Quick and sometimes obvious time savers..

MMF007

Eenymeeny wrote: »

Thanks for the ideas and tips, to be honest I wasn't thinking particularly of Christmas although they are most welcome and very relevant at the moment. It was just that I was starting my Christmas card writing.
I'm sure that any time saving tips will be useful to refer to throughout the season and hopefully into the new year.
One of the shopping list things that I do is carry a list of all items that I buy in Morrison's on an airmail envelope so that it's easily spotted in my bag. I usually shop in Lidl's but there are certain things from Morrison's that I prefer or can't get from Lidl's.
Having the list handy in my bag means that I have a quick checklist when I do visit and any coupons etc can be kept in the envelope ready for use.
PS Moneysaving because I have a batch of airmail envelopes that I don't suppose I'll use up in a month of Sundays since emails and Skype became the norm...:)

Genius! Having the list on an envelope with the relevant coupons inside. I love that! Idea duly nicked.

GreyQueen

Using the bottom tier of the stainless steel steamer pan for cooking other things when steaming veg in the mid layer. Such as foodstuffs not belonging to that meal.

Boil eggs six at a time (I have two daily with breakfast salad).

Put things which have to leave the next day in a bag just inside the front door (I can be terribly absent-minded).

Chuck undies in a small basket on top of the COD, fast to grab and go.

Have costume jewellery necklaces and bracelets of a rack hanging over the back of the door. If I can see them, I'm more likely to actually wear them, and the compliments are nice. Particularly of something you paid a whopping 20p for at the chazzer............:rotfl:

Consolidating errands, so I don't waste time and energy hiking all over the place. Limiting errands to a maximum of 2-3 at a time, so I don't get overwhelmed and harrassed.

Shopping for Xmas and birthday cards throughout the year, with a list so not forgetting what you have. Keeping a modest box of small things suitable for those people I exchange small gifts with, as well as a shoebox of cards. Not having to rush out for a Get Well or other card in a hurry, or venture into shops at all in December is so relaxing.

Reading any and all articles or comments on simplying and filching all the most applicable ones to use myself.;)

srn

I uz txt spk aL d time, it annoys d heck out of everyone,but saves me lots of tym.lol!

thepurplepixie

Lynplatinum wrote: »

thepurplepixie LOL made me laugh - hadnt considered traveling costs and time loss factors hehehe!

Money saving and time saving, win win. I often say to my DD and DDIL that I find it funny that they spend alot of money on time saving/labour saving gadgets and then spend time and money going to the gym to burn off the calories they didn't use because of the labour saving gadgets. They laugh but haven't got an answer.

Lynplatinum

Am currently saving on gym time and money because my GD lives with me and at 21 months I tend to do a lot of weight lifting! i.e her in and out of playpen - up stairs when asleep etc etc + running afte her in an attempt to stop her going down the bigger kids stuff in the park's playground!

LameWolf

I'm afraid "weightlifting" for me these days has to be "I'll *weight* here while you lift that".

Tink_04

The timer on the washing machine is a great thing! My washer come in at 5am is done by the time I’m up and if it’s nice hung out or put on an airer - just remember to press the button before bed!

Eenymeeny

What a strange thing! I was searching for something completely different when I came upon this thread that I started a couple of years ago. There are a lot of Christmas-related tips in so I thought that some people might find it useful...

Primrose

This year we've agreed a total cessation if Christmas presents with all family and friends. That should save time, money & hastle as we all have too much "stuff".

Christmas cards will be restricted to those who only, use snail mail and don't have computers. I warned everybody in cards last year that if they want to know if we're still alive, we would be transmitting our annual Christmas letter by email rather than a paper version so they should let us know their email addresses.

Another time saving tip, for me at least. Every night before going to bed, finished magazines and newspapers are put in a big recycling bag near the front door so that surfaces are left relatively uncluttered and all stuff for recycling can be taken out to the recycling box on the evening before Bin Day.

New toiletries or other items needing to be taken upstairs are put on the bottom step of the stairs so they can be taken up on the next visit rather than having to make a separate journey.

And, of course, making the sort of meals that can last for two days is always a great time and energy saver too.

Am not a great exercise freak but a dozen squats at the kitchen sink while the morning kettle boils is a good way of helping my system going.

And as my OH is now on lots of different medications, getting one of those little pill boxes with days of the week written on them is a very efficient way of ensuring they don't get missed, and you have piles of half opened medication packets strewn around all over the place. Also handy when going away for a few days, or if you're suddenly admitted to hospital. This has happened a couple of times to my OH in recent times and he now keeps an overnight backed with spare pyjamas and a few toiletries together with a list of other items needed like electric razor or ohone charging cable so these don't get forgotten in the heat of an emergency. (Easily done in the panic of a 2 am ambulance arrival !)

Eenymeeny

Thanks Primrose. On the subject of hospital emergencies unfortunately my father became a bit of a regular visitor to hospital as his health declined.
I assembled a 'grab bag' which was kept handy in his home for use by carers or members of the family who were going with him. As well as the items you mentioned we found a few items which were handy to include. These were a fleece blanket, spare socks, (it can be cold sitting in draughty corridors, paracetamol tabs, (I always got a headache, maybe from the stress?) wet wipes, a small packet of biscuits, change for vending machines, notepad and pen and a crossword puzzle book!
I kept a card with the list of contents in the bag so that people could add any of their ideas. Maybe others would have more ideas to add to the list?