Two working parents and kids of all ages tugging us in all different directions at once require us putting systems in place to keep us (quasi-) organized to remove unnecessary stressors (well the ones we have control over, anyway). Truth bomb – we kinda fly by the seat of our pants over here and organization does not come naturally to us, but seeing how it helps our flow makes a small investment of time to get practical systems in place so worth it in the long run. These 3 services are kind of fabulous, and anything that helps our family simplify and stay afloat is worth sharing.
UPDATE: This post was originally created 2 years ago so thought it was a good time to update with the services we’re loving lately. Three have been long-time loves and one a new, huge value-adding discovery.
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1) Amazon Subscribe & Save
Smart home delivery services have been a huge time-saver for us and Amazon’s Subscribe & Save service is fantastic. We’re already Prime Members because of pre-order & quick ship perks, and with the Subscribe & Save service you’re able to create a list of items you want delivered on a regular basis – our shipment comes by mid-month. Our list includes everyday essentials that we don’t want to run out of like toilet paper, paper towel, breakfast cereals, cleaning products, toiletries and coffee (This one especially needs to be well-stocked 😉 Hello parent fuel! ). We also previously had little man’s diapers/pull-ups on our regular shipment (which you get 20% off ALWAYS using the Amazon Family service).
What we love most about it:
– You can cancel anytime
– You can choose the frequency of delivery (ie. 1 month, 2 months, etc.) and change the frequency at any time
– After 5 items have been added to your list, you get 15% off your order (on top of any digital COUPONS you can add to your account!)
– FREE shipping! Whoop!
– Email reminders before your delivery go out in case you need to modify/cancel items
2) Picniic Family Organizer
One system that hasn’t been working for family management is the multiple to-do/grocery lists (you know the ones we forget on the counter every time😉!), strewn sticky notes and half-updated calendars. This kept family information in a scattered state and we needed something to keep us all in-sync. We’ve dropped lots of balls in this crazy stage of parenting, and Andrew and I always say we need a life organizer, not just a calendar. A personal assistant would be nice too 😉
Well, I’m pretty sure we found it – Picniic has all the tools parents need to manage everyday family life in one central location that can be accessed and updated by anyone in the home from anywhere via desktop or mobile…genius! And the answer to our organizing prayers! It’s literally a virtual family assistant or hub with amazing features of a shared family calendar, grocery list, family news feed, meal planner, recipe sorter, to-do lists and more. Anything that removes stress, saves time, keeps everyone updated, and creates family efficiency is a major win in our books. It’s co-developed by a busy Dad who gets the need to remove family stressors, and it’s one of TIME magazine’s 50 best apps of the year hailed “A swiss army knife for keeping your family organized.” You should definitely check out this smart way to manage the crazy of family life.
3) PC Insiders Program
Becoming a PC Insiders™ member is my latest love to “save the sanity!” Getting free grocery delivery and pick up services through PC Express ™ at our local Real Canadian Superstore® has saved us more than a few times in the lunch game department this school year as well as staying on top of the appetite of our 4 growing kiddos. The produce picked by our personal shopper is always fresh, with turnaround in as little as 2 hours, and has given us HOURS back in time to enjoy the life-giving things in life, like instilling my love of cooking with my little sous chef using products we already use and love from PC® and making plans for our Summer adventures (which we’ll also get $99 in PC® travel services for!).
We’re also earning 20% back in PC Optimum points on select products (200 PC Optimum points per $1 spent) on top of what we already earn, which has allowed us to save loads of money by redeeming points for other family essentials, like stuff for Summer camp + back to school, and special occasions gifts from Joe Fresh® and Shoppers Drug Mart that are also eligible for free shipping! The amount of time and money we’ve saved has already covered the cost of an annual subscription ($99/year) and we think your family needs this in your life too! They’ve recently added the Insiders Project hub with great spotlights on Culture, How-To culinary tips, Guides for intriguing places to visit & even great Recipe suggestions to take the stress off the school night dinner scramble.
Become a PC Insiders™ member and get 25% off an annual subscription using code “SK1664”(Offer excludes Quebec residents; terms and conditions apply).
4) Ebates.ca
Don’t miss out on getting CASHBACK while you purchase from your favourite shops online, like Amazon.ca, JoeFresh & Shoppers Drug Mart Beauty and more using our favourite way to shop & earn – EBATES.ca No strings attached & FREE to sign up! We also book our travel through Ebates when we can. We earned over $200 last year alone! Getting those “Big, Fat Paycheques” in the mail is awesome and you can spend your earnings any way you want – just like cash!
The above systems have removed some of the time-sucks, frenzy & financial strain from our family life, adding some relief and order to our every day. Anything that simplifies the crazy, and buys us time to enjoy life’s more fulfilling things outside of responsibilities is a major parenting win over here.
If you try any of these, please let us know if you found them useful.
Keep well xo
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