8 Purchases That Bought Me Time Back as a Working Mom

There’s a point in adulthood where I stopped evaluating purchases by cost and started evaluating them by effort. I used to look at a $500 robot vacuum and think absolutely not. Meanwhile I owned upright vacuums that cost hundreds of dollars and still required… me. Now I think about purchases differently: minutes saved, frequency used and replacement factor if broken. These aren’t status purchases, but now that I'm in my 40s I'm more along the mindset of why am I working so hard if I cannot buy back time.

1. Robot Vacuum

Approximate cost: $$$
Time back: 10–20 minutes daily

This is my number one because it prevents the house from reaching disaster level. I run ours during bedtime and wake up without crumbs, cat litter, and mystery floor debris multiplying overnight. The biggest benefit isn’t cleaning. It’s eliminating the mental load of noticing the floor. If this died tomorrow, I’d reorder before lunch.

2. Espresso Machine

Approximate cost: $$$$
Time back: 5 minutes every morning

I know this one sounds ridiculous until you use one every day. I use our Breville Barista Touch Impress every single morning.

Coffee shop runs are slower than making coffee at home once you factor:

• loading kids

• waiting

• driving

• forgetting someone’s snack

I can steam milk while breakfast happens and have a latte in minutes.

Bonus: significantly cheaper than a daily café habit.

3. Grocery Pickup

Approximate cost: Minimal
Time back: 1–2 hours weekly

I haven't grocery shopped for a full week's worth of grocery since 2020 thanks to Instacart. We started using delivery, but with the rising cost of groceries have switched to pickup which still requires time, but expecting my 3 yo to sit in a card for 45 minutes while I speed shop is unrealistic. Save $10 on Instacart here.

Now I:

• choose 5 meals

• add to cart

• pickup

Done. No impulse buying. No dragging kids. No wandering.

Meal prep isn’t my thing. Grocery pickup is.

4. Motion Sensor + Under-Cabinet Lighting

Approximate cost: $$
Time back: Tiny daily moments

This one doesn’t save hours. It saves friction. Closets light up. Coffee stations feel usable. No hunting switches. Little conveniences stack.

5. Dishwasher Pods That Actually Work

Approximate cost: $

No pre-rinsing. That’s the entire section. I’m not standing at the sink washing dishes before washing dishes. These are worth it.

6. External Monitor + Laptop Stand

Approximate cost: $$–$$$

Working from home taught me this: One screen isn’t enough. Better ergonomics, less clicking around, less eye fatigue, less chaos.

This monitor and laptop stand makes my workday feel shorter because I’m fighting my tools less.

7. Pet Care Autoship

Approximate cost: $

Chewy is my go-to for reordering my cat Big Mac's prescriptions (medicine and food), treats, probiotics, litter etc. I don’t want to remember things that can be remembered for me. Cat supplies are one of the easiest things to automate.

8. The “Night Before” Reset

Approximate cost: Free
Time back: priceless

This isn’t a purchase, but none of the purchases matter without systems.

After dinner:

• clear counters

• dishwasher

• run vacuum

• reset coffee station

The goal isn’t waking up to perfection. The goal is not starting the next day already behind. That’s the real ROI.

My Rule for Buying Expensive Things

I don’t ask: “Can I afford it?”

I ask: “If this broke tomorrow, would I buy it again?”

If the answer is immediate, it was probably worth it.