My 10 Tips for Making Life Easier #Switch2Glide

There are so many things I would love to do and just can’t find the time for so I have started taking shortcuts where I can.  I figure any free time I can get is better than nothing not to mention extra family time is great too!

1.     Keep a central location for mail and any school papers.  I have a shelf in my mudroom where I put anything that needs to go out of the house so I am not searching for them or forgetting about them when I am trying to leave the house.  When school papers get really hectic I am going to install file folders on the wall so I can keep each kid organized too!

2.     Pay your bills online.  I pay every single bill online.  My bank offers free online banking and if the company I am paying (like my local water department) doesn’t take electronic payments, my bank will mail them a check.  I save on stamps and time going to the mailbox, I also know my bills were paid since I can check with a few clicks of the mouse.

3.     Take up offers of babysitting.  I never wanted to take advantage of my in-laws but after repeatedly asking us to watch the kids for the overnight, we took them up on their offer.  I cannot believe how much I got done (and slept in) and the kids had a great time at grandma and grandpas.  If you don’t have parents that can help overnight, a few hours is always nice to, even if you have to trade off with a neighbor!

4.     Keep computer passwords organized.  I actually store all my computer passwords in an Address Book.  For example, my Facebook password is stored under “F”.  That way if my husband needs a password or I just forgot, we don’t have to struggle to retrieve a lost password.

5.     Get whatever you can ready the night before.  I lay out my sons clothes, get his backpack ready and put anything I need for the day by my purse so I don’t forget it.  Sometimes I even put stuff in the car in advance so I don’t forget and it is less for me to do in the morning.

6.     Organize holiday decorations so they actually get used.  I used to put all my decorations in cardboard boxes but now I have color-coded Rubbermaid containers – Green/Red for Christmas, Pink for Easter, Orange/Black for Halloween and that’s all I really have for now.  I can see at a glance what I need and easily grab it.

7.     Built shelves wherever you can or use storage cabinets.  I used to spend so much time searching for stuff in my storage room and now after my father-in-law built me some shelves I can find whatever I need (most of the time!)  I have sections for kid stuff, seasonal, holidays, office supplies, toys, and more now.  Since I know not everyone has a storage room, try to use storage containers wherever you can to organize items that would otherwise just be thrown about in a drawer.  The better organized you are, the faster you can find stuff.

8.     Shop with 1 or no kids.  I find it so much easier to run errands and grocery shop when I only have one child with me (or neither).  There is no fighting, whining, or craziness.  I also find time to talk to my son then about his day or just talk to him about what we are looking for or buying.  I will even shop after the kids go to bed if the store is open since my husband is home by then.

9.     Keep a running grocery list. I have a SmartShopper that I recite whatever I need from the grocery store into and then print it when I go to the store.  I don’t forget things anymore and I keep a good supply of stuff we use most often.  There is nothing worse than cooking dinner and realizing you are missing a key ingredient!

10. Shop for presents ahead of time. I shop for birthdays and Christmas throughout the year for stuff that I know won’t go out of style.  That way I am not spending so much money in December, as I am able to space out my spending for gifts.  I buy a lot online too to save on going store to store and to take advantage of online deals and coupons.

I wrote this post after reading about a Twittermoms Oral-B post topic.  Oral-B Glide slides easier in tight spaces compared to the leading floss, thereby saving you time and making life a litte easier!  Oral-B is also kicking off their “Glide into the Holidays” program benefiting Operation Smile, which they will donate $1 for everyone who uses the hashtag #Switch2Glide by tweeting or posting on Oral-B’s Facebook wall.  The money will go then towards healing children’ smiles and through free surgeries for children with cleft lips and cleft palates.

Mama’s Money Savers Disclosure:  I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Oral-B blogging contest, making me eligible to get full-sized Oral-B Glide products and a $30 Target gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here.