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by Kelly Kennedy
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There is no question that the life of a single mother forces one to stretch the limits and test the strength of your organizational skills as well as your time management. But for those who didn’t study Frank Gilbreth’s efficiency theories in college here are some tips for easy ways to minimize the time it takes for everyday chores so you have more time (and dare we say energy) to focus on the fun stuff.
The number one complaint that single moms have is that too much time and effort go into menial tasks like household chores or grocery shopping but a little help in organizing those chores goes a long way.
Grim at the Grocer’s?
Though you may set aside time to go to the store in hopes of getting everything you could possibly need for the next two weeks, you end up leaving two hours later with $250.00 of groceries that combined will hardly make a complete meal.
An easy fix is to hone some militant organizational skills when it comes to meal planning. Though the shopping list is by no means a new organization method, they are extremely underutilized considering their time saving benefits. Have your basic list of items your household can’t do without (bread, lunchmeat, milk…). As soon as an item starts to run into the empty category, add it to the list. As easy meal ideas come to mind for next week slip them on the list as well. The key to the shopping list is the stick to it; give yourself an allowance of either money or time spent on items not on the list and stick to your guns to limit your impulse buying. Also beware of “middle shelf items”, a common marketing ploy, where higher priced impulse products reside.
Another easy way to reduce your time spent shopping is to find the right store, preferably something easily accessible that has what your family needs- and shop there religiously. Getting to know the layout of a store and being able to locate less common items (marinated artichoke?) will save more time than you realize and reduce your odds of forgetting something.
One final tip for the dreaded grocery store: give the sore brands a try- you just may be surprised at how much you like it and how much you save.
Housecleaning 101
Another major hassle for the single mom is the time devoted to household chores. For this, a daily list of quick things to do simply to maintain is the most efficient. Daily chores should include the more obvious dish cleaning – to reduce sink clutter (not to mention fungal growth), and some mail control – bills go into their special file, school papers in theirs, junk mail in the nearest trash can or fire place. But another maintenance effort that might greatly reduce your weekend to do list is a daily load of laundry - get those school uniforms or soccer jerseys out of the way, or even just a load of towels.
Next, enlist the kids. Studies show that there are significantly fewer kids these days expected to perform daily chores, now earning allowances for things like good grades. Start a new habit of having them vacuum or dust one room before they have an after school snack. Let them know how much you would appreciate it and remind them it will only take about ten minutes. For younger children, making a game out of house cleaning (who can pick up their room the fastest?) can make a huge difference. Reward kids with some positive reinforcement and some extra quality time with them.
About Author:
Kelly Kennedy is the Communications Specialist for MindComet Corporation, a full service marketing agency for Fortune 500 companies and international conglomerates. Kelly specializes in public relations strategies focused on single mother's financial guidance. Kelly has been author to hundreds of articles focusing on single mother financial concerns. She also acts as a contributing author for a wide variety of websites and newsletters. Kelly holds a Bachelors degree in Marketing from the University of Central Florida.
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