...of Good Stewardship of Time

CTC Readers' Poll:
Small Times Investments, Big Payoffs Later 

 In the March 1, 2008 issue of the newsletter, Counting the Cost editor 
Nancy Twigg asked readers this question:

"What are your favorite 10-minute (or less) tasks that give you a big payoff later in terms of saving time or money?"

Responses:

"I learned this from my husband: Spend 5 to 10 minutes each evening putting together your clothes for the next day.  I must admit that I didn't follow his example for years. But, now that I do, it saves me lots of time in the morning.  I hang my full outfit on the inside of my closet - shoes (shined) right inside the door, coat, gloves, scarf all together and I have accessories set out in the bathroom.  If anything needs mending (button, hem, seams) or ironing, I'll notice it in the evening and either fix it then or pick out a different outfit.
No more frantic mornings looking for items or deciding what to wear. Getting ready to go out everyday is a lot smoother (and peaceful) now." ~ Marta
 

"I take a Kleenex box (the small square kind) and I fill it with plastic grocery bags.  I put one in with the two handles up, then feed the next one through the handles and keep those handles up, until the box is full. I keep one in each bathroom and where there are small wastebaskets.  Whenever it's trash day, we grab the trash bag out of the wastebasket and a new bag is popped up ready to pull out to put in. As you pull out one, the next pops up.  It not only saves me carrying each wastebasket to the kitchen to empty twice a week on trash days, but it keeps them clean and recycles those bags that multiply like rabbits.  When the box is empty, I refill it.  They last for several weeks taking out two a week.
" ~ Cathey in Florida


"I am not a morning person so I take 10 minutes each night to set out items I will need to take with me to work the next day. I'd rather do this than jump out of bed 10 minutes earlier each day to do that." ~ Viki

"My favorite task that takes about 10 minutes, but pays off in the saving money category, is making a weekly menu and grocery list. I have a list of my family's favorite meals so I don't have to try to remember what they like. I choose what to make by seeing what is on sale at the grocery store.(I also will try new things if the ingredients are on sale. If the family likes it, it goes on the list.)As I choose the meals I add the ingredients to my shopping list. By having a list I save time and money! By having a menu (posted on the fridge) I never have to worry about what is for dinner!" ~ Anonymous

Editor's Note: Thanks to all these readers who took time to write!

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