Mums get organised in 2013

iwilldoitthistime

Can I join too please?

I am married, work fulltime and have one son aged 7. I think Im pretty organised, but am always willing to try out other peoples ideas if they will help make things a bit easier!

My aims for this year are -

- to menu plan (we just tend to get in from work and grab whatever is closest to hand, usually not anything too healthy!)
- to lose 3st (hopefully will come as a result of the menu planning!)
- to remember the family birthdays before I see them on facebook (so I at least have time to post a card!)

Im really looking forward to your tips! The only one I can think of is to have 5 sets of school uniform - that way I just have to wash them all on a Friday and have them dried and ironed by Sunday night, removing the need for any 'emergency' wash during the week. Might not work for others, but I think it really saved me time x

Emmala

Regarding the washing, never ending that it is......

I divide mine up so that I wash all the 'knickers and socks' (but in this are the face cloths and any pjs) so that every third washload or so is completely non-iron....just fold and put away!!!!

Put one load on to wash over night so that in the morning it's either out on the line or in the tumble and you feel like you're ahead already!

Wherever you sort out your clean washing, keep a little basket just for socks (I iron etc in our bedroom so I keep our sock basket on DHs bedside table!!!) as you sort through the dry washing, put all the socks you find in the basket. When you've finished, tip them out and pair them up....and odd socks leave in the basket till it's mate turns up!!! Then work on the principle that if after a couple of months, say, it's still odd, chuck it out.

For those with young children, double up on the bedding......I use the Pampers bed mats.....make the bed up with bed mat (I use two so that most of the length of the bed is covered) and fitted sheet. Then do it again. This means if a child wets the bed/nappy leaks/ is sick then all you have to do in the middle of the night is peel off the sheet and mat and leave behind a ready made bed!!! The other thing I do is have a spare duvet in a cover tucked under one of the kids beds so if they get the duvet wet too, there is already a made up duvet waiting.

Hope that helps someone! Washing is never ending in our house, drives me mad!!!!

thehappybutterfly

Fab, I've been looking for a thread like this!

3 adults in the house, one is our 20YO son, a 15YO daughter and 2 cats. Hubby and I work full time and I'm out from 8.10am to 5.45pm (at the earliest). I do all the shopping and the majority of the cleaning, my son does most of the cooking these days as he's a trained chef but only works part-time (long story) and he washes the dishes (no dishwasher). Daughter does very little...... she's supposed to hoover the house twice a week and keep on top of her room but that never happens. She's a lazy wee so-and-so and lies in bed until lunchtime at the weekends :mad: So she's my first challenge!

Hubby looks after the garden but it's a struggle - in as much as it's huge and he's also a bit non-motivated. It's all or nothing with him. He'll either not go out in the garden for weeks or he's out there for 12 hours. Little and often I keep saying but he never listens.

So anyway..... list of stuff needing done, in priority order, is:

• Dump run - cardboard, old PC games and DVD's that won't sell on Magpie, old TV etc.
• Take the two bags of too-small clothes and summer clothes out to the garage for storage
• Grocery stocktake - cupboards, freezer, fridge and garage. I've started the Grocery Challenge too!
• Meal plans for January
• Cleaning rota for January - to include cat treatments. We always forget to de-flea and worm them
• Take down the Xmas decs and pack away again!
• List a couple of bits on fleabay. I may not though. A lot of my clutter is caused by my fleabay intentions and it never gets done. I might just take it to the charity shop - Jasper Conran bag anyone?

I think that'll do just now

brummiebabe

brummiebabe wrote: »

Nice to see so many people joining in!! I feel shattered today after getting very little sleep but my plan for today includes:

• Ironing just finished...it's taken me HOURS!!!!
• 1 load of washing & drying - wash done, still to dry
• Write meal plan & shopping list - no....:o
• Check what cards I have....and buy one for DS1's friend's birthday if necessary - have to go and buy a card...none suitable for a 13 year old

Am pleased that I've managed some of my list...but the rest will have to be done tomorrow as we're off out tonight....also need to sort out the children's clothes...so much to do!!!

Gillybean103

thehappybutterfly wrote: »

Fab, I've been looking for a thread like this!

3 adults in the house, one is our 20YO son, a 15YO daughter and 2 cats. Hubby and I work full time and I'm out from 8.10am to 5.45pm (at the earliest). I do all the shopping and the majority of the cleaning, my son does most of the cooking these days as he's a trained chef but only works part-time (long story) and he washes the dishes (no dishwasher). Daughter does very little...... she's supposed to hoover the house twice a week and keep on top of her room but that never happens. She's a lazy wee so-and-so and lies in bed until lunchtime at the weekends :mad: So she's my first challenge!

Hubby looks after the garden but it's a struggle - in as much as it's huge and he's also a bit non-motivated. It's all or nothing with him. He'll either not go out in the garden for weeks or he's out there for 12 hours. Little and often I keep saying but he never listens.

So anyway..... list of stuff needing done, in priority order, is:

• Dump run - cardboard, old PC games and DVD's that won't sell on Magpie, old TV etc.
• Take the two bags of too-small clothes and summer clothes out to the garage for storage
• Grocery stocktake - cupboards, freezer, fridge and garage. I've started the Grocery Challenge too!
• Meal plans for January
• Cleaning rota for January - to include cat treatments. We always forget to de-flea and worm them
• Take down the Xmas decs and pack away again!
• List a couple of bits on fleabay. I may not though. A lot of my clutter is caused by my fleabay intentions and it never gets done. I might just take it to the charity shop - Rocha John Rocha bag anyone?

I think that'll do just now

Ooh what John rocha bag?

We have just got in from the library, our little girl has her first library card and I got some books on weaning and a cook book, it's my obsession but can't afford to buy anymore.

Can I ask, how does everyone do their food shopping, I need to cut our food budget but dont know whether to bulk buy a months worth of meat and just buy fresh things each week, but I run out of ideas for meal after a few days, need some inspiration

missymoo81

Have a lovely night out Brummiebabe! I'm with you thehappybutterfly in the fact that I have bags and bags of stuff to eBay, which to be honest I need to sort through and decide what would be best going to the charity shop... Might actually do that shortly as not a horrible job, they're the ones I keep putting off!

thehappybutterfly

Gillybean103 wrote: »

Ooh what John rocha bag?

We have just got in from the library, our little girl has her first library card and I got some books on weaning and a cook book, it's my obsession but can't afford to buy anymore.

Can I ask, how does everyone do their food shopping, I need to cut our food budget but dont know whether to bulk buy a months worth of meat and just buy fresh things each week, but I run out of ideas for meal after a few days, need some inspiration

Sorry Gillybean - it's Jasper Conran. Big bright orange but I've hardly used it - orange clashes horribly with my favourite purple

I'll chip in with my advice re grocery shopping. I bulk buy things like mince and chicken as it's cheaper but you need to be disciplined and either batch cook it and freeze it or portion it straight away and freeze. Either that or you're eating mince for a week!

Another good one to bulk buy is cheddar cheese. If you grate it and bag it in portions, it's great for making cheese sauce for macaroni - you just toss it in the hot milk while it's frozen. Or being grated, it doesn't take long to defrost. Just make sure you don't squeeze it together when you're freezing it - leave it quite loose - at the top of the freezer so it doesn't get squashed.

janninew

kingfisherblue wrote: »

Hi janninew, I hope your daughter is doing well. IIRC, she will be just over a year old now, as I think she was born in November last year.

My son has numerous medications, as well as prescribed high calorie milk, and it can be a nightmare to keep up with it all. My chemist, which is a branch of the Co-op, ring me once a month to check what meds my son needs. They then order the prescription for me from my doctor, collect it, and deliver everything the following week. It really does save a lot of work, and means that I don't run short of meds. I know Lloyds do the same for my mum. You just need to be home when the meds are delivered, but I have everything sent to my Mum's as she is usually home, whereas I am often out. It might be worth asking your chemist if they offer the same service, as it is definitely likely to lighten your load.

As for lofts, don't mention them, please! I have been intending to sort ours out for at least three years :eek:. Maybe it will be sorted, with the help of everyone on this thread, before this time next year. I can only hope

Thanks for remembering us - yes you are right she was born last November! You have a great memory! She is doing OK thanks, she had open heart surgery last month at Alder Hey and is recovering well. She is still a little tiddler (still in 0-3 month clothes at 13 months old) and her development is quite delayed, but her Consultant is happy with her progress.

That's intersting about how you Chemist works, I have to call them to order, but they do the rest and delivery the milk 2 days later so not to much hassle, just have to remember to order before it runs out!

If you don't mind me asking which milk is your Son on? My Daughter is on Infatrini for the extra calories, she is expected to be on this for a few years yet to catch her up.

Sorry for going off topic ladies!

Not done much today, had a coffee and breakfast out and we are slobbing this afternoon! Will have a good hoover later, and maybe do some ironing!

Hope all have a nice Saturday.
x

mysk_girl

Well, I got a third load of laundry on and can now see the bottom of the childrens basket! But then, bouyed up by success - I opened the door to the understairs cupboard. Bad Idea. Another thing on my list!

Sounds like everyone is doing well - and some of the ideas re school orgnaisation are great, and I will be pinching some :-)

Didn't order hoops. Did make fingerless gloves while baby was napping. Very peaceful!

Teenie_D

Hi everyone I would love to join too :j. I have a 5 year old dd and a19 month old son and I work part time. I generally am organised but fall badly on housework and money saving!!