advice for a newbie

peppermint

firstly hi everyone.. i've posted on a couple of threads before but i thought now was the time to ask for a bit of advice.

i recently moved into a flat with my bf after living with in a houseshare at uni.
we both work, i leave the house at 6.45am and get back around 7.30, and he is out at 8.30 til 5.30.
i seem to be spending most weeknights cooking/cleaning.
and my weekends cleaning and tidying!

i love cooking and have been reading advice here about batch cooking, however we have a ridiculously tiny freezer and no money to buy a bigger one (and we're renting) but plenty of fridge space.
also i follow the weightwatchers plan so that means meals have to be thought of beforehand.

does anyone have any advice on how to make the most of my time?
i hate the feeling of living in a dirty/untidy flat but i can't possibly clean everything everyday

sianb84

sorry no practical advice right now other than if you are after a bigger freezer or an extra one you could try freecycle. My local one often has freezers on offer.

You don't mention what your Boynfriend does around the flat. Maybe you could come up with a rota type thing where the cleaning etc is shared esp. as he leaves after you and arrives home before you.

Also maybe invest in a slow cooker if you don't already have one. You boyfriend could easily throw a few things in before he leaves in the morning and switch it on. Or one of you could cut everything the night before and put it in the fridge so in the morning it is just a case of getting the things out the fridge and turning it on.

belfastgirl23

It's worth looking at the flylady thread. I am not a fully fledged flylady but I am a big fan of her fling boogies and morning and nighttime routines. I've also got a lot better about picking up after myself and about taking the 2 mins to surface clean the bathroom after use etc.

But if it's only a smallish flat there are other issues:

first is do you have enough storage space or do you have a place for everything? As someone who has lived recently in both a smallish flat and a biggish house, it is much easier to be tidy in the house since there is ample room for everything. Think about storage solutions - shelves, underbed storage etc. Also be ruthless and get rid of stuff you don't need (or use parents attic etc if necessary).

Second is do you do everything? If you have only recently moved in together beware!!! You are setting up a pattern potentially for the rest of your life here. If he spends more time in the house then he probably should be doing the lions share of the housework. Unlikely I know but he should def be doing some of it. It is a hard thing to negotiate in the early days but just think what life would be like if for example you had a couple of small kids as well. You owe it to yourself to try to get it right now.

Finally on the cooking front, I usually cook enough on Sunday to last through till Wednesday dinnertime and just keep in the fridge. As long as you cool things properly this should be okay. I don't eat meat though so maybe others could advise on this but veggie lasagne etc def keeps for three days. In fact I think it would prob be ok for longer if I had the nerve to try it.

Good luck!

Bambywamby

My biggest time savers are -

Popping pasta into a pan of cold water before you go to work, when you come in pasta will be rehydrated and only take 3 minutes to cook.

Making a bolognaise style sauce can last for three days in the fridge, have bolognaise one day, use it ontop of baked potatoes the next and on the last day add some chilli powder and making a chilli. (if you use turkey mince its low fat and cheap too)

Make a big pan of stew/soup that will keep in the fridge for a few days and takes only a few mins to reheat up.

And eggs make a nice quick meal, make some omelettes with cheese and ham and serve with a salad.

Get O/H to help you. the O/P was spot on when suggesting you make a rota.

Give yourself one room an evening to tidy/dust/clean down and spend no more than 20 minutes on it.

Ask O/H to vac everyday that could be one of "his" chores.

Purchase a slow cooker and toastie maker. The toastie maker makes snacks and light meals in minutes and the slow cooker can be cooking all day while you are at work and provides lovely hot meals when you get in.

Don't try to be Superwoman and burn yourself out...there is only one Superwoman and even she hires a cleaner and a nannie while she goes around the world saving the human race.

Most importantly... Dont be a slave to a dust rag and the kitchen. You only have one life...enjoy it.

Good luck X X

peppermint

thanks for the advice everyone!

suprisingly my bf does quite a bit of housework... all the washing up weekdays and whatever other things i tell him to do at the weekend.
i'll have a go at writing a rota on my way home this evening
we do have a slow cooker and it's a real timesaver.

i think most of the problem is that we have no storage space in the kitchen (even the bin in outside the door!) i'll definitely look for some space saving kitchen things when i have a bit of spare money.

squeaky

Do a deal with your other half...

Ask him to go round the house "doing stuff" until you get home. That way you are both doing the same "working day" and you might get a bit more free time. Just a short easy job list until you get him trained ;-)


(I had a gf who complained about me not helping much...

.. so I pointed out that she did eight hours a day at work and then not much else, while I was doing twelve. So I suggested that when she got home she got on with housework until I got back too. Then I'd gladly share any chores left over with her. Dunno why, but she stopped complaining after that! )