In my cart: squeeze sour cream 🛒

Or, how motherhood has shifted my perspective on paying for convenience

I have a tendency of doing things the hard way in the name of thoroughness, frugality, or habit. And until recently, when faced with the option to spend time or money, I would nearly always choose to spend time. That is, until I became a mom—a working mom—and time became my most precious commodity.

Suddenly, spending extra minutes on tasks that could be shortened seemed foolish. To recoup time, I began to find value in spending a little extra money if it meant less time in the kitchen, running errands, or doing chores.

See below for a list of eight purchases that give me back (some of) my time.

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I’ll never go back!

Purchases I make to save time:

1. Squeeze sour cream. it is so much easier to use! No stirring, no spoon in the sink. Well worth the extra 50 cents or so.

2. Higher quality clothes in styles that I actually love and will reach for again and again. If I’m happy with my closet, I’m not wasting time staring into it.

3. Prepackaged salads or frozen meals. After packing both of my kids’ lunches, the idea of spending more time on my own lunch is deeply undesirable. I want to toss in a few prepackaged items and move on!

4. Grocery pick up. I think the Instacart fee is just two dollars for pick up, and it is SO worth the time saved.

5. Individually packaged snacks. The reason here is twofold: it is easier for me to grab a quick snack, and it also keeps my snack-obsessed kids happy. (Pro tip: spring for high-protein options like nuts and meat sticks.)

   

   Pre-packaged and individually packaged is a way of life now.

6. Setting up auto-orders on Amazon for recurring purchases. I don’t have to remember what I need, and I don’t have to spend time double-checking my stash of dish sponges, gum, mints, stain treatment products, or chapstick.

7. Pre-chopped mirepoix for soups and other recipes. You can buy a pre-chopped container of carrots, celery, and onion at Trader Joe’s and it has changed my life.

8. Pre-cooked rice pouches. I prefer my rice cooker, but these save me so much time— no prep, no clean up. You love to see it.

What’s the squeeze sour cream moment in your life? 😄

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