Life Hacks #2

I got a big positive response to my first Life Hacks post, so I figured why not keep this little list going.  Here are a few more...

- Never pay full price at Hob Lob.  Now, the real life hack would be trying to make yourself never enter Hob Lob because let's be real, if you go in there, you are going to spend money no matter what.  But...you should NEVER pay full price for anything.  First off, there is always a 40% off one regular priced item coupon.  That's available in the Hob Lob flier in the mail (or they usually have them in the store) or you can pull it up on your iPhone.  So if you need to buy something that is not on sale, use your 40% off coupon.  But second, if you can afford to wait, the full price item you are looking at will be on sale within 2 weeks.  My Cousin Whitney is the one who informed me about this when she was wedding planning.  She watched and the sales in that store basically rotate ever three weeks.  So, if she found something she wanted and it was not on sale, she'd just check back the next two weeks and it would be 50% off.

- Have a card stash.  I'm a card sender.  And honestly a pretty good one.  I rarely miss a birthday or anniversary.  I try to always send baby cards and engagement cards.  And then sometimes have it together enough to send just because cards.  It's much easier to do this if you have a stash of cards rather than trying to hit up Target or Hallmark or wherever every time you need one.  I have a basket (OSU orange, of course) where I store all my cards.  I keep them organized by topic.  I just use little sticky notes to keep them separated.  It works like a charm and helps me keep up with events and have cards ready to roll quickly!

 

- Meal plan for the week.  This trick not only helps keep you from having to go to the grocery store multiple times a week (who the heck likes that??) but also helps you buy only what you need and not waste food.  Every Sunday, I sit down and make a meal plan for the week (Usually I do this for Monday - Friday).  I make a menu of what we will eat for each meal and then base my grocery list on what I need for these meals.  I have really found it saves a lot of time and money at the store if I know exactly what I'll be cooking and buy only that food.

- Remedy for forgotten name.  I'm hesitant to share this one because I've probably used it on someone reading this blog.  But, whatever.  Are y'all as bad about names as I am?  I'm a super visual person, so if I've seen your name written down, I will probably remember.  If I see your face, I can usually remember things about you (where you are from, how we met, what you were wearing the last time I saw you), but your name?  It's iffy if it will come to me.

One little trick I learned when you can't recall a name you should know is as follows.  Say you are chatting with the Unknown person and another person walks up.  You introduce the two and say, "Oh gosh, remind me of your name again?"  And when they tell you their first name, you say, "Oh, no, of course I know your first name, it's your last name I can't recall." (Even though you had no clue what their first name is.)  Then they'll tell you and bam, you're in.  Just make sure you remember it this time.  For example:

Say Alex, Bob and I are talking and I can't remember Bob's name.  Here's how this would work:

Tiffany:  "Alex, this is, oh gosh, your name is escaping me."
Bob:  "It's Bob."
Me:  "Oh no, of course I know your first name, it's your last name I can't recall."
Bob:  "Oh, Bob Jones."
Me:  "Jones, of course.  Bob Jones."

I'm always up for new life hacks....please share your favorites!