Downsizing!

I haven't posted for quite some time, but here's an update.  About a year ago my husband and I decided it was time to downsize.  The main reasons being:

• Didn't need a such a big house (3,000 square feet!) for just four people.
• Mortgage payment was too big.
• Utilities were killing us!
• The general maintenance of the house plus the 1+ acre yard were too expensive and time consuming.
• Wanted to minimalize.

It was awesome to go through all of our "stuff" and sort out want we really wanted to keep and what was unnecessary.  We ended up getting rid of LOTS of stuff.  The downside was taking into account the money spent over the years on these things that we didn't need.  I tried not to think about it too much, but in a way it was good to come to terms with our consumerism.  I still struggle with wanting to purchase "things" and when I have that urge I remember all the stuff we had to clear out.  More on selling the house, the move, and our new place to come...

How Does Being Vegan Relate to Minimalism?

One of the cool things about transitioning to a minimalist lifestyle is taking one's diet into consideration.  Many of us are trying to get healthy and slim down.  But what do we do with all the confusing information on weight loss? Do we go on a Paleo diet, Atkins, Weight Watchers, raw diet, or should we buy our "food" from Nutrisystem?  (Sorry, I had to put food in quotes in referring to Nutrisystem---their meals don't look like real food to me!)

Minimalizing your diet is a great way to consciously think about what you eat, how much you eat, and what effect your eating habits has on yourself, the animals, and the environment.  Even though I started on a plant-based diet before attempting to simplify my life, I was still buying a lot of processed foods and in general, buying too much food.  Now I think about buying food the same way I think about buying other consumer products.  Do I need this? Have I used up the other box of this yet?  Can I wait to replace this until the other one is used up?  Lately, my pantry is looking more sparse, and I love it.  I can see what there is to eat; with less choice I'm forced to create a dish and use up what I have.  And it saves on the grocery bill!

But what does being vegan have to do with minimalism?  I'm providing two links to two of my favorite blogs that have dealt with this very concept.  For me, I eating mostly vegan and try not to worry about the occasional bite of something with egg or dairy. I hope you take the time to read these essays by The Minimalists and Leo Babauta who writes ZenHabits.

The Minimalism of Veganism
The Simpliest Diet for Lean Fitness

End Of Round One

So I've completed quite a bit of decluttering in this past month. I've gone through every room in the house (bathrooms, bedrooms, kitchen, office, dining room, living room, bonus room, laundry room, mudroom, attic) and completed at least a Level 1 or 2 decluttering. But as you can see, we have a LOT of rooms! Which means there is still quite a bit of stuff still lingering around. This is the hard part because I feel pretty good about what I've gotten rid of, but I still think there's too much stuff that we don't really need. And while it might sound easy to just toss the stuff, the stuff I have left could be potentially useful or maybe it seems good enough for now.

This is a fairly large house at almost 2900 square feet, three stories, and a two car garage. If we're serious about downsizing then more stuff needs to go because the next house won't be as big. As it stands now, everything "fits" just right in the cabinets and closets, so that's how I know all of our stuff will be too much in a smaller house. Plus I really would like to see how minimalist we can go. And I say "we" because this has to be a family commitment. It just won't work if only I do it, and my husband is on board with the idea. But as I get rid of more things, we'll see just how "on board" he is.

Two Sets Of Mixing Bowls

As I journey down the path of living simply, I went for a third round of decluttering in my kitchen. From the cabinets I pulled out two sets of mixing bowls, two glass water pitchers, extra cutlery, coffee mugs, bowls, glasses, baking dishes and the list goes on. What strikes me now is why did I ever think I needed some of these items, much less two sets of some of them?

Of course advertising lures you in; they're constantly telling you must have this or that (and it will make your life happier!). Then there's the fantasy self we create (see Miss Minimalist) thinking we'll have these fabulous dinner and cocktail parties.  I had napkin ring holders and margarita glasses collecting copious amounts of  dust until today. I remember before I started all this that at one time I thought I needed a bigger kitchen. That if only I had one of those dream kitchens on HGTV with the Viking range and Sub-Zero fridge, then I could really express my true culinary self! What a relief I didn't have the means to buy one of those kitchens.  All the money would have been spent on something that wouldn't change how I feel about myself and what I really value.

I look forward to having less stuff, less clutter and to more savings and more peace of mind.

Is Consumerism An Addiction?

Since I've begun the path of living as a minimalist, I've been reading many of Joshua Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus's blogs and often see comments left by readers about their various addictions to buying clothes or gadgets or some such needless items.  And it got me thinking about consumerism and whether or not I am addicted to buying stuff as well. 

As this journey of paring down unfolds, I feel the impact of the purchase of each item that I am getting rid of.  And it's a bit staggering!  I am having to reflect on why I bought these things, how they haven't made me any happier, the regret of wasting the money, and the fear of how I am going to change my behavior.  I believe I may be addicted to consuming...and that's scary.  But as with every scary thing we face, it's good to remember that it's also an opportunity.  It's a precious, introspective moment in which you get to veer off the beaten path and try something different.  I have to remind myself to breathe, to experience the emotions that come up with this journey, and move forward.  Joshua and Ryan talk a lot about how our "stuff" keeps us tied to the past and keeps us from fully being present.  Minimalism is freeing.  What a gift!

Where The Money Went

When my husband and I sit down to look at our budget, we often wonder where the money goes.  I think a lot of people wonder this same thing, yet do we really know how the money is spent?  As I transition to a minimalist lifestyle, I have been putting some serious thought into this and found it to be revealing.

Part of living simply, or minimalism, is taking the first step of decluttering.  You start sorting through all the things that pack the drawers, the clothes crammed into closets, and the shelves filled with useless nicknacks.  What you may begin to notice is all the things you bought with the hopes of starting a new project or habit, such as stamping/scrapbooking, racquetball, Pilates, or even gadgets and things that seem like they'll make your life easier.  In Francis Jay's blog, Miss Minimalist, she talks about the fantasy self:

"All too often, we hold on to stuff because it represents who we think we should be, rather than who we are. Sometimes our fantasy selves are meant to impress others; sometimes they’re relics of our past; sometimes they’re fantasies about our future."

Today I found my Stamping Up! container with loads of paper and stamps I've rarely used. (I had good intentions...).  I also found ski equipment from ten years ago---the skis hadn't even been used!  This goes on and on as I declutter my house, and it dawned on me: this is where the money went.  It's kind of sad to thing about all the cash spent on these items and the better use it could have been put to.  But I don't dwell on that. If anything it's a gift because now I have the opportunity to actively and mindfully make better decisions about how I spend money. Instead of a fantasy self I'm free to live as the person I truly am.

Shoes Made For Walking

Today was a Level 2 clear-out of shoes.  I found seven pair that I had hardly worn in the past year or two.  Shoes, for many women in particular, can be hard to part with.  For me, however, I am rather fashion-challenged, so having a well-stocked arsenal of footwear is not a priority.  Going with the less-is-more theme, having fewer shoes to choose from makes putting an outfit together a lot simpler.