Using Time Wisely

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Archives for 2011

Brunswick: 2011 Halloween Treats

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Looking for a non-candy option for Halloween? Brunswick Bowling’s printable coupons for a free game may be your answer.

Photograph Credit: Brunswick Bowling

You can print these coupons which are valid from October 31 to November 23 for one free game of bowling for children ages 15 and younger. Shoe rental is not included, and the limit is one per household. To find a participating location, please visit Brunswick Bowling’s web site.

What a great Halloween treat! Besides being candy-free, these coupons offer a time, of more than a few seconds, of enjoyment. Happy planning!

Grocery Shopping: Gathering your Savings – Part 1 of 3

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Photograph Credit: Flickr (Natalie Burdick)

If you have been reading my Tuesday series on event planning, then you already know that our school’s fall festival is a little over a week away. As the coordinator of the Kids’ Zone, I am in planning mode with my phone ringing and my e-mail accounts full.

In using time wisely, many of my household duties are on hold: the laundry is clean, but in the dryer; the dishes are rinsed, but still in the sink; and the food is in the kitchen, but my menu plan is empty. Thankfully, there are options in my pantry, and my fabulous husband has come home to fix dinner numerous times this week.

During these busy times, I am thankful for a system where the pantry is already stocked with options because making a menu is not a top priority.

Last week in this series on feeding my family, I gave a brief overview. Today, I will share my grocery shopping tips when entering the store. Remember to customize your shopping experience. I usually shop with my children, so my routine will be different from someone who gets to shop alone. Also, I shop at two stores: Bi-Lo and Publix, and my system is a little different at each store.

Bi-Lo

1. Scan lobby display for coupons. As I get the car cart for my girls, I glance over at the display. I pick up any coupon booklets and additional store flyers with coupons.

2. Retrieve my grocery list. I slide my list out of my Bi-Lo coupon envelope.

3. Go to bakery. While scanning my list and planning my visit through the aisles, we head to the bakery where my kids receive a free cookie. Occupied with their cookie, my children eat while I begin working through the aisles.

Publix

1. Visit the lobby coupon tower. Depending on the store we visit, the Green and Yellow Advantage flyers (complete with coupons) may be located in the lobby. I check the tower and retrieve one copy of each.

2. Stop by customer service. Many stores are keeping these coupons at customer service since some customers grab handfuls of the flyers. By keeping them at customer service, the employees can give one copy of each to customers and have enough flyers to fulfill customer’s requests. Even if I find the Advantage flyers in the lobby, I will still stop by customer service since they have additional coupon booklets available for the asking.

NOTE: Remember the sales run in cycles. It is not necessary to snag 15 copies of the Advantage flyers. You will want the coupons, but please do not swipe all the coupon sheets.

3. Retrieve my grocery list. Publix places many of their Buy One Get One Free items in an area at the front of the store. I will usually park the cart in this area, get my list from my Publix envelope, and gather any items from my list.

4. Go to bakery. We then proceed to the bakery to get the sugar and chocolate chip cookies for my kids. While waiting, I will flip through the new coupon booklets to see if I can save more on this shopping trip. We then continue our shopping through the aisles.

By keeping the same routine, I can quickly take care of the necessities before adding items to my cart. Knowing where to look for store coupons and making those stops prior to shopping helps me know all my options. If I just received a coupon for a buy one get one free item, I can increase my savings and choose to purchase more of that product, if needed. My entering the grocery store system has the potential to increase my savings while  using time wisely.

Question: How does your system differ from mine? Please add your answer to the comments.

8 Free e-books for your Kindle PC App

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Photograph Credit: Flickr (Brooks Memorial Library)

This afternoon I felt a little like Alexander while having a terrible, no good, very bad day. At least it felt this way for a little while. When the world seems to be crashing in and my plans are falling apart, I find solace and peace when I run to my Heavenly Father. He comforts my broken heart and soothes my bumps and bruises.

While staying quiet, I try to change gears by snuggling up in my favorite spot with a blanket and a good book. I can rejuvenate, relax, and remove myself from the hurry and scurry of life. Though I usually have a book or two for these occasions, I enjoy keeping books on hand for those rare times I get to sit, relax, and read.

Last week, I walked you through installing the free Kindle PC app from Amazon. This week, I will share eight free e-books presented by categories for your reading pleasure.

Using Time Wisely

Time Management 101 – Crystal of Moneysavingmom.com offers this free e-book from her time management series.

Computer Savvy

Windows 7: Tips and Tricks – Sheri at SwagGrabber.com shares a link to this free e-book.

Kid Friendly

11 Free Halloween Craft Ideas – Another free e-book posted by Sheri at SwagGrabber.com.

In the Kitchen

Gooseberry Patch Pumpkin Cookbook – Crystal at Moneysavingmom.com informs her readers of free e-books like this cookbook.

27 After school Snack Ideas – Another free cookbook posted by Crystal at Moneysavingmom.com.

Money Matters

How to Make Money Blogging – A free e-book offered by Crystal of Moneysavingmom.com based on one of her post series.

Christmas your Way – This free e-book link also contains free printable worksheets to get you organized.

Just for Fun

The Girl in the Lighthouse – Heather at Freebies4mom.com often posts links to free e-books, like this historical novel.

Though all these e-books are free, as of this writing, offers do change without notice. Please verify the cost before ordering or downloading these files. With your Kindle PC app from Amazon installed, you can download your chosen e-books and save them to your Kindle. Then on your terrible, no good, very bad day, you can find your blanket, special spot, and enjoy some quiet and relaxation. Happy reading!

Question: Want to know about my terrible, no good, very bad day? Come visit Using Time Wisely’s facebook page. If you like what you see, then join our community by choosing “like” the page. Thanks for following along.

Events: Responding to an R.S.V.P.

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Photograph Credit: Advanced Etiquette

Growing up in a home where my mom loved to plan themed gatherings, I quickly learned the art of responding to an R.S.V.P. Without an accurate head count, the hostess is left guessing or calling invitees to determine their attendance.

Having to call guests can be a huge time taker. Instead of creating an inviting space and preparing the menu selections, the hostess is reaching out to inconsiderate guests who have not responded.

Though I know some may be waiting on other plans, the majority of those guests, who did not respond, simply forgot. The R.S.V.P. was not important to them, or they do not understand the reason or the etiquette associated with an R.S.V.P.

As I read through the posts of my favorite blogs this week in my Google Reader (of course), I loved Syndi Seid’s Responding to Event Invitations post. With specific examples of when and how to respond to an R.S.V.P., this post provides guidance for what is acceptable.

In using time wisely, I am sensitive to my time constraints as well as those around me. By sending an R.S.V.P., I respect the hostess as she continues using time wisely to prepare for her guests’ arrival.  With Syndi’s relevant scenarios, you and I can respond appropriately to an R.S.V.P. without receiving that follow-up phone call.

Question: How quickly do you R.S.V.P. to an event? Please add your answer to the comments.

Organizing: Children’s Clothing – Part 1 of 5

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It’s official. My kids have grown. As I went to my daughter’s closet for a long-sleeved outfit, I found one dress that was long enough for her to wear to church this morning. Besides sending up a red flag that it is time to reorganize my kids’ clothes, the smaller clothes reminded me that my little ones are growing up.

Though I cannot keep them little, I can add larger clothing for them to wear. In keeping my children’s clothes organized, I have a developed a system that works for us. My process occurs in 5-steps:

Step One: Prepare – gather all the supplies

Step Two: Purge – unload out-grown clothing from closets and dressers

Step Three: Pack – put folded clothes insides totes

Step Four: Place – unpack larger sized clothing into closets and dressers

Step Five: Preserve – place all the totes in storage

As I work through my process, I will take you along with me. In the first step, I need to gather my supplies.

STEP ONE: Prepare

Gather from Storage

All our children’s clothes are stored in large totes in our upstairs storage closets. To help me, my fabulous hubby brought out the clothing totes and placed them in our upstairs hallway.

Place clothes near bedrooms

Having the totes near their bedrooms helps me in using time wisely. I can unload and reload without wasting energy or time in transporting the clothes to another room.

Place shoes in bonus room

Paul continued to help by bringing the totes of shoes into our bonus room. Besides keeping them separated from the clothes, my girls enjoy playing with the shoes. (It is amazing how both of my daughters love shoes. My son could care less. :-))

Stack labeled storage totes

Having all the totes labeled with “girls or boys,” “clothes or shoes,” “winter or summer,” and the “size,” I can easily find the totes needed for each child.

For my youngest daughter, I will need totes from 12 months to 2T. I will be putting away her 12 month to 2T summer clothes and getting out her 18 month – 2T winter clothing.

With all the totes gathered from our storage area, I am ready to start Step Two: purge. Next week, I will bring you along on my journey as I purge my children’s closets and dressers of summer clothing and articles that are now too small. In using time wisely, I will soon have more than one option for my daughter’s Sunday wardrobe. Happy organizing!

Question: What type of storage system do you use for clothing? Please add your answer to the comments.