Helpful tips

I buy a page a day diary in September, and I record in it all my 'financials' for the following year, money going in and out on certain days ( mine and OH pensions, etc). then when I spend anything I take it off the total and have a really good idea of what is surplus.....not much these days!!
I have been doing this for quite a few years, and find it very handy and also therapeutic to know when and where money is going to.

The ever handy camera phone has lots other uses than simple photography. I was first impressed when saw young teenage daughter taking a picture of her 'updo' hairstyle from the rear to check all ok! Yes good for shop receipts or even a section of a credit card statement to give proof of purchase. I have shopped for housebound folk and nice to take a pic of what is available for their opinion. I also have used to take pic of where car is parked in a large airport carpark. On subject of cars, take a snap of any damage if hiring a car before you drive it. The photos will be date and time stamped.

Knittynatter. Can you actually get a slot?? I wish

I use my phone camera function to scan ingredients for recipes before I go shopping, instant shopping list.

BTW my phone (Samsung) now recognises when I am lining up to photograph a page, and swops to a scan function. Brilliant, no more shots of my feet at the edge of the pic, and no need to crop. If anything needs scanning, no fiddling with the darn printer/scanner attached to the computer either. My OH with his iPhone is very envious.

I’m so happy that Goodreads was suggested as I’ve just spent the last hour discovering what it has to offer. My Bookclub has been running for over 30 years and we all find our memories are a little less efficient nowadays! There is no excuse now as we can all share recommendations and refer to Goodreads if we can’t remember whether we’ve read a book before.

I have found a local Handyman who can do odd jobs I can't manage myself.He is brilliant and it's such a relief to know help is available if I need it.
I've also had a Pixie haircut and love it. So easy to just wash and go. Not socialising because of Covid restrictions gave me the courage to go for a drastic "chop".
I've also decided to see what my natural hair colour looks like as I haven't seen it since I was a teenager!

Cordless vacuum cleaner, cordless hedge trimmer, anything cordless.
Supermarket home delivery

I’m going to get pilloried for this but I love a tidy linen cupboard so I found out how to iron fitted sheets. I iron the sheet, pillowcases and duvet cover from the bed and put everything inside one of the pillowcases. This stacks really neatly in the cupboard. When I change the bed I just need to take the right pillow case out and everything else I need is there! It, sadly, gives me great pleasure!

Downloaded the shopping list app you just speak into it and it puts it onto your list so handy as I was forever forgetting my list plus if I suddenly remember something I just pop it into the list

Many products/foodstuff have instructions in tiny print. I take a photo then enlarge it until I can read it.

Oldernewgranny

I bought a Truecall Call Blocker which has been my best purchase in recent years. We were being plagued by nuisance calls, as many as 10 a day. The inconvenience of answering these calls became so stressful and time consuming. The call blocker has transformed our lives.

ditto.
mine's called BT Call Guardian. easy peasy.
everyone who's seen/heard it, has been impressed, and at least two have bought the same. can recommend.

Aepgirl

I do my ironing as soon as the washing is off the line. It’s so much easier than leaving it in the basket until the creases are hard to press out.

i do no ironing at all, never have, and i find that even easier.

i don't see the point in having matching bed linen, not since i was early 20s. the same with crockery.
i know i'm in the minority on here, so i'm not trying to convert anyone. i just want to be heard too. to me function is the criterion, although if it was a hideous colour or design i would not have it. but given that those i have are acceptable to me, any combination will do.

there used to be big buildings called banks on high streets. some of you who live in cities may still have one. they were a useful source of free coin bags, little plastic bags with a turn-over strip which can be used to stash change in pockets, also for keys, so as not to wear through the pockets, and lose the change/keys ....

I've done online food shopping for years and love that.

My recent "cheats" are:
Frozen chopped onions: saves so much time and so many tears.
My robot vacuum: it also mops.

Best of all though is my M&S meal-deal treat on a Friday night after a very long and busy working week: mains, side, dessert for two plus a bottle of wine for £12. Cheaper than fish and chips!

TheMaggieJane1 I’m following you to the pillory (which hasn’t yet appeared!) as although I’ve no airing cupboard I do stack my bedding in the wardrobe and like your idea of keeping each bedset in one of its pillowcases. I’m swapping out the idea of ironing fitted sheets though for Marie Kondo folding...

Click and collect - saves time and keeps me away from tempting extras!

I hate cleaning the glass shower door, so living alone, I have a large lightweight plastic tablecloth over it and it catches the drips! The screen remains immaculate. I take it off when family etc visit.
I love my elasticated watch strap, no fiddling about and I like a month to view calendar rather than a diary for appointments etc. I put a dab of nail varnish on my front door key so it stands out from the bunch.

I decided to do without the torture of bras and just wear a vest top. I realised that nothing in my life has ever been better as a result of wearing any of the countless bras I've met and endured. They're gone for ever and it's bliss, I no longer dread getting dressed!

I've got rid of everything that used to need a hot wash - so no light coloured bedding, white towels or tea towels here!

(Reason - I now use an Ecoegg for all my laundry, which has no bleach or optical brighteners - and I'm saving lots of money.)

For book lovers, also look at LibraryThing app. I've been recording all my books for years, and have a separate login for our book group. You can sort your lists by title, year read, rating etc. One feature I really love is the bar code scan. Hover over it, and it reads the title and saves it to your list.

I have to say having my phone to take photos things is very handy. Your DH asked you to pick up some odd piece of hardware? take a picture of it and go shopping. Instead of telling the clerk "I need a 3/4 inch grapple-grommit", just show them the picture and they will find what you need!

Online grocery shopping has to be up there with Alexa and 1600 spin on my washing machine ?

Lilyflower, I agree about the Dyson cordless. My husband is unwell so I've been busier the last year or so. I had thought about getting a cleaner but didn't want anyone coming into the house because of Covid. I invested in the newest, most expensive version of the Dyson cordless and it's changed my life!

I had to ask a neighbour to untangle me from a top which was stuck up my back firmly like a straight jacket, when getting dressed after a bath ( I have a dodgy shoulder). She told me that she first folds up the bottom half of a garment on the outside, and it has made life so much easier!

I've just got a Roomba and love it - it truly is life changing!