5 Tips for Simplifying in 2016

This post is sponsored by Healthtex and The Motherhood.  #WalmartBaby #Healthtex

Hey moms! Feeling overwhelmed?  Spend more time with your family in the new year by implementing these 5 tips for simplifying in 2016!

Get organized. Work out.  Simplify life. Create and stay on budget. Lose baby weight.  Eat more whole foods. Sound familiar?  Hello 2016.

Yup, that’s the mantra around here, and in most family households in the new year I suspect. So, how do these lofty goals get accomplished? For me, it’s a work in progress, but I do have a few tricks and tips that I’ve picked up along the way that I plan to employ this year.

1) Can it be done online?

Yes? Well, then why leave your house? With three kids, with any kids, leaving the house is one heckuva process.   Almost everything can be done online… today, I ordered my groceries, purchased rain boots for my kids and paper for my office, booked a hair appointment, and paid an overdue cell phone bill all online. In a car pool line or a waiting room?  There’s probably an app for that too.

My local grocery store and Walmart both offer online grocery shopping where you pick it up and have them loaded into your car same-day.

2) Can you combine efforts?

Yes, then maybe it’s worth leaving the house! 🙂 If James needs a few long-sleeve tops for cool weather and we need toilet paper and milk – hello Walmart.  Not only do I know I’m saving when I go to Walmart (my budget is smiling right now), but I can find anything and everything.

Recently, I discovered Healthtex, a children’s line of clothing available at Walmart.

I like preppy and classic-styled clothes for my little guy, and loved the options available with the Healthtex brand.  Often, I get hand-me-downs and consignment clothes, but it sure is nice to get new-with-tag clothes for my boys every once in a while.  Especially for #3.  For between $5 and $9, you can’t beat the price.  You can also purchase Healthtex clothes online.  See #1.

Trying to catch this guy in a picture sporting his outfit can prove a whole ‘nother challenge, however!

Bribery with baby goldfish may or may not have been involved.

3) Is there a coupon or promo code for that?

You don’t know? Look it up!  I use sites like Retail Me Not and Coupons.com before making any online purchase.  Works (almost) every time, saving me hundreds or more a year.  Walmart also offers ship-to-store free for many items.

4) Are you accountable?

This is critical for me in regards to exercise I don’t want to do, but it’s also helpful for sticking to a budget.  I love to run, and don’t need anyone to make me.  Weight lifting though?  Ugh.  I have a personal trainer that I meet with twice a week.  It’s not as crazy expensive as you might think.  Look up some options in your area and get some different quotes.  When it comes to budgeting, work with your spouse on a budget and keep each other in check.

5) Do you have a plan?

This helps me with exercise and meal planning.  I use my planner to keep track of my fitness goals and my weekly meal planning.  Tracking what we’re going to have day by day helps me know if I need to pull anything out of the freezer or put something in the crock pot in the morning.  I also use my planner to keep track of my miles for the day, week, month and year.  I aim to run 1600 km in 2016, and knowing that I have to complete over 20 miles per week keeps me thinking about working on daily.

How do you plan to simplify this year?