As a busy mom juggling work, family, and everything in between, finding extra time in your day can feel impossible. Between meal prep, grocery shopping, and endless household tasks, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But don’t worry—there are simple life hacks that can help you reclaim your time without sacrificing efficiency. Here are the top 10 ways moms can get time back in their day and still save money along the way.
1. Automate Your Grocery Shopping with Pickup & Delivery
Time Saved: 2-3 hours per week
How to Do It:
- Use grocery delivery services like Walmart+, Instacart, or Amazon Fresh to skip the store. We live nearly 20 miles away from the nearest Walmart, using their pick-up service saves us a tremendous amount of time.
- Many stores like Target and Kroger offer free curbside pickup—order online and grab your groceries without leaving the car.
- Stack savings by using cashback apps like Ibotta and Fetch Rewards to get money back on grocery purchases.
2. Meal Plan & Prep in Advance
Time Saved: 5+ hours per week
How to Do It:
- Plan a week’s worth of meals at once and use an app like Mealime or Plan to Eat for quick ideas. Plan on Friday or Saturday night, grocery pickup on Sunday, and you have meals for a week.
- Batch cook and freeze meals so dinner is ready in minutes.
- Use grocery store meal kits or wholesale club prepped meals (Costco, Sam’s Club) for easy, affordable dinners.
3. Use Subscription Services for Household Essentials
Time Saved: 1-2 hours per week
How to Do It:
- Subscribe to Amazon Subscribe & Save for automatic shipments of diapers, toilet paper, and pantry staples. Nearly half of our household items come from Amazon’s Subscribe and Save every month.
- Join membership clubs like Sam’s Club or Costco to buy in bulk and avoid extra shopping trips.
- Use Dollar Shave Club or Grove Collaborative for personal care and eco-friendly home products.
4. Set Up a Family Command Center
Time Saved: 2+ hours per week
How to Do It:
- Create a weekly schedule board in your kitchen to track activities, chores, and meal plans.
- Use a shared Google Calendar to sync schedules with your partner and kids. With three kids, Google calendar has been an amazing tool. We sync all appointments, practices, meetings, etc. It’s visible to the entire family, giving everyone a look into the week’s activities.
- Utilize a to-do list app like Todoist or Cozi for family reminders.
5. Optimize Laundry & Cleaning Routines
Time Saved: 3-4 hours per week
How to Do It:
- Do one load of laundry per day instead of spending all weekend washing clothes. If your kids are old enough, make them a folding board and have them help. It’s fun and they’re learning responsibilities.
- Use a robot vacuum (like Roomba) to keep floors clean without effort.
- Clean in 15-minute power sessions instead of long, exhausting deep cleans. My husband and I each take a room/chore and clean for 15 minutes after we put the kids to bed. I’ll sweep the floors and he’ll clean the kitchen. Or I’ll fold laundry and he’ll dust the shelves. It saves so much time with minimal effort!
6. Take Advantage of Store Price Matching
Time Saved: 1-2 hours per week
How to Do It:
- Use Walmart, Target, and Best Buy’s price-matching policies to avoid hopping from store to store for deals.
- Download the Honey or Capital One Shopping extension to automatically apply discounts online.
- Check local store apps for in-store price adjustments before checking out.
7. Buy in Bulk & Stock Up on Essentials
Time Saved: 3-5 hours per month
How to Do It:
- Stock up on non-perishables like pasta, rice, and canned goods at Sam’s Club or Costco.
- Use Coupon Mom or The Krazy Coupon Lady to find the best bulk discounts.
- Organize your pantry to make meal planning and shopping easier.
- Because we’re “out of town,” stockpiling keeps us from making 1-off trips to the local store. They’re more expensive than the major retail stores, so this saves us time and money. Be sure to always stock the essentials…. like chips & salsa!
8. Streamline School Mornings with Pre-Packed Bags
Time Saved: 2-3 hours per week
How to Do It:
- Pack kids’ backpacks, lunches, and outfits the night before. Our mornings were extremely hectic before starting the night-time routine. Not only does it make the mornings easier to get the kids out the door, it also makes our mornings less stressful. Plus, we get to spend more quality time with the kids before their busy days.
- Keep a grab-and-go breakfast station stocked with healthy options.
- Use EZ Lunchboxes to quickly prep meals for school days.
9. Use a Meal Subscription Box for Stress-Free Cooking
Time Saved: 4+ hours per week
How to Do It:
- Try services like HelloFresh, Blue Apron, or EveryPlate for pre-portioned ingredients and easy recipes.
- Watch for discounts and promo codes to save on first-time orders.
- Look for family-friendly options to make meal planning effortless.
10. Shop Discount & Outlet Stores Online
Time Saved: 2-3 hours per week
How to Do It:
- Use discount sites like Zulily, Nordstrom Rack, and Overstock for clothing and home goods.
- Shop grocery outlet stores (like Aldi or Grocery Outlet) for deep discounts.
- Apply promo codes with RetailMeNot and Honey for additional savings.
Final Thoughts: Take Back Your Time & Your Budget
Being a mom is a full-time job, but that doesn’t mean you have to spend every minute managing the chaos. By using these simple life hacks, you can free up your schedule, save money, and spend more quality time with your family.
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