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Conquer Lateness- Save Time & Money (Plus a Sweepstakes!)

Conquer Lateness- Save Time & Money (Plus a Sweepstakes!)

Hello Friends!  Happy Friday! I, like many of you, have a to-do list a mile long.  There are designs to create, projects to complete, contractors to schedule, a house to clean, and oh yeah- bills to pay.  In the past I’ve had people ask how I get so much done. (Sidenote- I’m really in awe of all the working moms out there.  I have no idea how they juggle a career and raising children! Props to you ladies!)  Although I don’t have any children, I do have a business I’m trying to grow and for all intents and purposes, it is my baby.  So, today I wanted to share some methods I embrace when it comes to conquering lateness and keeping my production train on its tracks and moving full speed ahead!

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*Make a list! – Most of you probably already do this, but I know there are some people (like my husband) who benefit greatly from lists, but often forget to make them.  Having an organizer or computer program where you can consistently go and add or subtract obligations, meetings, and chores will really help when you are trying to figure out how to manage your time.

*”Just Keep Swimming/Moving” – My next tip comes from everyone’s favorite fish in “Finding Nemo.”

“Just keep swimming” or “just keep moving” is a methodology I’ve adopted in my own life when it comes to marking tasks off my list.  When it doesn’t really matter what gets done first, I decide to do whatever I’m in the mood for.  If I’m feeling creative and energetic, I’ll go out into our studio and experiment or work on projects I need to cross off my list.  When my body is worn out and it’s super hot or cold outside, I’ll choose to do computer work.  When I’m feeling unsocial, I’ll lock myself away to design for a day with a pot of coffee and killer playlist. Or maybe my creative juices are at a standstill and it’s the middle of a workday, well I can use that moment to go get some essentials done, like grocery shopping or banking. The point is- don’t try to force yourself to do something you’re really not into at the moment.  If you can find something on your list that sounds fun, you’ll get it done quicker and better!

*Combine as much as possible – When it comes to being productive, efficiency is KEY!!!  I love my job, but like any normal person, I need some social or down time in my life.  I also really love and need to work out.  That’s one reason I choose to do Crossfit.  The group classes in a Crossfit Box give me the opportunity to work out and socialize all at the same time, keeping me both physically and emotionally healthy!  I also choose to combine meals with business meetings, prayer time with dog walks, and so on.

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* Cut out the stuff you hate to do.  Remember TIME IS MONEY.  I would rather spend 20 minutes designing (and making money) than 20 minutes doing dishes.  So, most of the time we use throw away kitchen wares (paper plates, plastic utensils, etc).  That might sound less than classy to you, but it is totally worth it to us. Or maybe you detest spending 3 hours a week cleaning your house or doing laundry.  Tim and I say hire someone to do the stuff you hate and spend that extra time doing something you value, something you’re passionate about.  Depending on your job and/or income, hiring out certain services may not be an option for you.  However, whenever possible, Tim and I think you should fill your life with the things you love to do!

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* Set up automatic bill payments- paying your bills via snail mail is a thing of the past.  The ease of keeping track of and paying bills online has not only saved me time, it’s saved me money as well! With me being a creative mind, things (like paper bills) can easily get lost amongst the physical and mental clutter I am surrounded by at times.  Before automatic bill pay (which most companies and credit cards like Citi offer) I would lose bills and forget to pay them at times.  But now, I can choose to set up an automatic draft and notices that remind me the money is coming out, which means I eliminate any possibilities of incurring late fees. I know a lot of people are against using credit cards, but I find that they provide me a lot of freedom and honestly, make life a whole lot easier.  For example, with Citi Simplicity , I never pay any late fees – EVER. Citi Simplicity is the only card to offer no late fees, penalty rate or annual fee. Plus, I’ve got peace of mind that I’ve already scheduled automatic bill pay.

* I also have the ability to refute and not pay any charges that are fraudulent. Definitely can’t do that if someone steals your cash!

* And I can make up for that sale I missed!  It can be frustrating and time-consuming to chase down price adjustments.  Citi Price Rewind does the work for you, by searching retailers’ site for lower prices when you buy and register an eligible item with your Citi credit card. Save your credit card receipt each time you shop. If Citi finds your item at least $25 lower than what you paid within 30 calendar days, you can get the difference in price back, up to $250. The average refund is $80! Now that’s some major savings! To learn more visit www.citi.com/pricerewind for more information. So, needless to say I am a fan of the Citi Simplicity Card and of all money & time saving services or products!  In honor of saving yourself some money and some headaches this fall season, enter the Conquer Lateness Sweepstakes where you can enter for a chance to win a 16GB mini tablet!  To enter, I’d love to hear any strategies you guys have for saving time and money in the comment section!  Read the rules below for other ways to enter as well! Sweepstakes

The Conquer Lateness Sweepstakes (“Sweepstakes”) is open to legal US Residents, age 18 or older. Void where prohibited. Sweepstakes ends 5pm (PST) on October 24, 2013. The Official Rules are available here. No purchase necessary.

 

Only two entries per participating blog per household; if the same or substantially similar comment (as determined by the Sponsor in its sole discretion) is posted twice, it may only count as one Entry. Eligible persons may enter this Promotion by taking any of the following actions, each of which counts as one entry:

1.     Leave a comment in response to the Promotion prompt on this post.

2.     Tweet (public message) about this Promotion, including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that Tweet in a comment on this post.

3.     Blog about this Promotion (including a disclosure that you have received a sweepstakes entry in exchange for blogging about this Promotion), and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post.

4.     To enter without commenting, follow this link, and provide your email address and your response to the Promotion prompt.

 

Be sure to visit the Citi brand page on BlogHer.com where you can learn more about conquering lateness!

 

This article has 97 comments

  1. Melinda

    I conquer lateness by setting my clocks ahead so that even if I think I’m running late, I turn out to be on time

  2. Amanda C

    Wow, that price refund service from Citi is pretty sweet! To save time I try to be an ultimate multitasker. If I am on a work phone call, I try to clean out/file my mailbox while talking. Watching tv at night while I cook dinner and make tomorrow’s lunch allows me a few extra minutes each night to relax. I need to be better about saving money, I watch for sales, save for big ticket purchases and overall try to be smart about getting good buys.

  6. Asia

    I agree with automating bills and multi tasking but I am horrified that you use throw away kitchen wares. I hope you use stuff that is recyclables and don’t fill the landfill because you can’t be bothered to load a dishwasher.

  7. Kelly D

    I save time by keeping lists of everything I need to get done, so I don’t get distracted and I save money by always searching for the best rates and prices even if I already am signed up with a specific company.

  9. Lisa Brown

    I try to save time by doing what I need to on the computer and talk on the phone. To save money, just watch what you buy, live within your means.
    jslbrown_03 at yahoo dot com

  17. Stephanie P

    I save time by choosing companies that allow me to manage my bills, etc online. Love my Citibank card – I can do everything at the times that are most convenient for me, even if I need to call customer service.

  19. Jamie Champagne

    I use my timer/alarm on my smart phone to keep me on task. That way I don’t get carried away or caught up in any one thing…I know when it’s time to move on, leave the house, meet for playgroup, leave the grocery store, etc. It definitely comes in handy!! Thanks so much for the chance to win!

  20. Amanda

    I work nights, so I am getting my hours in while everyone else sleeps! I then have more time during the day with family, to run errands, and maybe sometimes sleep! Great giveaway!

  26. Claudia

    To save money I use coupons and mach up store sales to save more, I pay my bills on line as soon as I get the money,and use my debit card and my checking account to avoid paying fees when paying my utilities bills.

  29. D Schmidt

    My best tip for conquering lateness is preparing things the night before if you can! I lay out clothes, make lunches and even lay out my children’s breakfast bowls and spoons! For appointments I have a planner and always try to arrive 30 minutes early so if something happens like traffic I generally arrive on time!

  31. Terry SK

    I pay as many bills online as possible to save money from running to local places to pay the bill and save postage on others that are out of town. Furthermore, I have a record of every bill I pay on my computer. To save on paper and ink, simply open a Word Document, go back to your vendor where you made a payment, hit PRTSC on that screen. Then go to your blank Word Doc and paste a copy of your payment receipt and file in your docs. I clean out my payment docs from my computer about every 6 months.

  32. April G

    We try to budget and make lists of both what we need to buy, and any appointments we have coming up! Lists are a great way to stay on schedule, and a great way to not overspend and thus save money!

  39. Kerry

    I always set a reminder on my phone to pay each bill that is due. I set it about a week ahead of the date suggested to mail on the bill. I have only been late once in all my years of having credit cards.

  40. Susan Smith

    I pay bills automatically online, which saves me time. I save money by buying items on sale and with coupons.

  42. Amy Tong

    I love your tips and the features of this Citi card. Can’t wait to get mine. My strategy to conquer lateness is multi-task and delegation. Doing a few thing all at once saves time. And my kids are old enjoy to do many things on their own now. Gotta get them participate and help. 🙂

    amy [at] utry [dot] it

  44. Ashley

    This is one of the few sites that grabs my attention without creating even more anxiety about my chronic tardiness and inability to maintain an organized home. Very much appreciate the author’s calming site layout and down-to-earth writing style. Thank you so much for your motivating strategies! 🙂

  45. Rebecca Graham

    I save money by using the Shop Savvy app on my iPhone to find the best price. I save time that way too by not having to go place to place looking for the best price.

  46. Nicole Larsen

    I put reminders on my phone one and two days ahead of time for events. I also leave the house 10 mins earlier than I should leave so that way in case I hit traffic or something comes up i’m still on time or early. My dad taught me it was always better to be early than late or on time!

  49. LAMusing

    I save time by prioritizing my lists and clumping “like” things together – for example if I have phone calls to make and emails to send I set aside a few hours to sit down and do them all in one afternoon. Or if I have errands to run I try to do them all in the same day so I only have to dress up and drive around once that week. It really does save time!

  50. Tabathia B

    I use my calendar on the phone and set reminders and I set my alarm clock to go off 15 minutes early

    tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com

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