My house is an absolute disaster!! Ever since I started posting for Freebies2Deals, it looks like hurricane blew in and destroyed my home. I’m definitely not proud of the way it looks, but I need to figure out a way to balance my life and Freebies2Deals at the same time.
So, it looks like I will be doing some hard-core cleaning today! It would be nice to have it all clean for the husband when he gets home. He would be so surprised! LOL
Any of you got any great ideas for balancing work and cleaning at the same time? I’ve got to figure out a system to make it all work!
Leslie
Flylady.net she breaks it all down for you and talks about balancing work and house work.
dmadsen
I agree Flylady is a wonderful resource.
Anonymous
https://www.flylady.net/index.aspShe also has some books out.
Ryan and Renee
I love your site. You should check out my products for keeping your home organized. My blog is https://soapstarmomshop.blogspot.com or my store at https://www.etsy.com/shop/soapstarmom
Mallory
I like to set a timer for 10 minutes. I make it a game for my kids to see how much we can get done before the timer goes off. They love helping and you'd be surprised how much you can get done in that short amount of time 🙂
Rebecca Hunt
I totally know what you mean!! Mine isn't work but I have started going to school while taking care of 2 kids and trying to have dinner ready for the hubby every night!! I wish I could give advice but I need the advice too!!;)
Alicia Pearson
I only have 2 little ones but it helps me to pick up 10 mins before I go to bed and 10 mins when I wake up. I load the dish washer while I'm cooking dinner, like while the meat is cooking. Every time I walk into a room I pick up something and put it away. Same as the laundry when I go past it I load it. I also put the clothes on my bed so I have to fold them and put them away before I can get in.Hope this helps.
Tiffany
All I can say is i'm glad i'm not the only one!!! 🙂 I have the hardest time staying on top of the housework too especially the laundry…and I don't have a full time job!! It makes me tired just thinking about how far behind I am!! So…..sorry, no advice from me either, but know your not alone!! lol
Bridgette
I work from home on my computer too, and I finally had to set hours for myself (6-8 am, 1-3 pm, and I check my email after 8). Outside those hours I shut off the computer, so I am not even tempted to check my email or browse. I have found so much balance by setting those limits on my work. So now my house and kids have time from me too 🙂 Good Luck!
Jocelyn
You could set up a weekly house list ex: pick a time each day that you do it 20 minutes often suffices, Monday pick up bedrooms and put in a load of laundry or two, Tuesday: clean bathrooms, put in a load of laundry Wednesday: pick up living room and vacuum bedrooms, Thursday: clean kitchen, put in a load of laundry etc., you get the idea, but always make sure you get time off, Saturday: nothing or whatever day(s) you need
Beth
I am pregnant with my 3rd and have found it really difficult to keep a good balance just with family and housework. Let alone have the energy needed to keep up with 2 small children right now. So I made a schedule for me and my kids. I had to be really strict for the first few weeks so I could work out the kinks and make it a habit. But it has paid off. Make it general enough for a daily routine and be flexible when things come up. You'll notice that the unimportant things that you may have thought were so important will go away (or find a new time during the day) creating less stress. Good luck! Pray for help, guidance and strength and it will get better.
Lisa Lu
FlyLady.net really works wonders and you never feel overwhelmed. 15 minutes – you can do anything for 15 minutes. Good luck.
Denise
I was going to say Flylady.net also. Although with her system you have every room in the house totally clean once a month – I have a simplified version but it allows you to have every room clean once a week. Let me know if you want me to send you my lists. You are so not alone sister!!! Daily battle!
Anonymous
I have 4 very young kids and expecting #5. I do laundry 4 days a week . It helps a ton because it is not an all day chore, I do kids clothes one day, adult clothes one day, linen on a separate day and all towels on a different day. I save a ton of money by couponing and getting freebies so I do pay someone to come every week to clean my house. I do the maintenance every day by making sure all toys are off the ground by the time we go to bed and no dirty dishes are in the sink.
reeves family
I have 4 kids my own cleaning business and I make cakes on the side. My house was the same way. I was always cleaning other peoples homes and not my own. So, I decided I need my own cleaning lady which is ME. I come once a week at 9:00 am. My day is Wednesday but you can do what works for you. One problem people have is they start cleaning on room and it turns into a whole day organizing. Save those big projects for another day. I have one box of toys for my kids to play with while I'm cleaning so they don't get out all the other toys. They can only play with them when the cleaning lady (me) comes. Also get the kids involved. Make them straighten their room and you come and dust and vacuum. If it's clean for you they get a treat on their bed. If not they have to do all of it themselves. Also I have a job wheel for my kids that they spin everyday for extra chores to help with. Good luck.
Staci @ Designing and Motherhood
At this point I want to hire HELP!! I want someone honest, quick, personable, very detail cleaning oriented, and willing to clean bi-weekly. If you live in N. Utah e-mail me with prices and references. designingmotherhood@blogspot.com
Melinda May
This is what works for me but you honestly have to find your own "thing". I am 9 months pregnant with #3. I have my own business. I do ALL my posting/blogging at night when my girls are down and absolutely AFTER my hubby and I have had some type of time together. A snack out back, t.v. watching, reading. Then when I do get online, I time my self and what I can't get done in one hour I leave for the next day. If it is really important I get up a little earlier and do it in the morning. This way I have less stress in my life. My kids don't see mom on the computer ever and I have time for family, cleaning and my business/blogging! I LOVE your site but people need to understand that you have a life to. Maybe just post once in the morning before people get up and actually go shopping. If there is a "Killer Deal" that just needs to be posted, maybe set a time during lunch or what not to post, that way it doesn't take time away for your home/family. Good Luck! (I hope I didn't sound too bossy)
Jennie
I am a mother of five children, and my best advice is GET OFF THE COMPUTER!!! It simply is not possible to be on line 8 hrs. plus a day, raise children, take care of your home, make dinner, and oh yeah ….church responsibilities. Then, what's left for your hubby? Saving money and having your own site is important and posssible,HOWEVER…what good does it do to save money to improve your quality of life,and provide for your child if you end up alone? In my experience cleaning days just don't work. Everyday is a cleaning day, and regardless of whAT DEALS ARE OUT THERE that you may want to post, it's just not possible to do it all. …you set the tone in your home. If you want your husband to want to come home to you, you know…(with excitement) a clean organized home goes a long way. As your daughter gets older, and your family grows you will probably come to realize FREEBIES2DEALS can't be as extensive as some other sites. Sites where 8 to 12 hrs a day is needed to maintain the site. Why be a stay at home mom if your daughter isn't getting your full attention? Our children are on loan to us for such a short time ( mine are ages 18 to 3 yrs)so don't let it pass you by….FOR ANYTHING!!!
Plowlady
you need to remember who/what is most important in your life….your wife/mother role, or strangers on the net. The net is a BIG distraction & can suck you in, hence why I always put it aside when I feel I am neglecting being the heart of my home…strangers on the net are not a replacement to our responsibilities…been there, done that, wont do it again…soak up your home life first, spare time the net…thats what I do.
TwoofFive
Making "Domestic Engineering" a seond part time job. Like others have suggested, (and similar to FlyLady) you need a schedule. Monday – LaundryTuesday Dust and VacumeWednesday Toilets/sinks/counters, bathroom floorsThursday Appliances (stove top, 1 fridge shelf…)Friday Oops projects (mending, extra load of laundry, wipe down the walls…)Saturday Outside choresSunday – sabathI have definitely found that I do WAY less loads by doing laundry all on one day. Plus it reduces the possibility of leaving clothes in the dryer to wrinkle and crinkle.
d
I think since you have expanded F2D you need to get others to help you with the site. Not only for the out-of-state stuff you are already planning to give to others, but even some of the stuff you have going on already on your site. I feel like your expansion so far has taken the quality of your site down significantly. There are SO many days that you don't post (even aside from Sunday) because you are either out of town or spending time with family. Those are things you should be doing. But I'll tell you that I have switched from F2D being my #1 deals site to many others being ahead of you since I know I will find posts on their site, but yours is inconsistent. You'll be able to do more family time/housework and your site could still be quality if you allow someone to help you part-time.
Jennie
I could not agree with "d" more! Since you have expanded your site, it has become my 3rd or 4th choice in looking for deals instead of my 1st!!!! If you want to continue expanding you NEED HELP!!!!
Melea
Any help would be great! I havent had anyone offer, even after asking. So, if either of you are offering, let me know!
Anonymous
I want you to know how much I appreciate all of the work you put into your blog! If it wasn't for you, I would have never tried couponing and I wouldn't be saving my family a ton of money. I'm not a pro at couponing so I look forward to your post's and I am not at all disappointed when you don't post everyday, after all if it wasn't for all of the work you do I wouldn't know about great deals. NOT TO MENTION IT IS TOTALLY FREE! Thank you so much for helping us newbie's, as I am sure I speak for many of us, we are very grateful for what you do and you will always be our #1 site!
kimmy
I just want to say to those of you who are bashing Melea for how she sets her priorities, GET OFF YOUR HIGH HORSES! She did not ask for life advice, simply how others keep their homes clean. I am a full time working mother and i resent the fact that others would think less of me for trying to make ends meet and provide for my family. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE F2D and so does my hubby! It has been a GOD SEND! Thank you Melea for all your hard work! We really appreciate it!