House/Budget/Life "Hacks"

[barkley]

I have a couple I can think of right off the top of my head..

I started this when my family was young, I had a couple of small clothes baskets, and every night before bed, I had everyone grab one and take their stuff to their room... I still use it today, even though its just DH and I now, we have a 2 story house, I have one basket, if I come across something that needs to go upstairs, then I put it in the basket, and once I head up stairs I take the basket and drop of things in the rooms, putting away as I go, then vise versa when heading down stairs... it really helps me keep things in their place.

Family calendar - This was a necessity when DD was in school, and all the extra stuff she did... I hung it in the kitchen so that we all could see what was going on... after school activities, church activities, who was driving, picking up, any appointments, weekend trip or plans, birthdays... I like the visual calendar, so that everyone can stay informed on what everyone else was doing, the calendar on your phone is well on your phone...
I have a friend that has a large family and she had a huge white erase board, that was set up in her mud-room, under it was hooks for Jackets, sweaters, backpacks, on the other wall was a storage bench, for sports bags, and a shelf that her DH built, with baskets for each kid and a shoe shelf/rack... with 8 kids you have to stay organized...

I am a planner and list maker... List on outside of fridge when we run out of something you write it down, or something that I want to make any extra ingredients... I will make a copy of a recipe so that I have the recipe with me while shopping to make sure I have everything that I need...

I plan my shopping trips, and start the list by store - (Aldi, Wa-mart- Publix, Trader Joes, BJ's Warehouse) which starts with going through the pantry, and fridge's and freezer's, then my shelf's with cleaning and household supplies, then finally I go through and see what health and beauty items we need or are running low on...
I look at the calendar and look for birthdays, anniversary, Holidays or if we have guest coming... that all add's into the big picture...
Then I go through the AD's online - and note things like BOGO or sale percent off, coupons..
Up next meal planning - I plan 2 weeks at a time - combining what I already have on hand with what we need, and what is on sale...
As well if I am planning on making some freezer meals... I also will make big meals, and then have leftovers a couple of nights..
Then I go shopping...
Aldi - every 2 weeks
Publix - weekly for BOGO
Wal-mart monthly
BJ's warehouse - Quarterly
Trader Joes - as needed -
I know it sound like alot of work, once you get yourself into a routine, its easier... the meal planning really helps me, not waste food, and keep our grocery cost down... by knowing what I am going to make with everything else...and it saves time..

I made a recipe book for myself, I find alot of good recipes on-line, once I pick a couple out and try them out... only recipes that I have made, and get the thumbs up go into it my binder... I also write on the recipe, what I changed up, or added to it... or if I think I need to add something into it the next time... Like more salt, or added in more or less of whatever,... You can divide your binder up however you want to... Mine is pretty simple, Appetizers, Breakfast, Lunch/lighter options, Dinner, Desserts, and Holidays...

Create a routine - household duties, lawn maintenance, whatever you need to get done, each week... what works for you...

we seem to share allot of the habits!

laundry baskets are in my opinion grossly underutilized items. i put a couple of the larger rectangular ones in the hatch section of my car when i grocery shop so that the bags that tend to tip and spill (the thin plastic type bags usually) go in there. i also use them for costco loose items so i'm not stuck having to breakdown and toss those cardboard boxes they offer to put stuff in. if we are going out for food to go-the bags go into one of the baskets so the food is less likely to tip and spill.

i have a similar recipe binder but mine is one my kid's old zippered trapper keepers with all the divider sections inside the cover. whenever i get a new small appliance the instruction book (and warranty information) goes into that binder. when a small appliance leaves so does that paperwork (large appliance books and paperwork is put into a series of ziplock bags that are labeled with the types of appliances on front-these are kept all in one location for quick reference).

COSTCO (not sure if other warehouse stores have this policy)-keep the costco receipt from your most recent trip near your grocery list so that when the new costco book comes out you can see if anything you previously purchased has gone on sale. if it has within 30 days they will refund the difference.

 

[SandyinMonterey]

When our daughter was born, we got aconversion crib that turned a toddler bed with a side rail that then turned into a full size bed. Had to purchased the conversion pieces separate (side boards...nothing too big). Another tip: don't bother with kids size dresser with mirror, etc. Just get a normal size. Eventually those baby clothes grow up too.
I buy grocery items on sale (and when they are BOGO) in bulk even if I don't need it (because eventually I will)
When meat is on sale, I also buy in bulk. Freeze in individual serving portions.
I recently stopped buying stain remover for clothing. I use the Dawn dish liquid I use for dishes. It works better.

 

[FQLover]

@SandyinMonterey Interesting about the Dawn! I use that for dishes, too, and I am addicted to Shout Gel Stain remover for laundry. Is that maybe what you used? It would be hard to give it up because stains become set once the garment is washed and dried, if it didn't work. But that would be cheaper!

 

[SandyinMonterey]

@SandyinMonterey Interesting about the Dawn! I use that for dishes, too, and I am addicted to Shout Gel Stain remover for laundry. Is that maybe what you used? It would be hard to give it up because stains become set once the garment is washed and dried, if it didn't work. But that would be cheaper!

I just find Dawn better on stains, especially greasy ones.

 

[LoveSpringsteen]

* Any leftover vegetables from our nightly dinner go into a bag in my freezer. Whenever I make soups or pot pies, those vegetables get added to my soup at the end.
* Any carrots or celery on their last legs and onion peels go into a freezer bag and I use those, along with chicken bones, to make my chicken stock.
* I buy a lot of boneless, skinless chicken breast on sale and freeze them in 1-2 pieces in a sandwich bag. Place those bags in a large gallon size ziplock and pull out what we need for a meal. I re-use the gallon size ziploc for my next chicken breast purchase.
* Tomato paste - I usually don't need the entire can, so I take out what I need, then freeze the remainder in small bag. I've also heard of people freezing tablespoon portions of tomato paste in an ice cube tray, then freezing those in a bag.
* Chipotle chili in adobe sauce from a can - I only use a portion of one of the chilis, so I freeze the rest, then cut off a portion for my chili when needed.

 

[QueenIsabella]

These are some great tips!

The only other "hack" I could think of that we use is that one boy teen gets white socks and one boy teen wears black sock. No more figuring out who left their socks on the floor, by the door, in the sofa or outside

I do this, but DH wears white, one son wears black, and the other son wears gray. I told him he gets gray because it saves him the trouble of making them that way1

 

[AndreaDM]

Tomato paste - I usually don't need the entire can, so I take out what I need, then freeze the remainder in small bag. I've also heard of people freezing tablespoon portions of tomato paste in an ice cube tray, then freezing those in a bag.

This is the best invention ever!

 

[LoveSpringsteen]

This is the best invention ever!

View attachment 564464

It is nice! I think the little cans of tomato paste are like 45 cents at Aldi. So, it seems less expensive to me to buy them. Those tubes are so convenient, though

 

[AndreaDM]

It is nice! I think the little cans of tomato paste are like 45 cents at Aldi. So, it seems less expensive to me to buy them. Those tubes are so convenient, though

I know, the cans are cheaper but I seem to always waste some of it and I never know when I might need just a little.

 

[scottmel]

My hack is I buy quality.

My pottery barn sheets are 8 or 9 years old right now? At least. I don't even know when I last bought a set of sheets?

My towels are from Christy in the UK and are 50 a towel. They are now on year 22 of being in this house and I just said a few days ok - these have broken down I am going to replace.

Buying quality to me saves on waste, junk landfill, time and looks nice. SAme with a backpack - Pottery Barn Kids AMAZING quality. My daughter would use a few years, then we would sell on the swap shop still in perfect condition and buy another.

BOMBA Socks! All the ones not Bomba are threadbare with holes. As they die, they are replaced with BOMBA. These have lasted me for years so far. What a difference.

 

[LovesTimone]

we seem to share allot of the habits!

i have a similar recipe binder but mine is one my kid's old zippered trapper keepers with all the divider sections inside the cover. whenever i get a new small appliance the instruction book (and warranty information) goes into that binder. when a small appliance leaves so does that paperwork (large appliance books and paperwork is put into a series of ziplock bags that are labeled with the types of appliances on front-these are kept all in one location for quick reference).








Great minds think alike..

I have a junk drawer in the kitchen, and all that paper work goes in a ziploc for each item, and into the drawer, a couple of times a year I clean it out.. I also have a plastic storage bin, think shoe box size for mystery cords and cables... I can not believe how many are in there... Phone cords, game system cables, TV cables and cords, desk top, I pad, tablet... and the list goes on and on.... oops and car charging cords... Good Grief !!! LOL...

I thought of another one, I have a handled plastic bin, that all our smaller travel gear is in... locks, reusable plastic bottles, luggage scale, passport holders, earbuds and holders, money belt, a small roll of duck tape, flash lights, glass repair kit, and on and on... In a larger bin are travel and neck pillows, blankets, our travel back packs and day bags... slash proof, RFID, locking... and other stuff we use when we travel... so when we get ready to go, I can find everything... I just did a inventory, and I need a couple of new thing to replace some stuff... I slide both under the bed in the guest room so everything is out of the way..

I love under the bed storage...

 

[LiveLifeLoud]

I don’t know if this is a life hack but it’s a fun memory keeper.
Every year buy your kid a new back pack for school. ( we usually have to anyways, right?). Buy a backpack that they really like. For Young kids, unicorns, JoJo, dinosaurs, Minecraft etc.As they age the backpacks will change.
Throughout the year in a tote save artwork, papers, report cards, notes from teachers, etc.
At the end of the year, put all important papers in the backpack. Zip it up, put it away and now you have a little time capsule of that year.

I bought my kids a new book bag every year from kindergarten to 4th grade. It was part of the new school year. They would get something with their new favorite character or show on it and it was always cheap. Usually never spent more than $15. Saving art work and things like that in them when the year is over is a cute idea. I never thought of that.

Once they hit middle school they get an LL Bean or Jansport and use it for 5th-8th grades then they get a new one to use throughout high school.

 

[hsmamato2]

When I had a household with one hubby and two teen sons I started buying only one brand casual sock... Hanes. I toss them all into one mesh laundry bin in hallway between bedrooms. They got what they wanted out of that bin. Dress socks, a 2nd bin next to white sock bin. I couldn't see trying to figure out socks for each guy lol.

 

[OrangeBirdGirl]

My hack is I buy quality.

Same here. No one understands how we can't "shop" for stuff all the time. And, this is why we buy quality stuff and it just lasts forever. We found out long ago when first married and didn't have alot of disposable income we'd buy "cheap" stuff and end up having to replace soon.

One big success is Tiek's ballet flats ($200). I pulled out for this year and they are on year 4 and still look like new. I used to buy ones at Target that were $25 and I would go through 3 pairs a year. So I have already saved $25, will be $100 if I get them to last another year.

 

[crazycatstacy]

Same here. No one understands how we can't "shop" for stuff all the time. And, this is why we buy quality stuff and it just lasts forever. We found out long ago when first married and didn't have alot of disposable income we'd buy "cheap" stuff and end up having to replace soon.

One big success is Tiek's ballet flats ($200). I pulled out for this year and they are on year 4 and still look like new. I used to buy ones at Target that were $25 and I would go through 3 pairs a year. So I have already saved $25, will be $100 if I get them to last another year.

Last year when COVID first happened Tieks gave 50% off for first responders so I got my first pair. They have held up well but are not near as comfortable as I was expecting them to be!

 

[barkley]

When I had a household with one hubby and two teen sons I started buying only one brand casual sock... Hanes. I toss them all into one mesh laundry bin in hallway between bedrooms. They got what they wanted out of that bin. Dress socks, a 2nd bin next to white sock bin. I couldn't see trying to figure out socks for each guy lol.

i still do this with my son and dh. i launder and they grab from the rolled pairs to fill their dresser drawers. i've been called 'gross' for also employing this with their underwear as well-they both wear the identical size/style of jockey and there's no way to keep track of whose is whose so i buy them from their website (if you watch their sales you can't beat the pricing/esp. when they also throw in free shipping) and they grab what they need from the clean laundry basket.

 

[QueenIsabella]

i still do this with my son and dh. i launder and they grab from the rolled pairs to fill their dresser drawers. i've been called 'gross' for also employing this with their underwear as well-they both wear the identical size/style of jockey and there's no way to keep track of whose is whose so i buy them from their website (if you watch their sales you can't beat the pricing/esp. when they also throw in free shipping) and they grab what they need from the clean laundry basket.

I WISH I could get away with this! My younger son wears briefs, but DH and DS23 wear the same size boxers. It seems like every other week, DS is complaining that I gave him DH's boxers. Spoiler alert: They are all plaid, size L boxers. I spend as little time thinking about them as I can.

 

[AndreaDM]

Same here. No one understands how we can't "shop" for stuff all the time. And, this is why we buy quality stuff and it just lasts forever. We found out long ago when first married and didn't have alot of disposable income we'd buy "cheap" stuff and end up having to replace soon.

One big success is Tiek's ballet flats ($200). I pulled out for this year and they are on year 4 and still look like new. I used to buy ones at Target that were $25 and I would go through 3 pairs a year. So I have already saved $25, will be $100 if I get them to last another year.

I agree and am finally getting SO on board. For example, he buys a lot of small gadgets like a can opener at the dollar store, well I can't tell you how many he's replaced. I bought a Kitchenaid one for about $10 and not only is it MUCH better quality (doesn't hurt my hands to use it) it's lasted forever.

I wish I could weir Tiek's, I bought a pair and desperately wanted to love them, but they just didn't feel right so they went back. I do have 4 pairs of Rothy's however and they are the comfiest shoes!

 

[CAPSLOCK]

DH and DS23 wear the same size boxers. It seems like every other week, DS is complaining that I gave him DH's boxers. Spoiler alert: They are all plaid, size L boxers. I spend as little time thinking about them as I can.

Solution: complainers get to do the laundry!

 

[DisneyHardin]

Last year when COVID first happened Tieks gave 50% off for first responders so I got my first pair. They have held up well but are not near as comfortable as I was expecting them to be!

That's what my sister said about them too. She wanted a pair for ages and when she got married a couple years ago, my mom bought her the rose gold pair to wear with her wedding dress and she hasn't loved them nearly as much as she thought she would.