As a fellow busy woman who’s always on-the-go, I’m constantly looking for ways to improve my day-to-day routine in order to make my life a little more simple and less stressful. While money is important for everyday luxuries, there’s nothing quite as valuable as the gift of time. Here are five tricks that will save you BOTH.
Online shopping add-ons
We all know of the wonders online shopping can do for our hectic schedules, but there are plenty of other tools that take it to the next level. Implementing add-ons like Honey, Ebates or Wikibuy to your browser’s toolbar ensure you get the best bang for your buck. Honey scans the items in your shopping cart during checkout and automatically plugs in coupon codes to lower your costs. Wikibuy scours the web for the products you choose to see if you’re getting the best deal possible. Lastly, activating Ebates on your toolbar before you shop online earns you cash back with participating sites. Happy shopping/saving!
Yelp
We place a lot of value on recommendations for places to go or services to try. Rather than relying on word-of-mouth advertising, take advantage of Yelp. Yelp is a site that houses reviews from consumers for practically any place you can think of—whether you need to find a tailor in a pinch or you have a sushi craving that you need to satiate. By checking out reviews from those within the online community, you’ll be a lot more knowledgeable of what to expect in terms of cost, quality, service and wait time than if you were to walk right in.
Create a home workout practice
Though there are some gyms that still offer reasonable monthly rates, why not save yourself the gas and membership expenses and create your own setup in the comfort of your own home? You don’t need a bunch of fancy equipment. There are plenty of high-intensity exercises that only require a couple of weights and a steady internet connection. Apps like Nike Training Club, Runkeeper and Sworkit will keep you in shape and motivated by tracking your daily progress. It’s like having your own personal trainer for free.
Meal prepping
While eating out for lunch every day may seem convenient, it can take a huge toll on your finances. Instead, make the most of your Sunday evenings by buying groceries for the week that are cost-effective and low-maintenance to prepare. Pinterest can be your best friend for finding quick and easy recipes to throw delicious meals together in less time than you’d spend waiting in line for your lunch specials.
Invest in a quality coffee machine and thermos
Become your own barista. There’s nothing wrong with your usual Dunkin’ Donuts and Starbucks run in the mornings to fuel yourself with energy for the day. But even those minor costs add up. Fill up your machine with water and grinds the night prior so all you need to do is click brew, grab and go.
