Running errands can eat up so much time each week. Especially, as a stay at home mom, I used to run errands almost every single day.
It was costing me time, energy, and gas money. So I figured out a way to cut back on driving to and from all my errands all the time.
Now, I stick to running my errands only 1 or 2 days a week. Other than that, I try not to be out and about wasting gas and time.
List of Errands to Run
- Grocery shopping
- hardware store
- post office
- library
- bank
- making returns
- clothes and shoe shopping
- doctor’s appointments
- dentist appointments
- pharmacy
- getting gasoline
- car maintenance
- dropping up donations
- dropping off recycling
- party or special occasion supplies
- car wash
- purchasing gifts
- laundromat
How to Save Time Running Errands
1. Run multiple errands in one day.
Some errands will occur weekly. Others may only happen once or twice a month or less often. Making a list of regularly occurring errands helps you keep track of them.
2. Map out your errands before you go.
Before you leave your house, think about where all of your stops are located. You’ll want to write down a list of errands in the order that you will go.
This saves you time and gas money, so you won’t be driving back and forth and all over town.
3. Go during non-peak hours.
Depending on your work schedule, you may have less available times to go. I try my best to avoid going out during rush hour in the morning.
I also try not to go when the schools are letting out in the afternoon. That is crazy time!
Some of the best times to go are mid morning during the week or early on Saturday morning. Of course, it always depends where you live and where you are going.
4. Cut back the times you go.
Can you run your errands less often? I used to meal plan for only one week at a time and have to run around to the grocery stores every week.
But lately, I’ve been meal planning for 2 weeks and only having to go shopping every other week.
We also cut back the number of times we go to the library. We used to go every week, but now we go about once or twice a month instead.
5. Bring everything you need.
One thing that will cost you more time is having to go back home and pick up things you forget.
Before you leave the house, double check your list of errands and make sure you have everything you need.
6. Go with happy kids.
I love my kids dearly, but running errands with them is a chore!
If you have kids as well, be sure to go when they are not tired or hungry. That means you’ll want to work your errand day around your daily schedule of nap and meal times.
When my kids were younger, I brought snacks and drinks for them. We also couldn’t be out for very long. So I kept those errand days short.
Now that they are older, we are able to stay out a little longer. We also like to get lunch at Costco. It’s cheap, and it’s something they get to look forward to doing.
7. Do what you can from home.
Are there errands you can do at home? You can:
- Pay bills at home
- Order groceries
- Make phone calls
- Renew library books
- Do banking
There are probably even more things you can do. This will save you time, energy, and gas money.