Everyday Shortcuts for Saving Time & Money
Would you like to stay more productive (and, more importantly, sane) while juggling your own healthcare, perhaps family caregiving, and all the other demands of life? The following suggestions, adapted from a website called AgingCare.com are everyday shortcuts—also known as "Life Hacks"—that can save you time, energy, and/or money—commodities most of us have in too short supply.
Don't Hold The Phone: Don't waste time by holding the phone to your ear until someone gets back on the phone 15 minutes later. Invest in a wireless headset or use your device’s speakerphone feature to keep your hands free to work their multi-tasking magic.
Set Aside Space: Whether it’s a bowl, a drawer, or a series of wall hooks, designate a particular space for the things you use every day (like keys, wallet, cell phone, prescription pill bottles, etc.) to minimize time spent looking for much used items. Also, if your schedule is tight and somewhat predictable (i.e. you exercise at the gym every Tuesday and Thursday, and you usually go to the grocery store on Wednesday), try making room somewhere handy for shelves or baskets dedicated to specific days of the week. Every night, you could put the items you’ll need for tomorrow’s tasks in the basket or on the shelf—this can help prevent the hassle of finding your gym clothes or the grocery coupons just before you want to leave, or else forgetting what you need to take to that doctor's appointment.
Troubleshoot in Advance: When they’re working properly, the electronics in your life can be huge time-savers. However, they can be a nightmare to handle when they don’t work the way you want them to. If you encounter this situation and are able to fix the problem yourself, make sure to write down the solution or mark it in the owner’s manual. As a one time-use specialist points out, “You’re likely to have the same problem again long after you’ve forgotten how you fixed it the first time. Think of the time and energy you can save the second go-round if you know just what you need to do or buy to fix it again!”
Set Time Limits When Searching for Lost Items: Unless it is something you absolutely have to have (such as the car keys when you need to go someplace) set time limits on how long you’re willing to search for lost items. Budget 15 minutes for your search, and then give up. Whatever you are looking for will inevitably turn up when you're not looking for it.
Stockpile Cards for Special Occasions: Making a last-minute trip to the Hallmark store because you forgot to get your best friend a birthday card can be stressful as well as expensive. Creating a special card stash helps bypass this frustrating situation. Gather a varied collection of birthday, holiday, and get-well soon cards for future use. A money-saving hint? Check your local dollar store for their card line. Many of these stores have excellent themed cards sold for a dollar or less. You can also buy holiday-themed cards when they go on sale after the celebration and save a bundle.
Take Advantage of Online Opportunities: Online shopping can save you loads of money and time. You can buy almost anything off the Internet. You can even order groceries online, and either schedule a time to pick them up or have them delivered right to your door for a small fee. If you must go to the store, write a list and organize it based on the physical layout of your destination (i.e. grocery store aisles, or locations of different stores in the mall) to save you time and precious energy.
Following even one of these time- and money-savers could make a difference to your overall efficiency and satisfaction. Today, think about one thing that gives you the most frustration or hassle in your life. If none of the above solutions addresses your problem, brainstorm a creative solution, write it down, and then put the solution into action. There are every day shortcuts that can make your life easier, but they won't work for you unless you work them!
By Arlene Bascom