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This is a repost of an article I wrote not too long after our housefire last year.

It probably sounds like a cheesy self-help title, but it isn’t any less true. While the fire was stressful and the ensuing fallout even more so, it’s interesting to see the effect of owning less. Right now, my husband and I are staying in a living room at my mother’s house. Since many of our things were destroyed or packed up by the salvage company, we don’t have much. All of our clothes fit in one singular bureau. I have three pairs of shoes, while my husband only has two pairs. I stack them neatly next to the door. It’s so easy to keep everything tidy, when I have a limited number of things to tend. I never realized it, but the over abundance of things made it difficult at our old house.

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Time is money. The cliché has some truth to it. Generally, a sizeable chunk of our days are spent waiting for something to happen. These wasted moments add up to a considerable amount of time, time which could be spent saving you money. I often find myself waiting for something to happen, just staring into space. If I were to channel that time, I’m sure I could accomplish much more in a day. Some tips to help you manage your minutes:
1. Carry a notebook and pen with you. When does your brain chose to remind you of the different things you need to do? If you’re anything like me, it will shout reminders at a moment when you can’t do a darned thing about it. For instance, when standing in line at the bank, I will remember that I need to call the oil company. If I have my notebook, I can just write it down and forget about it until I am able to call.
2. Keep phone numbers for businesses in your cell phone. This hint actually relates to the first one. Important phone numbers might be your pharmacy, doctor’s office, natural gas company or cable provider. If the numbers are in your cell phone, you would be able to quickly make a phone call while on your lunch break or waiting in the car. If you don’t have a cell phone, just keep a list handy.
3. Take work with you. In many professions, some duties are portable, meaning that you can carry your work. While waiting for a meeting to start, you may be able to tie up loose ends. As a teacher, I always carry work that needs grading, so I can work on it anywhere.
4. Don’t stand idly if you can help it. In the kitchen, I am notorious for staring off into space while waiting for the microwave to beep or for water to boil. Try to wipe down counters or put away dishes while you’re waiting. You can actually accomplish quite a bit in the few minutes it takes to make popcorn.
5. Multitask…within reason. Multitasking can squander time, causing you to spend more time doing a few tasks at once than you would have, had you just done them one at a time. However, if you are careful, you can get plenty done without sacrificing quality. For instance, when I’m waiting for a sauce to thicken or biscuits to bake, I’m tied to the kitchen, but the task at hand doesn’t really require my full attention. During that time, I can wash dishes or wipe down the microwave and refrigerator.
6. Take up a portable hobby. Learn to knit, crochet, sew or anything that is portable. While you’re waiting for the doctor, you could be working on Christmas or birthday presents.
You can’t create more hours in the day, but you can make more of the time you do have. By using your time wisely, you would free up more time to work on all the money saving ideas

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