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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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

400 replies

shakeituntilyoumakeit · 23/01/2020 18:31

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!

OP posts:
JulietJanuary · 24/01/2020 20:17

I avoid using Amazon.

It makes my life easier and reduces the vans criss crossing the town.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 24/01/2020 20:18

Buy less stuff. Sell or chuck stuff out. Less to clean and keep tidy.

kateandme · 24/01/2020 21:07

wrap wipes round meat tongues to clean your blinds.
if you have one of those baby wipe plastic tube holders keep your plastic bgs in it.and use it to pull them out as you would the wipes.
keep a notepad by the phone in the kitchen.so all things people need gets added to it. "mum did you get..." was it on the list...."no" then know i didnt!
on the meals front aldi ready to cook kits are the business.all the meat then the veg and sachet of sauce or spice in the packet,so its a cheaper way of doing the packaged meal through your door stuff.they have some great ones.tonight we had chicken curry.which you get the chicken in marrinade,peppers,onions etc then the sauce packet.sorted.the casserole ones are gorgeous too.you just tak the packet put contents into dish,cover with foil and voila.
keep your big aldi big bags in the car.and some by the door.
keep the ice in your freeer in large empty ice cream container.so much easier than those fecking bags or trays.
make fruit smoothie ice cubes.for some reason the kids love having a bowl of them and so they are getting their fruits.

Isanameoptional · 24/01/2020 21:09

We have a WhatsApp group shopping list. We just add on anything we need when we realise we need more and then everyone has a copy of the shopping list when they happen to be at the shops. We put a row of dashes underneath it when we've been shopping and start a new one.

MorrisZapp · 24/01/2020 21:10

If like me you always need to blow your nose after a shower, use the knickers you've just taken off.

WINNING AT LIFE.

kateandme · 24/01/2020 21:10

one of those sets of cheap plastic drawers from wilkos etc under the stairs with the coats.and in each draw is hats in one,then scarves,then gloves.no more odd sets.no more flying gloves in every corner of the room.and easy to find.

kateandme · 24/01/2020 21:16

Isanameoptional oh my goodness you win the thread forever.we have bloody lists everywhere.and then things on one list that are forgotten because they arent the right one.we have taken to taking photos of the dam things and sending them to eacohter! but a whatapp group.a whatsapp group....yes.

Sparrowlegs248 · 24/01/2020 21:36

@Equanimitas

That must cost a fortune with rapidly growing children!

Not really! Most of it is from a supermarket. 2 sweatshirts for £4. Polo shirts less. He has 1 school logo sweatshirt and 1 logo polo shirt.

Ds2 is 18 months younger so it can also be grown into, and tbh, it's worth it not having to wash and iron it midweek! (To me anyway, I don't get home til 6/6.30 from work, straight into bath and bedtime, I can't be doing with washing drying and ironing after that!)

JulietJanuary · 24/01/2020 21:41

MorrisZapp, that gave me a laugh.

LIVING YOUR BEST LIFE!

Sparrowlegs248 · 24/01/2020 21:42

Oh and I think since starting in September, ds has managed to "rewear" 2 items of clothing. He comes home grubby. Sometimes filthy.

Supertrooper98 · 24/01/2020 21:49

I have what is probably a silly question about the overnight oats. All the things you said you add like grated fruit, carrot, seeds etc do you add them the night before or that morning? I assume morning or else fruit/veg wouldn't be nice? But maybe I'm wrong? I just don't know?

Anotherdayanothernight · 24/01/2020 21:50

Make very large portions of ragù, chilli etc and freeze portions for work, or dinner

Nishky · 24/01/2020 22:02

Don’t have a to do list - have a schedule- I put everything I need to do in my phone calendar - so l slot jobs in when I have time to do them eg. Need to send email- put it in calendar at 7am when I will be on the train

its2019ffs · 24/01/2020 22:05

@kateandme I know I probably read your post wrong but you use meat tongues to clean your blinds?

Barbararara · 24/01/2020 22:13

When travelling with dc, fold a full set of clothes including socks and pants into a roll and secure with an elastic band. Then just hand a set to each child. No faffing about trying to find the other sock or pulling out all the clothes. Works especially well for camping.

We travel a lot and over the years have fallen into the pattern of dad first, then dc and me bringing up the rear. Never lost a child in a train or a lift and dh has a better sense of direction than I have. We do it in crowded shopping centres and on outings too. (We probably look like a family of ducks though)

Take picture on your phone of where car is parked in airport

When washing towels do an extra rinse with a cup of vinegar. The towels will be softer and you won’t have to clean the washing machine as often.

Candles and dim lamps hide a lot of dirt Grin

When dc were little I just used the bigger size nappy and pulled the tabs tighter on the smaller child. Worked fine.

When buying clothes for 6mts to 3 years buy 2 or 3 sets of the same outfit rather than lots of different outfits. Makes it easier to find a top/bottom that matches when they get messy and they look less like urchins.

When feeding a tot on the run, without a bib or change of clothes, take off the outer layer so that the stains can be hidden and they look less like urchins. (Yes, there’s a theme to my tips)

Not time saving at all and really a bit bonkers but I bought dd dresses in primark in several sizes and also the smallest one I could find which I cut down and cobbled into a doll dress. We had several years of her matching her dolly’s outfit at a fraction of the cost of dolly and me.

When your dc use sticker books remove the negative space piece around the stickers and the stickers will be much easier for little fingers to remove.

Put sunblock on dc from behind them rather than from the front. I have no idea why, but it’s a game changer.

To get steroid tablet into dc, melt choc button on parchment paper in microwave (5secs), crush tablet between 2 teaspoons and carefully pour onto chocolate, then fold the paper in half so the chocolate folds around the crushed medicine. Pop into freezer for 2 minutes and then feed to child.

Slice ripe banana and freeze. Zap through a blender and you have a lovely creamy “ice cream” though it has to be eaten immediately. Dc are happy to have ice cream and mum is happy cow they’re eating fruit Smile

When freezing, spread things out on a tray, cover and flash freeze before bagging up. This way things won’t stick together and you can reach in and grab a few easily. I do this for all sorts, eg rashers which I only buy every three months or so.

whoopstheregomyinsides · 24/01/2020 22:22

Reading with interest. I’ve just put 3 bin liners in the bin and will put my newly washed bedding inside a pillow case mind you!

Sparrowlegs248 · 24/01/2020 22:37

Thought of another one useful for small children.

I use the dry notes pads in case of bedwets. But I double up, so both dc have a pad then sheet then pad then sheet. If one wets the bed, while the top sheet and pad off to leave a fresh sheet with pad under. Triple layer in the case of sick bugs.

Barbararara · 24/01/2020 22:38

Store duvet covers inside out as they’re easier to put back on (arms in, grab hold of corner of duvet, pull). They tend to go into the wash inside out anyway and I was turning them right way round to fold and then inside-out to put on, for years before I copped on.

Apileofballyhoo · 24/01/2020 22:41

I have mine inside out Barbara - but I also fasten them before I wash so smaller items can't get stuck in there and they don't get tangled up in themselves or with other stuff.

Apileofballyhoo · 24/01/2020 22:43

Also give things a good shake and hang them up straight, pulling out any creases, and fold as you take the dry things off.

Never iron.

colderthananeskimosknob · 24/01/2020 22:44

Packed lunches.
Each month the kids choose 1 cake/traybake each so I bake one of each, portion it, wrap it and freeze it.
Ditto sandwiches. Ham/cheese/paste/tuna mayo/houmous and olive/sweet chilli chicken/coronation chicken all freeze really well. I make a months worth of assorted sandwiches. Each sandwich cuts into 4 portions which then get wrapped and frozen into individual flavour bags.

Each evening the kids are responsible for sorting out their own packed lunch. 2 sandwiches, 1 tray bake, juice, fruit, yoghurt. Boxes then go in the fridge.

Washing.
I do a dark load every evening- usually put it on overnight so in the morning it gets chucked in the dryer when I'm sorting breakfasts. Dry by the time we leave the house.

Uniform- for my younger dc who needs a fresh set of uniform each day. Sunday evening I make up hangers for the week. Vest, t shirt, trousers and school jumper on the hanger. Socks and pants in a bag wrapped around. Makes getting dressed in the morning quicker as dc just has to grab their hanger and get dressed. No faffing about opening drawers.

Slowcooker freezer bags.
Freeze all ingredients for a meal including veg, meat, spices e.t.c into a freezer bag. In the morning stick contents of bag into slowcooker. Tea cooked when we get in after school and just needs accompaniments e.g rice prepared. Next weeks meals are meatballs and sauce, chicken curry, lentil soup and beef in beer stew.

tellmewhentheLangshiplandscoz · 24/01/2020 23:01

Morris I thought I was the only person on the planet who blows their nose after a shower!

I don't know if I could use my undies though Grin

dellacucina · 24/01/2020 23:54

A lot of these tips seem to involve copious amounts of plastic bags that get binned after one use. Are there other products that do the same job?

Sengah · 24/01/2020 23:58

I breastfed my kids and it is a good shortcut, if you can bear the misery of early weeks/months. Saves seriously on time, money, and washing up.

Can't believe there are people out there who make efforts to clean inside wheelie bins.

tunnocksreturns2019 · 24/01/2020 23:59

“wrap wipes round meat tongues to clean your blinds”

I must be misinterpreting this. Meat tongues?!