The day is far too short, and the to-do list is still long—who doesn't know that feeling? You go to work, take care of the children and/or pets, and, of course, the household. Ideally, there should still be time for sports and relaxation, but for many, these components are usually completely dropped. But how can you save time, and to whom can I delegate things? Together with my husband, I have thought about this again and again, and after some trial and error, I have put together a list of what has really helped me save time in everyday life. Dare to try it out; it is really worth it:
How can I save time on household chores?
Shopping online
Shopping used to cost me a lot of time and energy in everyday life. You have to let the whole scenario sink in: driving to the store, putting everything into the shopping cart, putting everything on the conveyor belt, putting everything back into the shopping cart, then stowing everything in the trunk, cleaning up spills, carrying the groceries into the house, and distributing them in the fridge and pantry. For us, that's quite a lot, since I only have to shop once a week for 4 people. Sounds like a lot of effort, right?
Take the test: add up all these times—how much time does shopping take you in everyday life? For me, it was a significant amount of time that I wanted to optimize. By chance, unfortunately due to illness, my husband suggested trying an online order. I was very skeptical, I admit openly; I always wanted to see everything. Who knows, maybe they'll send me the old stuff that nobody wants? But then curiosity won, and I wanted to at least try it once.
Which portal? Ordering online from Billa or Spar? What else is there?
Currently, 2 grocery stores offer online orders: Billa and Interspar. I have already ordered from both:
In Billa online shop I have had the following experiences: I have really ordered from all categories. The quality is really great. In all these years, I have only had to complain twice, and both times I received a very nice response immediately, and after sending in a proof photo, I immediately got the money back for that product. Nothing has ever been missing (unless it is not available, which is noted on the invoice).
Positive:
- Large assortment
- Simple selection of products
- Good search function
- Shopping cart can be saved and reused (saves a lot of time!!)
- Shopping cart is saved for a really long time, so you can add things in stages
- Promotions can be used online
- Free deliveries again and again
- Click & Collect is possible
- Drive-in is possible
- Jö benefits can be used
- You can save products as favorites and find them faster, or they will be displayed in your shopping cart
Negative:
- In Gänserndorf, only selected delivery times are possible per day (e.g., Fridays only from 8-11 a.m.)
- The 'Frisch Gekocht' magazine cannot be delivered online; it is only available online
In Interspar online shop I have had the following experiences: Here, too, I have now ordered from all categories: frozen food, delicatessen, fruit and vegetables, etc. Here, too, I have only very rarely had a complaint, which was handled super quickly and friendly. The quality is always top-notch, almost nothing is ever missing, only sometimes things are sold out, and you see that on the invoice.
Positive:
- Large assortment
- Simple selection of products
- Good search function
- Shopping cart is saved for a really long time, so you can add things in stages
- Promotions can be used online
- Free delivery from an order value of € 100
- Pick-up at a collection station is possible
- Marked items are displayed in your shopping cart (Your top items)
- Really large delivery window; here you have the possibility to have everything delivered every day from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- You can save products as favorites and find them faster, or they will be displayed in your shopping cart
Negative:
- Shopping cart cannot be saved and reordered
Ordering online from Adamah
For many years, I have been ordering my fruit and vegetables (as well as other things, because the assortment is constantly being expanded!) from Adamah in Glinzendorf. This is where it all started with the BioKistl. When the children were babies, I really wanted fresh fruit and vegetables, organic and fair. Here you have a large selection of boxes and other organic products, such as jam, juice, meat, cheese, vegan items, and much more. The quality here is also top-notch. Only now and then did I have a complaint, which was handled very, very friendly and quickly with a refund.
Positive:
- Large assortment
- Simple selection of products
- Good search function
- Shopping cart is saved for a really long time, so you can add things in stages
- Favorite products can be marked
- Free delivery from an order value of € 21
- Delivery breaks can be entered, or you can donate the box!
- Dislikes can be entered
Negative:
- The delivery window in Gänserndorf is fixed, so our box is always delivered on Friday morning; in the case of holidays during the week, it arrives on Saturday
Ordering online with Amazon Subscribe & Save
I always buy certain items the same way, be it toilet paper, paper towels, detergent, cleaning agents. For such items, I discovered the service Amazon Subscribe & Save for myself. Here I have very different products in subscriptions that are delivered to me regularly. From detergent to cleaning agents, toothpaste, razor blades, pet food, to trash bags or vacuum cleaner bags.
Many things that we always buy the same way and need regularly. At first, you have to experiment a bit with how quickly something runs out; it can happen that you have set the subscription interval too short or too long, or overlook that the children no longer need baby shampoo. But now it fits really well, and it is very rare that something is not there.
Positive:
- Large assortment
- Simple selection of products
- Good search function
- The ordered products are displayed very clearly
- You can choose the time period very individually (weeks, months)
- You can exchange products very easily
- Info if the product is no longer available
- No delivery fee
- 10% for 1-4 subscriptions and 15% discount for 5 or more subscriptions
- Can be canceled at any time
- No registration fee
- Delivered to your home
Negative:
- The packaging waste
- Delivery date cannot be changed; it is always at the beginning of the month
Conclusion on online shopping
I am very enthusiastic about online shopping, notice the time savings, and that I am less annoyed. I can choose my things comfortably, usually in the evening in peace, often even with online recipes, and I forget much less than in the store. The children also like it; they can also choose their things in peace, browse, and 'shop' for things. Meanwhile, I order online once a week, usually from Interspar, for the reason that the delivery window is sooooo flexible. Here I can often still order on Sunday evening, and the whole thing arrives on Tuesday of the same week.
With Amazon Subscribe & Save, I find it so practical that I no longer have to pay attention to these items. I only check if something is not available or change an item if necessary, but in principle, Amazon takes care of whether we have toilet paper or detergent at home.
Furthermore, one can say that it is more environmentally friendly to have things delivered: because here one (!) person drives around with the groceries and not all households individually! Unless you shop by bike or on foot yourself, then this argument can of course not be used. Unfortunately, that is rarely an option for us, as the quantity for four people is already somewhat larger.
Doing household chores together
This point concerns, for example, cleaning in the household, or making food, as well as tidying up. Here, as many members (!) of the family as possible should help. The older the children are, the more they should help. Be it loading and unloading the dishwasher, doing laundry, cleaning, setting the table, or making beds. If there are pets in the household, this should also be done by everyone together. It should not be the case that only one person is responsible for it.
From experience, I know that women in particular tend to want to do everything alone. That is totally wrong and also unnecessary. You don't help the children if they get everything done for them. How are they supposed to be able to run a household themselves one day? It is valuable if children are taught, for example, manual skills or gardening. Yes, at first there is grumbling, but usually, when everyone is working, it is often even fun, and they are proud when they are allowed to use a tool, for example. My children, for example, can also cook many things on their own and are also interested in it.
Extra tip: if all that doesn't work and you have the money for it, I highly recommend a cleaning lady who takes over the basic cleaning every now and then for a few hours. Really often saves nerves and arguments.
Conclusion on doing household chores together
Especially when cooking and baking, I started involving the children in the kitchen very early. Sure, sometimes the kitchen looks like a mess, but it was also always totally nice when they were there and then even came on their own to help. Don't always send the children away; it's great when they want to help. And don't be afraid to let them help clean the kitchen afterwards.
Our children help with the pets and clean the cage all by themselves (and yes, that works wonderfully (after some grumbling or 'yes, I'm coming in a minute'). Also with setting the table, clearing away dishes, and tidying up. They also often help in the garden and with work in the house. Of course, not always with enthusiasm, and you sometimes have to wait a bit until someone comes, but stick with it, don't give up!
Letting children become more independent
Also an important and often not so easy point for parents. I always believed I was doing the children a favor by driving them around and always accompanying them. But that's usually not true. The children don't learn to become more independent. Especially driving them around by car is unnecessary for the children and not encouraging. They don't learn to find their way in traffic, are not attentive, and, for example, are not awake in the morning. It is important that the children can also manage on their own.
A good possibility is the way to school: depending on how far it is, walk this path with the child a few times at the beginning. Show the child difficult places, such as traffic lights, intersections, or crossings, and discuss what they should definitely pay attention to. How to cross a street correctly. If the way to school is too far, then let them take the bus. Show them the way to the bus station and how they get back, or pick them up a few times at the beginning. If the child is ready, then let them go alone.
Extra tip: If you want to be on the safe side, and it is possible: observe the child without them seeing you to see if they are doing everything correctly.
If the children are older and have their bicycle license, the way to school can be completed by bike. Here too, ride the path together with the child, point out again and again what they should pay attention to and where they are allowed to ride.
Conclusion on letting children become more independent
We started letting the children take the bus back in elementary school (3rd grade). At first, I took the children to the bus stop and also picked them up. After that, they came and went on their own, and it was a very big time saving for me, not to mention the annoyance of having to drive somewhere by car in the morning. It was great for us because several children took the bus, and the children really liked it. Unfortunately, the bus is completely useless for getting to school because it was way too late every day (!). Although several parents urged for change, nothing changed; totally a pity and unnecessary.
From the time the children passed their bicycle test in the 4th grade of elementary school, they were allowed to ride their bikes to school. It's great for us because many children of the same age live near us, and real bicycle groups have formed. Our kids love it, and they don't want to be driven even in the worst weather.
I notice that they find their way around traffic very well, are attentive, and get some exercise in the fresh air on the side. Of course, it is totally nice when they can ride with their friends. And for me, it is a very big time saving!
Networking with other parents
All parents are in the same boat and have to drive by car for certain appointments. This is the case with many hobbies, as these do not always fit in terms of time or take place in other towns. Here I am also talking about birthday parties, events, or extracurricular activities. If several children have to be brought at the same time, it is smart and time-saving to network with other parents and arrange driving services. It doesn't always have to be that all parents drive with the children individually. It helps me a lot if, for example, I take the children to tennis and my friend picks them up. This way, both are helped, and time is saved!
Extra tip: Of course, it should please not happen that only one person is always driving the children around; that is called taking advantage and is to be avoided, unless that person explicitly says that they really want to do it that way!
Conclusion on networking with other parents
I find this point very important and really great if it fits from both sides. For example, I have often had it that we arranged a hobby for both children, and one had to be in Weikendorf on Monday from 3:00 p.m. to 3:45 p.m., and the other had to be there on Monday from 5:00 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. Or birthday parties where you had to take several children. Here I really enjoyed it when we could split the trips. I am also very lucky here again that, as I said, many parents live near us and our children do a lot together, and it really works super well with the parents and is a help.
One can also mention that it is of course much better for the environment if one person picks up a few children at once than if all parents pick up their own children individually.
Try it out, dare to ask parents cautiously if you couldn't split trips. You can't get more than a no!
I hope you found a few suggestions in my article that make your everyday life easier. If you also have ideas, I would be happy if you write to me!
Read also: Tips for reducing stress and improving your mood
Photos by Sabine, meinhaushalt.at
