Sometimes life gets really overwhelming and I find myself racking my brain for ways to save time (and my sanity) for the important things in life. As a working mom to a ferocious two-year-old, I’m constantly torn between the many hats that I wear: wife, mom, daughter, sister, employee, friend. There just never seems to be enough time in life to do it all, but the reality is that children can’t shop for themselves (yet!) and it’s inappropriate to ask them to clean their own bathrooms. I’ve developed a short list of items that are worth spending money on in order to save precious time at home with the kids.
Amazon Prime: Use it, love it, abuse it
Don’t be put off by the $99 yearly subscription! The convenience of ordering diapers and wipes to be delivered to my house (as I sit in the parking lot of my job) is an absolute dream come true. I used to spend days adding a trip to the store onto all my to-do lists and then scrambled to find time within my already busy day to drive to the store to get what I needed (and a million other things I didn’t need) and head home. It frustrated me every single time! Now, Amazon Prime delivers all my essentials in just two days.
Rethink Home Ownership
Owning a home is a very adult thing to do. It’s also a TON of work. Just doing our laundry and washing our dishes leaves me exhausted — it’s hard to find the time to take care of the lawn and all those small projects around the house that keep piling up. It never ends! And most days after work, I just want to spend quality time with my son without worrying about cutting the grass and other time-consuming tasks. So for those who are interested in purchasing their own home but not sure they can handle the work of maintaining a single family house, a condo or townhouse with a homeowners associations are a great option. Many associations even include lawn mowing and snow removal which can be such a help!
Fine Clothing
Over the years, I’ve discovered that my bargain hunting days of trying to find inexpensive clothes (especially on sale) have been a fairly pricey habit. While the cheaper prices are really appealing, I’ve noticed that those clothes easily fall apart and just can’t withstand the daily wear and tear of being a working mom. So I decided to purchase some “investment” clothes. I now own a few really nice pieces of clothing that have literally lasted me for years. Quality clothing can present a higher upfront cost, but I don’t have to waste time or money shopping every few months when items fade or shrink. Having a closet with a few reliable items is really useful.
Gym Equipment
We all have the best intentions of heading to the gym each morning or after the kiddos go to bed in the evening, but it’s not very realistic. Life gets in the way and I often find myself with time in the evening when the baby is asleep but I can’t leave the house because I’m the only one home. Say hello to fancy gym equipment and a workout set up in the basement. A top of the line treadmill or bike may cost you a bit more than a cheap membership to the gym, but in the long run, it will save you time, give you easier access to taking care of yourself, and in the long run, it can save your health.
Services
We have a house cleaner, a dog walker, and a landscaper. It’s something that you certainly need to budget for but we have found that it’s worth it for us right now. The same goes for meal delivery. The convenience far outweighs the cost and time spent playing outdoors on a beautiful summer evening instead of slaving away in the kitchen. If you want to have healthy family dinners at home but can’t cook every night or often find yourself with no time to grocery shop, think about incorporating a service like Feast and Fettle into your life. You’ll have chef-prepared delicious meals all week long!
These are the areas in my life where I’ve chosen to spend more money to save time, my sanity, or money in the long run. What services do you use that are worth spending some extra cash to make your life easier? Drop a comment and let us know!
Feast & Fettle is a Rhode Island-based meal delivery service that takes the stress out of deciding what to eat for dinner. Each week, seasonally-inspired, chef-prepared meals are delivered directly to members’ doors to enjoy in the comfort of their homes.
