont eat

@Notso "What's the bread/chicken Kiev thing please?"

Putting a slice of bread underneath a chicken kiev while baking to soak up all the garlic juice.

@BuzzShitbagBobbly not what I was imagining but thanks

This had dropped off my watched list, thanks to whoever suggested making a Shopping list WhatsApp chat with DH. Really useful!