Going to be working full-time , anyone got any good life hacks ?

[frumpet]

Have ordered more uniform so don't need to wash as often , what else do I need to think of ? or what can make it easier ? Seriously considering a cleaner

Glad you said it - if you can afford it, do it! Dishwasher helps me loads, and tumble drier.

The main thing, really, is that you don't assume its all on you - if you and dh are working full time, make sure you're not doing it all.

Meal plan and shop online.

Either slow cooker or George forman grill for meat for meals. meat is slow to cook when you and kids are hungry. Apols if you are veggie.

I batch prepared slow cooker bags for the freezer last winter loads of blogs of tips and recipes about. So you spends a morning chopping veg and chicken and browning mince then put in zipllock bags with seasoning (say peppers onion chicken and sauce for fajitas) and freeze. defrost then stick in slow cooker on timer.

Streamline your morning routine - make sure it's as efficient as possible.
Also, use it as an opportunity to get everyone in your family helping with the smooth running of the household. (Eg Little ones can be responsible for setting or clearing the table.) Make sure that your partner (if you have one) is on board and doing their bit!

I have a daily routine that means the dishwasher goes on every night, as does the washing machine. They both go on after dinner - little and often means it's easier to keep on top of. I then try to peg the wash out the next morning before work.

Currently our childminder gives the children breakfast lunch and dinner but DD is starting at a school with no breakfast club in a couple of weeks so not sure how that's going to pan out!!

One other thing that really worked for us was to split drop off and pick up. DH does drop off while I go in early, and then leave early for pick up. We do flex as and when DH has an early meeting or I have a late one, but that predictability has really helped us and our colleagues.

Think it is going to come more of a shock to DH than to me , I have worked part-time for a long time so all chores have fallen to me !

Will look at redistributing the chores amongst other family members . Already have a dishwasher and tumble dryer .

Never tried online shopping before , any that are really good or to be avoided ?

Put alarms on your phone and have s timetable on the wall ie 8am - breakfast; 8.25 - brush teeth. It means you don't have to keep an eye on the clock.

Get your bag/outfit ready the night before and charge your phone overnight.

If your kids have packed lunches, batch make them on Sunday and put them in the freezer.

Before and after school is going to be the difficult issue , I need to work out who is going to pick up , a neighbour could do it , but I don't want to take the piss so would look at paying her or there is a private nursery after school club , which is quite expensive , I think between £10 and £12 for the session . My parents could also help out with before and after school , although I would prefer to use their services in the school holidays .

I work 30 hours but over 5 days so never have any time to do stuff. I have a cleaner for 3 hours a week, just knowing that the house is clean is a big deal even if I have to run the mop round or hoover on other days as well.

I have my shopping delivered on a friday evening, i try to have the same slot every week and meal plan so I know what to buy.
I wash a load of clothes every day and hang them on the pulley airer or on the line. I do my ironing on a sunday afternoon listening to the radio after sunday lunch.

I also have a blackboard in the kitchen with squares for each day so I can write down the week's itinerary and shuffle around meals if I need to.

DH walks the dog in the morning and after dinner most days, he also loads the dishwasher every night and cleans the kitchen. We have a shared calendar between our iPhones and the computer so everything we add, automatically pings to the other one which is handy when I need him to remember to collect DD from something or if I am going to be away.

As mentioned above, shop online, I used to just do it at lunchtime for delivery the next evening, it helped with meal planning and it saved me so much time.

I also used to get my clothes out for the week every Sunday, down to underwear/shoes/accessories. Saves thinking about it in the morning or even the night before.

Cleaner makes a massive difference if that's possible at all. Your two days off a week are too precious to waste cleaning and going round a supermarket.

Check if the before/after school club do meals. If they do breakfast and a good, hot dinner it may well be worth it. Ours does both, makes evening a lot easier if you don't have to get dinner ready immediately.

You do need to have your childcare absolutely clear and sorted and from this point of view a childminder or school after school club makes it simpler, as you don't have to think every day about who is picking up and who is collecting. Unfortunately childcare is a big expense (£10-12 doesn't sound too bad for after school club!!)

Lack of sexism at home is the key for most of us to this.
My children's father was the one thinking about and doing 100% of thw ashing for example. If you do not even to think about a task things are easier.

Don't get lumbered with all the drops offs and collections - therein lies sexist relationships and unequal marriage. Do it all fairly.