Time Savers for Parents

Craving more time? Start the new year off with adding a few time efficiency tricks to your life and you’ll end every week with the one thing we all crave more of – time!

1. Save 30 minutes at the grocery store! According to the Food Marketing Institute, Wednesday's the day when stores distribute their circulars – so you know what’s on sale. Also, keep in mind this universal grocery tip: Stores are always less jammed when the highways are jammed. That’s between 5 and 9am or 5 and 9pm.
2. Here’s how to save 2 more hours – stop running errands! You can order stamps online at www.USPS.com. You can stock up on toiletries at www.Drugstore.com. Need to find a plumber, vet, bakery? Don’t waste your time driving around. Hit www.InsiderPages.com – it’s like the Yellow Pages but with customer reviews.
3. Save another hour on laundry! Buy a 3 bin hamper to cut sorting time. Toss your wrinkled clothes in the dryer for 10 or 15 minutes with a damp towel. The hot moisture from the towel will loosen the wrinkles so you won’t have to iron.
4. Save up to an hour a week by cutting down on your cooking time. Go to www.MealTime.org for 300 recipes – all of which only require a can opener. Just make sure you have these staples on hand: cans of tuna, chicken, beans, tomatoes, corn, and vegetable soup.
5. Save time getting ready to go out. Instead of spending time arguing with the kids, trying to get them to turn off the TV or PlayStation, use an egg timer set to 10 or 15 min. countdown until it's time to shut down and head out the door.
6. Meal Planning. To organize meal planning and grocery shopping, use an extra calendar to write down your meals for the upcoming week. Choose a night to plan ahead your meals for the week, and write out your shopping list at the same time.
7. A Fast Food Cutter. For a quick and easy way to cut up your child´s food, try using a pizza cutter. It works on anything - pancakes, meat, sandwiches - and is much quicker than a knife. Or designate a pair of Kitchen Shears for cutting food only.

Source: www.tesh.com and parent.lifetips.com