The life of a minimalist is inspiring to me. While I don’t think I could go “all the way minimalist”, the thought of less stuff, less stress and other such benefits is very appealing to me. How many of you are aspiring to become a bit more minimalist, but are not sure where to start? Becoming a minimalist is sure to be good for the soul, but you may need some resources to get you there first. For the aspiring minimalists out there, here are 7 resources to get you started.
When you’re first starting off as a minimalist, or at least curious about it, you need to check out the documentary on Netflix. It’s quite simple as it follows the story of several minimalists. Two men who have impacted the world by living on less.
Yes, there are blogs out there dedicated to the minimalist journey and this is one of them. In my opinion, one of the best resources for living this lifestyle!
There are a lot of resources out there for people who are working hard to become minimalists. One of the best books is called Minimalism. If you want to know firsthand what it’s like to live this lifestyle, then the book is a must read. Grab this book if you’re thinking of becoming a minimalist.
One of the best reasons for YouTube is that you actually get a firsthand visual account at what some minimalists are doing. You don’t always know what minimalism looks like, until you see others living the lifestyle.
One of the beautiful parts of becoming a minimalist is checking out the journey of others. The Be More with Less Blog focusing on simplifying life a bit. She talks about reducing the amount of items you have, which will also result in less stress in life.
Your own brain
If you’re an aspiring minimalist, you should know something you will hear time and time again. This is your own journey. Sure, the result is to own less of everything. However, only you will know when enough is enough. Maybe you need 3 couches, but other minimalists sit on the floor. This journey will be a lot better for you if you consider your own brain and heart to decide what your minimalist journey looks like.
What resources would you share with someone who is an aspiring minimalist?
When it comes to rooms that can get overwhelming, you will find the kitchen is at the top of the list. With some simple organizing, your kitchen can run smoothly and clutter can be kept to a minimum. As a result, your meal prep and clean up time will drop, making your life easier!
How to have an organized kitchen
Clear the counters.
The counters can easily become a catch-all for everything. This is bad because when germs spread in the kitchen, the counters get a large chunk of them. The less stuff on the counter, the less you have to clean to get rid of the germs and keep your family healthy. Often the counter makes the kitchen look worse than it is, so removing everything but vital items will make a huge difference.
Cut down on small appliances.
How many do you really need? So often we buy things thinking they will make our lives easier only to discover we do not really need them. In fact, these items that we thought we HAD to have ended up wasting space and frustrating us when we try to find what we really need. Keep track of what you use and sell the rest. For any of the small appliances you do keep, try to store them in a cupboard when not in use.
Organize the drawers.
We all have that one drawer in the kitchen that seems to be nothing but a mess. The odds and ends that have no real home. From buttons to batteries you never know what you will find. Simple organizers like this or dividers like this can fix the disorganized mess that makes finding anything nearly impossible.
Clean up the Tupperware mess.
For many of us, food storage containers are the biggest mess we face in our kitchen. Clean them out by tossing any without a matching lid or base. If it’s in your budget, a new setwould be a great investment if yours are a bit rough. Sometimes it helps to start fresh.
Organize the freezer with boxes or baskets.
This will allow you to store more and find what you need when it is meal time. Put like items with like items. For example, frozen fruit in one basket, meats in another.
Use baskets to organize your fridge.
Small baskets and even serving trays can make getting what you need out of the back of the fridge easy. As an added bonus, they’ll catch spills making cleanup a breeze! The same system will work wonders in your pantry as well.
Get creative with storing plastic wrap, foil, and other tubes.
Paper towel holders can be placed inside cabinets to hold these items out of the way but always ready to use. Another great option is to store all of these items with plastic storage bags in a single drawer. Pinteresthas tons of great ideas for storing plastic wrap, foil and other tubes.
Use a Lazy Susan.
Use a Lazy Susan to store spices and condiments. Simply spin it to find what you need. A small lazy Susan is a great addition for the fridge and/or cabinets. A Lazy Susan of any size is a great tool for organizing your kitchen.
Install a shelf to hold your cookbooks.
Free up valuable cupboard space by putting up a shelf on one of your kitchen walls to keep cookbooks in one place where they won’t get damaged from being in the way. Place pegs or hooks under the shelf for a great place to store aprons, oven mitts, or even pots and pans.
Find a home for your pots and pans.
Place them on hooks, or stack by size in the bottom cabinets. When organizing your kitchen, giving pots and pans a home makes them easy to get to as needed.
Having an organized kitchen can make meal preparation so much more enjoyable. Being able to find everything you need in seconds? That’s priceless!
What room in your home do you find to be the most disorganized? I’d love to hear your fabulous tips for having an organized kitchen in the comments below!
It’s official. We’re moving in a month’s time. I just can’t believe it. While a month still seems so far away (I’m just so gosh darn excited!), I’m sure it will zip by!
Anyways, as we’ve discovered, moving can be an expensive adventure especially if you are moving to a new province, town, or even another country. However, there are ways you can save while moving. Check out these 25 ways to save money while moving!
25 Ways to Save Money While Moving
Sell anything and everything. If you haven’t used or worn something in the last 6 months, sell it.
Utilize Facebook. Facebook is a great way to post your items you are trying to sell quickly without hosting a garage sale. Do a search on Facebook for local Buy & Sell groups.
Avoid hiring movers. It is much more cost effective to slowly get your items packed and loaded than it is to hire movers.
Don’t buy boxes. Retailers that get products shipped in, throw out and get rid of their boxes all the time. Head out to local stores asking when their shipments come in and if you can have their broken-down boxes. We’ve gotten all our boxes from some friends who own an auto body shop.
Borrow a truck. If you can, borrow a truck or trailer from someone. When you rent a truck, you not only pay for renting, but you pay mileage and gas.
Move slowly. If you aren’t moving far from your old house, move your belongings slowly, if possible.
Shop around for new services. When you move, you can either transfer your old internet services, or you can shop around for a better deal.
Use old newspapers. Instead of buying moving supplies to keep your glassware safe, use old newspapers to cushion your fragile items.
Shop around for insurance. Whether you are moving into an apartment or a new house, it is always wise to shop around for insurance on your things.
Use coupons. When you need something like a carpet cleaning service, for example, look online or in your newspapers for coupons that will save you money.
Ask for discounts. It never hurts to ask! While we weren’t moving, just replacing our broken dishwasher, we asked for a discount on the floor model dishwasher that we liked, and they gave us one! Look every which way to find a discount.
Don’t use credit. You may end up paying much more in the long run, putting things on credit than you would if you pay in cash. Avoid those late fees!
Start saving ahead of time. If you know you are moving, start a savings account just for moving expenses. Not only will you earn interest, but you won’t have to put any expenses on credit.
Pump gas when it’s cheap. If you get gas to move, look to fill up on the days its cheapest.
Fix up before you move. Before you move into your new home, do all the repairs that need to be done before moving in.
Use a notary instead of a lawyer. For the legal aspect of moving, looking into using a notary instead of a lawyer. You may save yourself a bundle!
Get furniture second hand. If you need new furniture, buy furniture at second-hand shops or online.
Go to the dollar store. For last minute items, cleaning supplies, and snacks, head to the dollar store to save some money.
Talk to your neighbors. Your new neighbors will be the best resource in helping you find whatever you need inexpensively.
Shop for deals. The internet is full of ways for you to save money. Look for online deals before purchasing anything.
Have a garage sale. If you are really short on cash, a garage sale can help you get that extra money you need.
Talk to the real estate agent. Some real estate agents will have moving trucks you can borrow.
Don’t forget to check Craigslist. Craigslist has some really great deals on moving supplies.
Borrow a dolly from a friend. Instead of renting or buying a dolly, you can borrow one to help move big items.
Keep everything organized. Keeping everything organized and marked helps prevent things from getting broken or lost, costing you more money to replace it.
What other ways have you found to save money when you move? Share your tips and tricks in the comments below!
Well, Christmas is finished for another year. You may be thinking of taking down all your decorations but dreading the mess that your storage area becomes. Or what about next Christmas when you can’t find the specific decorations you’re looking for?
Look no further, I’ve got you covered with this handy Christmas Decoration Storage Inventory printable! Simply print out a page or two (depending on how many boxes you have) and get to work filling the paper out as you put away decorations. Label the boxes with the corresponding number that you have marked on the papers. For example, on the paper, box #1 includes all the Christmas lights. Be sure to label the actual box with #1 too!
We all know that being organized means we stress less, feel happier and can think more clearly. But I’m a big believer of the fact that being organized can also really save you money!
Here are four smart organizing systems that I think you should implement in your life, that will in turn, save you money!
A Simple Menu Planning System
If you’re wanting to eliminate the expensive Drive Thru routine, having a simple menu plan in place is key.
There’s no need for an elaborate plan. Simply jot down a week’s worth of meals based on what you have in the pantry/fridge/freezer in a notebook or on the calendar.
Make sure to take a look at your busy days so you can have a slow cooker meal or extra easy meal planned for those days.
Having a menu plan in place will also save you time and money at the grocery store. Say goodbye to wandering the aisles aimlessly and buying unnecessary items for a meal you “might” make.
A Coupon Organization System
If you’re a coupon user, you’ll definitely want to make sure you have a system in place for using your coupons effectively. Nothing is quite as disappointing as realizing you found several expired coupons for products you would have bought because you use those products regularly.
Set aside a few minutes each week to cut and sort your coupons into your chosen system. (accordion file folder, binder…etc.). Check out this post for a thorough look at some great coupon organizing systems.
A Regular Decluttering System
I find that having regular decluttering sessions helps me to save money and regain some sanity.
I usually find some long lost items that I thought I’d have to spend money on to replace.
In between my decluttering sessions, I like to have a donation box going at all times. Every time I come across an item that either annoys me or I haven’t used in a long time, it goes straight into the box.
Make sure you have an effective money management system in place. That means you have a paper filing system for bills and important documents and a budget system/spreadsheet that works for you.
Missing a bill payment can easily be avoided if you have an organized system in place. If you’re trying to repay debt or saving for something, a budget systemis essential to tracking your progress and gives you healthy money boundaries that will ensure your success.
Keeping up with these systems does not have to be hard. Set aside a few minutes a day or a chunk of time once a week for maintaining these systems. What’s really hard, is letting your systems fall by the wayside, then having to figure out a way to regain control, which can end up costing you a lot more time and money in the long run.
Do you have any of these smart organizing systems in place in your home? How do you keep your finances and home organized?
How to Get Started Organizing When You’re Overwhelmed
Sometimes, to get started organizing is the hardest part. You want to start, but you feel overwhelmed because you’re just not sure where to start!
Today, I want to share some suggestions that may help you to get started organizing!
Make a list
Sit down and make a list of all the areas in your home that you would like to see organized. Seeing everything written down could help you to pick something, whether it be a small task or an area that annoys you! Simply pick one thing, do it, then cross it off!
Start small
For the overwhelmed person, starting with a small project, such as a single drawer, could be just the thing to trigger your resolve to keep going onto the next small project. You’ll find yourself moving from one small project to the next, until you’ve finished each area of your home! Here are some small project ideas to get you started:
A drawer
A shelf
A closet
One surface space
Your spices
One cupboard
Medicine cabinet
Start in the room that requires the least amount of work
It’s a possibility, that by starting in an area of your home that requires a lot of organizing hours to complete, could turn you off before you start to see any results. I personally, love to see almost instant results. So, in a continuation of the tip above, when it comes to organizing, starting somewhere that doesn’t require a lot of effort will motivate you to carry on.
Start on the area that annoys you the most
Is there an area in your home that annoys you to no end because you can never find what you’re looking for? Start there. If tackling an area means it’ll make your life more manageable while you’re working on organizing other areas, that annoying spot could be a great place to start!
Just start
If you’re naturally a planner and you’re trying to get things just right in your head before you start, the planning process could actually scare you into doing nothing. Instead, clear your mind and tackle a drawer. Once you see how easy that was then you can move on to another, then another. Take baby steps and don’t overwhelm yourself by looking at the whole room.
Set goals
Set goals that will allow you to look at the big picture. Let’s say to want to organize your kitchen. You could leave it at that, but how overwhelming does ‘organize kitchen’ feel on your to-do list? By imagining how you want your space to feel, setting a timeline and breaking down the areas in your kitchen, you will be way more prepared to succeed! Let’s write the kitchen example out:
“I want my kitchen to feel clutter-free with each task area easily accessible so I can get my cooking/baking/cleaning done efficiently.
I will give myself one month to complete my kitchen, by spending 15 minutes a day on one of these areas:
Pantry items
Pots & pans
Cooking utensils
Eating utensils
Cups/mugs
Tupperware
Plates/bowls
Serving ware
Baking ware
Small appliances
Dish towels/cloths
Under sink cabinet
Etc.
I will make time every day between 3pm and 5pm. I will also take before and after photos of each area so I can continue to be inspired.”
I hope that example helps you to see how setting goals for each room in your home will help you feel less overwhelmed!
Get motivated
Find yourself some motivation! Here are some ideas:
Read organizing blogs – These blogs are full of useful tips for everyone!
Read décor blogs – Maybe envisioning what your space could look like will motivate you?
Watch an organizing show -Something like The Home Edit could really help light the organizing fire.
Have guests over – Nothing gets your act in gear when you’re anticipating company! (or maybe this will only force you to shove things in the closets…)
Lose something – hehe, but seriously, I’ve gone on organizing rampages when I can’t find something of importance!
Set the timer
If you know a project will take you 3 – 4 hours or more, you’re likely to put it off. But, if you work at it and organize in small bursts, by setting a timer for 15 – 30 minutes, you’re more likely to get your project done! Or how about doing a quick project (sorting the mail) while you’re waiting for water to boil or the microwave to finish?
Hopefully these are some ideas to help you get started with organizing your home to make it a place that you love being in!
What I really want to know though, is that I’m not the only person that tries to get as much done as I can while I’m waiting for the microwave to beep? 😉
Where do you start first when you organize? Did these tips help? Share your ideas in the comments below!
