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.

Thoughts Of Downsizing

I've been thinking for quite some time about downsizing and what that would mean.  There is a lot to think about.  I have a husband, two school-age children (one of which is homeschooled), and numerous pets to consider.  I live in a lovely house surrounded by beautiful woods which is located on a quiet street with nice neighbors.  All of this is great!  Except...I have this nagging feeling.  We've spent a lot of time and money expanding the house (finished off a third floor), fixing up the house, paying for the house, decorating the house, and repairing the house.  We have more space than we need (it's about 2900 sq.ft.) and there are rooms that we rarely use.  And of course, we pay for those rooms with our mortgage, heating/cooling costs, repairs, and furnishing/decorating.  There is little money left over for vacations, and saving for retirement is difficult when a huge medical bill, car repair, or house repair comes up.  So I've started to wonder, "Why do we need all of this?" And, "Can we do with less and what would that open up for us?"

Lately I've been reading a couple of blogs devoted to simplifying one's life: The Minimalists and Zen Habits.  Both blogs focus on slowing down and enjoying life more while living with less.  How much stuff do we need?  How many TVs, granite countertops, formal dining rooms, clothes, food, things, stuff, etc. will bring us happiness?  To quote Chuck Palaniuk (Fight Club author), "The things you own ending up owning you."

It's a lot to think about, but it's good food for thought.  Would downsizing really give me more time to spend doing other things?  Would we save more for retirement and for vacations?  And when I say vacations, I really mean the ability to take my children to see and do things outside of the "box" of our house and area.  They've both told me they'd like to see Niagra Falls, Williamsburg, VA, and New York City.  I'd like to take them to Central America, Canada, and to see the Grand Canyon.  With less time and cash spent on a large yard and dwelling it could free us up to do these things.  I tend to be methodical in my research and of course, there's some serious number-crunching to do.  And emotionally, selling a house and moving one's family is a pretty big deal.

But getting back to that nagging feeling...do we want to live house-poor or life-rich?

Living With Less: The Saga

I'm on a mission to declutter my home (and mind:) as much as possible.  Recently I came across a blog by Leo Babauta called ZenHabits that has stopped me in my tracks. It's about minimalism which is best stated by Leo himself:

"It means getting rid of many of the things you do so you can spend time with people you love and do the things you love. It means getting rid of the clutter so you are left with only that which gives you value."

This concept really hit home for recently because I realized two things: why do I have so much stuff and where is all the extra money going?  So I started the process of decluttering. So far I've completed a Level 1 purge of useless objects in the kitchen, bathroom cabinets, and master closet.  A Level 1 purge is getting rid of up to 50% of your stuff and getting things organized.  Level 2 is paring down to about 25% of the original amount of things, and Level 3 (the Ultimate) is basically keeping no more than 10% of the original items you started with. It's the beginning of my minimalist journey.