Taking back Saturday: How to enjoy your time off

(BPT) - Summer is supposed to be the time to kick up your feet on the beach, read a good book, soak up the sun and enjoy the company of your friends and family. But for most, free time during the warmer months is spent on lawn care, landscaping, laundry, grocery shopping and other tedious chores. With just a few weekends left this summer, it’s time to take back your Saturdays with a little help from on-demand companies.

On-demand economy is defined as “the economic activity created by technology companies that fulfill consumer demand via the immediate provisioning of goods and services,” according to Business Insider.

Thanks to the on-demand economy, help is now just a click away. A recent study from Avangate reported that 45 percent of respondents paid for more than one service from an on-demand company in the past year. Not only that, but on-demand companies have spread beyond Silicon Valley and New York to bring better coverage throughout the country.

Take TaskEasy for instance. Summer lawn care takes time, effort and energy. Do you really want to mow your lawn on a 90-degree day? Didn’t think so. Luckily, TaskEasy, an on-demand lawn care services provider, will take care of that for you. The company has performed more than 140,000 tasks in more than 2,900 cities in all 50 states, certifying thousands of contractors.

According to the company’s site, customers just click, book, and relax as TaskEasy will send a professional lawn mower to their house at an affordable, fair market price (they’ll even clear snow and put up holiday lights during the holiday season).

Now that the lawn is taken care of, what about everything else?

The on-demand economy extends way beyond lawn care. TaskRabbit will outsource your household errands and skilled tasks to people within your community. Need help building Ikea patio furniture? TaskRabbit will handle that for you and they’ll even bring the tools needed. Is your laundry piling up? Rinse provides a personal launderer to get your beach towels washed, dried and folded. Need a dog sitter? Rover.com will connect dog parents with a network of dog lovers for hire, offering in-home dog boarding, sitting and walking.

This summer, simplify your life and take back your Saturdays. Spend less time on chores and more time your friends and family in your (perfectly manicured) backyard.