Jun
19
Running errands - according to the pro’s
Filed Under Organization, Shopping, Technology, Time Management
If you frequently find it challenging to run your errands around your hectic work schedule, I thought you might find the article from Real Simple Magazine on Running Errands by Julie Hagenmaier, founder and CEO of My Girl Friday (an errand-running company in Cincinnati), of interest.
Julie says…
1. If you can do it online, do it online. Take advantage of services that deliver. If you can have stuff delivered or ready for you to pick up, that will save a lot of time. Call ahead and have your dry cleaning, groceries, or whatever ready for you when you get there. Some major grocery chains will have your shopping done for you.
2. Never bring someone else along… especially your kids, when you are trying to get errands done quickly. If you bring your friends, you’ll kill a lot of time gossiping. If you want to get in and out, do errands by yourself. When you go yourself, you’re more apt to focus and do what needs to get done. With kids you’re more likely to impulse-shop, and that wastes time and takes away from what you need to get done.
3. Don’t nickel-and-dime… those nickels and dimes don’t add up to convenience. So going to the grocery store across town to buy something because it’s on sale is going to cost you more in gas and time than going to the store on the corner.
4. Go shopping right before the store closes. You’ll be less tempted to stick around longer than your schedule allows.
These are really great tips…especially going by yourself! I do a lot of these myself and my husband is usually surprised at how fast I can grocery shop. One tip for grocery shoppers - use the self checkout line! It is easy to figure out and I find that I am faster at all that than the person running a cash register who probably does not care what kind of rush I may be in.