Busy mum tips - every idea welcome!

Hi All

I've been working for 8 months now and had some great tips from mums on how to fit everything in. I've listed a few below, super keen to hear any others that you use to save time, money or just make life run a little bit easy.

1) buy all the socks the same for each person so they're super easy to pair up and no one is ever stuck looking for socks. THere is an initial expense here but its worth it.
2)Buy big garbage bags, start at one end of the house and pick up everything that needs to go out in one big swoop, bathroom bin, wastepaper, nappy bin, kitchen waste etc, and throw it straight in the bin.
3)As soon as you get home, off come the outside shoes which stay at the front door, same with bags, coats so you don't do the stressed morning search.
4) freeze extra meals (and remember to use them on days that you have to cook, not just on weekends, or to save hubby from cooking)
5) run a family calendar (we use outlook) and put all your dates, exercise, social activities in it. By using outlook you can send invitations home from work.

Love to hear everyones ideas.
HBMx

I try do to a couple of loads of washing every second night because I just don't have time to do it all on the weekend. I'm also trying to get into the habit of multitasking. eg: if I"m in the bathroom while DD's having a bath, I'll try to clean the bathroom, or tidy her bedroom which is opposite the bathroom allowing me to see her while she's in the bath. While I'm making dinner and in the kitchen, I try to clean the kitchen up if I don't have my DD wandering around my feet.

I just bought myself a great diary called the 24 hour home & work diary. It's a 2010 diary but I thought I'd create some pages based on the diary that I can start using now. I have to say that since I've done that I've had quite a productive week because all my to-do's for personal, home & work are listed in separate sections.

We just recently moved so I have the long task of getting the house organised while working full-time. It's not easy and it's a very slow process.

As for looking after myself: I do exercise during my lunch break at work. I either go for a walk, or I'm lucky enough to have a gym where I work so i use that. If you don't have a gym then I'm sure you could at least go for a walk, just take a spare pair of shoes if you need to. I just don't have time to exercise on weekends or after work which is why I do it during work hours. Even if all you can do is take the stairs instead of the lift...that will certainly help with fitness.

I fold DD's nappies (we use terry cloth flats) while she is staring at the mobile over her change table. I've also started folding up general washing while she is on there, happily chatting away to herself.

When going from room to room, take something with you that needs to be put away. e.g. if going from a kids bedroom or bathroom, take dirty clothes with you to put in the laundry, there may be something from the laundry that needs to go to a different room so take that with you etc.

I try and put on a load of washing before I go to bed, that way it's ready to be hung out in the morning and I can put another load on, so I'm one up on the washing.

When cooking something like spag bol/lasagne make double and stick half in the freezer for another time. Try and prepare vegies before you need them, so if bub has a nap in the afternoon peel and chop all the vegies then and depending on how you cook them, pop them in a saucepan and cover with water or stick them in the fridge ready for when you need them. Clean the kitchen as you go! Means there is a lot less mess at the end of dinner to clean up, and you can tidy while waiting for things to cook.

These seem to help me out:

Clean the shower while you are waiting for your conditioner to work/hair removal cream to work. One quick once over daily means only a touch up scrub during the week and it means less gunk to "bulk clean".

fold washing as it comes off the line/out the dryer so you don't have to double handle it and you can sort as you go so basket isn't a run around job putting away.

Spot clean minor spills as you go because your floor looks semi hygenic a little longer.

Get a slow cooker...best thing ever! Put tea on in the morning while the kids are eatting breaky and you dont have to worry about the fuss at night.

Organise school bags and uniforms the night before...less stress in the morning

I got a manual carpet sweeper....a few times a week I will actually use that rather then the vaccy cause im getting a work out at the same time as cleaning th efloor.

I also make our beds within 10 mins of getting out of them...cant stand not having a made bed.

Load your dish washer as dishes get dirty rather then have them pile up on the sink..looks cleaner and only takes a quick second to put one or 2 items rather then a whole load.