Early for pickup? Friend running late? Let Barclays know how you make the most of an unexpected 5 minutes downtime out of the house, for your chance to win a £200 John Lewis voucher - NOW CLOSED

[AnnMumsnet]

Barclays say "It's happened to all of us - you're out and about and you find yourself with some unexpected free time on your hands - you're a few minutes early for pickup, or one of the kids is bravely allowing a hairdresser to trim their locks."

"We're putting together the ultimate list of tips to maximise lost moments throughout the day, to celebrate two ingenious apps from Barclays: the Barclays Mobile Banking app, which lets you manage your finances when you are out and about; and Barclays Pingit, an app that lets you send and receive money using just a mobile number."

So they are asking, what do you do with that time? How do you make the most of the moments and once they have all added up, what would you spend an extra hour on a week?

Let us know your thoughts on this thread - everyone who adds a comment before the closing date of 15th July 2013 will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £200 John Lewis voucher. Please note your anonymous submitted tips may well be used on the Barclays pages on MN as well as possibly elsewhere.

Thanks
MNHQ

[bluebump]

I find it really hard to do nothing despite being quite lazy so every day when I go to collect my DS from school I go 5 mins early and sit and read one of the magazines that my sister passes my way (I keep a stash in the car). If I stay at home I tend to potter about tidying and cleaning...what a saddo!

When I have an hour spare without my DS I most likely will have a big bath and lay in there reading a book or watching something on iplayer.

[sharond101]

I file my nails, be mindful and declutter my mobile phone, oh and of course people watch.

[GeekInThePink]

Mumsnetting and a cheeky bit of Pinterest. I will if I'm feeling brave, will check my bank balance on the app on my phone too. Only on brave days mind!

[FunnysInLaJardin]

I people watch and snurk, I also make lists of shopping and things to do. But I mostly people watch. Anyone will do!

[FunnysInLaJardin]

oh god and an extra hour could also be spent people watching or walking or cooking

[gloriafloria]

Be still.... like vegetables. Seriously, just sitting rocking clearing my mind and making the most of the silence. Definitely not watching bigbrother :) no never do that me.

[pinkponk]

It's got to be a good cup of coffee & a magazine for me!

[tinypumpkin]

Catch up on email . texts and work stuff (boring!) I love the idea of eating some illicit though, that was a genius idea :) An extra hour, I truly don't know. I would love to ready a magazine in the bath I think.

[BonzoDooDah]

mess about on my phone mostly. But now I've delete that parasite Candy Crush I'm ing to try reading more.

[stealthsquiggle]

MN. Email (since I do, actually have a job!). Read the news. If I am early for a meeting and can find somewhere suitable to park, I will catnap I can sleep anywhere, anytime, me

Can't say I pay bills although I might shop (online).

[defineme]

Read
organize diary
Daydream about winning the lottery


1 hour= bath and book

[CointreauVersial]

A spare 5 minutes while out and about is rare indeed, but I'd probably indulge in a quick game of Candy Crush on my phone. Or look at Twitter. Or possibly Mumsnet...?

[Kleptronic]

Stealth iron - sneak up on one thing and pounce, then run away - it's the only way it gets done, standing there for hours is bloody soul destroying.
Micro tidy - bag up parking reciepts/fruit shoot bottles/sweet wrappers from the car.
Fridge furtling - chuck out something woebegone.
Dog dandyism - give the canine a swift brush down.
Floor de-furring - see above, long handled brush and dust pan.
Plant husbandry - snip and spray.
Bag de-clattering - remove receipts, to-do lists, mini statements and assorted child gifts of feathers, stones, glass, pottery and shells.

Actually now I think about it I do everything in 5 minute bursts on route to something else, the only way to deal with the mind-numbing tedium of everyday existence is to chop the bastard up into chewable chunks.

[blue22]

With a spare 5 mins I would check my emails, or read a newspaper.
With a whole spare hour I'd try to get some online shopping done - supermarket and amazon stuff, or have a long hot bath - and paint my toenails!

[LucyWildelovesGru]

I usually do an online shop. I can do the basics plus any bits on my list in five minutes.

I'd like to sit with my eyes closed listening to music, but then the children would starve...

[prakattack]

I'm the same as plenty of previous posters - I've taken to carrying my Kindle everywhere and whenever one of these moments occurs, I do some reading. I don't get the chance anywhere near as much as pre-kids.

If I had a whole hour a week though, I'd indulge in an uninterrupted bubble bath (with my Kindle!)

[Gracelo]

It actually doesn't happen much to me at all. If I had 5 minutes I'd probably just sit down, close my eyes and enjoy that nobody is talking at me. 10 min, I'd read or if I am at home I potter around in the garden. If I had an entire hour I'd go for a walk and relish being able to walk fast while hanging on to my own thoughts.

[culturemulcher]

I try to remember to put the book I'm reading into my bag for moments like these, but if I've forgotten, it's a quick catch up on emails, Mumsnet, Twitter and Facebook.

I'd spend an extra hour reading, given the chance.

[HappyJoyful]

If a friend is running late, I simply enjoy the silence sip my wine and people watch!

[FOMOphobic]

It's all on my phone - candycrush, check emails, check news, send texts, MN.

[flamingtoaster]

When picking up the children I always had some reading in the car/paperwork that needed sorting out/knitting or mending to fill any odd five minute delays. In the house a spare five minutes is used on tidying - it's amazing how much you can get done in five minutes. A whole hour I would sit in the garden (weather permitting) and relax and listen to the birdsong. In winter I'd toboggan if it snowed.

[PiHigh]

Usually check email, facebook, mumsnet, a couple of other forums. If it's convenient, studying. Sometimes it's just nice to enjoy the quiet.