Permission to Relax, Part 2

Last month, I talked about working parents giving themselves a break when it comes to all of the demands we face outside of the office. After 14 years of balancing work and home, I’ve picked up a few easy shortcuts that might seem really insignificant on the surface, but save time, energy, and stress in the long run.

Use paper plates. At first, I had a hard time with this. I suppose it’s the Southerner in me and that whole “hospitality/happy homemaker” image, but I would’ve never stooped to using paper plates. One day, something in me just snapped. I asked myself, “Why am I creating dirty dishes for hotdogs, sandwiches, or leftovers when it’s my immediate family?” Now, unless it’s a meal that involves sharp knives, soup, or company, my family eats on paper plates. Until you’ve experienced the freedom of cleaning the kitchen by throwing the dirty plates in the garbage, you cannot appreciate what a timesaving joy this is. And before you start fussing about being “green,” the plates are biodegradable.

Hire help where you can. The challenge here, of course, is determining what you can and cannot afford. When my children were small, I worked odd hours and could have desperately used some help cleaning, but I firmly believed that it wouldn’t fit into our family’s budget. After asking around, I was pleasantly surprised to find someone who could come in every couple of weeks and clean my house for a very reasonable rate. All I really wanted was someone to take care of the regular maintenance stuff like floors, bathrooms, and the kitchen; and I could handle the in-between times. Best. Investment. Ever.

Take advantage of free delivery. Two examples immediately come to mind: dry cleaning/laundry service and the milkman. My husband wears a tie to work every day. Thankfully, I discovered how inexpensive laundry service can be—and, glory hallelujah, I found out that my cleaner offered free pick-up and delivery to my home, twice a week. I hang the bag on the door and, like magic, my husband’s beautifully pressed shirts are waiting for me when I get home.

I also credit my Milk2You man for cutting my family’s food budget. Every week, I leave our cooler with an order for basics (milk, bread, juice, eggs, etc.) outside on my porch before I go to bed. In the morning, everything is there, along with an order form for the following week. Although you can’t use coupons, most prices are very comparable to the grocery store, and I no longer make those trips that end with “I came in here for milk, and walked out with $80 in groceries.”

Buy in bulk and buy online. While I bow to the couponers who live and breathe their savings, I also know that I simply don’t have time for a lot of clipping and organizing the right coupons for the right store. Instead, I visit my warehouse store every couple of months for paper towels, toilet paper, canned vegetables, and pasta. Then, between the warehouse and milk delivery, I make far fewer trips to the grocery store.

I have also become a big fan of buying bulk online. Two of my best examples are nylons and lotion/hand soap. I get regular emails from my favorite retailer letting me know about discounts and free shipping; and when one of those great “half-price/free shipping” weekends hits, I buy enough to last six to nine months AND use my “loyal customer” discount. No more emergency trips to the store.

I’m always on the lookout for other cost-effective “little helpers” to allow me more freedom and relaxation. Some of the best solutions are the simplest. We just have to give ourselves permission to take advantage of them.