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Original poster

organised mums - your tips please

89 replies

squirmyworm · 28/02/2004 15:19

I'm going back to work soon and will need to be really organised if I am to remain sane and continue to enjoy my time with ds.

any tips on how to cut down on the time I seem to spend doing those necessary but dull household/life tasks? I'm sure there are some corkers out there - help me out please!

OP posts:
zebra · 29/02/2004 13:17

Oh, well, that's NCT for you!!! I am just now thinking I might be able to afford to join, which can only contemplate now that DH is earning. Would only do it to meet people. We live in such an affluent area now compared to before, I am still in culture shock about all the changes.

Spacemonkey, I'm not really sure how tumble-drying (esp. if it's a gas-fired TD) compares to radiator drying, energy wise. Suspect the rads still better, but maybe not by a huge amount. But obviously, line-drying is best.

Dinny · 29/02/2004 13:18

:0 Spacemonkey!

Sorry, came across as a bit holier than thou - which I'm not, honestly! My mum was just really anti appliances (!!!) and has rubbed off on me. To my detriment!

hercules · 29/02/2004 13:18

I have to say when i go back to work i am having a cleaner. Already got one in mind.

spacemonkey · 29/02/2004 13:19

dinny

capecod · 29/02/2004 13:20

My cleaner has recently left andas Ima a sahm with two at various kinds of educational establishments I have decided to do my own and pocket the money.. I am LOVING it !

I love cleaning anyway and have drawn upa rota of what I am doing on each day - dependoing on the baby sleeping natch. Standards have risen at wallop towers and I am spendsing less time on Mn.

I also do voluntary work so have other demands on my time.(apart from three kids 5 and under). But it can be done.

My best tip is to have clening stuff hidden alla round the house do you can so a quik wipe around when the urge takes you and the kids are playing. l also do all washing ( i do three loads a day) int he morning or overnight and have it put away by bed time. Pla all your meals down to the last mouthful and shop accordingly,

Dinny · 29/02/2004 13:20

I never actually joined NCT - just classes. We live on edge of a very affluent area (Wimbledon) and it always amazes me how loaded people are!! Like it's the norm to have mat nurse for 6 months amongst mums at some toddler groups.

Dinny · 29/02/2004 13:22

Oooh, have just thought of cleaning tip. Buy those loo wipes - make it much easier than messing round with a cloth.

God, hope I haven't offended anyone who had a mat nurse for six months - I am just jealous!

capecod · 29/02/2004 13:24

no go on dinny!!

capecod · 29/02/2004 13:26

yes wipes all around the place at ours.

zebra · 29/02/2004 13:37

After DD was born I did mean to have a cleaner, tbh, but then I didn't like the idea of somebody else cleaning up after me & mine. Just gave met the creeps. I was raised with a live-in cleaner in the house, too, so you'd think I'be most amenable to the idea.

Beccarollover · 29/02/2004 13:47

Im another one who has found the joys of meal planning/shopping makes things MUCH easier - (thanks to cods help!!) Im on my second week now and feel so much more chilled about meals and much less wastage and smaller shopping bills

I also have rota stuck to the fridge - wash, dry and put away all clothes as soon as they are done so dont end up with chinese laundry to contend with.

Wipes all round too - clean bathroom while kids in bath - put clothes away while putting baby to bed - clear toys away while dd getting pjs on etc

Encourage kids to put away toy before getting another out

Never go into another room or upstairs empty handed - take stuff to put away with you.

capecod · 29/02/2004 13:51

Hey Br thanks. (to everyone else bR and i spent an hour o msn palnning her shopping list last week and it saved her load of time and effort..)

how much less did you spend?

Beccarollover · 29/02/2004 13:54

LOTS

I had been spending at least 75 pounds on a shop then usually had to go again during the week normally meaning another 40 or so and various trips to corner shop not including take aways because everything had gone off or I didnt have an ingredient I needed.

For the second week running I have spent less than 75 for whole weeks stuff INCLUDING Harveys nappies (2 packs so will last a while), wipes, Harveys formula (7 quid)!!!

Also as a result we are eating WAY better - lots more fruit and veg

I have encouraged another friend to try it and she rang earlier to say she has spent loads less than usual as she isnt filling her fridge with shite then finding she actually has nothing!

spacemonkey · 29/02/2004 13:55

more details please coddy and br!

Beccarollover · 29/02/2004 14:00

Get one piece of paper

On right hand side write

Monday - and decide what you will eat for tea
If for example it is going to be pasta with tomato and onion sauce then on the left side add the ingredients you will need that you dont already have - work your way down the list and sitck on fridge!

On right hand side you now have plan for meals and left hand side is the shopping list you need to buy.

Add to this any everyday stuff you need such as bread, milk, toiletries, stuff for lunches, breakfast cereals etc and your sorted!

What I have done also is build up a list in excel of ALL the meals I ever do (which wasnt many to begin with) and put next to it the ingredients so when Im doing the plan I can scan down the list and just pick from there what I will be doing.

spacemonkey · 29/02/2004 14:01

Thanks BR, I'm going to try it this week

JeniN · 29/02/2004 14:01

I get fed up running up and down stairs, and can't carry anything else while carrying dd, so I keep bin bags upstairs and empty the nappy bin etc into them, then chuck it down the stairs to deal with when I get down there. Ditto wrap the washing into a bundle and chuck down too. It's true the mess doesn't accumulate so much when we're not there in the day.

GeorginaA · 29/02/2004 14:08

I second the meal planning/spreadsheet of everything you normally eat approach - makes it SO much quicker. Add to that internet shopping where you can see "your usual" - that way you don't accidentally forget the general household stuff you need as well, and shopping is much less of a chore.

motherinferior · 29/02/2004 14:13

I'm afraid I too employ a cleaner and seriously think the money is well spent.

And plan mornings fanatically - their clothes, my clothes if I can face it (if not I know what I'm going to wear anyway) and most importantly the espresso machine ready loaded to switch on for the saving elixir.

Dinny · 29/02/2004 14:20

God, I really want a cleaner now. How much are they (ish)?

Issymum · 29/02/2004 14:28

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at OP's request

zebra · 29/02/2004 14:56

Where do you live, Dinny (costing cleaners...). I think they were only around £4-£5/hour where we used to live (East Midlands) and now more like £5-£6 here (Norwich). Some cleaners will only take minimum contrax, though; you have to promise them so many hours/week, and it may be more than you actually need, or they may only be willing to come 2x weekly when you want weekly, or weekly when you want 3x weekly, etc.!

I do some of the other trix people mentioned, but I can't imagine doing a spreadsheet for it all!!

twiglett · 29/02/2004 15:28

message withdrawn

capecod · 29/02/2004 16:25

I think thought that you cna manage without a cleaner if you want to obv if you organise yourself.

I amso glad that the menu planning is a sucess, br and Inoticed that all the decisions would have been impossible in a supermarket with two kids and so she planned much more effectively at home int he evening.

My cleaner was 3 hours at £6 an hour and I gave her 2 weeks paid hioliday a year

alibubbles · 29/02/2004 16:54

twiglett, that sounds pretty reasonable for London. In Herts I pay £8 an hour - to one of the local mums, she is good though. Agencies are advertising for staff at £7 an hour so presumably it would cost more than that, they don't harge by the hour here, they will only quote for a 'job' and they wanted £40 for my house once a week and that wa without all the extras like ironing and bed changing.