Modern Homemaking (NOT A 1950's HOUSEWIFE)

What is modern homemaking?

I started to think about my grandmother's and how they managed their homes. I actually have 3 grandmothers my mom’s mom, Marie who live me most of my childhood, my dad’s mom, Lois and my biological dad’s mom Rosa. They all lived much different lives. My Grandma Marie raised 8 children in a small apartment, my Grandma Lois raised 3 children in 3 bedroom home while managing a full-time nursing career, and my Grandma Rosa raised 2 children while running a business from her home.

I wondered how they did it without all the modern amenities we have now. They didn’t have dishwashers, cell phones, or huge capacity washers and dryers we have now. My grandmothers lived modest lives but they all had hot meals on the table, their houses were clean and tidy and their husband always had a pressed shirt.

Why is that with all the modern age luxuries we have so many of of us still feel overwhelmed with managing our homes??

I thought hard about it and figure out just how we as modern housewives can have success as homemakers in the 21st century. Here’s want I’ve come up with to save us time and our sanity…

SAY GOODBY TO DISTRACTIONS
One thing we have that our grandmothers didn’t is a million different screens. Cell phones, iPads, T.V’s in almost every room of the house, we can even video chat with our friends. You have to find out what is sucking up all your time and eliminate it! For me, I can easily get trapped in Instagram or a T.V. series. If I start scrolling Instagram while I drink my morning coffee I will most certainly go on scrolling long after my cup of finished. T.V. series are the worst. I just finished watching all 9 seasons of Little House on the Perrie and I can’t tell how much less productive I was. It was so easy to put on an episode while I folded a load of laundry and the next thing I knew my husband was on his way home and I barely got anything done. Find out what doesn’t have any real value, what’s that wasting your time and get rid of it. Learn to say no or use it as a reward for when you’ve finished your to-do list. 

USE APPS AND BE ALITTLE TECH_SAVVY
One great thing about technology is used right it can be a great resource for us. It’s important to be a bit tech-savvy you don’t need to need to know how to create a website from scratch but know the basics like checking your search history to see what sites your children have been visiting or pin your favorite recipes to Pinterest so you can access them quickly when your meal planning. Apps are a great time saver too. Some of my faves you can also use right on your desktop. Like Google Keep. I love this for jotting down ideas, shopping lists, whatever I need out of my head goes in Google Keep. I love that I can also add my husband to any of my notes so I’m not the only one responsible for remembering something or if I get sick and can’t get to the store he will automatically have the shopping list right on his phone. Mint is another one of my favs. I love that I can set spending budgets. It combines all our credit cards, and bank card so I can see how much we’re spending in a category like taking out or clothes. It even alerts me when there has been an unusually high amount spent in a certain category. Google Calendar is another good one. I like plugging all my events/deadlines/paydays/birthday on my laptop but if I’m at the store and run into a friend who wants to set up a playdate I can grab my phone and see when we’re free and update to my calendar right then and there before I forget. Also, check to see if your bank offers an app. My bank's app lets me deposit checks, pay bills, transfer money, and I can check my balance anywhere anytime. I’m not lugging 3 kids into the car, sitting in the drive-thru just to make a simple deposit. 

DON’T BOTHER SORTING THE LAUNDRY

There really is no reason to sort your light and darks. With the HE washers, we have nowadays that’s a thing of the past. I was taught to separate lights, dark, whites, and towels. Now I will say I still separate my towels and whites but anything that doesn’t fit those categories goes in together! 

I am even known to add a towel or white article of clothing in with my regular clothes and I’ve never had a problem with it. I’ve never had white pants turn red, or a shirt destroyed from the towel being put in there. Heavy jeans are washed right along with everything else. Don’t waste time sorting your clothes like you probably taught. It’s not necessary. Another way I started saving time recently was I got myself one of these divided laundry systems on wheels. Now we can sort our laundry as we go and I know when a load needs to be done at a glance. 

USE SIMPLE CLEANERS AND SUPPLIES

I will admit I love cleaners! I’m guilty standing in the cleaning aisle smelling all different cleaners. I even find when I’m in a cleaning rut I treat myself to new cleaners just to change things up.  But sometimes less is more – especially when it comes to cleaning. Try using multipurpose cleaners. One cleaner that can clean multiple spots in your house not only saves money but time and space. Less clutter means you can quickly grab your supplies and put them away which will make you more inclined to actually clean. A small caddy will be able to hold everything you need and you can take it from room to room easily. Some of my favorite multipurpose cleaners are Mrs. Myers all-purpose cleaner, and the Dollar Tree’s glass and surface cleaner, but don’t forget about DIY cleaners too!! You can pick up a few ingredients that will clean almost everything in your house. In my last video on frugal homemaking a shared a FREE printable with my favorite tried and true DIY household cleaners. Check the description box to grab yours. Most people don’t like cleaning but if you simplify your cleaning supplies you can get the job done in less time.

PLAN YOUR MEALS

Our fridges are larger and we have chest freezers in our garages so take advance of it. Plan your meals for a week or even 2 weeks in advance. Shop sales and stock up when something you use often is on special or buy in bulk. Take advantage of online shopping. Our grocery store has an option to shop online and they will bring my groceries out to my car. They even have online sales and coupons you can only get if you take advance of their shop from home program. I would almost always save more money this way than I would if I spent an hour or more in the grocery store with my kids asking for something down every aisle. 

ASK FOR HELP
Speaking of asking for stuff one thing I advocate for is asking for help. Asking for help from your spouse and children doesn’t make you a bad housewife. Everyone needs little help sometimes. 

My kids have their chores around the house like making their bed, loading, and unloading the dishwasher, sorting their laundry and they do it for a few reasons.

1. I can’t do everything around the house alone. If I did I’d go crazy.
2. They need to learn. They won’t live with me forever and I not going up to their dorm room to wash their clothes. 
3. And it gives them a way to learn responsibility. 

Even the baby helps me put her toys away. 

Most nights the kids and my husband will help me clean up from dinner. I’ve learned the hard way that I have to delegate something to other members of my household. 

FIND JOY IN THE DAY TO DAY

The way you view your role as homemaker means everything to how you will succeed. I know cooking cleaning, and laundry can feel mundane but try to remember how you view your household tasks affects your attitude. 

Think about the impact your making in your family and home. Your the one that provides a joyful place of peace and safety for your family.