Do you know what a life hack is?
Let me explain if you don’t. They are ideas and strategy’s that you can use to manage your time and daily life in a more efficient way. We all need that right?
I’m absolutely fascinated by them, they really can save you so much time, money AND your sanity. Yup, they can be that good! I was asked by Kumala ( the UK’s favourite South African wine brand) to share a couple of their life hacks, and a couple of mine. So here are my favourites which will hopefully help you enjoy more ‘me time’ in your busy schedules.
I like many other people, enjoy a glass of wine in evenings, oh and a good book, and a bar of chocolate. Now for me that it is the ultimate me time! Have you ever thought about adding a string of LED battery lights to an empty wine bottle to create a lamp?
You can actually buy a cork which does the same thing, I have one but I must admit I like the fairy lights more. All for a £1.99, so an absolute bargain. I just think it looks so cool and a good way of using up *ahem* all of those empty bottles. It would work perfectly if you were having friends round in the summer and you dotted them around the garden, burying them slightly in the ground. What do you think?
Ever really needed a glass of wine, and you’ve forgotten to chill the bottle? We had an impromptu BBQ at the weekend, and that’s exactly what happened. A simple solution, and one that means you are definitely getting one of your 5 a day, is frozen grapes.
We actually always have frozen grapes ready in the freezer, as they are completely addictive to eat on their own. All you need to do for this life hack is pop a bag in the freezer, and you will never again be without a chilled glass of your favourite vino again. Far better than ice cubes as it doesn’t dilute the wine!
Here are a couple of my life hacks, ones I use on a day-to-day basis. The idea of just five minutes longer in bed is my idea of bliss, it doesn’t happen very often any longer, but I at least when I do stumble out of bed, and get on the school run train, I want to look like I have gotten my full eight hours. For this you need just your hair dryer and eye lash curlers. Warming* up the curlers with the hair-dryer mean that you can quickly achieve curly lashes really easily, and they stay like that for longer. Honestly if I am in a rush this is the only thing I do, with a little mascara, and I am ready to go!
*They should be warm though not hot, as you don’t want to burn yourself, that really wouldn’t be a time saving life hack.
My final life hack is one that I was so pleased to find. I use wallpaper samples all the time in my photography, as you instantly create different back drops to play around with. Now this also can be used for wrapping paper too, so its one that should help everyone. If you want to avoid tatty paper edges, and store them easily all you need to do is split used kitchen roll tubes or toilet paper ones, and use them to wrap around the paper. Such a quick and simple hack, and one that really appeals to my inner OCD.
Now you’ve seen my life hacks, I would love to hear about yours! Do you have a really useful life hack that makes your life easier? Please describe your favourite life hack in the comment box below and I will choose my favourite hack to win a case of Kumala wine for the ultimate Me Time Moment.
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Follow the Kumala Facebook Page for more information about their delicious wines, giveaways and life hacks. #GeckoHacks
I love the frozen grapes, and that light is fab! We never have ice cubes when we need them! I am always taking photos of things I need to remember, but the one I like best is to tie a scarf, not a wooly one a silky one, or a ribbon, to my suitcase so I know it is mine when it comes off the aeroplane. Helps when travelling with kids as there is lots to juggle and it also keeps them occupied when spotting cases!
we save all the plastic tubs the grapes/strawberries etc come in from the shop & milk cartons/bottles. i use them with the kids to plant salad/veg/herbs. They get to decorate them & are very proud to see their seeds growing 🙂
Make large batch quantities of chilli, bolognese and freeze them to save time and cleaning when you know you will have a busy day.
Freeze any wine left over from the bottle in ice cube trays and then you can just drop them into sauces, saves waste and time.
I use Post-it notes to clean the crumbs from between the keys/tabs on my laptop keyboard!
to save as much as possible
I like to keep a pot of old toothbrushes under the sink alongside a jar of vinegar. Then I can quickly clean all sorts of awkward places quite easily.
Freezing portions of cooked rice and pasta (needs to be reheated throughout)
when items are on offer stock up as you only then got to go buy at full price!
Put a pool noodle under a fitted sheet on the kids bed to stop them from falling out the bed – very cheap yet effective (and once they get older you can use the noodle to help them learn to swim)!
cutting baby tomato’s in half using 2 plates and a kife saves so much time
We always make a weekly menu before doing the weekly shop, and stick to the shopping list whilst shopping (apart from the odd tweak if there’s a good offer on some alternative). We only menu for 6 days, the seventh being a “leftovers” day. This save so much money and there’s hardly any waste!
I make my own ‘Fat Balls’ to hang in the garden for the birds.
have a box with candles matches and a torch etc somewhere handy in case of a power cut
Use money off coupons when eating out
buy in bulk and split the cost and items with a family member, big savings!
Try buying 2 for 1 with a mate and never keep food in your fridge, always take it to someone who will be able to eat it if you can’t by the use by date – they’ll do it back as often!
buying reduced meat thats it at its best buy and freezing it saves an absolute fortune
I crush old egg shells and sprinkle around plants to prevent slug damage.
Get on with things don’t just think about them
using plastic shopping bags for my kitchen waste bin as i loath to pay for proper ones when i can get them for free.
Allow yourself a certain amount of money every month and stick to it!
I make a daily visit to the supermarket at 4.30 pm to buy food and groceries that have been slashed in price because they are nearing sell-by date.Nowt wrong with the food or the prices!
Cut veggies and freeze.
My lifehack has to be my slow cooker! I prep the vege the night before and put everything in the slow cooker first thing in the morning and after a busy day our fresh nutritious meal is ready! I also cook a massive portion to then freeze portions for another day. I also freeze leftover wine in ice cube trays to through into casseroles!
I reuse shopping bags as doggy poo bags and stuff old toilet roll tubes with newspaper to use as firelighters x
I buy perishable foods in the supermarket at the end of the day when they are heavily reduced for quick sale – often 90% off and then store them in the freezer until required. Saves a fortune.
If your drink is at room temperature, wrap it in wet kitchen towel and stick it in the freezer for two minutes = instant ice cold bottle!
Hi Rachael you are my winner! If you could please email me your address, then I can make arrangements to send out the prize. (amanda.cottingham@orange.net)
Thanks to everyone else for entering, I’ve loved reading all of your entries.
I cook scrambled egg in the microwave, so much quicker, easier and it doesn’t stick to the pan
My best life hack is my husband…he does all the cooking and the hoovering!
I use vinegar for a lot of cleaninh chores, great for streak free windows and surfaces.
Also I always keep a pot of quark in the fridge work wonders on painfull joints, sunburns and even sore throats just put and wrap on affected area
my tip is to freeze lemon and lime wedges, then you have then ready for a g&t and no need for ice.
Dip the base of wine glasses into chalkboard paint so you can write on them to identify glasses at parties or write names/notes for wine tasting!
I save nice shaped empty jars to put tea light candles all around the garden when we BBQ, it looks really magical with them just randomly dotted around! Taller jars work better as the candles don’t get blown out as easily!
Keep grated cheese (which is often cheaper to buy than block cheese, or grate a whole block at once) in the freezer, saves time and washing up when cooking or making cheese toast use.
Put a straw through the bottom end of a strawberry and push it right through to the top to easily get the stalk out.
Cheese toasties! Bossy iPad
Mix white vinegar, with 2 parts water, in a old spray container, cleans everything, taps,, sinks saucepans, the list is endless, and if you wish to buy product ready made £1, in Poundland.
When using sellotape and have finished using it, stick a paper clip to the end of the sticky end before putting away. This way next time it comes to using it, no messing around trying to find thestart point of the tape.
Store clean duvet sets in one of the pillowcases, keeps it all together
I like to put a few drop of essential oil into the center of a loo roll (the cardboard bit) as it helps to scent the room! x
I scour supermarkets for reduced items and fill my freezer!
Putting phone in a glass when playing music to make it louder
I recycle all my old candle jars, scrape out all the left over wax and melt them down in oil burners (would hate to waste all that candle wax) then clean out the jars and use them for all sorts of things, more candles, bath salts, for sweets then decorate with ribbons and use for presents.
store cleaning supplies in a hanging shoe rack for easy access & to keep away from the kids
Put a damp kitchen towel around a wine bottle then stick it into the freezer! Chills it in 10-15 minutes.
My friend gave me the tip of putting your dishcloth in the dishwasher to get them really clean. Really works!
Use a hanging shoe rack to store your cleaning products
I make a weekly menu and my shopping list is derived from that. Stick to the list and there is little or no wastage of food at the end of the week.
Eye liners glide on beautifully if kept in fridge, they last longer and they don’t go soft
Tape a lavender sachet to the inside of your linen basket lid to prevent dirty clothes from whiffing out your bathroom/bedroom. This also works for dirty clothes in your suitcase on holiday – pop them in a plastic bag with a lavender sachet inside 🙂
To clean drains or unblock a blocked drain or toilet, pour some bicarbonate of soda down the drain/ toilet then pour some white vinegar down as well. It will fizz, leave for a good half an hour then rinse/ flush… clears blockages and no nasty chemicals
Stop everything fall out of your cheese burger, here goes….Place 3 fingers on top of the burger NOW with your little pinky fingers place these underneath on the other side, this will hold your burger in place and will make it sturdy……You can thank me later 🙂
Twice a week I go for long evening walk which takes me past the co-op, tesco and morrisons. I’ll pop into all to see whats marked down discounted,
Freeze some grapes and use them to chill your wine if it is not cool enough
Keep baby wipes in the car, no matter how old your children are they always come in handy
When you’ve done your washing, put the pillowcases inside the matching duvet cover so they don’t get separated. I hate rooting through the airing cupboard for a set of bed linen!
2 Denture cleaning tablets put down the toilet once a week will keep it shiny, clean and free from scale.
I find I am a lot more productive during daylight hours – so early to bed, early to rise makes Jack a more efficient worker.
put a stocking on the end of the hoover nozzle to pick up small or hard to reach items
using my hair straightners to quickly get rid of any last minute creases in my clothes when i’, running late for work! Genius!
To clean a bean and soup splattered microwave I put hot water, lemon juice and vinegar into a microwaveable bowl and heat until the microwave is suitably steamy and use the water on a cloth to make it sparkle, you’ll find it so much easier to clean and it smells lovely too ! It works just as well in an oven but I use a roasting dish.
Grow as much fruit & veg in the garden as possible. Cheaper, healthier, tastier.
A place for everything and everything in its place, keeps me sane
I always do exactly what I want to do, exactly when I want to do it – unless there is a seriously good reason not to.
I have just gone form being a stay at home Mum to working again now my little girl is 8. I have found making dinners so hard to fit in and it was so stressful. Now on a sunday I cook a joint for monday dinner so I can use the leftovers on Tuesday. I also make a tray of yorkshire puds and dice and freeze all the veg. Now we eat dinners again without the stress.
I recycle the charity bags that come regularly through the door – and use them to line my kitchen bin.
I tend to make large portioned meals so that I can freeze some for those days when I know that I will be busy (at least then I know the kids and hubby are fed). I also use the brush attachment on the hoover for dusting lmao
I try and never waste anything especially food
Use every scrap of leftovers – I make stocks from leftovers and languishing odd veg !
Couponing!! Having a fully stocked house thanks to coupons means much more money to spend on family days out and treats!
my favourite lifehack is bulk cooking, when cooking a meal quadruple the recipe and freeze 3 portions, saves so much time and energy making a meal after a long day at work when you can just grab a pre-prepared health meal
I microwave carrots before chopping them
Heat fruit in the microwave before juicing. This method can produce up to 30 to 40 percent more juice
I use a toothbrush to clean round taps & difficult places like plugholes, & a blusher brush to dust delicate ornaments
Use Ikea shopping bags to store dirty laundry and carry it to washing machine and washing line etc. Also very useful in scooping up all of boys toys and hiding them away in the evening so I can relax a bit.
Always sort school bags out the night before
Put onions in the fridge before you chop them, saves on the tears!!
all my socks are the same colour, if any go missing in the laundry or any get beyond saving I always have a matching one ready! I buy a load of identical plain pairs and no longer have the irritation of trying to pair them up!
mix bicarb of soda and white vinegar to clean the shower door. Sparkly!!
Put a lazy susan in the fridge to make it easy to find the jam/chutney/etc when you need them. Saves time – and electricity since the fridge isn’t open for as long.
If like me, you have heaps of keys on your key ring, colour code hem with nail varnish to make them easier to identify quickly.
Get into the habit of doing little muscle toning exercises throughout the day during your regular routine – eg. 10 squats whilst waiting for the kettle to boil. A little and often can be just as effective as a gym session.
I recently discovered a little lifehack with the paper cups for ketchup/bbq sauce from Mcdonalds – turns out you can pull the paper out and make a much bigger cup rather than trying to cram it all in.
Line your bin with newspaper to absorb any leaks.
making a weekly menu before doing the weekly shop,
i always cut the toothpast tube to get the last bit out it last another week its surprising how much is still in there….Barbara M
Use freecycle or similar and adapt old furniture etc rather than buying new
I make my own Nakd bars from dates, cashew nuts and cacao powder. They’re so cheap to make (dates from Aldi and cashew nuts from Lidl), you can add different flavours like orange essence or vanilla extract and they last for around 10 days in the fridge. They’re a perfect pick me up for all ages, help that sweet craving and are pretty healthy (in moderation).
The cacao powder is organic (I get mine from Amazon in a KG bag) and can also be added to baking, yoghurt and porridge.
Laura x | Life and Lipstick
When I became to sick to work I really struggled financially, and I also got really bored. I started doing competitions. I’ve won some great stuff and quite a bit of cash. If I win something I don’t want or need I sell it on gumtree and it earns me a little extra spending money
My old English teacher used to make all students write this sentence on the front of our exercise books:
Procrastination is the thief of time.
It’s stuck with me and I try to get all essential daily tasks out of the way early in the day so I can use the remainder of the day usefully and enjoyably.
Feed the kids in the garden = hose ’em down after, job done.
Stretch an elastic band around an open paint can so it goes across the top of the opening and wipe your brush on it to keep paint from dripping down the sides!
freeze a freddo… will last longer xxx
My favourite life hack has helped me with uni work and blogging. Once I’ve finished with a piece of writing i copy and paste it in google translate and listen back it’s a really quick way of spotting any typos or spelling errors!
If you have a large bunch of similar looking keys you can identify which key is which easier by painting them with different coloured nail varnish!
My life hacks are about water! Don’t run the hot tap until the water comes out hot and then add cold to it to make it bearable – use the cooler water at the beginning! That will save water as will not leaving the tap running while brushing your teeth. I also save all the water from the kitchen sink bowl – washing up water, cleaning vegetables water etc – in buckets and use all of this to water the garden in dry spells. It is amazing how many buckets I fill each day!
I use pegs to fasten the tops of opened bags of rice & pasta once opened and pop them back in the cupboard and with frozen food like peas & chips I cut along the top of the bag with scissers and use it like rope to tie the top back up and no more spillage in the freezer
Another way to chill the bottle is to wrap it in some wet kitchen towel and put it in the freezer for 15 minutes.
when planning a family day out, always have ‘escape plans’ up your sleeve for when things go wrong
I always buy things we use when on offer and get a bit carried away sometimes. Hard to find storage space now and my OH always saying have plenty already
I love a glass of wine too, and occasionally a G&T. I keep sliced lemons and limes in the freezer so that I can pop a couple into my drink instead of ice cubes, just like your great idea of grapes in the wine.
I freeze bananas – cut them in half, stick a lollypop stick in and freeze them. Great for when the kids get home from school for a healthy snack.
I freeze slices of lemon to pop into a G&T so that I don’t take up too much room in the glass with ice-cubes!
My daughter loves playing shops and pushing her trolley round and us then buying things. Instead of buying expensive toy foods and boxes, I save suitable packaging from our shopping such as tea boxes, egg boxes, miniatures alcohols from flights!!! My daughter loves it as they are so realistic (probably as they are real!).
Wine racks aren’t only great for storing bottles of Kumala but they also make super towel organisers.
always planning days out ahead of time x
I use the frozen grapes one too!
Other frozen fruits work well in Pimms 😉
Buy cheap bananas in bulk and freeze them for banana bread, muffins,pancakes and smoothies.
It is easier to open a banana from the bottom than it is peeling from the stem. Pinch the black bit at the opposite end from the stem so it spilts, then peel it back – this is the way monkeys peel bananas.
We freeze slices of lime in a tub in the freezer. They are a great way to add flavour and cool down a g & t. (or any soft drink ofcourse!)
Always sort out all outfits the night before for whole family
make icecream wth frozen fruit and yogurt
I buy over ripe bananas when reduced and freeze them to make healthy ice cream
Harvest seeds from plants and replant them – saves buying at garden centres
Use TopCashBack when making online purchases – I made over £700 last year that really helped at Christmas!
I keep a make-up brush to dust intricate ornaments.
I read somewhere how to stop your headphones from tangling.
Once a month do a big online shop and have it delivered (choose carefully and you can get delivery free or for £1). Buy the heavy stuff, bulk toilet rolls, cans etc and a nice man will appear and deposit the lot right in your kitchen! 🙂 That leaves you free to pop in to supermarkets inbetween and suss out the offers and bargains at the time with a lot less to lug home!
Google Chrome alerts you to a any open tabs that are playing sound by displaying a speaker icon. It is possible to mute the tab by clicking on the speaker icon if you enable Tab Audio Muting. You can do this by entering “chrome://flags/#enable-tab-audio-muting” into a tab, pressing enter, then click on enable.
If you close a tab by accident pressing Ctrl+Shift+T together will reopen it.
Having a magnetic strip in the bathroom or dressing table area to store hairpins (which otherwise are forever getting lost!) on. You can also then attach magnets to the backs of makeup and attach them to it too for some great and unique storage!
Buying in bulk, cooking in bulk and freezing family size meal portions
get kids to help do things around house, if they help out they get poket money,
I usually don’t wear make up. Except for special occasions. Saves hours and hours.
always check cashback sites before making purchases online
Freeze left over wine into ice cubes – use these to cool down glasses of wine instead of normal ice cubes and you’ll avoid watering your drink down
Spot clean your jeans then fridge freezer em to keep them fresh and increase longevity.
I freeze milk and bread so I always have some in. I can get the bread out of the freezer a slice at a time.
Save the cartons from takeaways they make great storage for left overs
I don’t use grapes, but may do now but I freeze slices of lemons and limes on a grease proof tray when frozen bag them up, leave in the freezer always then have an icy slice to put in my gin / vodka tonic..and when your doing it for one if you have fresh lemon they will go off so this saves the waste. Plus as they are frozen then thaw in the glass, they actually release more lemon flavour…
Never walk empty handed at home. If I’m going from one room to another, I always try and take something that needs to be moved – putting an envelope into the recycling, taking dirty laundry to the laundry basket or the washing machine, carrying things down to the recycle bin when I go to the car…small things can make a big difference!
The power of five minutes. Whatever I need to do, however much i don’t want to do it, I can set a timer and do it for 5 minutes precisely
Delegation, especially now my boys are teenagers, we are a working household and that means all of us have to play our part, plus it will get them in good stead for when they have their own homes.
I use boiling water and soda crystals to remove burnt on food from pans and baking tins. Works like magic.
Best life back for me is straight after using the oven, switch off and place an open casserole dish or bowl of water in the oven whilst it’s still hot. Leave for an hour or two with the oven door closed. When you come back, you wipe the inside of the oven clean. Total lifesaver for me this – it’s like steam cleaning your oven! No scrubbing needed – and for best results do this after every use or at least once a week to avoid too much of a build up of grease etc. and you will never have to scrub your oven for hours on end again 🙂
Life hack* (Silly predictive text)
Have your tried hulling a strawberry using a straw?
You push it up through the bottom towards the leaves.
Don’t forget to squeeze out the mush before moving on to the next one!
marinate and prepare meat for 2 meals ,so you have tasty quick and healthy meals in the week
The life hack I use the most is putting my phone in a clean empty glass which in turn acts as a speaker when playing music! Also very handy if you tend to sleep through your alarm, place your phone in the glass at the side of your bed and the alarm will be amplified when it goes off!
Every month at the beginning of the month ( just after we get paid) I browse all the supermarkets and local shops online and take note of all the special offers especially on household items like washing powder , toilet roll and tinned goods. I then go round and buy them in bulk while cheap! I also collect money of coupons all month. It saves me a small fortune!
use bicarbonate soda to get rid of nasty smells
I use left over Douwe Egberts jars for making candles
Do a monthly food menu, is so much easier to shop and you don’t get as many unnecessary items.
sounds silly but a ring pull on a can to be a straw holder! i dont like drinking from cans as they smell funny (strange i know!) and always use a straw that used to fall out all the time but spin the ring round perfect straw holder! ha! x
Shop around to get the best deal
Use olive oil left over from jars of olives, chillies etc to cook with. I rarely have to buy olive oil.
Keep the plastic containers from takeout food and reuse them to freeze homemade soup, chill etc. when the lids beak use the bases in the greenhouse as seed trays.
Shop around to get the best deal. I use online sites tot up the best value and shop there as I live near the big shopping brands
Washing really stained pots plates and pans in washing powder and the dirt just falls off.
Also works for tea stained cups n spoons!
I cook every day rather then buying take away.
eat, drink and enjoy. Only buy what you will eat not what will go in the bin.
Wow fab ideas everyone, and I really like the fairy lights in wine bottle idea. My life hack is to always take a packed lunch to work with you – it will save you a fortune over the year and you will have extra money to spend on little luxuries like some nice wine 🙂
Enter competitions 😉