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

I try to remember to have a book or magazine with me, otherwise I just relax and listen to the radio.

A few minutes messing about on the internet is fun but I always carry a book around with me so if I'm waiting for something on the go I can read.

I sit and chill, people watching hopefully near to a coffee shop where I can enjoy a latte.

5 minutes alone - check my finances are in order and maybe eat a chocolatey treat or two!

1 hour - Spa treatment or hair cut I think..

Usually use my phone to read the news and then reply to emails and send some to people i've not had a chance to contact for a while. Can't do much else if it's unexpected as i wouldn't be prepared.

If i had a whole hour i'd probably go clothes shopping, my toddler and newborn mean trying on clothes and browsing aren't normally possible.

If I have a spare 5 mins id probably be in the car so I would chose a song to listen to depending on my mood and answer my texts

Id like to pop in a paper shop and grab a paper and a treat for the kids.

Every 5 minutes spare I get here and there, I either do a little tidy up or I crochet. Since Christmas, I've crocheted a king sized blanket, a baby blanket, and 3 single sized ones, about 30 scarves and am half way through an all cotton blanket I've invented a pattern for (while using up some time in a doctor's waiting room).

If I have an extra hour, it would now be used on the wii, 20 minutes aerobic exercises and then 20 minutes (a bit later on) on yoga stretches and later, when the family are home, 20 minutes with one/all of them doing something like wii bowling, golf of basketball. I've been off sick for a while and am just starting to get my strength back, so it's something I have to make time for.

I keep a half knitted sock in my glove box for when I get stuck waiting around. I listen to the radio and knit, or doodle, or make up limericks. I also like to learn poetry but that relies on my phone having signal.

If I only had five mins though I would just do my pelvic floor exercises.

Have a cup of coffee and read one of the saved supplements from a weekend paper, that I have piled up on the side and never have a chance to read.

I flick into my blackberry and start answering emails. Work-related emails. Like my male colleagues do.

I really object to the tone of this sponsored discussion. It is so utterly patronising. The tone is that I am a Mum therefore I must have oodles of spare time while I am waiting around for them.

It ain't so. It really really ain't so.

I am treasuring the memory of picketing Barclays in my student days. Y'know for being pro-Apartheid and all that.

Here Barclays Customers. Have a virtual leaflet from me.

I read, check my emails, call up my family who do not live in England, send a few text messages, catch up for a quick chat with friends..

If I have been with the kids, I probably need at least a couple of those 5 minutes to go for a wee in peace, I'll probably be desperate by then!

I use the odd 5 minutes to catch up on text messages with friends, go on Facebook and Mumsnet.

I'm a writer - so I spend any spare time pitching for work or researching current work.

If I am early for pick up I practise Spanish- I am trying to learn to support DS, and keep the book and CD in the car.

If someone is late arriving at my house I just thank god and carry on frantically tidying.

Checking balances or payment dates on credit cards or catalogues so that I don't get caught out with late payments!

With an extra hour a week, I might be able to find time to do some exercise...

For just a few minutes, I would mostly check my emails and browse facebook. If I have longer then I read a book on my phone via a Kindle app.

Choccy you should try Duolingo if you have a smartphone - it's a free app and is great! :)

A lot of posters have tread the title, it seems.

Usually I would make a phone call.

Having two children I find it hard to keep in touch with all my girly friends, so if I have a spare 5 mins I use it to text or call a couple of them to say hi and make a date to see them for a good catch up :)

When have unexpected free time, I often use it to organise my calendar, write texts, emails. I also update my to-do list!