Everybody has a dream. Whether you know it or not, at one time you dreamed
all the time. As children grow, their imaginations grow with them. Then they
become adults, and the reality of the world sets in. Have you forgotten how
to dream? Do you feel as if you have no time to breath, much less make your
dreams reality? Then read on.
Time, energy, and money are chronically lacking in parents’ lives. They are
too tired because their children keep them up at night; they are strapped
for time between juggling work and family; and they spend all their
resources on their kids, the house, the car, and the mortgage. Below are
some simple solutions to these chronic problems:
Time
Make a list of priorities each week. Ask yourself: what do I want to achieve
this week? Put the list in a place where you see it a lot, if not every day.
When you have a roadmap, you can find out where you are going much more
easily. Those scarce minutes will suddenly be there when you need them most.
Check off the list as you manage each task.
Cancel your cable. Sound scary? It isn’t. Really. When my husband and I
cancelled our cable right before we made an international move, we suddenly
had three free hours at night. We could not believe how much time we
suddenly had on our hands. Unless your dream is to watch four hours of TV
each night, do it. You will find much more relaxing and fulfilling ways to
spend your time.
Make a schedule. Similar to your list of priorities, you will want to
organize your time according to events. If you have to work late one night,
don’t expect yourself to go to the gym and help your child with his or her
homework anyway. Rearrange the schedule as needed. Remember: being flexible
is a part of being human.
Energy
Exercise is time well-spent. Three twenty-minute activities a week is all
you need to stay relatively fit. Schedule a walk at lunch time with friends;
swim at the local gym or run on the weekends. If you need a support system,
ask a colleague to join you. Take a class that meets once a week and carpool
with friends. Chances are you will go more often if you have someone honking
at your sidewalk to take you along.
Sleep management for parents with very small children is one of the most
challenging areas to handle. Make certain you get in a nap on the weekends
to tank up your energy. Take occasional weekends away from the children if
possible and ask a relative or trusted friend to watch the kids while you
are gone. It will be good for your relationship with your partner as well as
assuring you get the rest you need.
Nutrition is a well-neglected realm for busy people. Instead of swinging by
the local fast food chain, bring smaller snacks with you until you get home.
Not only will you have more energy by eating better, you will save money,
too.
Money
Make a meal plan for the week. Create a list of food items needed at the
grocery store. It will reduce the urge for impulse shopping and save you
time later. Instead of standing in front of the refrigerator and asking,
“What’s for dinner?” you will already know because you planned it in
advance.
Coupon shopping can have its advantages. It may save you a few dollars,
which can add up over time. Buyer beware, however. Frequently, coupons
require you buy two of one item to qualify. Ask yourself if you really need
two gallons or liters of juice before jumping at the sale. If you do bulk
shopping at warehouse stores, calculate the price of the item before you buy
it. Sometimes it is actually cheaper to buy smaller amounts at local grocery
stores. Pay attention to Sunday circulars. You can use it as a basis for
making your weekly meal plan. Whatever is on sale is what you eat that week.
Entertainment doesn’t have to be expensive. Libraries often have a good
selection of videos you and the kids can watch. The loan time is usually one
week, which saves you time from having to run back to the video store the
very next day to avoid extra charges. The best benefit? Loaning from the
library is free.
Maximizing your resources can free up the time, energy, and money you need
to pursue what you really want in life. Instead of spinning your wheels, you
will be further along in your journey to reach the dreams you imagined as a
kid.
More Frugal Living
Christine Louise Hohlbaum, American author of Diary of a Mother (2003), SAHM
I Am (2005), “American Housewife Abroad” (AnotherChapter.com), has been
published in hundreds of publications and has appeared on numerous parenting
radio shows. When she isn’t writing, leading toddler playgroups or
instructing an on-line course in book promotion, she prefers to frolic in
the Bavarian countryside near Munich where she lives with her husband and
two children . Visit her Web site: www.diaryofamother.com .
This article provided by the Family Content Archives at:
http://www.Family-Content.com
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