Errands and appointments

Keep a running list of groceries and supplies you need. By the time you go shopping, there will be little to add. This save time, and makes sure you get everything you need in just one trip.

Combine your errands to accomplish several things in one trip. Try to find a shopping center where most of your errands can be handled - stores, offices, services, etc.

Try to go to stores close to your home, work, or en-route between the two. Try to do your errands on the way to or from some other errand or appointment. This save you time and gas, and prevents those special trips.

Check your lists to see what you can do together, before you leave the house.

When possible, run your errands when the traffic is light and lines are short. This is usually between 10 and 3 on weekdays, or in the evenings or on weekends for many things.

If you have appointments at several locations, try to schedule them so you can go from one to the next. This saves time and money, and if you're working it saves having to take more than one day off. This also applies to appointments for your family if you have to transport them, like doctors appointments, etc.

Try to get the first appointement early in the moring so you won't have to wait from someone ahead of you, and you'll still have the rest of the day to handle other appointments and errands.

Take your lists with you, as you always should. That way you can review them, or even accomplish some, while you're waiting. You can also see things that you might be able to accomplish while you're out. For example on the way to the doctor's office, you pass a store you were not aware of that carries something you need. You might be able to kill two birds with one stone, so to speak.

Get your family or friends to help out with some of your errands. You might know someone that passes the cleaners on their way to work, and you could ask them to drop off the cleaning on the way to or from work. If you do this, be sure to attach a note with instruction so the person handling the task doesn't have to know all the details.

More organization tips

• Lists Setting up a calendar and lists to assist in the organization process.
• Message Center Setting up a central place for messages and important information.
• Are you organized? A quick quiz to find out how organized you are, and how much you can do to make yourself more organized.
• Make your own organizer Making your own organizer to track tasks and dates.
• Telephone tips Ways to save time and frustration with the telephone.
• Errands and appointments Making the most out of errands and appointments.
• Using short periods wisely What to do when you only have a few minutes.
• Mail How to handle mail efficiently.
• Housework Make housework more productive and effective.
• Company Preparing for, and entertaining, company.
• Company Kit Setting up a kit for when company arrives on short notice.
• Each evening Preparing for the following day.
• Simple tidying Life can be easier if you set up areas for situations, tyding up the whole house.
• Laundry Ways to save time and money with the laundry.
• Distributing the Burden You don't have to do it all yourself, you can share the load.
• Delegation How to delegate effectively.
• Child's room Keeping your kid's rooms tidy.
• Storage Where to put things.
• Pack rat How to avoid being a pack rat.
• Messy Closet Cleaning out a messy closet.
• Garage Sale How to have a successful garage sale.
• Moving Sorting through your stuff for a move.
• Prevention Some ideas to prevent cleaning chores.
• Odds and ends How to deal with odds and ends that just kind of show up to clutter a room.
• Organizing Your Home Basics of organization.

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