Label Containers

use painters tape to label food containers...it comes off easily and doesn't ruin your container or leave a sticky residue

(how's that for a quick tip)

Garage Sale Tips

• a group sale will have more stuff than a 1 family sale, bringing in more shoppers
• price items according to how you feel...do you want to get rid of it or do you want to make money
• make signs with fat lettering...what looks big to you will look small to someone driving by
• put the nice stuff closer to the road, and the "man" stuff so they are more likely to stop
• price something anywhere from 10-25% of what you paid depending on its condition
• DON'T let strangers into your house to try things on
• you add up the prices of what people are buying...you'd be surprised how many people would like to cheat
• be prepared for the question, "how much for the whole box" by deciding on amount you would take beforehand 

Quick Cleaning Tips part 2

• make it easier to clean your microwave...take a cup of water with some baking soda in it and microwave until it boils.  it eliminates odors and makes it easy to wipe off dried on spills.
• clean away cobwebs with a sock on a yard stick.  this also works under stoves and the frig.
• got ring around the toilet? drop in a denture tablet and leave for 30 minutes or overnight.  the stain should swish right off using your toilet brush.

Quick Cleaning Tips part 1

• use a coffee filter to clean glass and mirrors instead of paper towels, they leave no streaks or lint and they are way cheaper
• musty shower smell? spray it down every time you get out with a combo of vinegar and water in equal parts.  it really absorbs odors and the vinegar smell goes away in about an hour

Leftover Cardboard Rolls

Those left over cardboard tubes from wrapping paper, paper towel and even toilet paper can really come in handy.  Roll a tablecloth or table runner around a long tube and store in an under bed box.  Wrap winter scares around paper towel tubes to keep folds and wrinkles out.  My favorite idea is to take a toilet paper tube and cut it lengthwise making a cuff out of it, then place the cuff around partially used wrapping paper to keep it from unwinding on the roll.

Silverware in the Dishwasher

Make unloading the dishwasher faster by keeping all the same types of silverware in the same little square in the basket so that you can grab all of one thing to put away.  All the butter knives together,  dinner forks, salad forks, etc.

One caution...watch the spoons that they don't, well, SPOON each other and thus not get clean.

Pick Your Outfit Before Bed

Have every member of the family pick out what they are going to wear the next day before going to bed.  It makes the morning go so much more smoothly, maybe you can even sleep in a few more minutes!

I always check the weather for the week on Sunday and chose out outfits for the whole week.  I also planned meals for the whole week on Sunday...but that's another story!

Don't Put Down, Put Away

I've talked in other posts about the "one touch" rule....same thing.  You think Oh, I'll put that away later I don't have time now.  Yes you do, even if you're in a hurry.  I have actually timed myself on putting away a few of those things I didn't have time for.  The longest anything ever took me was 53 seconds, the shortest was 3 seconds.  And trust me, when you're done with everything and can finally sit in your chair, you'll relax a whole lot better knowing everything is put away and taken care of.

Errands Once a Week

If you live in a rural area like I do....or even if you don't and just want to save time and gas...try planning your errands and only running once a week.  I plan all the things I need to do, go to the bank, store, library, etc.  Then I look at the list and plan a route where I'm not back tracking, but leaving the store for last if possible so my food isn't in the car for long.

Try it, I think you'll be surprised how efficient you can be!

Sunday Cooking Day

Here's an idea for the busy family.  Make Sunday...or just one day a week...your cooking day.  Prepare freezer friendly meals, freeze then pull them out and warm them up.  Or plan meals that have leftovers that you can easily make into other quick meals.

Check the links on the side to find recipes I've posted to make with leftover chicken and other things.

Creative Uses for Zip Top Bags

Quart size, gallon size, snack size, sandwich size, and even jumbo size....they're all handy!

1. Just like in this pic, I have one drawer full of cords, jacks, and other small parts for electronics.  It's a lot easier to find things when they each have their own bag!
2. Place your iPad or other tablet inside before letting your toddler play his games...keeps it from getting sticky or saves it from spills.
3. Snip one corner off and they make great piping bags for frosting, batter, or my fave, the insides of deviled eggs.
4. Place ice inside one and rub spilled candle wax from a tablecloth or carpet until hard, then tap with a hammer and vacuum or flick off the chips.
5. Pour rice into a microwaveable bag and nuke for 2 minutes then place on achy joints or muscles.
6. Fill a bag with white vinegar and then rubber band it around your shower head and leave overnight to clean it.
7. Knead dough inside the bag to keep fingers and counter top clean.
8. Place meat into to pound flat.
9. Pour in soup, then stack in freezer to save space.
10. I use all kinds of zip top bags in my yard sale.  Place small items, or things that go together and usually get lost when people start rummaging.  The price tag can also go on the inside or get written in permanent marker to keep from losing prices.

Avoid Identity Theft

here are just a few tips to avoid identity theft...

• Watch your back in line at the grocery or discount store.  The thief may appear to be looking at his phone but he's actually taking a picture or video of you using your card and entering your pin number.
• Don't put outgoing mail in your mailbox.  The red flag standing up on the side of a mailbox tells the thief that there may be checks or bills and other important mail there.  This happened to my friend just down the street from me.
• Check your bank and credit card balances at least once a week.  A thief can do a lot of damage before you notice it a month later.
• If a bill doesn't show up when it is supposed to it might be a sign that your mail has been stolen.  You might want to go paperless or get a PO box for certain things, or all, of your mail.
• Thieves have been known to drive through neighborhoods at 3-4 in the morning taking your garbage then sorting it later at their home to find a treasure of your personal information.  Always shred important info with a top quality shredder.
• Never throw away pre-approved credit applications, old bills, expired credit cards, deposit slips, or any kind of application with personal information on it. Shred, shred, shred.  For a credit card, I cut it into 5-7 pieces and place each piece in a different trash can.  Not all of my trash cans get emptied at the same time.
• If you see something that looks like it doesn't belong on the ATM or gas pump, or seems to stick out from the card slot, walk away.  It might be a skimmer.
• Call 888-5-OPTOUT to stop banks from sending you pre-approved credit offers.  This is way too easy for a thief who can write out one of those checks and it will be awhile before you ever know it.

Store Earrings

Use an ice cube tray to store earrings then stack trays in a drawer or cabinet.  (told you these were quick tips!)

Clean & Fix with Common Household Products

 



SHAVING CREAM

• spray on the hinges of a squeaky door
• blot a spill on the carpet then use shaving cream and wipe with a damp sponge
• rub on to chrome to shine

ASPIRIN

• mix 2 crushed aspirin in 1/2 cup water then soak shirts with sweat stains
• make a paste and clean soap scum from tiles with damp sponge
• crush 1 aspirin into 1 quart of water and use to treat soil to help plants resist disease

BABY POWDER

• rub into a greasy stain with a sponge to remove
• shake powder into cracks of wooden floor to reduce squeaks
• sprinkle around ant hideouts to keep them away

Time Saving Tips

1. when you plan your clothes the night before also pick out shoes and any other accessories
2. stagger wake up times for every member of the family if you have to share a bathroom
3. shake wet clothes out as you put them in the dryer as they will dry faster with fewer wrinkles
4. shop when stores are almost empty like early morning and late evening
5. set a timer for a task; you go faster when trying to beat the clock
6. to dust blinds, put socks on both hands to go twice as fast
7. at work, start with your most difficult tasks when you are fresh
8. set a homework hour, deadlines get things finished and there is no squabbling about when to do it
9. bake eggs in a muffin tin then refrigerate; microwave and put on an english muffin during the morning rush
10. while laundry is running in the machines, use that time to do other time consuming projects