How do you save time?  Time and money?  Even if the might not "save" you money but more time to spend with family. Do you have any ideas???

Carmina

It does seem that the big money savers are time consuming, doesn't it? This is one of the reasons we are so adamant about my being at home rather than away at a job. I have the time to devote to the demands of money saving activities.

At one time I would use disposable plates and utensils if we planned a big dinner or had many to feed. It was much easier than trying to get all the dishes done after a meal.

Well said, Brandy.  It does cost time to save money.

We fold clothes as a family some evenings - not the girls' first choice of entertainment, but it's one thing we can do mindlessly while we talk and share our day.  Then they take their 'stacks' with them to their rooms.

We eat dinner in the living room with dh on the nights he works over or is just really late getting home.  Usually dd and I will have eaten, but we 'save' our dessert for when dad gets home.  He likes to flip thru the channels and check the news and sports standings while eating and shares his day with us and catches up on what we've been doing.  This is easier for us as homeschoolers as we can stay up as late as we need or want to and get up at our leisure the next morning - that way, no one misses out on together time and we all know what's going on with each other.  Tonight dh will find out why our mascot, Leo the pet rat, has six stiches in his side and other important family happenings...

I clean the bathroom right before I shower, ummm, nekkidy - that way I can get straight into the shower and wash my hands of the cleanser there.  The bed usually gets made while I'm waiting for my deoderant to dry before I dress.  I can use a curling iron with one hand while putting on makeup with the other, lol.  

Not big time-savers and I'll bet most moms can top these - but every little bit counts, as the old lady said...Liz  

 I like the flexible schedule that homeschooling offers as well.

I have organised the bathroom cabinet while monitoring toddler bath time. I wash dishes, sweep, mop and do other cleaning while homeschooling. If I don't have to hold a book and look at it then I can be doing something with my hands while having a discussion or while the kids work independently.

That's A Stretcher!

This post has won a TASSIE award. The award chosen was... Dollar Stretcher Grocery Tote Bag!

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 We discontinued cable television, which means we have no reception at all. It freed up a lot of more time than we originally thought.

We spread out our grocery shopping trips, and stock the pantry. I cook out of the pantry.

We are opportunity shoppers and frequent stores in an area that necessitates us being at a particular location.

I try to multi-task when I can. I knit or sketch on the go (such as waiting for appointments), Home schooled son and I have discussion/learning time while I am performing a kitchen task, I prefer to be the passenger during highway trips as this allows me to knit, sketch, or study.

I prefer to have as many reusable products as I am able. I feel that it is easier to wash the item than to run out of that item. 

I have servants.

My servant, the dishwasher, has been good to me. I would not have purchased this item, but it was a free gift from God, and unasked for present. It saves a lot of time.

My servant, the freezer, is considered part of the pantry help, and indispensable for a well stocked pantry.
 

I have the right tools for the right job in my kitchen. You might say that I have the right kitchen "help." This saves a tremendous amount of time and helps get the job done. By this I mean items such as, but not limited to, sturdy pots and pans, A good selection of sturdy knives, appliances that are in good working order (Another God-given gift. The last oven had three temperatures, off, hot, and hotter!), and organized to facilitate getting the job done. While I am not overstocked in my kitchen, and I do not have the latest gadget, I have been hindered by not having the equipment that I needed.

Keeping items well stocked. I am referring to those items that are used, but either disappear, or are never around when you need them. I am the type that if one is good, 10 must be better, and having a large family doesn't help this mentality. Sometimes that means I end up with too many, but that just means I will not buy that item for a long time. Nothing is more frustrating then finding the empty wrapper where XYZ was stored! Ugh! What type of items am I referring to? Pens, pencils, scotch tape (I buy the large rolls and paid for those expensive dispensers. It was worth it!), dental floss, light bulbs, black Sharpie pens...you get the idea.

Communication. Labeling and dating items. While this is logical for frozen items, I try to date items in the fridge. I use blue painter's tape and a sharpie pen. (I am almost finished with the last roll. When I start the new one, I will date it. I think it lasted more than one year, and I use it a lot.)  I also write messages to the rest of the family members, such as taping the message by the trash, "Don't throw out jar lids!" They finally got into the habit. Nothing is more frustrating than not being able to find the lid to a jar for food storage!

Dear Gigi, I don't know how Tassie awards are given out on the Forum, but you deserve one for your wonderful essay!

I pay bills online or by phone if the company offers no-fee transactions. It saves both time and money because I don't have to write checks, put stamps on envelopes, or wait for the payment to post.

I do lots of the ideas already listed. I bank on line, reserve library books, renew them online. I shop online or catalogue if possible , avon,ebay etc. I always like to read, do crafts when watching tv, now I am on the laptop reading the dollar stretcher forums! 

I group errands together (without kids if possible, biggest time saver) and try to keep the pantry stocked. I did that even when I was single. Also have standard quick easy meals on hand.  I try and do errands on  the way home from work on the same route like today I exchanged the boots I got wed from the consignment store for my dd for a bigger size. Nice dressy ones for $8.50.

I shop ahead for xmas and birthday gifts. If I see a good deal on a markdown toy or a new book at a thrift store, I buy it and store it. Same with sales.

I try to clean as I go. I found since having the kids, routines are important and deciding what you need to have done to make your life easier. Like me, put a load of laundry in, dishes, make bed before going out of the house. I change bath towels on thursdays etc.  Folding laundry in the bedroom while watching the kids in the tub. Our room is directly across.

My Family's Interests:

I group errands together (without kids if possible, biggest time saver)

Absolutely! I don't know how much money this saves too! Eliminates the "Mommy can I have ____________" Fill in the blank with expensive cereal, toys, etc.  

I love dashing through the store sans kids so I can get what's on my list and no more. 

For holiday time I start right about this time chopping and freezing things like onions that I will need for the turkey and dressing. Things go real fast on the day of cooking if I don't have to spend an hour chopping before I can even get started.  I put one chopped onion per sandwich bag. I make my pie dough and freeze that. 

During the rest of the year I will occasionally get into a fit of cooking, and will do several things at once, like cook 2 chickens for sandwiches and casseroles or soup, brown ground meat with onions and celery for later in week for burritos, or to mix with Rice-a-roni, and make a meat loaf that cooks at the same time as the chicken, and we will have that for lunches too, besides a dinner. I boil elbow macaroni for salad or mac& cheese, boil potatoes and boil eggs. With all this done for the coming week putting together meals goes pretty smoothly.

 The meat loaf I cook in a 8" square pan, pushing it down level in the pan, so technically it isn't a loaf.  It cooks faster that way and a cut out square is the same shape as a slice of a loaf. I'm a morning person and never liked cooking dinner, because I was always so tired in the afternoon. Cooking this way helped turn things around for us for mealtime. E