|
|
Making the most of each stop
Leveraging Time
by Rich Finzer
Related Articles |
|
Fabulous Four Time Savers
Apply Business Savvy in Your Home Add Hours to Your Week |
|
|
If there are two things we Americans never seem to have enough of, it's time and money. Our lives have become increasingly complex, while at the same time we're encouraged to multi-task and become more productive. Now if some smart guy would just invent the 28-hour day, this would make life easier, but until that breakthrough happens, start leveraging time you do have while performing the necessary task of shopping for groceries.
Leverage the Service Counter: In many grocery stores near my home, the service counter offers a variety of customer supports. At my regular grocery retailer, I can pay my utility, phone, and satellite TV bills at the service counter. The store handles the transactions, and I save a couple bucks on postage. Better still, I avoid a trip to the post office to mail the bills, saving more time plus gasoline. If I used public transportation, I could also purchase a monthly transit pass at the same place. Sound convenient? It should, and there's more.
In-Store Banking: My grocery also houses a branch of my local bank. I can make deposits, withdrawals, or use the ATM and avoid another side trip. But the best part is the bank is open every day including Sunday! If that's not convenient, I don't know what is.
Bottle Return: Here in New York, there is a five-cent deposit on most beverage containers. There are stand alone deposit redemption centers set up around the area, but as long as I'm going to the store anyway, I avoid yet another extra stop and redeem my containers at the grocery. The store issues a credit slip, which I use at the checkout.
Booze: While it's not a reality yet, very soon grocers in New York will be permitted to sell wine and liquor. I don't consume much hard liquor, but the utility of buying a bottle of wine when I buy the fixings for the meal I'll serve it with strikes me as the epitome of convenience.
With the possible exception of walking and chewing gum at the same time, multi-tasking is a true misnomer. Basically, we perform all tasks one at a time. But, if I can pay bills, visit my local bank, redeem my bottle deposits and purchase some wine under one roof, I can perform a multitude of tasks while avoiding extra driving and extra expenses. Now as far as the 28-hour day, I'm working on it, but the math is killing me.
Take the Next Step:
- For more on leveraging time, please visit here.
Share your thoughts about this article with the editor: Click Here
Subscribe to TDS Newsletters
Join over 250,000 other subscribers!
To subscribe, check the newsletters you wish to receive, enter your email address and then click Subscribe.
View the TDS privacy policy.
|
Money problems? Struggling with credit card debt? What you need to know about bankruptcy? Trouble repaying student loans?
|
Get free money-saving articles in your inbox!
Sign up for our free weekly eNewsletter Surviving Tough Times.
Looking for an answer to a frugal living question? Click here to ask a
Dollar Stretcher Stretchpert!
Copyright 1996 - 2013 "The Dollar Stretcher, Inc." All rights reserved unless specifically noted.
Contact the Dollar Stretcher at:
Dollar Stretcher
PO Box 14160
Bradenton FL 34280
941-761-7805
"The Dollar Stretcher, Inc." does not assume responsibility for advice given. All advice should be weighed against your own abilities and circumstances and applied accordingly. It is up to the reader to determine if advice is safe and suitable for their own situation.
| About Us | Privacy Policy | Writer's Guidelines | Sponsorship | Media | Contact Us |
