Using Time Wisely

Organized to save money, energy, and time

You are here: Home / Archives for Family Activities

Planning for Success: Reserve Time for your Priorities – Day 18

by

Planning for success - Day 18

Photograph Credit: iStockphoto

Knowing that a successful year will not materialize on its own, we must plan and prepare for a prosperous 2013.

Throughout the 31 days of January, I will choose one topic each day to prepare or schedule for this year.

Without preparation, I know I will forget, miss, or overlook certain items. If you desire an organized year, then join me in this adventure of Planning for Success for a prosperous 2013.

To receive a daily e-mail around 11:00 a.m. with the new posts of each day, subscribe to my free daily newsletter. In case you miss a post in this series, I will provide the link to each day as the month progresses. 🙂

Day 18: Reserve Time for Your Priorities

As the days go by and my calendar continues to change from blank white space to a sea of blue ink, I return to consider my priorities. Though all these other tasks on the schedule are good, I need to value my time. To accomplish my family time priority, I review my calendar focusing on very busy weeks.

In looking over those weeks, I find two or three unscheduled sections and reserve family time. Keeping my priorities in check, I need the reminder during busy seasons to hang out with my family. It may sound silly that I would need to schedule time for my family. In a way, it is silly. However, just because I am with my 2-year-old 24-hours a day, I am not always tuned into her needs and wants.

Setting aside a block of time to just be with my family keeps my schedule balanced. The family activity is not the focus, but rather the act of listening, interacting, and connecting. As I add more items to my schedule that are good and necessary, I protect those blocks of time reserved for my family.

In planning for success, reserve time for your priorities. From pillow fights to family vacations, I block time on my calendar for developing our family bond.

As you block time for your priorities, make the time slot reasonable and attainable or else the time will slip away. In using time wisely, keep scheduling while securing time for your priorities. Happy reserving!

Question: How often do you reserve time for your priorities?

Planning for Success: Note Daily Deal Vouchers Expiration Dates – Day 11

by

Planning for success - Day 11

Photograph Credit: iStockphoto

Knowing that a successful year will not materialize on its own, we must plan and prepare for a prosperous 2013.

Throughout the 31 days of January, I will choose one topic each day to prepare or schedule for this year.

Without preparation, I know I will forget, miss, or overlook certain items. If you desire an organized year, then join me in this adventure of Planning for Success for a prosperous 2013.

To receive a daily e-mail around 11:00 a.m. with the new posts of each day, subscribe to my free daily newsletter. In case you miss a post in this series, I will provide the link to each day as the month progresses. 🙂

Day 1: Select a Planning Tool

Day 2: Add Your Priorities

Day 3: Print and Display Your Menu Planner – with free printable

Day 4: Record Membership Expiration Dates 

Day 5: Mark Due Dates for Monthly Bills

Day 6: Insert Credit Report Schedule

Day 7: Schedule Your Annual Home Maintenance

Day 8: Set Your School and Work Activities

Day 9: Highlight Contract and Subscription Expiration Dates

Day 10: Download a Savings Tracker

Day 11: Note Daily Deal Vouchers Expiration Dates

As I continue planning for 2013 by adding items to my calendar, I find this exercise freeing. With all the dates and information in one place, I save time and energy by consulting one source rather than searching for the answer in multiple places. Hopefully, you are getting a jump start on your year by planning for success.

In updating my calendar, I am noting all our daily deal vouchers expiration dates. As our family enjoys outings together, I keep an eye on the daily deal emails I receive from the daily deal sites to which I subscribe.

When I find a great deal, I purchase it. Using Couptivate, I setup alerts to remind me to use those vouchers. Then I add the expiration dates listed on those vouchers to my calendar.

Since I work so hard to find family activities we will enjoy without paying full price, I do not want to lose the benefits of the voucher. Most daily deal sites will still honor the original amount paid after expiration, but you will lose the promotional value. In using time wisely and enjoying those savings, I schedule to redeem our vouchers prior to the expiration date.

In planning for success, note daily deals expiration dates on your planning tool. Depending on how many reminders you need, you might consider a month prior alert along with a week before expiration e-mail encouraging you to use your vouchers.

For the current list of free to inexpensive family activities, visit Using Time Wisely’s Facebook event’s page which is updated regularly.

Keep using time wisely as you plan for success and enjoy your family and friends. Enjoy your weekend!

Question: How full is your calendar getting?

Planning for Success: Record Membership Expiration Dates – Day 4

by

Planning for success - Day 4

Photograph Credit: iStockphoto

Knowing that a successful year will not materialize on its own, we must plan and prepare for a prosperous 2013.

Throughout the 31 days of January, I will choose one topic each day to prepare or schedule for this year.

Without preparation, I know I will forget, miss, or overlook certain items. If you desire an organized year, then join me in this adventure of Planning for Success for a prosperous 2013.

To receive a daily e-mail around 11:00 a.m. with the new posts of each day, subscribe to my free daily newsletter. In case you miss a post in this series, I will provide the link to each day as the month progresses. 🙂

Day 1: Select a Planning Tool

Day 2: Add Your Priorities

Day 3: Print and Display Your Menu Planner – with free printable

Day 4: Record Membership Expiration Dates

Though I prefer the paper and pen method to scheduling, you may depend on an electronic version. Having dealt with identity theft in 2012, I am not ready to plunge into linking my bank accounts into one on-line source. However, I know others who use and recommend the all-in-one options, including mobile and tablet apps, available through sites like Manilla.com.

In planning for success, I am adding our membership expiration dates to my calendar. These accounts are typically annual memberships.

Knowing how long I have to use these benefits helps me plan our savings. We enjoy getting the most from our memberships, so I add to the top of my monthly calendar page a list of memberships expiring that month with the exact date.

Internet Option: If you are using an on-line source, like Manilla.com, you can setup alerts prior to your membership expiration date to remind you to plan a visit.

I also list the membership on the calendar day that it expires. Numerous times we have used our membership on the expiration date. When we renew, we wait until the next visit or a great sale. 😉

Memberships Expiration Dates Noted on My Calendar

Other Memberships You Might Add to Your Calendar

In planning for success, record your membership expiration dates on your planning tool. With the dates listed, you will see a reminder to plan that last visit or invest in another membership without losing any benefits.

Annual memberships have been worth the money for our family, and I continue to track the dates to get the most from these activities. Happy recording!

Question: What additional memberships did I miss?

Subway: Celebrating Customer Appreciation Month

by

Subway customer appreciation month

Photograph Credit: Subway

Appreciating their customers, Subway is offering the 6” cold cuts combo or 6” meatball marinara for only $2 each until December 31, 2012.

If you find your time limited and you are near a Subway location, a $2 lunch or dinner can solve time constraints without breaking the bank.

Enjoy using time wisely this holiday season. For more family activities, visit Using Time Wisely’s Event page on Facebook. I’m also documenting My 25 Day ‘til Christmas each day. Though I haven’t completed the list entirely to-date, I’m back on track. Come connect with me on Facebook to post your progress. Happy planning!

Question: What is your favorite sandwich at Subway? 

Quiznos: National Cookie Day – December 4, 2012

by

National cookie dayTuesday, December 4, is National Cookie Day.

Participating Quiznos will celebrate by adding an oven-toasted cookie to your order.

With any purchase, guests receive an oven-toasted cookie only on December 4, 2012 in honor of National Cookie Day.

In using time wisely, call your favorite Quiznos to confirm participation.

Enjoy celebrating National Cookie Day!

For more fun family activities, check Using Time Wisely’s Event page on Facebook. Your next adventure is only a click away. Happy planning!