Clean the bathroom while your child has his bath. You have to be in there anyhow (with a young child) so why just sit; clean that bathroom. I actually will also blog (i.e. work) while my son baths (thanks to the magic of laptops), but you could mend clothes or clip coupons too.

Do a sit-down task if your child needs homework help. My son is unschooling and the only school he attends is also unschooling, so no homework, but he does like to draw or work on projects with me around. When he doesn’t need my full attention I switch over to planning the budget or writing the grocery list.

Never go out for just one thing. By this I mean go out once for more than one errand. Drop books off at the library and then go shopping. Every time you have to start up the car for one trip only, it wastes time; not to mention gas.

Load and unload the dishwasher while you cook dinner. Or pack your child’s lunch for the next day.

I hate to admit this, because my friends and family might flip, but I return phone calls as I pay the bills online sometimes. If someone really needs my attention, yeah I stop bill paying, but often I’m clicking those bills off as I chat.

What tasks do you combine to save time? 

Post from: Blisstree

Save time by combining tasks

1. Hire a driving teenager (your own even if you have one) to run basic errands for you such as picking up dry cleaning, making small trips to the store, and other mundane tasks that your teen might enjoy getting paid for. You’ll save time, and your teen helper will learn to manage responsibility and make some cash.

2. Form a car pool and save yourself drive time for much of the month.

3. Have your groceries delivered. Many stores offer this service now. There’s usually a small fee, but consider that you won’t be impulse buying, so you may even save money as you save time.

4. Trade services with a pal or neighbor. If there’s a task you do quickly and well, such as taxes or mending a dress and you know someone who hates those tasks but doesn’t mind cleaning a garage (which you hate), see if they want to trade tasks.

5. Divvy up tasks with your partner. There’s almost no reason for two parents to attend a pediatrician appointment, a teacher conference, or other child related meetings. You and your partner can trade off kid-based meetings and save time. Of course for things like plays or sporting events, it’d be nice if you both show.

Post from: Blisstree

Five ways to save time by using others