One of the challenges involved in raising twins, at least until they go to school, is running errands. Getting in and out of the grocery store or just grabbing a bite to eat--things that used to take mere minutes-- become difficult, hour-long tasks. So, how can you get everything done and still remain sane?

Drive Throughs and Curb-Side Pickup
We all know about fast-food and bank drive-through service, and if you're like me, there are days you would not eat were it not for McDonald's or KFC. In addition to these old standby's, many Starbucks now offer a drive-through, as do other coffee houses and restaurants. Still other restaurants, such as Applebee's, offer to bring the food out to your car so you can take it home to have it thrown on your own floor, eliminating the need to over-tip your server.

Free Delivery
Many parents of twins are on a first-name basis with the local pizza delivery person. Most metropolitan areas also offer grocery delivery; though the prices may be a bit higher than if you shopped yourself, you will probably find that you spend less, because you aren't buying impulse items. Also, I've found that it is worth it not to have to peel one or more children off of the floor so I can leave the store, and to have those extra hours in my week to spend doing other household chores. Another delivery option to consider is fine restaurant delivery. There are businesses in many cities that will order your dinner from an assortment of fine dining establishments and deliver it to your door. This comes in handy if you want to have a "date night" after the kids have gone to bed, and you can't afford a sitter.

Online Shopping
These days, if it exists, you can order it online. I wouldn't have worn makeup during the last months of my pregnancy and first months of my twins' lives if it weren't for Avon.com. I also wouldn't have been able to read many of the great books I found on twins if I hadn't ordered them from Barnes and Noble.com, since these books were not readily available at my local library or bookstore. E-bay provided many of the accessories for my nursery, because it was the only place I could find items in the discontinued pattern I'd chosen. Security of online transactions is better than ever, but if you're still nervous about it, most places will still accept good, old-fashioned money orders or checks through the mail.