Lifesavers: Money, Time, Space and Sanity

Lifesavers

Everyone is always looking for new ways to get organized, save time, and save money. Plus, when you find things that help you, it definitely saves your sanity too. If your days are filled with activities, your house is filled with clutter, and your bank account isn’t filled at all, I’ve rounded up some products that have literally been lifesavers to me. They give me a little sanity in a chaotic week, day, or even hour.

Most of these products help in more than one way, and some even cover all three. Of course, buying new products does cost money, but if it saves you in the long run, isn’t it worth it?

All of these lifesavers can be found on Amazon. I’ve included my Amazon Affiliate link. Simply click through the picture to be taken directly to the product. There is no additional charge to you, and I may make a small commission.

If it wasn’t for those darn kids…

If yours are anything like mine, there is a trail of destruction that follows my boys from room to room. They have the amazing ability to turn a perfectly clean room into a cluttered mess in under five minutes. It’s almost like a super power.

Unfortunately, they do not possess the same powers when it comes to cleaning up that mess. Then, favorite toys get lost, mom and/or dad get injured from stepping on something (the sharpest toy) and everyone is just annoyed at the whole situation.

So, in an effort to thwart their messy ways,  and save myself hours of looking for missing pieces, I’ve found a few helpful tools to get organized.

First up, these bean bag chairs:

No, these are not just ordinary bean bag chairs. They are hiders of all things stuffed. That’s right. Stuffed animals go in, clutter goes away, and you also get a comfy chair.

The twins each have a round one, while Mr. B has the big triangle shaped one. Both types are made from sturdy material, are machine washable, and have durable zippers. Plus, they fit about a million stuffed animals.

OK.

That may be a bit of an exaggeration, but it really feels like we have that many, and I can fit them all in.

Plus, as a fun game, the twins like to take them all out. Luckily, it’s super easy to stuff them back in, and we make that a game too.

Closet Organizers

We have very limited closet space in our house, and very limited time to get ready in the morning. In order to solve both of these problems, I’ve found these awesome closet organizers.

My twins share an organizer, and Mr. B has one of his own. Luckily, the boys are too fussy about clothing yet, so I pick out a weeks worth of outfits, but them in the bins, and we are set.

No rushing around looking for a matching shirt before we have to leave, plus it really gives extra space for clothing in their tiny closet.

Another great cube organizer we use is this one here:

We have one for shoes in the hallway for shoes, and I also have one in the twins’ room for clothes. I roll up sweatshirts, shorts, and t-shirts and put them in each cubby in the bedroom. It’s low enough to the ground, so the boys can reach in, and I don’t have to worry about the pulling out dresser drawers.

Plus, there is a flap that covers the whole thing, so it looks neat in the hallway.

Moms and Dads need help too

I’m not sure about you, but there is never a morning I wake up feeling completely rested. I don’t want to blame it all on the kids, but I didn’t start drinking coffee until the twins were born. Coincidence? I think not.

We used to have a Keurig, and I thought it was awesome. Until it wasn’t. When I found mold floating around in the outer water chamber, and I realized you couldn’t ever get into the internal water chamber, I was done.

So I found this fabulous little guy:

Not only does he make 12 cup pots of coffee when we need it, but you can make a single cup too. Plus, you can clean every part of it, so no mold ever.

No more expensive coffee pods either. Love it.

While most of us would probably love to live on coffee alone, we do need water too. I’m pretty good about drinking it while working out, but not at other times.

Having it in a cup I like and having it super cold really helps.

So, I’ve found this:

It keeps my water ice cold all day, fits in my cup holder, comes with 2 straws, a lid, and a straw cleaner all for way cheaper than a Yeti. Plus, you can get almost any color you want, and if you’re not picky, some colors are cheaper than others.

Sometimes I Make an Effort

Most days, I head directly to the gym in the morning, but there are rare occasions that I do my hair and make-up.

In order to save time, and make my hair look pretty without paying for a blowout, I have this awesome tool:

I first saw this product used by one of my MKE Mom Blog friends, and she made it look so easy. Plus, her hair looked fabulous.

I’m not coordinated enough to use a round brush while drying my hair, so this guy is truly is a lifesaver. I’m able to cut down my drying time, and cut down my time straightening with a flat iron. I only need to run my straightener through a few times after I use it, and it gives some great volume too.

When I want a curly look instead, it still works to give me volume, and I follow with this baby:

It took me a few tries to figure out how to use it without the part that normally holds your hair in place, but now that I have, I love it. No weird kinks at the end, and I love the three different size barrels, so I can switch up how my curls look.

In the Car

I’m not going to lie. My car is usually a mess too. I can’t even blame this all on the kids. Yes, they leave goldfish crackers, baseball bats, and snotty tissues in the back seat, but they aren’t responsible for my trunk.

So, in order to get my car in shape, I found this:

       

Not only is there space to keep an extra sweatshirt or change of clothes for the boys, but there is a insulated compartment for when I make a quick stop at the grocery store (and by grocery store I mean Target) and need to keep it cold or hot.

It fits my cashew milk, the boys’ Lunchables, and a few frozen items too. No more spoiled food just because I forgot my cooler bag. Again.

Keeping Them Entertained

You know those times when you really need to get a few things done? Without someone asking you a question?  Well, that’s where this friend comes in.

My best friend got my an Echo for my birthday last year. I never knew I need one until I had it. Now, I can’t live without her.

Even though she’s technically mine, the kids love her too. They can ask questions, play games, and, of course, request fart noises.

Plus, Mr. B has a lot of questions about ancient Egypt that I just don’t know the answers to.

So, when I’m in the middle of laundry and one of the kids wants to know if they need to bring a jacket to the park, ask Alexa. Want to know what’s for lunch at school tomorrow? Ask Alexa.

She plays music for me while I’m in the kitchen, can place Amazon orders, and is awesome for setting alarms. That way, I don’t burn the pizza, and I know exactly how long it takes Mr. P to eat dinner.

We love it so much, we also got Mr. B a smaller version called the Echo Dot. It came with a subscription to Freetime Unlimited, which has books, music, and other programming just for kids.

Lifesavers for You

I know that you may not need all of these products, or even want them, but they truly have been lifesavers for me. They help me keep my house (and car) cleaner and save me time before rushing to school and work. They help me feel good and look better.

It’s hard work parenting, working, and just living, so when you find something to make it a little easier or better, you want to share it. I hope you’ll find these things helpful too.

Plus, if you have anything that really saves you, please leave me a comment below.