My Kids Are Helping Me Save Money And Time

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Money Saved: </b>Again, that water bill! Water is insanely expensive where I live. Some months it can be as much as $200! But between the missing dishes, the limited laundry, and the fact that my children don’t like to bathe, I’m saving a whopping$ 50 a month!</p><p id="53d4"><b>Time Saved: </b>Less time on chores means more time to read and write!</p><p id="3aee">Life can be hectic during the week. I used to meal plan, but I became tired of hearing the kids groan about dinner. <b>SO I STOPPED COOKING</b>. Seriously, I only make dinner 2x-3x a week. The rest of the time we live off of leftovers, plain noodles, and cereal.</p><p id="09b1"><b>Money Saved: </b>Well, this is hard to say. However, we seem to eat through the fridge more frequently. And when I do cook, the kids are a bit more appreciative.</p><p id="221f"><b>Time Saved: </b>Instead of coordinating evening chaos, I walk in the door and say “get yourself some cereal.” Then I stand at the counter and listen to my kids talk about their day while I sip a cup of tea or enjoy a glass of wine.</p><figure id="cb1f"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/0*sCnL73jqtlFMncO9"><figcaption><a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/Buzz-Bingo-sipping-tea-drinking-drinks-flkgoPWN4jCfg75XXv">https://giphy.com</a></figcaption></figure><p id="4651" type="7">Key Point: Lower your expectations of family life and you’ll save money, enjoy your time, and find some new ways to laugh.</p><p id="f066"><i>Want to get an email from me every time I publish? Join my email list by clicking <a

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href="https://medium.com/subscribe/@mercedesoleary">here</a>.</i></p><p id="18a8"><i>Writing and reading on Medium is fun. It’s like being part of a worldwide writing community. If you want to give it a try, use my referral <a href="https://medium.com/@mercedesoleary/membership">link</a> and I’ll get a little kickback.</i></p><p id="e5d2"><i>Thanks for reading! Here are some links to some more of my stories:</i></p><div id="8461" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/my-bathroom-looked-like-a-blood-bath-a52912c82647"> <div> <div> <h2>My Bathroom Looked Like A Blood Bath</h2> <div><h3>Another one bites the dust!</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*dOJ6rYxk3HJkH1Hg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="19e0" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/i-just-locked-my-kids-outside-4086e2ea143f"> <div> <div> <h2>I Just Locked My Kids Outside</h2> <div><h3>Only for a few minutes!</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*OTW-lI37ND-6xN8i)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div></article></body>

Now I have time to relax

My kid wears the same overalls and shirt every single day. I tried to fight it, but then I realized she was saving me time and money…

Money Saved: I no longer buy her clothes and the water bill has gone down.

Time Saved: We have minimal laundry to wash and fold on the weekends. Instead, we go on adventures to the park.

This made me consider the nice lunches on whole wheat bread and nitrate-free turkey meat that go uneaten. I caved. I bought my kid a case of Top-Ramen for her birthday and she makes her own lunches.

Money Saved: I figure Top Ramen is $0.25 a bag, versus a sandwich that costs about $1.50 to make.

Time Saved: Since I no longer have to make lunches in the morning, I spend an extra twenty minutes drinking my coffee.

We have no spoons. What can I say? We did at one point, before they were used to dig worms and plant flowers. Never mind that we have shovels and trowels, clearly those are not as handy. We’re also running low on mugs, and I suspect they are all lining the windowsill of my kids’ bedrooms.

Money Saved: Again, that water bill! Water is insanely expensive where I live. Some months it can be as much as $200! But between the missing dishes, the limited laundry, and the fact that my children don’t like to bathe, I’m saving a whopping $50 a month!

Time Saved: Less time on chores means more time to read and write!

Life can be hectic during the week. I used to meal plan, but I became tired of hearing the kids groan about dinner. SO I STOPPED COOKING. Seriously, I only make dinner 2x-3x a week. The rest of the time we live off of leftovers, plain noodles, and cereal.

Money Saved: Well, this is hard to say. However, we seem to eat through the fridge more frequently. And when I do cook, the kids are a bit more appreciative.

Time Saved: Instead of coordinating evening chaos, I walk in the door and say “get yourself some cereal.” Then I stand at the counter and listen to my kids talk about their day while I sip a cup of tea or enjoy a glass of wine.

Key Point: Lower your expectations of family life and you’ll save money, enjoy your time, and find some new ways to laugh.

Want to get an email from me every time I publish? Join my email list by clicking here.

Writing and reading on Medium is fun. It’s like being part of a worldwide writing community. If you want to give it a try, use my referral link and I’ll get a little kickback.

Thanks for reading! Here are some links to some more of my stories: