What would make you happier: spending fifty dollars to buy yourself a couple hours of free time, or spending the same amount on a material good? According to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and reported on by the New York Times, people who spend money to save time experience a boost in happiness that doesn’t occur by simply buying more stuff. So how can you save time and maximize happiness? Stop doing the chores you hate!

 

Five Chores to Outsource Right Now

1. Meal planning and preparation

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average American woman spends 37 minutes per day on meal and drink preparation, while men average 17 minutes. The first takeaway is that men need to help more in the kitchen! The second is that both groups could benefit from ordering in. 

Unless cooking is genuinely enjoyable for you, consider spending a bit more money to buy yourself some time. Those same minutes that you spend in the kitchen could be spent exercising, pursuing a hobby, or playing with your kids. I would much rather watch my three-year-old ride his bike in circles on the driveway than stand at the counter chopping onions. While delivery from restaurants will save you the most time, it’s also the most expensive (and possibly least healthy) option.

Meal kits from companies like Blue Apron or Hello Fresh are a nice compromise—cheaper than take out, but more expensive than doing it on your own. These kits save you valuable planning, shopping, and prep time while still allowing you to serve up a home-cooked meal.

 

2. Laundry

Laundry is another top contender for most-time-consuming chore, costing the average American woman about two hours a week. Men spend, on average, about one fourth the amount of time, which leads me to believe that either women are doing their laundry or they are wearing dirty clothes. Assuming you are doing your own laundry and don’t particularly enjoy it, consider reclaiming that time.

In addition to the time you spend sorting, loading, folding, and (in my case) scrounging around for quarters, you may also find yourself waiting for the machines to finish or interrupting other activities to move the clothes along.

How nice would it be to forget all that and have your clean clothes delivered to your door? The cheapest way to live this dream is through a subscription laundry service like Rinse Repeat. Rinse Repeat lets you stuff your dirty clothes, towels, sheets, etc, into a bag that’s picked up and delivered to your door. While most laundry services cost upwards of $2 per pound, a Rinse Repeat subscription can cut that price in half.

 

3. Cleaning

How much time do you spend cleaning your home? Now, how much time do you spend thinking about cleaning your home or, perhaps, feeling guilty about the grime on the top of your microwave? Hiring a cleaning professional to clean your place once or twice a month is a worthwhile investment. 

First of all, you’re probably not that skilled at cleaning the grout in your shower, so why not outsource to somebody with specialized knowledge? Also, when you know that your place is in for a thorough cleaning, you can stop worrying about the dust on your bookshelves and enjoy the moment instead. 

 

4. Yard work and landscaping

I know a handful of people who get joy from tending their gardens and maintaining their yard—they are usually eager to tell me about their most recent blooms and overflowing crop of arugula. Are you one of these people? If not, it might make sense to hand your yard work over to a professional.

A weekly visit from a gardener will save you about two hours a week of yard work, and their expertise could leave your yard looking even better. With weeding and trimming out of your mind, you can enjoy your outdoor space rather than seeing it as a chore.

 

5. Furniture and other assembly

Maybe you grew up crushing lego kits in record time, but if you’re like me, and you break out in a cold sweat every time you see instructions written in 17 different languages, you need to hire a professional.

Fortunately, Amazon, IKEA, and others give customers the option to purchase assembly right in the checkout.  Alternatively, you can hire a tasker via Taskrabbit to complete the task.  Spend the time you saved doing something fun or just enjoying your magnificent new nightstand.

Pick you favorite (or rather, your least favorite) chores from the list above and outsource. Give yourself more time for the things you actually want to do!

Readers also liked:

1.) Your Complete Guide To Caring For Cashmere

2.) What Is Green Dry Cleaning?

3.) The 4 Most Commonly Asked Questions About Silk

Communications To Date:

September 21, 2020 - An update to “no-contact” delivery at Rinse
March 31, 2020 - Rinse remains open as an essential service in Washington DC
March 30, 2020 - Rinse remains open as an essential service in Virginia
March 30, 2020 - Rinse remains open as an essential service in Maryland
March 25, 2020 - Rinse remains open as an essential service in Washington DC
March 23, 2020 - Rinse remains open as an essential service in Maryland
March 23, 2020 - Rinse remains open as an essential service in Boston
March 20, 2020 - Rinse remains open as an essential service in Chicago
March 19, 2020 - Rinse remains open as an essential service in California

 

--------

September 21, 2020

Over the past few months we have made significant changes to our pickup up and delivery procedures in order to keep our customers and Valets safe in the wake of this pandemic.

Since the onset of COVID, we have put processes in place to ensure “no-contact” pickups and deliveries for all orders at Rinse. During that time, we’ve collected a lot of great feedback from our customers and Valets.

To that end, we wanted to let you know about one important change we are making to our no-contact policy: if you would like your pickup or delivery to be completed without you being present (Rinse Drop), we require formal authorization from you in advance of our arrival. This means your Valet will no longer be able to accept verbal or text message approval for Rinse Drop.

As a reminder, below is a summary of your “no-contact” options at Rinse:

• Rinse Drop is a service we offer for customers who won’t be home (or don’t want to answer the door) when our Valet arrives. This option should only be used by those who feel their bags will be safe when left unattended at the delivery location. There are two ways to set up Rinse Drop:
   
  • Rinse Drop on your current order – If you would like to set up a “one-time” preference for Rinse Drop (meaning we pick up or deliver items without you needing to answer the door on that specific Rinse), authorize Rinse Drop through the link we send you on the day of your order (see below).
    
    
    
    Step 1 - The evening of your Rinse you'll receive a text that asks for instructions for your Valet. Just follow the link to update your Rinse Drop preferences.
    
    
    
    Step 2 - Under "Contactless delivery", select “I can’t come to the door” from the options dropdown menu and then authorize Rinse Drop for your order.
     
  • Rinse Drop on all orders – If you would like to set a permanent preference for Rinse Drop, you can do that on your “My Account” page under “delivery preferences."
     
• Socially-distanced pickups and deliveries – are available if you are able to answer the door when your Valet arrives or do not authorize Rinse Drop.
   
  • For pickups - Your Valet will text you when he/she arrives at your address. He/she will wait six feet away from your door while you place your bags outside. Once you close your door he/she will collect your bags and send you a confirmation text.
     
  • For deliveries - Your Valet will place or hang your clothes outside your door and notify you of his/her arrival. He/she will wait six feet away while you collect your bags. If you are not able to come to the door during his/her visit, your bags will not be delivered and your Valet will send you a text to reschedule for another, more convenient, time.

We hope the above gives you a clear understanding of what to expect during your next Rinse. If you have questions or feedback, don’t hesitate to reach out to [email protected].

Wishing you safety and health,
Your friends at Rinse

 

--------

March 31, 2020

COVID-19 UPDATE: Yesterday, Mayor Bowser issued a "Stay-at-Home" order to Washington DC residents, noting that only Essential Services, including Laundry Services like Rinse, will remain open. The order is effective as of 12:01 a.m. on April 1, 2020.

We take our role as an Essential Business very seriously during this challenging time. Rinse will remain OPEN for all our customers in Washington DC, (in addition to all our other markets) and we are ready to serve you.

You can read more below about the actions we are taking to keep our customers and our team safe and follow this blog for more updates. Stay safe and healthy!

 

--------

March 30, 2020

COVID-19 UPDATE: Today, Governor Northam issued a "Stay at Home" order for the state of Virginia, noting that only Essential Services, including Laundry Services like Rinse, will remain open. The order is effective starting, today, March 30, 2020.

We take our role as an Essential Business very seriously during this challenging time. Rinse will remain OPEN for all our customers in Virginia, (in addition to all our other markets) and we are ready to serve you.

You can read more below about the actions we are taking to keep our customers and our team safe and follow this blog for more updates. Stay safe and healthy!

 

--------

March 30, 2020

COVID-19 UPDATE: Today, Governor Hogan issued a "Stay at Home" order for the state of Maryland, noting that only Essential Services, including Laundry Services like Rinse, will remain open. The order will go into effect starting at 8:00 p.m. on March 30, 2020.

We take our role as an Essential Business very seriously during this challenging time. Rinse will remain OPEN for all our customers in Maryland, (in addition to all our other markets) and we are ready to serve you.

You can read more below about the actions we are taking to keep our customers and our team safe and follow this blog for more updates. Stay safe and healthy!

 

--------

March 25, 2020

COVID-19 UPDATE: Yesterday evening, Mayor Bowser issued an order to temporarily close all non-essential businesses in Washington, DC starting at 10:00 p.m. on March 25, 2020. Laundry services are noted as an Essential Business.

We take our role as an Essential Business very seriously during this challenging time. Rinse will remain OPEN for all our customers in Washington, DC, (in addition to all our other markets) and we are ready to serve you.

You can read more below about the actions we are taking to keep our customers and our team safe and follow this blog for more updates. Stay safe and healthy!

 

--------

March 23, 2020

COVID-19 UPDATE: Today, Governor Hogan issued an order to close all non-essential businesses in Maryland starting at 5pm on Mon March 23. Laundry services are noted as an Essential Business.

We take our role as an Essential Business very seriously during this challenging time. Rinse will remain OPEN for all our customers in Maryland (in addition to all our other markets) and we are ready to serve you.

You can read more below about the actions we are taking to keep our customers and our team safe and follow this blog for more updates. Stay safe and healthy!

 

--------

March 23, 2020

COVID-19 UPDATE: This morning, Governor Baker issued a stay-at-home advisory for Massachusetts and ordered all non-essential businesses closed starting at noon on Tue March 24. Laundry services are noted as an Essential Business.

We take our role as an Essential Business very seriously during this challenging time. Rinse will remain OPEN for all our customers in and around Boston (in addition to all our other markets) and we are ready to serve you.

You can read more below about the actions we are taking to keep our customers and our team safe and follow this blog for more updates.

Stay safe and healthy!
 

--------

March 22, 2020

 
At Rinse, safety is our highest priority.  To that end, we are following developments around the coronavirus outbreak very closely and taking the necessary measures to protect our team and our customers.  Rinse remains OPEN for all our customers in the Bay Area, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, and Washington DC Area as an Essential Service.  Please read more below about the actions we are taking to keep our customers and our team safe.

 

What Rinse Is Doing To Keep Our Customers and Employees Safe

During this uncertain time with new information coming in every hour, Rinse is taking every precaution to keep our customers and employees safe.  And we take our role as an Essential Service very seriously.  We’ve implemented the following protocol to protect against any potential cross-contamination:

During Our Pickup and Delivery Process:

“No-Contact” Pickup and Delivery – We have enacted "no-contact" pickup and delivery options so we can maximize social distance between our Valets and our customers to keep everyone safe. No contact pickup and delivery is now required for all Rinse orders. We now have three no contact options available:

• Rinse Drop is a service we offer for customers who won’t be home (or don’t want to answer the door right away) when our Valet arrives. This option should only be used by those who feel their bags will be safe when left unattended at the delivery location. There are two ways to set up Rinse Drop:
   
  • Rinse Drop on your CURRENT ORDER – If you would like to set up a “one-time” preference for Rinse Drop (meaning we pick up or deliver items at your door without you needing to answer the door on that specific Rinse), click on the link we text you on the day of your order that asks for instructions for your Valet. Select “I can’t come to the door” and then authorize Rinse Drop and provide any special instructions around where we can pick up or deliver your clothes.
     
  • Rinse Drop on ALL ORDERS – If you would like to set a permanent preference for Rinse Drop, you can do that on your “My Account” page under “delivery preferences."
     
• Socially distanced pickups and deliveries – If you will be home the evening of your pickup or delivery and need to interact with your Valet for some reason, please be aware that we are instructing our Valets to maintain at least 6 feet of distance between themselves and customers to keep everyone safe.
   
  • For pickups - Your Valet will text you when they arrive at your address. They will wait six feet away from your door while you place your bags outside. Once you close your door they will collect your bags and send you a confirmation text.
     
  • For deliveries - Your Valet will place or hang your clothes outside your door and notify you of their arrival. They will wait six feet away while you collect your bags. If you are not able to come to the door during their visit, they will collect your bags and send you a text to reschedule your delivery for another, more convenient, time.

How you can help: In addition to keeping a safe distance from our Valets, if you have items with special instructions (e.g. an item needs a repair), please pre-separate the item and put it at the top inside of your Rinse bag. This minimizes our need to find the item within your bag.
 

Keeping Our Valet Team Safe and Healthy

In addition, we are working to keep our customers and Valets healthy by supporting the health of our Valets. We are providing our Valets with soap and water, gloves, and disinfectants to use as they work their shifts. We are also encouraging Valets who may be experiencing concerning symptoms to stay home. As W-2 employees of Rinse, our Valets accrue Paid Sick Leave so they are able to take advantage of this benefit as needed. We are in constant communication with our Valets and their safety and health (and yours) is our top priority.

During Our Cleaning Process:

We are taking every precaution we can to ensure the safety and health of our Cleaning Teams as well, and to make sure your clothes are returned cleaned and disinfected. Here are some of the steps we are taking:

• Most importantly, the detergent and heat involved in our normal cleaning processes acts as a powerful disinfectant as we clean your clothes. The CDC has confirmed that laundry detergent and heat from various stages in our Dry Cleaning and Wash & Fold cycles are effective at killing the virus.
• Rinse never mixes customer clothing during our launder process. This was true prior to the COVID-19 outbreak as well. Your clothing never comes in contact with another customer’s clothing throughout the Wash & Fold process.
• Since the laundry detergent we use is effective against the virus, our washing machines are cleaned with each clothing cycle. Absolutely no clothing enters a dryer that hasn’t first been washed, to ensure dryers remain virus-free.
• Cleaned orders are always kept separate from unserviced orders in a polyurethane bag. This helps to protect against cross-contamination as well.
• Rinse Operators, Valets, and Cleaning Teams are required to wash their hands prior to the start of their shift, frequently during their shift, and again at the end of their shift.
• Frequent cleaning of all surfaces within Rinse facilities, trucks, and at our Cleaning facilities. This includes the racks where orders are stored and all customer name tags.
• Our Operators, Valets, and Cleaning Teams are being supplied with gloves, hand soap, cleaning supplies, and paper towels.
• Our entire team, including our Cleaning Teams, are required to follow the same 6 feet social distance protocol at all times.
• At all times our warehouses do not exceed 10 employees on premise, and the majority of time we do not exceed 5 people on premise, while adhering to the 6 feet social distance protocol at all times.

We are in constant communication with our Cleaning Teams as well and are working diligently to ensure the safest process possible.

We hope that understanding our processes and some of the safety measures we have taken helps you feel confident in using Rinse during this stressful time. If you have any questions, feedback, or suggestions, please reach out to [email protected].
 

--------

 

March 20, 2020

COVID-19 UPDATE: This afternoon, Governor Pritzker issued a statewide "Shelter-in-place" order for the state of Illinois, noting that only Essential Services, including Laundry Services like Rinse, will remain open. We are encouraged by the actions taken by Governor Pritzker (and hope to see more of these across the US).

We take our role as an Essential Service very seriously during thie challenging time. Rinse remains OPEN for all our customers in Chicago (in addition to all our other markets) and we are ready to serve you.

You can read more below about the actions we are taking to keep our customers and our team safe and follow this blog for more updates. Stay safe and healthy!

 

--------

 

March 19, 2020

COVID-19 UPDATE: Earlier this evening, Governor Newsom issued a statewide "Stay at Home" order for the state of California, noting that only Essential Services, including Laundry Services like Rinse, will remain open. We applaud Governor Newsom for implementing strong measures to help us "flatten the curve" and we take our role as an Essential Service very seriously.

Rinse remains OPEN for all our customers in the Bay Area and Los Angeles (in addition to all our other markets) at this time and we are ready to serve you. Read more below about the actions we are taking to keep our customers and our team safe. Stay safe and healthy!

 

--------

 

March 17, 2020

To our customers,

First, I wanted to send a quick note that Rinse remains OPEN to provide all of our customers an essential service during a challenging time.

Second, I wanted to follow-up on my email from last week. As we all work to navigate the coronavirus outbreak, the safety and health of our team and customers is the main thing on our mind. To that end, we have expanded the "no-contact" delivery options available at Rinse so we can maximize social distance between our Valets and our customers to keep everyone safe.

Effective immediately, we are working to ensure “no-contact” pickup and delivery in the following ways:

+ Rinse Drop is a service we offer for customers who won’t be home (or don’t want to answer the door) when our Valet arrives. This option should only be used by those who feel their bags will be safe when left unattended at the delivery location. There are two ways to set up Rinse Drop:

• Rinse Drop on your current order – If you would like to set up a “one-time” preference for Rinse Drop (meaning we pick up or deliver items without you needing to answer the door on that specific Rinse), authorize Rinse Drop through the link we send you on the day of your order (see below).
  
  
  
  Step 1 - The evening of your Rinse you'll receive a text that asks for instructions for your Valet. Just follow the link to update your Rinse Drop preferences.
  
  
  
  Step 2 - Under "Contactless delivery", select “I can’t come to the door” from the options dropdown menu and then authorize Rinse Drop for your order.
   
• Rinse Drop on all orders – If you would like to set a permanent preference for Rinse Drop, you can do that on your “My Account” page under “delivery preferences."
   

+ Socially-distanced pickups and deliveries are available if you are able to answer the door when your Valet arrives or do not authorize Rinse Drop.

• For pickups - Your Valet will text you when he/she arrives at your address. He/she will wait six feet away from your door while you place your bags outside. Once you close your door he/she will collect your bags and send you a confirmation text.
• For deliveries - Your Valet will place or hang your clothes outside your door and notify you of his/her arrival. He/she will wait six feet away while you collect your bags. If you are not able to come to the door during his/her visit, your bags will not be delivered and your Valet will send you a text to reschedule for another, more convenient, time.

--

If you have feedback, questions, or suggestions on more we can do to optimize prevention and continue to provide an essential service for you during this challenging time, we are very open to it. Please don’t hesitate to reach out.

We will continue to communicate with you during this evolving situation as we make or have any updates.

Stay safe and healthy!

Best,
Ajay

---
Ajay Prakash
Co-Founder & CEO | Rinse

 

--------

March 11, 2020

To our customers,

At Rinse, safety is our highest priority. To that end, we are following developments around the coronavirus outbreak very closely and taking the necessary measures to protect our team and our customers.

During this time of uncertainty and increased social distancing, Rinse plans to operate with no interruptions while keeping our team and customers safe. We have taken extra steps to ensure that preventive measures like washing hands thoroughly and disinfecting work surfaces are practiced diligently and frequently across our entire workflow. In addition, the detergent and heat involved in our normal cleaning processes will continue to act as a powerful disinfectant as we clean your clothes.

Here are a few other steps we are taking to optimize prevention:

• For Valets - Our Valets are W-2 employees of Rinse, so they already accrue Paid Sick Leave. We are advising any Valet who has concerning symptoms to stay home and take advantage of this benefit. In addition, we are providing Valets with soap and water, gloves, and disinfectants to use as they work their shifts.

• For Cleaning Partners - We are in constant communication with our Cleaning Partners to ensure they are taking the same proactive measures as our internal team. In addition, to remove any barriers to being fully stocked, we are covering the cost of supplies like gloves, disinfectant, and hand soap for our Cleaning Partners.

• For Customers - We would like to remind you of Rinse’s option for “personless” pickup and delivery (“Rinse Drop”), which may be preferable to you at times like this. Below is a quick overview of your Rinse Drop options:

• One-time preference – If you would like to set up a one-time preference for Rinse Drop (meaning we pick up or deliver items at your door without you needing to be there on that specific Rinse), click on the link we text you on the day of your order that asks for instructions for your Valet. Select “I can’t come to the door” and then authorize Rinse Drop and provide any special instructions around where we can pick up or deliver your clothes. 

• Permanent preference – If you would like to set a permanent preference for Rinse Drop, you can do that on your “My Account” page under “delivery preferences.” 

 

In addition to the steps we are taking, there are a few things our customers can do to help:

• Please have your clothes ready and in your Rinse bag when your Valet arrives. To optimize prevention, we are advising Valets to minimize touchpoints across their workflow, and having your bag ready to go will help.

• If you have items with special instructions (e.g. an item needs a repair), please pre-separate the item and put it at the top inside of your Rinse bag. This minimizes our need to find the item within your bag.

• Consider Rinse Drop (but only if you trust your clothes to be left alone outside your door). 

We are continuing to monitor and implement local Health Department and CDC guidance for each of our locations. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at any time.

Thanks for being a great customer. We hope you stay safe and healthy during this challenging time!

Best,
Ajay

---
Ajay Prakash
Co-Founder & CEO | Rinse

 

It seems like there are never enough hours in the day (because, frankly, there are not). That's why it's important to take advantage of the crazy age we live in with a subscription for everything and select the ones that actually make a difference.

As far as we know, no one ever looked back on their life and wished they spent more time folding laundry or walking up and down the isles of the grocery store. Life is what you make of it, and it takes discipline and planning to make room for the things that are important–spending time with loved ones, pursuing a passion that feeds your soul, and making a difference in this world for others.

That might seem like an overly heartfelt intro to a blog post about timesaving subscriptions, but when it comes down to it, that's what these are; They are a means to give you time back in your day so you can spend it on what matters!

1. Amazon Prime

First things first, Amazon Prime. If you don't already have it. Get it. If you do, you can skip ahead or read on to learn what a great decision-maker you are :)

For $12.99 per month, you can have literally anything delivered to your home within two days, for free. Depending on the item and your zip code, sometimes you have it delivered within a matter of hours via PrimePantry and PrimeNow. If you estimate about two deliveries per month, that comes to a value of about $300 per year. For $12.99 per month or $119 when you pay annually, that is a great deal, before you even consider the included streaming service, free monthly kindle download, free unlimited photo storage, free music streaming and member-only perks like access to Prime Day and discounts on things like diapers.

That’s the flat dollar value of Amazon Prime. The real reason we’ve included it on this list is that it will save you a lot of legwork taking care of errands and shopping. That time you spend searching through Bestbuy for the right cable adaptor or getting to and from the drugstore to pick up the vitamins you like is time you now have back in your day.

The Department of Labor’s most recent American Time Use Survey shows that people still spend over two and a half hours per week, on average, shopping for items they need. Three hours is the same amount of time that the Department of Health and Human Services recommends an individual exercise per week. Yes, wandering around a Target does increase your step count, but the time you’ll have for dedicated exercise will help even more.

2. Stitch Fix/Trunk Club

Unless you love to shop for clothes – in fairness, a number of us do – maintaining your wardrobe can be a true chore. Fashions change, clothes wear out, and let's be honest, body shapes fluctuate. Looking presentable and polished is a requirement of daily life, professionally and otherwise.

For keeping your wardrobe fresh, home delivery personal styling services like StitchFix and TrunkClub are lifesavers. Just fill out a questionnaire about your style, clothing requirements, and size information, and a professional stylist puts together a box of clothes for you each month – so easy! (You can often adjust the timing of how often you receive a box, if needed).

The cost of service is deducted from any purchase you make from the items sent, so if you’re finding items that you like, then the service is free. For the items that you don’t love, just send them back.

Bonus tip: For special occasions, we recommend Rent the Runway (Sorry men, currently they only provide clothes for women). You can quickly search through hundreds for dresses for the perfect outfit. Search by occasion, color, fit, and body shape and read reviews with pictures from women with your similar body type, height, and weight so you get a really clear idea of how the dress will look. You “rent” the dress, meaning they send it to you for the special occasion and then you send it back when you’re done with it. No need to worry about dry cleaning or dropping a couple hundred dollars on an outfit you’ll wear once. In terms of time and financial value, Rent The Runway is a great option.

You may be thinking, I’m a grown adult and I’m not completely fashion-blind. I can go to the store and figure this out.

No doubt! But aside from the time you spend tracking down items you like in a size that fits, you’re also spending energy and making choices. Decision fatigue is a psychological concept that explains that we have a finite amount of metal energy to devote to making decisions within a given amount of time, and as we spend that mental energy, the quality of our decision making deteriorates. It’s the reason that it's so difficult to decide where to eat after a long day at work, or why criminals get harsher sentences later in the day. It’s also the reason you shouldn’t spend your time trying to figure out what to wear. That is, if it’s not something you enjoy.

3. Rinse Repeat

Rinse is a dry cleaning and laundry delivery service that picks up, cleans, and hand delivers your clothes to your door, 7 days a week. They offer dry cleaning, wash & fold, hang dry, leather cleaning, repair services, and even donation pickup, but the service that is the best value for time and money is Rinse Repeat–an all-inclusive laundry service.

The average American household spends up to 3 hours per week dealing with laundry: Sorting, washing, folding and putting away. With Rinse Repeat, you just put your clothes in your Rinse Repeat bag, which holds 40lbs or about 4 loads of laundry, and they come and pick it up once a week. They return everything clean and neatly folded 3 days later. They do have a next-day rush option for an additional $5 fee.

The Rinse Repeat bag is what sets this service apart from others and makes it an incredible value when considering the time and money you save. You may have used Wash & Fold (sometimes called Fluff & Fold) services in the past, and know that the service can be extremely expensive. With Rinse Repeat, you just pay a flat fee each month for the bag and Rinse will wash all of the clothes that you can fit into it, rather than charging by weight as most services do. When compared to their a-la-cart Wash & Fold service (which is comparable in price to similar services), you can save up to 44% on laundry with Rinse Repeat!

You just choose your schedule – weekly or every other week – and the day of the week you’d like them to pick up your clothes and they are there. Rinse Repeat is a true time-saver! The Department of Health and Human Services recommends 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity each week to stay healthy and feeling good. With 3 hours back in your week, you’re 80% there!

4. Exercise Subscriptions

The classic gym membership is, of course, a subscription. You may be thinking -- how will that save me time? Well, technically it won’t, but according to every doctor that ever lived, exercise extends life span and quality of life, so it’s making the list!

We did the research and depending on what your interests and your favorite way to break a sweat, there is an exercise option for you.

If you prefer to work out at home, then we highly recommend a workout streaming subscription. Usually, classes are prerecorded, but if you sign up for a service like Daily Burn, you can join live classes as well. Membership is usually between $10 and $30 per month, which is about what you would pay for a drop-in yoga class.

Insider tip: If you’re not sure if you’ll like exercising at home, both Amazon and Netflix have workout content for yoga and cardio. Their selection is limited, but it’s a great way to get your feet wet if you are hesitant to dive into a full exercise subscription membership.

Another option for an in-home workout is an equipment-focused membership like Peloton for cycling or running (NordicTrack also offers similar equipment connected to classes and accessible through membership), or the Concept 2 for rowing.

If you’re someone that needs to get outdoors, the classic choice is Strava, an app for runners and cyclists. Strava tracks your exercise and helps you analyze your progress, connects you to a community, and gives you trails and challenges to complete!

We like Strava and apps like it because when exercise is tracked, you do more of it. Studies have shown that just by giving someone a pedometer they walked 27% further than without it.

Give yourself a way to access and track your favorite form of exercise and you will exercise more, and in turn, feel better. That’s an investment well worth the time and money.

Readers also liked:

1.) Why Hang Dry and How To Do It Properly

2.) Make Time for Joy by Outsourcing Your Chores

3.) The 4 Most Commonly Asked Questions About Silk