Saving Time And Money While The Family Returns To Work
Recently, the UK took a significant step forward in lifting lockdown measures as non-essential shops opened their doors for the first time in months. For many working in the retail sector, this represents a return to work which is equal parts exciting and terrifying. In a couple more weeks, we can expect restrictions to be lifted for the beauty and hospitality industries to be lifted with hairdressers, nail technicians and makeup artists returning to work, and facing a new set of challenges. While there are stringent measures in place to ensure social distancing where possible and enforce the use of PPE where it isn’t, if you’re returning to work in the near future, you likely have some concerns.
As well as being concerned for your safety in the face of a (still very much active) pandemic, you may also be worried about having much less free time in which to cook and prepare nutritious meals, spend quality time with your kids or significant other, or simply get more quality time to yourself. Likewise, you may also be worried about money, especially if you’re one of the many who have fallen through the cracks of government support schemes.
Here are some tips which will hopefully help you save time and money while the family returns to work…
Use your landline more and your mobile less
Staying in touch with friends and family has likely been a real lifeline under lockdown. But if your need to keep in touch has led to racking up some serious phone bills, it’s time to rethink your tariff and get into the habit of using your mobile less and relying more on your home phone. Broadband-ready homes have access to a range of great phone deals, which many of us simply aren’t taking advantage of because we’re so reliant on our mobiles. And don’t forget all those lovely free messaging, voice and video chat apps that can save you a fortune compared to going through your network. Just try and stick to more face to face interaction and less reliance on social media.
Get used to batch cooking
Just because you’re going back to work doesn’t mean that you should go back to over-reliance on ready meals and takeaways. If you’ve fallen in love with cooking all over again under lockdown, and want to stay in the habit of cooking and enjoying delicious, healthy home cooked meals, you need to get into the habit of batch cooking. It can save you a great deal of time and money as well as keeping you in shape.
Drop some of your subscription services
Now that you can go out and meet up with friends, do you really need all those subscription / streaming services to keep you entertained. Maybe it’s time to drop a few. Even some of the cheaper services like Disney+ cost upwards of seventy quid a year!
Wait a while before returning to the gym
Finally, many of us have had to find new and inventive ways to work out since the gyms closed their doors. But now that you have a fitness regimen that works for you, perhaps you shouldn’t be so quick to return as soon as they reopen. Keep working out at home or in the park and wait until you feel safe and financially comfortable to return to the gym.
You’ll even save the time lost travelling to your local gym.
