Save Time and Save Money: Make your time and money cooperate

Source: http://frugalliving.about.com/library/weekly/aa082200a.htm?terms=at+the+same+time

Too busy to save money?

I write a lot about things you can do to cut costs and still keep a certain level of quality in your life. Often, those things take time to accomplish. Some of the articles are specifically geared toward stay-at-home moms and dads, because it's assumed that they have more time to devote to money saving strategies.

As a former "just housewife", I can tell you that's simply not true. It seems that the time you have to spend expands directly in accordance to the amount of things you have to do - but there's never any left over.

Fortunately, real savings often come more in what we don't do, than in what we do. That means we can cut out some activities and save time, energy, and money at the same time. Coupon clipping, cooking from scratch and making things we need really are some examples of things that can take chunks of time from already busy days.

Thankfully, it's not always a matter of adding chores to your workload that even will save the most. It's more of a matter of attitude and changing the way you already do things, that will actually save you time as well as money.

For example, if you know there will be days that you're too busy or too tired to cook, (and who doesn't have those days?) plan for them by having frozen pizza or lasagna or plain old frozen dinners in stock. Frozen cooked chicken bought by the box is much less expensive than the popular fried chicken fast food place, and your own instant mashed potatoes can taste as good as theirs. Yes, it's going to raise your grocery bill somewhat, but it's going to lower your "eating out" bill by a lot more. Besides that, you can kick off your shoes and stick your feet up while you're eating it if you want. Try that at a fast food place and you'll likely be in trouble.

Let something else do your mundane thinking and remembering for you. Take advantage of online reminder services, or programs that you install on your computer. A few minutes entering birthdays, appointments and so on can do away with last minute time crunches. Give yourself a few weeks notice so you can keep an eye out for the best bargains when you need to shop for gifts. You don't have to run from this store to that one if you just watch the sales casually without having to buy right away. Even if you keep a 'gift stash', give yourself time in case you don't have the perfect gift, or need to add to something you already have.

More Don'ts:

* Don't go to the grocery for a couple of items and walk out with fifty dollars worth. Make a list, go straight to the items on the list, and check out! This will save time and money.
* Party time? Don't think you have to bake a cake "from scratch" to save frugal status. Cake mixes are inexpensive and can save you a little more time.
* Start a list of things that will take five minutes, ten minutes or a half hour and keep it in a handy place, then when you have that much time, do something from the list. Examples: Cut out coupons that you'll use, or make your own liquid soap from shampoo and water, or put together a casserole from leftovers and put it in the freezer. You'll think up more as you go.
* You'll save time and money if you know exactly where your coupons or shopping lists are. You won't be tempted to run out the door without them.
* Don't go to the malls, the fast food places and the people who need to keep up with the Joneses. Staying focused is easier said than done, but you can help yourself do that by being careful about where you go, and the people you listen to.


Other Resources:

Weekly Tip - You'll find ways to to save a little here and a little there.
Ten Minutes to a More Frugal You - Get a jump start on that list of 'to do' when you have the time.
Spending Time and Money - Several answers to a college student's question.

The key is to do what you have the time and inclination for.