Prioritized Living - Page 3 of 21 - Master your money. Get organized. Take back your time.

Steal This Trick from Insanely Productive People

April 15, 2019

We all want to be more productive.

Maybe your to-do list is so long that you can’t finish everything. So you want to get it all done in the time you actually have available.

Or you simply want to blast through the stuff you have to do so you can have more time for the things you want to do.

Either way, you could definitely use some time management tips that will cut wasted time and effort and maximize your efficiency.

And there’s one productivity hack that truly productive people turn to religiously — task batching.

So we’re looking today at what task batching is, why it works, how you can get started, and how you can take your task batching powers to the next level. [Read more…]

Skip the Store & Stock Your Pantry with ShopRite from Home

April 8, 2019

This post is part 3 in the series Skip the Store & Stock Your Pantry.

This post was last updated October 2019. Note: This post contains affiliate links. Read my policy here.

In this series, I’ve reviewed and spelled out the pros & cons of some home delivery and grocery pick-up services — Amazon Subscribe & Save, Amazon Pantry, Target Subscriptions, and Walmart Grocery. Today I’m sharing my review of ShopRite from Home, including how it works and how to get the most bang for your buck.

It was during a particularly challenging pregnancy that I discovered ShopRite from Home.

All of a sudden, instead of having the freedom to run off to the supermarket, I was too sick even to walk around my house. For months! But, even now as a busy mom, I’m a grocery pick-up convert.

Grocery pick-up and delivery service is a game-changer!

Part of it is the truth of my time’s value. Yes, I could be schlepping around the store every week to grab food, personal care items, household supplies, baby stuff — you name it. But my time is precious. I want to spend it on my loved ones, my family’s goals, and my own personal goals.

And the best part is that I don’t have to sacrifice to do that.

Most days I use ShopRite from Home instead of hitting the store myself, I actually wind up saving money!

So how does ShopRite from Home work? What are the ins and outs of the ShopRite pickup service? The ShopRite delivery service? And how can you maximize your efficiency and save the most money while shopping for your groceries?

Let’s dive in. [Read more…]

How Much Money Should You Have in an Emergency Fund?

March 18, 2019

Here’s a personal question: How healthy is your savings account looking these days?

Not so good? You’re not alone: A recent survey from GOBankingRates found that 58% of American adults have less than $1000 in savings. And more than half of that groups has zero dollars saved.

Zero!!!

It’s time to change that statistic and get serious about building an emergency fund.

But just how big should your emergency fund be? How do you know what number you should target in that all-important savings account?

Here’s how you can answer that big question with confidence.

[Read more…]

Why Your Credit Score Is Dropping: Should You Be Worried?

March 11, 2019

Tracking your credit score is easier than ever. An increasing number of lenders provide their clients with unlimited, free access to credit scores.

But being able to watch your score so closely over time means that you may notice something unsettling — bumps and dips in that all-important number. So what’s going on from month to month? Why has your credit score dropped?

And, more importantly, should you be worried? [Read more…]

Ready for Tax Time? My TurboTax 2018 Review

March 4, 2019

Note: This post contains affiliate links. Read my policy here.

At heart, I am a die-hard numbers nerd. So it’s a fact that I used to find actual enjoyment in creating spreadsheets to calculate the figures I entered on each year’s tax return.

Then life got more complicated.

I got married. We got a house. Had a kid. Started a business. And more. And my spreadsheet became increasingly complicated until it couldn’t keep up with my complex life and an even more complex tax code.

So, several years ago, I finally abandoned my spreadsheet and bought TurboTax to handle my taxes. And I haven’t looked back since. [Read more…]

7 Laundry Hacks to Save You Time & Money

February 25, 2019

Note: This post contains affiliate links. Read my policy here.

I’ve heard that there are people who enjoy doing the laundry . . . but I’ve never met a single one.

Odds are, you wish that you had a magical helper — a laundry fairy who would pick up, sort, wash, dry, iron, fold, and stow your family’s clothing without your needing to lift a finger.

But, failing that, it’s up to you to face the never-ending chore of doing the laundry.

But what if you could make doing the laundry faster and easier?

Check out these 7 smart hacks for mastering your laundry pile and getting back to the good stuff of life! (PSST . . . CHECK OUT THE FREE DOWNLOAD IN THIS POST AS WELL!) [Read more…]

How to Get Your Kids to Do Chores: Secrets of Organizing Pros & Rockstar Parents

February 11, 2019

Raise your hand if you’ve ever wanted to move to a new home just to get away from the mess at the one you’ve got!

It’s hard enough when you’re single to keep your home organized and tidy. But when you mix in a spouse, kids, and maybe some pets, it can feel as though you’re fighting a losing battle.

So how do you do it??? How do you get your busy family unified and working together? How can you get everyone to conquer that never-ending chore list so that it’s actually done — without tears or screaming? And how can you get organized quickly and easily?

To find the answer, I collaborated with Citi to find the real experts — organization gurus and parents who have successfully rallied their families to maintain ship-shape homes!

I rounded up their secret strategies and recommended tools. And I’m sharing those with you today.

There’s no better time than now to get your family organized. So get ready to conquer your crew’s collective goals and manage your household responsibilities with this easy action plan.

[Read more…]

The Beginner’s Guide to Playing the Drugstore Game

February 4, 2019

Note: This post contains affiliate links. Read my policy here.

The Drugstore Game is addictive.

Every time you hit your local drugstore, you challenge yourself to buy the items you need for as little as possible – or even without paying a dime!

I got started several years back after reading an outstanding and inspirational guide, How to Shop for Free: Shopping Secrets for Smart Women Who Love to Get Something for Nothing. (The book not only makes the drugstore game easy and effective but offers savings tips on clothing, electronics, groceries, and more!)

If you’re brand new to the drugstore game but want to learn and start playing quickly, here’s your essential guide to getting started and saving big at the drugstore. [Read more…]

Should You Cosign a Loan? What You Need to Know

January 21, 2019

Co-signing a loan can saddle you with some surprising — and unpleasant — consequences.

When a friend or family member asks you to co-sign a loan, it doesn’t seem like a big deal. You’re just helping out a loved one, right?

But co-signing a loan comes with serious, often hidden risks to your finances and your relationships. Here are some things to consider before you agree to lend a hand. [Read more…]

How to Practice Self-Care (and Why It Matters)

January 14, 2019

Note: This post contains affiliate links. Read my policy here.

Self-care sounds like a glorious luxury.

Focusing your attention on your own well-being instead of your kids’ extra-curriculars, your never-ending to-do list, your job, your obligations, and so on? What on earth would that be like?

But practicing self-care matters. It’s the difference between really living and simply surviving from one moment to the next.

In fact, this year, my husband and I — weary from a period of too many projects, too much stress, too many obligations, and a vibrant preschooler (whose energy I’d like to borrow!) — decided to make self-care a requirement for ourselves.

Around that same time, I coincidentally read an incredible new book by one of my favorite authors, time management guru Julie Morgenstern. My goal in reading the book was to make sure I was using my time as best as possible to be a great parent.

But Morgenstern’s book, Time to Parent, actually challenges readers to make time not only for raising a human but for being a human as well. (I highly recommend picking up a copy!)

So today I’m talking about what self-care is, why you (desperately!) need it, and how you can incorporate it easily into your life with astounding returns on your time investment! [Read more…]