My "life hacking" time saver!

[MJ DeMarco]

OK. I thought I'd start to get things moving in this new "Life Hacking" forum.

Here's my contribution...

You'd think a multimillionaire would be dining on expensive china or some dinnerware from Neiman Marcus? Not a chance...

http://www.mjdemarco.com/2010/09/why-do-dishes/

 

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[marktech101]

It all depends on class. If you want to live out your days as a millionaire eating off of paper plates, go for it.

 

[MJ DeMarco]

It all depends on class.

If you think "class" is defined by how someone chooses to eat in the privacy of their own home, then I'd say you have your own set of issues.

 

[Bilgefisher]

We do that as well. My wife and I would rather do other things than wash dishes. Our house is to small for a dishwasher, so why spend 1-2 hours each week wasting our time. :nopity: to all the tree huggers.

 

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[Kung Fu Steve]

It all depends on class. If you want to live out your days as a millionaire eating off of paper plates, go for it.

Wow, interesting philosophy. Sounds like someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed today!

Class has nothing to do with frugality of time and money. Class and sophistication have nothing to do with money. It's not an amount or an account you can show off.

I know some rich people who are complete morons, clods if you will! Can make a million dollars but can't tell you the difference between a fine piece of art and a doodle, or dancing and seizing, or music and loud noises, or the difference between polite and rude, a glass of wine or a glass of sheeps butt, or possibly the difference between making unnecessary and possibly inappropriate comments or not... yes my friend, class is not defined by what you eat on. And those of you who are working on sophistication, wipe your mouth when you eat! Nothing more of a turn off than watching you slober mayo all over your cheek. =)

 

[Wimtbimtb]

Wow, interesting philosophy. Sounds like someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed today!

Class has nothing to do with frugality of time and money. Class and sophistication have nothing to do with money. It's not an amount or an account you can show off.

I know some rich people who are complete morons, clods if you will! Can make a million dollars but can't tell you the difference between a fine piece of art and a doodle, or dancing and seizing, or music and loud noises, or the difference between polite and rude, a glass of wine or a glass of sheeps butt, or possibly the difference between making unnecessary and possibly inappropriate comments or not... yes my friend, class is not defined by what you eat on. And those of you who are working on sophistication, wipe your mouth when you eat! Nothing more of a turn off than watching you slober mayo all over your cheek. =)

Steve you could not have said it better.

 

[hakrjak]

I couldn't agree more. When my wife moved in, she brought with her about $10,000 worth of fine china, and dinnerware that she had collected over the years. I guess in her family, a woman feels like whoever dies with the most dishes WINS! ROFL....

This is all well and good, except for the fact that I have twin 7 year olds, and there is absolutely no reason why we need to own any plate that can't easily be replaced at Wal-Mart for the next, oh.... 11 years!!! haha... We've already broken a few, and it's been a huge pain in the a$$ -- having to hunt and hunt online to find the right pattern, and then pay $50-75 per dish to replace them.

So when she isn't looking, I still do sneak out the paper plates as often as possible Saved time, saves effort, and keeps the kids from smashing stuff that is $50+ a pop!

Cheers,

- Hakrjak

 

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[Rickson9]

If you think "class" is defined by how someone chooses to eat in the privacy of their own home, then I'd say you have your own set of issues.

I agree.

 

[Russ H]

It all depends on class. If you want to live out your days as a millionaire eating off of paper plates, go for it.

You're 17, marktech, so I'll cut you some slack.

I didn't even REALIZE how screwed up I was about "class" and what I was supposed to do and not do, until I was in my 30s.

So you've got a little time-- unless you want to break out of the rut that everyone else is in, keeping up w/the Joneses.

Do you have to own a new-ish car? Live in a nice neighborhood? Have lots of nice clothes? A good-looking gf or bf?

Do you have to spend money to feel like you have class?

Think about that.

A few years ago, I pulled up in my old Ford Mustang convertible (it was 10 years old at that time) to sign papers with a bank loan officer in a parking lot.

Kinda tacky.

I didn't want to drive all the way to his bank. So we were meeting half way-- half way between his bank and my house.

He rolled up in w/a new BMW. 7 series. Very nice.

I'm sure he owed a ton on it, and had bought it new.

That day, in my wrinkled shorts and Mickey Mouse T-shirt, I signed some loan docs for over a million dollars.

Did it leaning over, signing the docs on his trunk.

Yep, that's right: The well dressed bank guy in his new Beemer was giving me-- the schlubby looking guy in the T shirt and shorts w/the old car-- over a million dollars.

Why?

Because my wife and I had a proven track record. We'd already bought a property a few years earlier, and increased its value by more than $1.5 million.

So this bank wanted to see us do it again.

And they were lending us a lot of money to do just that.

So, here's my question for you:

Who had the class?

Me-- the guy in the Mickey T shirt and the old (but paid for) Mustang?

Or the guy who was wearing the great clothes and driving the $100,000 car?

perhaps a better question:

. . . is class what's most important here, or is there something else?

-Russ H.

 

[Darkside]

You're 17, marktech, so I'll cut you some slack.

I didn't even REALIZE how screwed up I was about "class" and what I was supposed to do and not do, until I was in my 30s.

So you've got a little time-- unless you want to break out of the rut that everyone else is in, keeping up w/the Joneses.

Do you have to own a new-ish car? Live in a nice neighborhood? Have lots of nice clothes? A good-looking gf or bf?

Do you have to spend money to feel like you have class?

Think about that.

A few years ago, I pulled up in my old Ford Mustang convertible (it was 10 years old at that time) to sign papers with a bank loan officer in a parking lot.

Kinda tacky.

I didn't want to drive all the way to his bank. So we were meeting half way-- half way between his bank and my house.

He rolled up in w/a new BMW. 7 series. Very nice.

I'm sure he owed a ton on it, and had bought it new.

That day, in my wrinkled shorts and Mickey Mouse T-shirt, I signed some loan docs for over a million dollars.

Did it leaning over, signing the docs on his trunk.

Yep, that's right: The well dressed bank guy in his new Beemer was giving me-- the schlubby looking guy in the T shirt and shorts w/the old car-- over a million dollars.

Why?

Because my wife and I had a proven track record. We'd already bought a property a few years earlier, and increased its value by more than $1.5 million.

So this bank wanted to see us do it again.

And they were lending us a lot of money to do just that.

So, here's my question for you:

Who had the class?

Me-- the guy in the Mickey T shirt and the old (but paid for) Mustang?

Or the guy who was wearing the great clothes and driving the $100,000 car?

perhaps a better question:

. . . is class what's most important here, or is there something else?

-Russ H.

I think most successful entrepreneurs are naturally frugal. They don't like spending a ton of money on things that they don't really need. We tend to value money more for the security that it brings us; knowing that we don't have to work for someone else ever again; that we have the freedom to take time off whenever we want and not have to answer to anybody else about it. You can't put a price on that freedom. Those working 9-5 are slaves to the companies they work for; they're using up 1/3rd of their lifespan toiling away for someone else when they can use that time to make themselves self-sufficient and still live comfortably while doing so.

 

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[Bilgefisher]

This has more to do with time than frugality.(While still important) Any joe schmo can make more money, no one can make more time.

 

[andviv]

Added comment to the post on your site.

 

[AroundTheWorld]

. . . is class what's most important here, or is there something else?

-Russ H.

Exactly my thought!!

But, what?

Making Smart Financial Decisions?
Making Smart Time Decisions?
Making Decisions that help you enjoy each moment, as it comes?

Each person will probably pick a different one... or maybe all three

 

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[MJ DeMarco]

I think most successful entrepreneurs are naturally frugal.

Absolutely ... Fastlaners are frugal with time, moreso than money.

Any joe schmo can make more money, no one can make more time.

Amen brother!

Me-- the guy in the Mickey T shirt and the old (but paid for) Mustang?

Or the guy who was wearing the great clothes and driving the $100,000 car?

I hear this saying a lot ... money doesn't buy class.

 

[Guest3722A]

http://www.mjdemarco.com/2010/09/why-do-dishes/

Dude you're massive! How do you fit in your car?

 

[FDJustin]

http://www.mjdemarco.com/2010/09/why-do-dishes/

Dude you're massive! How do you fit in your car?

Clownborghini! It's a very niche care right now, but it's gaining more popularity in certain crowds.

 

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[Russ H]

Dude, you're so small-- how do you fit in *your* car?!?

(see screen grab, w/your avatar on left)

-Russ H.

 

[Forza]

I'm thinking a dishwasher is a good alternative to disposable plates. Cleaning one plate and utensils takes a few seconds. A dishwasher even less time. But repairs can be a hassle occasionally.

...If you do your own cooking, don't you have to clean pots and pans?

 

[Guest3722A]

Dude, you're so small-- how do you fit in *your* car?!?

(see screen grab, w/your avatar on left)

-Russ H.

Itsa truck babe, itsa truck.

When I do get one I would think with a ladder and an adult sized baby seat.

YEAH! That would be awesome! Think about how cool that would be!

Buckle up!

 

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[nomadjanet]

New post topic what saves me time: I only allow my assistant to contact me by email. She is not allowed to voice mail me, tweet me, or text me, I don't want little pieces of paper with written notes. I have found since implementing this rule I have never missed an important message and I can pick them up and slide them into my calendar and have an accurate record of how things have gone down. I am sure it saves me 2 or 3 hours a week and from time to time lots of money on deals not lost or failure to follow through on issues.

 

[Russ H]

I'm thinking a dishwasher is a good alternative to disposable plates. Cleaning one plate and utensils takes a few seconds. A dishwasher even less time. But repairs can be a hassle occasionally.

...If you do your own cooking, don't you have to clean pots and pans?

Speaking from experience here, it takes less than a second to toss a paper plate into the trash.

It takes about 30-60 seconds to wash a plate, and 15 seconds to put it away when it's dry. It takes at least 15 seconds to rinse a plate, and another 30 seconds to open a dishwasher, put in a plate, and close the thing.

Then, you need to unload it when the dishes are clean (figure another 15 seconds per item, on average, not counting flatware).

Do that 3x a day for 5 days (eat out 6x a week), and you've got 15x you're doing this per week.

15 x 50 weeks (we'll take a 2 week vacation) and you've got 750x a year.

Assuming 60 seconds savings (on average) for each meal, that's 750 minutes per year.

That's 12.5 hours per year.

And that's assuming no big meals w/heavy dish clean up.

-Russ H.

PS RE pots and pans: One pot meals saves additional time. Just one example: You boil pasta in a pot, then take it out to drain. Use the same pot to warm up sauce, or saute' things to toss w/the pasta. Then, toss the pasta back into the pot.

 

[MJ DeMarco]

That's 12.5 hours per year.

Now imagine if you had just hours left to live and you were sharing it with loved ones ... and then suddenly, you were told you had an extra 12.5 hours to spend with them. There is no value on it.

New post topic what saves me time: I only allow my assistant to contact me by email.

Great to see you Janet!

 

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[Russ H]

I know from JScott's Facebook page that he's been practicing stuff like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PkdRKvw8es&feature=player_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=An0mFZ3enhM&feature=related

Again, it all adds up (plus, I think it's kinda cool)

-Russ H.

 

[FDJustin]

This next one is only for those of us that haven't gotten to the self-sufficiency thing, and need to work on that while getting paid to work on other things.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYgtUvgYi8U&feature=related (In the interest of your time, only watch if you have five minutes for entertainment and enjoy office humor.)

 

[TaxGuy]

Why buy paper plates, it's like you're throwing money away:

Solution- Dollar store "china" (Or of course a ShamWow or whatever equivalent they can make for dishes)

While we're on the subject of time wasted in cleaning dishes, I really love my CuisinArt juicer even though it takes like 15 minutes to clean after every use b/c I know I'm getting natural/fresh juice

 

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[Forza]

It takes about 30-60 seconds to wash a plate, and 15 seconds to put it away when it's dry. It takes at least 15 seconds to rinse a plate, and another 30 seconds to open a dishwasher, put in a plate, and close the thing.

Then, you need to unload it when the dishes are clean (figure another 15 seconds per item, on average, not counting flatware).

Russ, you are simply a very slow dish washer, lol.

If someone isn't rushing to get rich, then micro managing time like this means they don't really enjoy life much, i.e. the present moment. Ordinary things. Life is filled with ordinary things. So much so that they're wasting much of their life away if they don't enjoy them.

 

[Russ H]

Russ, you are simply a very slow dish washer, lol.

If someone isn't rushing to get rich, then micro managing time like this means they don't really enjoy life much, i.e. the present moment. Ordinary things. Life is filled with ordinary things. So much so that they're wasting much of their life away if they don't enjoy them.

Forza-

I don't enjoy mowing the lawn, raking leaves, sweeping the floor, or doing dishes.

And it's not that I don't like menial labor-- I actually enjoy lots of these things. But after years of therapy, the pain of getting beat as a kid (not hit-- BEAT) every single day for the lawn, or the leaves, or the dishes, or sweeping the floor is just there-- it's a painful part of my psyche. Call me a wimp, or damaged goods. It's who I am.

I suck at taking out the trash, too (same reason).

Fortunately, I have a very understanding wife who is OK w/this, and doesn't push it. She sees that I'm a workaholic, so she knows that it's not being lazy.

So what do I do about the things I don't like? I have alternatives: The yard is rubber mulch and pavers (no lawn), and we have a landscaper that does the leaves. A housekeeper sweeps the floor, and also does most of the dishes.

I do take out the trash, but my wife does it more than I do.

Things I didn't get beaten for-- doing laundry, cooking, cleaning the house-- all of these things I do, and enjoy.

Another example: I also enjoy running through spreadsheets and figuring out how to make another couple hundred grand this year-- so that's something *I* do, and don't farm out.

Just b/c I like it.

Make sense?

-Russ H.

 

[Forza]

Yes. It sucks that you had to go through that when you were young. You seem to have pulled through nicely inspite of it though

 

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[MJ DeMarco]

If someone isn't rushing to get rich, then micro managing time like this means they don't really enjoy life much, i.e. the present moment.

I can only speak for myself, but this assumption is entirely wrong. I'd rather spend my time engaging in activities that aren't laborious. Instead of washing dishes, I'd rather be listening to music. Sitting on the patio enjoying a beer and a cigar. Sitting on the couch watching CSI.

It is the same reason why I don't do the landscaping at my house and I pay someone to do it -- it is the same reason why I have a cleaning lady come over every so often, it is the same reason why I don't get up at 6am and go to work for 8 hours -- I'd rather reallocate that time to some activity that actually has a return either in more time, enjoyment, or relaxation.

 

[biophase]

I think that this thread is really about not doing what you don't like doing and doing what you do like. It is different for everybody.

I know that there's no way MJ would want to spend a week trying to climb a mountain, camping in the cold, trudging in rain. But for me, that's what I do in my leisure time.

I spent two years putting a koi pond in my backyard and countless hours and it's not done yet. Yes, I could have easily paid someone $20k to get it done in 2 weeks but that not what I WANTED to do. I wanted to rent my own backhoe, order all the supplies, cut the PVC pipe, etc...

So think about it before you have an opinion that doing this or that sucks for that person.

BTW, I still clean up my dog's poo every week too. And I also volunteer at the zoo and I have to scoop up tiger and lion poo. I'm sure the people watching me are thinking, what a poor guy or that guy's job sucks.