Working mums what's the secret 23 January 2020 at 10:36PM edited 30 November -1 at 1:00AM in MoneySaving Mums 45 replies 12.2K views

Mumonthego

Hi, hello and good evening.

I've recently returned back to work full time and I'm wondering how mums stay organised?
With washing
Cooking
Cleaning
Tending to the kids and animals (one child is autistic and needs more support)
Good shopping
Putting clothes away and iron uniforms

How do you stay on top of things?
Any advice will be greatly appreciated

sn1987a

Are you a single mum? If not, all the above must be shared with other half.
Washing: we have a washer/dryer, put clothes overnight in, washed and dry when we come back from work. I still do laundries without drying clothes but are less.
Cooking: on working days we cook only quick recipes that will last for two meals. Wee have a slow cooker we use a lot to cook for and freezer.
Cleaning: standards are a bit low, most cleaning is done during the days we are off.
Children: one parent cools/cleans, the other is with kid. Involve kids as much as you can.
Shopping: online
Ironing: no ironing done!

I never leave a room without carrying something that needs to move to the room I am going.

Savvy_Sue

Children help too, putting clothes away, clearing and laying table etc

badmemory

A comprehensive to-do list, done on a daily basis, don't procrastinate (my major failing) it never ends well. And never ever go to bed on a Sunday night without dealing with all the week before's paperwork. You also need a very complete shopping list unless you can condition all family members to tell you when they eg "put the last loo roll in" otherwise someone ie you is going to land up popping out for bits that have been missed. More time you don't need to waste.


As you have an OH why not try going shopping after the children are in bed, he can babysit, you get the shopping done without demands for whatever, you'll do it in half the time.



Many many years ago I had a boss who said he would only employ women with children in the future as they had to organise & plan.

Savvy_Sue

I don't know if this will help you, but at that stage my shopping list was pre-printed and organised by category: fruit and veg, carbs, cereal, drinks, treats, cold, freezer. The order also corresponded roughly to the layout of my regular supermarket.

I also had a target stock level, and a blank column for how many I needed. So apples might have a target of 10, I'd glance at the fruit bowl and see 2, so I'd write 8 in the blank column.

As the boys got older, they could also prep the list for me.

Mumonthego

Thank you ladies.
I do have a partner and anything I ask of him he does do.
He's a great step father and is very supportive of me and my two boys.
Maybe a list of jobs are needed for him and my eldest son.
I have taken your advise and bought a to do check list book, started using alexa for my shopping list.
I've got a king pro pressure cooker which also slow cooks. Been to the local sainsbobs Friday and picked up chicken breasts and thighs, reduced to £1 a box so Il be sitting down thus evening making a menu plan to try and use up what we have in ie sauces.
I'm going to start using the timer on my washer so washing is done for when I am back from work to hang.
My friend suggested washing uniforms separate on a low spin and hanging straight on a hanger either outside or along the radiator. I was shocked when she said she doesn't even own an iron but has 3 kids.
Lunches, I'm thinking of making up sandwiches for the week and freezing them so they are ready to go. I've heard they don't go soggy? Does anyone else do this?
Thank you for your input all of you. I'm just trying to manage my time more efficiently so I can actually relax after a long day x

yellowbear

Have a look at the organised mum method on FB.

Savvy_Sue

I never ironed school uniforms. DS1, confronted by a toy iron at nursery, thought it was a boat ...

Plasticfreemama

It's hard but I think my best tip would be to get up earlier than the kids in the monring and go to bed later. Planning (meal prep and sticking to routines) also help massively!

Mumonthego

All sandwiches for the week including mine are now In the freezer.
The chicken casserole with potatoes is in the king pro dish in the fridge and the timer will be set In the morning. All I have to do is put the frozen broccoli on l when we get in.

Washing is on the aired.
The dogs have been walked.
Boys have showered and gone to bed. I have made them put their bags with all they need by the door and locate hat and gloves for the morning.

Work washing is on hangers as soon as the wash finished to avoid creases.

Boys uniforms were ironed last week.

I feel alot better and more organised with these now done and hopefully will be a lot better and stress free in the morning.

Il keep you posted if I find anymore backs that may come useful.

Savvy_Sue

Try to make sure you don't end up with the entire mental load ... If it only happens because you either do it or cause it to be done, you're not quite there.