time savers

13 Parenting Hacks That Will Save You Time

Elizabeth Lang — Wed, 07 Jan 2015 12:00:09 +0000

Before I had kids, I thought I didn't have much time. Then came along Kid #1 and it felt like we were always busy. Fast forward three years to Kid #2 and now I really know what it's like to not have enough time to do everything I want to do in a day. (See also: 9 Things You Must Do if You're Traveling With Kids)

So how do busy parents save time? Try these time saving hacks for parents to get more done in your day.

Clothing

Getting kids dressed takes time. Here are my favorite tips for saving time when it comes to clothes.

1. Instead of PJs, Dress Your Kids in Clothes

Perhaps the most practical tip I got from Sheryl Sandberg's Lean In was that she dresses her kids in their next day's clothes instead of pajamas. If your kids are not yet of the I-want-to-wear-this-not-that toddler kicking-and-screaming phase, you have no idea how much time this can actually save you. It literally took 45 minutes one morning to get my son's pants on. ("I don't like these pants." "Fine, don't wear pants." "I don't want my legs to be cold.")

Now, most weekday nights he puts on clean clothes for the next day. And we have saved ourselves a ton of time and a huge battle.

2. Set Out a Week's Worth of Outfits

One week at my son's preschool was "Rainbow Week" where the kids wore a different color of the rainbow everyday. In order to make sure we had the right clothes for every day, we set out clothes for the week, and it saved a ton of time. We now do this at the beginning of each week. And this tip also works wonders for your own wardrobe.

3. Iron Clothes With a Flat Iron for Hair

I don't remember where I read this tip first, but a flat iron (for hair) actually does a fantastic job of ironing clothing. If you're time pressed or only have one item to de-wrinkle, your flat iron is already hot from straightening your hair and can be used to fix your clothes.

4. Put a Bathrobe Over Your Clothes

In my first few weeks of going back to work after maternity leave I frequently needed two outfits — one for before the spit-up and one for after I had handed off my baby daughter to the nanny. Even older kids (and pets) tend to leave work clothes in less than presentable shape if you're not careful before leaving the house. By throwing a bathrobe over your clothes once you're dressed, you won't have to get dressed twice every morning.

Eating

As a parent, it seems that about half of my "free" time involves preparing or eating meals. Here are the tricks we use to save time in our household.

5. Meal Plan

Planning the next week's worth of meals has become a key "to-do" item for our weekend. No longer do we scramble after work to figure out what's in the cupboard or go out to eat because we can't figure out what to make (which actually takes more time than cooking). Plus, you'll end up saving a ton of money.

6. Freeze a Bag Full of Sandwiches

Making school lunches was either a nightly or morning chore that usually seemed rushed. Now, we buy a bag of mini bagels, cut and fill each bagel with either peanut butter or cream cheese, and freeze the whole bag. We also own enough divided lunch containers (I like Lunchbots) to make a whole week's worth of lunches on the weekends, and then easily throw the items each day in the lunch bag.

7. Master the Crock-Pot

We got a Crock-Pot for a wedding present, but it didn't become a counter-top staple appliance until after my daughter was born. We now have Crock-Pot meals at least once a week, because they just save so much time.

8. Make Breakfast Ahead of Time

I like a hot breakfast (or at least not cold cereal) most mornings. Here are my favorite make ahead and freezable breakfast recipes.

9. Buy a Coffeemaker With Programmable Timer

Mornings with kids are difficult (as evidenced by the fact that half my tips are about them) and a great place to save time in your day. Using a programmable coffeemaker is a great as it's one less thing to spend time on once you're out of bed.

Cleaning

I'm convinced that once you have children, there is never enough time to master keeping a spotless house, but here are some tips to make it a bit easier.

10. Buy a Dustbuster

When you don't have time to vacuum, a dustbuster is a miracle worker. We use ours at least every other day.

11. Love Your Dishwasher

Before kids, we used to handwash most of our pots, pans, and bowls. Recently, I've fully embraced our dishwasher and started putting pretty much all cookware in it. While we run loads much more frequently, we are less likely to have a stack of dishes waiting to be hand washed in the sink.

12. Have a Washer/Dryer Routine

We have yet to figure out how to save time on folding laundry (as seen by the piles of clean clothes around our house. If you have any tips for getting this done, let me know!). But no longer are we rushing around trying to clean clothes for the day we need them. Growing up my dad always put in a load of wash first thing in the morning (we had a laundry chute so there was no collecting of clothes that had to be done). I have recently adopted this habit for myself and found that with a regular routine, I am saving time on laundry.

Shopping

Getting kids in the car, driving to the store, shopping, returning home, unloading kids, and unloading the car — this adds up to hours each week. My single favorite tip for saving time on shopping is this:

13. Join Amazon Prime

I don't know how parents got their shopping done before Amazon Prime. If you don't know, Amazon Prime offers free two day shipping and one day shipping for $3.99. You'll save a ton of time by not having to run to the store every time you need an item.

What are your favorite parenting hacks that save you time? Please share in comments!

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This article is from Elizabeth Lang of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

8 Free Apps to Boost Your Online Productivity

Ashley Marcin — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 19:00:09 +0000

I feel fortunate to be in my thirties. In my opinion, it's the sweet spot for all things related to technology. I'm old enough to remember life before computers took over entirely. Yet, I'm young enough to quickly adapt and learn new things that make my life happier and more productive. No matter your age, however, you could be using your computer (and time) more effectively and efficiently. (See also: 6 Tools That Stop Computer Distractions and Keep You on Task)

Here are some free applications you can download today to do just that.

1. Inbox Tamer

There's no greater distraction than those little email notifications popping up at the bottom of your screen. I used to waste a lot of time checking email whenever I'd get anything new. Eventually, I tried closing the application entirely, only to find I'd forget to check and miss important messages. Well, now there's Inbox Pause, which delays the notifications so they won't interrupt your workflow.

2. Social Director

There are a lot of tools out there to block social media and other programs while you work, but Cold Turkey happens to be free. You can even customize the settings to block certain pages during certain activities through specific groupings. There are upgraded versions with scheduling capabilities, the power to identify certain users (for parents), etc. — but the basic version gets the job done.

3. Blue Light Blocker

I downloaded f.lux just last month, and I already see it's the beginning of a beautiful relationship. The software makes the colors on your screen adapt to the time of day. If it's late and nearing bedtime, it'll filter out the blue light, which can disrupt sleep patterns, and replace it with an amber glow. You can customize how little or much you want your display to shift, but I'm already falling asleep much faster after firing off articles before my head hits the pillow.

4. Message Wrangler

If you use Gmail, Boomerang is your new best friend. It lets you draft messages now and schedule to send later. It reminds you if you don't hear back on that important email you sent last week. And it even lets you clear out your inbox — and mind — temporarily and return the messages when you're ready to read them.

5. Time Tracker

Do you know how you're spending your time on the computer? RescueTime can make it a lot easier to track. The Lite version (it's free) enables you to record your time on websites and in different applications and set goals for yourself. The application also provides you with a weekly email report of your progress (or lack thereof).

6. Program Launcher

Have you ever wanted to open your programs with just a few keystrokes? Launchy lets you do just that. You'll forget about your menu, the icons cluttering your desktop, and even your file manager with this smart application. With over 120K users, I'd say it's working well for the masses.

7. Image Manipulator

Can't afford the leading image manipulation software? Try GIMP for your photo retouching needs. You can paint, add text, create layers, rotate, scale, and much more. This application will save you time on creating images for your presentations and give you some powerful tools for personal use as well.

8. Password Keeper

Over time, all those passwords can get quite hard generate and remember. And keeping them in a book next to your laptop isn't exactly convenient — or safe. Enter LastPass — the last password you'll need to remember. The application manages all your login information for different sites and autofills for you. You can even streamline your online shopping experience by setting up secure payment accounts. Best of all, LastPass helps create unique passwords that follow the best security practices.

What's your favorite (and free!) computer productivity hack? Please share in comments!

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This article is from Ashley Marcin of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

15 Time-Saving Tools Everyone Should Own

Mikey Rox — Thu, 25 Sep 2014 15:00:07 +0000

Feel like there's just not enough time in the day? Join the club. It feels like I'm going nonstop from before sunup to waaaay past sundown every day. I haven't found a solution that will add any time to my daily routine, but I have found a few ways to cut back on the time I'm spending on tasks that otherwise could be more efficient. (See also: You Need a Time Budget)

Take a look at some of my time-saving solutions here, then let me know how you shave a few minutes off your day in the comments below.

1. Food Processor

I enjoy cooking, and I usually make time to eat a healthy meal at home, but I don't always have the time (or energy) to cut, chop, peel, grate, and slice my breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Rather, I use a food processor whenever it makes sense to quickly and effortlessly manipulate the ingredients I need so I can speed up the cooking process and feed my hungry tummy faster. KitchenAid makes a great processor (the assortment of blades are beyond helpful), but Ninja also makes a line of powerful food prep products that I personally give my seal of approval.

2. Backup Gadget Batteries

iPhone users in particular know the daily struggle of seeing 1% at 11 a.m. even though they awoke four hours before with a fully charged device. Thus, we're forced to charge our phones multiple times a day to avoid being without power when we're not near a socket. In fact, I've personally spent 20 minutes or more on multiple occasions in an actual Apple store just to get a little juice. A rechargeable, on-the-go battery, however — like the ones from Mophie — drastically cuts back on the instances that I have to stop and recharge my phone when I'm out and about. I plug it in at night and take it with me to avert any low-battery crises.

3. Slow Cooker

There's not much better in this world than coming home after a long, hard day at work to a house that smells delicious because dinner is ready to eat. I don't use my slow cooker much in the summer, but I'm looking forward to stealing a little me-time this fall and winter thanks to my Crock-Pot. I'm also fond of this handy little attachment for slow cookers called the Lid Pocket, which helps me reduce the potential of an OCD attack when I have to put the lid on the counter or sink when taking it off — and I know I'm not alone.

4. Smartphone and Apps

There's no denying that smartphones help us save time in innumerable ways, from eliminating the need to clip coupons and helping us make lists to managing the security on our homes and keeping in touch with friends. If I had to pick my favorite time-saving app though, I think it would be my mobile banking app. When my bank launched it, it was like trumpets from the heavens were playin' my jam. Now I deposit my checks online, transfer money easily, and even sign up for in-app deals that give me cash back on participating purchases.

5. BB Cream

Erin Konrad, a spokesperson for CouponPal.com, told me about BB Cream. I didn't know much about this facial cosmetic product before Erin chimed in, but Wiki describes it as an all-in-one replacement for serum, moisturizer, primer, foundation, and sunblock. "I love using a BB cream in my beauty regimen; it has multiple uses, which can help save me time during my morning routine," Erin says. "I love anything that allows me to sleep in a few more minutes."

6. Programmable Coffee Maker

I'm not a coffee drinker myself — to be honest, I don't get it at all — but I don't have to be a java head to know that a programmable coffee maker can shave a good five to 10 minutes off your morning routine if you set it to brew just before you get up or while you're doing your other daily routines. There's also another cool gadget that will help you save time in the morning, the Gamila Impress Coffee Brewer, which gives you the fresh taste of a French Press while you're on the move. I had a chance to try it for another post and even I was impressed.

7. Dishwasher

Most homes have dishwashers nowadays, so let's consider this one an "oldie but a goodie." In fact, it may even be the biggest time saver of them all. Remember when you had to wash and dry all those dishes by hand? How long did it take you — 20, 30 minutes? More? Who has time for that — or dishpan hands? Not me. I just load it and forget it. Until it's time to unload it, of course; you know nobody else in the house is gonna do it.

8. Exercise Equipment

You can save a lot of time and money by buying exercise equipment for your home. I'm not talking about expensive machines, but rather inexpensive pieces like dumbbells, resistance bands, and over-the-door pull-up bars that will help you stay in shape without wasting time going back and forth to the gym multiple times a week. You'll also save anywhere from $10 to $100 a month on gym membership after the initial investment on the equipment.

9. Coin Sorter

My dad used to keep a huge water jug full of coins in his bedroom when I was a kid. Every year or so he would empty it out and spend hours — like many hours! — counting and wrapping the coins so he could take them to the bank and cash them in. Of course, these days you also can take your coins to a public machine and have them sorted and counted for you, but that'll cost you upwards of 8% to 10% of your total take.

A great solution to save time and money is to purchase a coin sorter for your home and get in the habit of throwing your change into it every day. When the coin wrappers are full, set them aside until you're ready to take them to the bank. I'd also advise buying a fairly decent sorter. I purchased a relatively cheap one in the past and it wasn't worth the plastic it cost to make it.

10. DVR

I don't watch much TV anymore, but back in the day I was a junkie, scheduling my activities around my favorite shows. But thanks to my DVR, I now can do more of what I want and need to do — like pump out these Wise Bread articles to help you live a more efficient and fiscally responsible life — because I know I can watch my programs later. Which is perfect for a lazy Sunday when there's nothing else on anyway.

11. Autonomous Cleaning Robots

When Roomba was first invented the line only consisted of a round disc that would move around your carpeted floor and suck up all the junk that you used to have pick up by manually pushing a vacuum cleaner. That product still exists, though it's now a much more advanced version, but the line also include models that will scrub and mop floors and clean pools and gutters. I can't even begin to quantify how much time these little babies save, but it's not drop in the bucket.

12. All-in-One Washer Dryer

I'm not sure if it's okay for a grown man to look at shiny new appliances like a wild cat eyes a juicy piece of fresh meat, but my obsession is real and perhaps a tad frightening. Nonetheless, I'm totally into the high-efficiency, all-in-one washer-dryers. I know I'm not the only person who hates going back and forth to the washer and dryer putting clothes in and taking them out of one machine on another all day long, and this is the perfect solution.

It's important to note, however, that while the machine's TurboWash will dramatically reduce wash time, the dryer (because it's non-vented) may take longer than you're used to. But who cares? When it's done, it's done, and you can get back to your DVR.

13. No-Iron Clothing

I would probably have to iron no-iron clothing — because I'm totally a freak about ironing my clothes — but for people who loathe it but have to do it if they want to look presentable and professional, I think this is a great compromise. If you're skeptical about how well no-iron clothing performs, Good Housekeeping put a few brands to the test, as reported by ABC News.

14. George Foreman Grill

For those of us who live in urban areas and have no room for a real grill — or can't own one altogether — a George Foreman Grill is a great compromise appliance. There's no charcoal to burn of course, so you're saving time there, but the other awesome time-saving aspect of these grills is that they cook both sides of the food at once, essentially cutting your time in the kitchen in half. Plus, reviews have always been on the positive side for the grills, so you know you're getting a good product.

15. Hybrid or Electric Car

I left this entry last because as a society we're still not quite ready to fully embrace hybrid and electric cars, but we are moving steadily in that direction. Alas, once these kind of cars become commonplace, positive results will abound. We won't pollute the environment as much, we won't have to rely on foreign oil so heavily, and we won't have to pop in and out of gas stations as much (or ever if your car is completely electric). You can get where you're going faster and cheaper, which will make your trip all the more relaxing. Aaaah.

Do you have more time-saving items that everyone should own to suggest? Let me know in the comments below.

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This article is from Mikey Rox of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

10 Ways You're Wasting Time Without Realizing It

Mikey Rox — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 21:00:04 +0000

Time is one thing that we seem to have less of as life wears on. (See also: 15 Ways to Save Time in the Morning)

The days fly by and we're stressed to come up with any extra minutes. But what if we could free up our schedule and finish our to-do lists? Some people are just busy with little or no recourse, but others are wasting time without even knowing that it's happening. Here's a look at a few ways we can be more aware of our time and be better managers of it.

1. Leaving Email "Up"

You may work a job where you must have email up on a constant basis. But if you don't, there's no reason to run it when you aren't waiting on a particular message. If you're working on a project, just close your email and check them periodically throughout the day. Avoiding that catchy little "(1)" that often distracts your train of thought can save you a lot of time.

2. Listening to Music

In some cases, listening to music can help pass the time when engaging in mundane or mindless tasks. But when it comes to work that you need to think intentionally about, like crafting a sales pitch, writing a report, or even just reading something, music can slow you down, thereby increasing the time spent on the task and decreasing the resulting quality of your work.

3. Paying for Lunch

In some cases, you need to spend money to make money. But paying for lunch is often a double-figure investment and can cost you close to (or more than) an hour of work. Pack a lunch instead of eating out and you'll get back an hour's worth of pay, which can really add up.

4. Not Taking a Break

It might seem counterproductive (or even impossible) to stop what you're doing at work or home to take a break. However, numerous studies have shown that taking a break, or even a short nap, can actually boost your productivity and increase the quality of your work output.

5. Not Making a To-Do List

Even if you can remember everything you need to do, making a to-do list can help you focus by streamlining your schedule and giving you a failsafe to avoid forgetting important tasks.

6. Using a Gadget When Pen and Paper Will Do

Tablets and smartphones can be excellent productivity tools. But when it comes to taking notes or quickly writing down ideas, you may be better off with the much simpler pen and paper.

7. Going to Meetings

It's becoming increasingly common for meetings to be viewed as productivity killers. That's not to say they don't have their place, but a brutally objective view of the typical workplace meeting shows us that we're wasting a lot of precious time.

8. Attending Technology-Related Classes

It's not to say that all work-related classes are a waste of time, but a lot of the information that used to only exist inside classrooms now exists for free on the Internet. Particularly when it comes to technology-related topics, you can learn almost everything there is to know in a free, online format.

Places like Khanacademy and Code Academy are great places to start.

9. Running Dual Monitors

A lot of people find dual monitors to be more productive because it allows them to avoid having to switch back and forth between different applications or documents. While that's true, it only applies in certain professions. For example, graphic designers and programmers will often have need for more than one screen. But if it's not an obvious necessity, more than one monitor often makes things more distracting because it tempts you to put something that's not work-related on the second screen. In most cases, it'll be more efficient to stick with one monitor.

10. Not Putting Your Clothes Out the Night Before

One incredibly simple thing you can do to save time before you go to bed is set your clothes out for the next day the night before. It makes early mornings a lot quicker as it gets you out of your bedroom without having to search through drawers, possibly in the dark out of fear that you'll wake someone up.

Time to Be Saved

There's no question that it's easy to crowd our lives with obligations and tight schedules. But there is time to be saved if we're willing to be objective about our own scheduling and work habits. If we remove the unnecessary time wasters and get specific about where we can get be more efficient, most of us can get back more than 60 minutes a day. For many, that can make a huge difference by allowing them to be more focused, relaxed and allow them to feel less rushed every day.

How do you conserve and avoid wasting time? Are the tactics you employ at home and work much different? Let me know in the comments section.

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This article is from Mikey Rox of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

24 Little Things You Can Do Faster

Anthony Hall — Mon, 12 May 2014 09:12:22 +0000

In a hurry? Let's speed things up!

1. Don't Tie Your Shoes (Or Sneakers)

Don't bother. Leave them tied and slip them on. They're just loafers with string, after all. Or just wear loafers.

2. Put Laundry Hampers (And Trash Cans) In Corners

Put the hamper in a corner. You'll put clothes in the hamper faster and practice your hook shot.

3. Bring Things Part Way There

Always carry something even if you can only get it part way to its destination. Next time you pass by the object headed closer to its final destination, pick it up, and get it closer yet. Saves you from dedicating a trip just for the purpose of putting something away.

4. Hang Up Pans and Kitchen Utensils

Those hooks for pans and utensils give your kitchen a rustic feel, but also save from having to put things in cabinets and (more important) fishing around for them later.

5. Avoid Traffic and Peak Shopping Hours

For most of us, avoid getting in the car on Friday evenings and rush hours and avoid hitting the supermarket on Saturdays.

6. Take Timed Showers

Those luxurious, long showers – you're clean in 5 minutes and still there for 10 or more. Try putting a timer in the bathroom to prompt shorter showers. This saves on hot water, too. (See also: Take the World's Most Efficient Shower)

7. Cook for the Week All at Once

Cook enough for five, get out the Tupperware, and eat one container for lunch or dinner each day. You might have a freezer full of meals eventually, but then you can take a few weeks off of cooking entirely. (See also: 10 Things to Cook on a Sunday)

Sandwiches don't last for a week all the time, but frozen meals sure do. Then you get a hot, home cooked, microwaved meal at work instead of a dull sandwich.

8. Clean Often

Clean often, and you won't have to dedicate an entire Saturday once a month to keep your house or apartment in order. (See also: Declutter Your Home in 10 Minutes)

9. Use Delivery

The pharmacy in my neighborhood delivers. Saves a four mile trip there and four miles back.

10. Get a Hands-Free Set Up for Calls in Your Car

A few extra dollars spent, and you can charge your phone while you drive or make calls without breaking the law.

11. Listen to Radio News

Radio is still more portable than television, so if you need a news fix, listen to the radio while doing something else. Television, by comparison, usually demands sitting there doing nothing else.

12. Multi-Task the Right Way

That said, get out the knitting while watching television, and you can save time catching up on your shows and your Christmas gifts.

13. Pack Food for Car Trips (And "Go" Before You Go)

The average stop on a car trip adds a half hour at least to the trip. Stopping for a meal and a bathroom break can make a long ride seem interminable.

14. Back Into Parking Spaces

It takes more maneuvering getting in, but makes for a fast getaway.

15. Put Things in the Same Place

Some people are persnickety about putting things away for a reason: They don't want to spend four hours the next day looking for something, so they put things away in the same place every time.

16. Modernize the House

Computerized lights controlled by remote, music systems handled by consoles located at strategic locations, etc.

17. Fence in the Yard

Property and pet owners can save themselves hours of dog walking if they just put up a fence.

18. Throw a Kiss

Looks stupid, but it does saves seconds. Might be a lifesaver someday.

19. Establish the Fastest Route for Routine Errands

People establish routines, and then find out years later they have been traveling an extra mile or two to places they go to frequently. Try the alternate route once in a while and you might find time savers were there all along.

20. Make the Right Stops on a Road Trip With Kids

Stop to eat at a place with table dining, food to go, and a place for the kids to run around. Have the kids run around while the grown-ups eat, then get kids' meals to go. You get a little break from the kids during diner and quiet kids in the car while they eat and cut down on time at the pit stop.

21. Optimize Your Technology

From proper bookmarking to filtering unwanted spam, your computer can help speed up dozens of annoying chores you might be doing every day.

22. Put Up Shelves, Hooks, and Bulletin Boards

How often do we stop at the front door, fish in our pockets for keys, wallets, a pen or paper or sunglasses. You might not need a huge, unsightly shelf in strategic locations. A small shelf, a hook or a small strip of cork can save time in the routine scramble to get out of the house.

23. Make Spaces Smaller

A big kitchen looks beautiful, but cutting it in half would save a lot of time when preparing a meal. Maybe an island counter would provide more workspace and cut down on the unnecessary walking across the room. (See also: Big Lessons From Tiny Houses)

24. Give a Group Hug

Instead of a bunch of individual hugs. Bye all! Gotta run.

How do you save time and cut corners? Use one of the moments you've saved to share in comments!

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This article is from Anthony Hall of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

15 Essential Life Hacks That Will Save You Time in the Morning

Mikey Rox — Mon, 22 Jul 2013 10:24:32 +0000

We can all agree that there's not enough time in a day. We're even more aware of that sad fact every morning as we rush around to get ready for work, inevitably pushing the threshold of tardiness by sitting down at our desks 30 seconds before the shift starts. Most of us, anyway. Some of you are just late on the regular, much to the chagrin of your very patient superiors. (See also: How to Wake Up Fast and Attack the Day)

There is a solution, however. Change your routine so that you can save more time in the morning. By instituting simple changes, you can relax a little in the a.m., get to work without qualifying for the Indy 500, and quite possibly catch a few more Zs. Here's how.

1. Prepare Lunch the Night Before

While I'm cleaning up after dinner, I take out my storage containers and separate tomorrow's leftover dinner from tomorrow's leftover lunch. They both go in the fridge, so I can pull one out for my midday meal at work.

2. Organize Your Outfits for the Entire Week on Sunday

Forget prepping your outfit the night before each workday. Over the course of five days, you'll spend more time coordinating and ironing than you would attacking it all in one fell swoop. Which is why you should consider planning an entire week's worth of outfits in one night.

Once you have everything picked out, hang the outfit with all its necessary pieces — shirt, pants, undies, socks, etc. — so you can reach into your closet and grab the entire contents at once. Plus, if you usually do laundry on Sunday, you'll cut a few more minutes from your chore schedule because you won't have to fold all the fresh clothes and put them away just to take them back out to wear them. You can pull pieces from the laundry basket to put your outfits together, while the rest you'll send to their respective drawers.

3. Use the Steam From the Shower Instead of an Iron

If you hate ironing, keep the board in the closet and put your clothes in the bathroom and allow the steam from the shower to release the wrinkles. If you're like me, though (OCD about ironing, that is; I have to do it), try a standup steamer as an alternative, which heats up quicker than a standard iron and allows you to cover a lot of cloth in a short amount of time.

4. Sleep in Your Workout Gear

Many people sleep in shorts or sweats and a T-shirt. If that's what you wear to the gym, there's no need to spend time getting dressed for it. Just get up and go in whatever you woke up in. This may even help you make it to the gym more often, since you can convince yourself that if you're dressed and ready to go, there's no excuse not to.

5. Place Your Pocket Essentials in Your Lunch Bag

Every morning — without fail — I forget something. ChapStick, keys, gym bag, lunch. I get halfway down the four flights of stairs before I realize it — sometimes even further (halfway to the subway) — and I either have to come running back to get it or do without it for the day. To avoid this problem, I started putting my gym bag on top of my computer bag, and my keys and ChapStick in my lunch bag.

6. Brush Your Teeth in the Shower

I've been brushing my teeth in the shower since I was in high school. Granted it doesn't save a lot of time doing it in the shower versus at the sin,k because you still have to engage in the act of brushing, presumably for the same amount of time, but I think I shave at least a few seconds off by being able to rinse in an already running shower, as opposed to swishing and rinsing at the sink.

7. Make Your Soap or Shampoo Pull Double Duty

Are you using one soap for your body and another for your face, plus shampoo and conditioner? You can combine two of those into one by using shampoo as the soap for your hair and your body, and vice versa. Not all soaps and shampoos are created equal, of course, so if you do try this trick, it's probably best to do it with a moisturizing soap or shampoo, so you don't inadvertently dry out your skin or your hair by using a product that isn't made for one or the other.

8. Get a Low-Maintenance Haircut

I keep my hair short for a reason — I don't want to fuss with it in the morning. If you're spending half-an-hour in the bathroom drying and styling your hair, consider a shorter, low-maintenance 'do. I know it's hard to part with your hair (although some of us don't have a choice), but once it's gone, you likely won't miss it, especially when you discover how much more time you have in the morning.

9. Cut Back on Grooming Products

Putting four or five products in your hair in the morning? Spending too much time thinking about what cologne to wear? Eliminate that problem by only having one of each product you need on hand. You'll save money by reducing your stash, but you'll also save time because your brain won't be racked on what you should use that day.

10. Invest in a Coffee Maker With a Timer

Set it and forget it. Ron Popeil made that phrase famous, but it doesn't just apply to his Showtime Rotisserie. With a coffee maker that features an auto-brew setting, you can set it before bed, so your coffee is hot and ready when you wake up. No need to fiddle with filters and grounds when you're so groggy. It's a better day already.

11. Switch to Iced Coffee

Even if you switch to an auto-brew coffee maker that has your coffee ready when you wake up, you still have to add milk and sugar (if that's what you like), and wait till it cools down to drink it at home or put it in a to-go cup, so you can enjoy it on the road. By switching to iced coffee, however, you can prepare it the night before and just take it from the fridge when you grab your lunch.

12. Pack a Healthy Breakfast in Advance

Cut out the cereal and milk (or worse, a pass through the drive-thru) from your morning routine by preparing a to-go breakfast. You can get creative here (like making breakfast burritos in advance), but an easy, healthy way to start the day and save time is to put yogurt in a container with fruit and attach a small baggie of granola to it with a rubber band. When you get to work, mix it all together and eat at your desk.

13. Leave Breakfast Items at Work

Stock your drawer at work with a few breakfast items — oatmeal packets are space efficient and healthy — that you can make at the office to save more time at home.

14. Gather Your Things for the Next Day Before Bed

Easy enough in theory, but how many of us run around looking for shoes and keys and computers in the morning? Avoid that by taking a few minutes before bed to think about everything you'll need for the day — not just for work, but to accommodate your entire morning, noon, and night schedule if you don't plan to come home to pick up additional items.

15. Turn Your Gadgets Off

Do you get sucked into responding to email while you're getting ready for work? I do. Every morning. To avoid this, simply turn off your devices. Yes, completely off. When they're off, you won't be distracted, and you can get ready faster. Besides, you have all day to stare at your screens. Don't you deserve a little "me" time in the morning?

How do you save time in the morning? Let me know in the comments below.

This article is from Mikey Rox of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Halloween Time Savers for a Stress-Free Holiday

Mikey Rox — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 10:24:30 +0000

Halloween is lurking just around the corner. To help you prepare in advance (so on October 31 you’re not in a zombie-like trance), here are some pre-holiday tips that will allow you to make the most of the scariest night of the year.

Get Your Costumes and Accessories Early

Yes, I know that costumes are discounted as Halloween nears — and those discounts are well worth waiting for if you don’t care what your costume is — but if you want the pick of the litter, you have to shop early. Shopping even a week in advance will limit your selection, because the best costumes will be picked through and the range of sizes will be small. (See also: 85 Easy, Frugal Halloween Costume Ideas)

Think of all the other items you’ll need, too, and make a list. If you plan to use accessories or makeup, don’t wait until the last minute to pick them up. You’ll be disappointed if they’re not available at the costume shop or stressed out if you’re rushing in there two hours before the big party.

The night before, bring all your items out, take inventory, and place everything together in a safe place. If all your costume components are ready and waiting for you when you get off work, you'll get out of the house and into celebration mode much quicker.

Make Your Costume From Things Around the House

Want to avoid the crowds and mass-produced costumes all together? Let your creativity run wild in your own closet, which will also save you time and money. Everyone has random clothes and accessories that would work well as part of a themed outfit. Football jerseys, tool belts, boots, scrubs, cheerleading outfits, old suits — whatever it is, you can dress it up or down and turn into something fun and frightening. It might not be the most original costume out there (although you can still come up with amazing ideas with things you have already have around the house), but at least you’ll be festive without dropping dough on a costume you’ll wear for less than 12 hours.

Make Dinner the Night Before

If you have a family of trick-or-treaters, make your Halloween meal the night before. Put it in the fridge so you can heat it up and serve quickly. As soon as you get off work, the kids will be ready to go; by having the meal on the table in less time that it usually takes, they’ll have more time to go door-to-door, and you won’t have to listen to as much nagging. Plus, by heading out on a full stomach, you and the kids will be less inclined to dig into the stash before you can get home to properly inspect it.

Plan the Trick-or-Treating Route

Print out a map of the neighborhood in which you intend to trick-or-treat, and sit down as a family and discuss the route. This will give the kids a chance to pick the houses they definitely want to hit (they always remember the ones will the full-size candy bars), and it will allow you to set a schedule. If you have more than one child, let them each contribute to the route choices, so there's an equal balance of power. Once you reach the end of the route, let them know that it will be time to go home — an easier task to accomplish if it’s predetermined and on paper.

Have even more time-saving Halloween tips? Let me know in the comments below.

This article is from Mikey Rox of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread: